Complete Server colocation Guide for Business

Many of the technical terms may appear to be just technicalities or solutions that only concern mega-corporations. When we hear about cloud computing and server colocation s, we are talking about technological trends that are part of our daily lives. In your work, when you enter the cloud system, you are accessing your server colocation services. When you check your email or calendar, you are also connecting to one of them. Even in your leisure time, when you listen to your favorite music or do your series marathon, via streaming, it depends on the same technology. The cheapening of technologies and the growth in the capacity of connections, enabled companies of all sizes and segments to gain access to colocation hosting, especially virtual ones. Therefore, in this guide, we will explain better what it is, what are the most used types and the benefits of each solution. Check out!

What is a server colocation?

Server colocation is nothing more than a place where devices are stored, from a company or organization, which has a high demand for data processing and storage. Depending on the company's demand, it will be able to gather thousands of servers, computerized databases and auxiliary components, such as arrays and network assets, such as routers and switches. More than just processing large amounts of information properly, server colocation s are designed to work uninterruptedly, ensuring unrestricted access to the system in a reliable and secure manner, so that the company enjoys full availability. For this to be possible, it is important that these colocation uk are located in extremely prepared locations, focusing, in addition to digital security, on physical security, both in relation to possible invasions, attacks and losses as well as natural disasters, such as fires, floods, etc. - we'll talk more about security in the following topics.

What are its simple mechanisms?

A server colocation that has an appropriate operating structure must have a quality network infrastructure. For this, he must make the interactions using IP traffic and other communication protocols, which allow the addressing and forwarding of data packets. The choice of network components and communication protocols to be used must be designed according to the demand of each company If she does not have a specialized team, she can hire a consultancy. Or if you prefer, work with virtual server colocation, with a quality provider, with specialized professionals, who will provide an overview of the number of servers and devices that will be needed Below are the basic components that a server colocation needs to deliver satisfactory performance.

Servers

Servers form the body of server colocation s, are high-performance computers, ready to receive a high rate of requests. What differentiates a server from a conventional desktop computer is that personal computers are designed to perform a variety of tasks, while servers are focused on specific activities. In addition, a server must be sturdy to withstand the intermittent operation. Because they are computers designed for specific tasks, servers are assembled according to the task they need to perform and optimized to maintain stability. These machines are placed in racks, and give the place its characteristic appearance, with shelves that spread out over long rows. In these racks, the computers are connected by cables, which can be copper or fiber optic, ensuring fast and clear communication between the servers A simpler server colocation usually has between 10 and 50 server racks, while the most in-demand can reach hundreds of them. To handle this entire structure, the company must have the physical infrastructure, as well as resources, such as electricity, refrigeration, and telecommunications, to meet this demand. And it’s about these features that we’ll talk about next. Keep reading!

Energy

There are two factors that are important in the electricity x server colocation ratio: network stability and price. The first is important because, as we have already pointed out, the server colocation needs to work around the clock and this requires a constant source. Of course, companies must plan their electrical network to have redundancy, that is, to have generators and UPSs. But, these are emergency and palliative solutions. The guarantee of a network that delivers a constant power is necessary because the servers in operation can consume 3 kilowatts per rack, in small server colocation s, and reach 15 kilowatts per rack larger If we consider that in large server colocation s they can have 600 server racks, we have a total energy consumption that can reach 9 megawatts and this is where the second factor, price, comes in. For comparison, a conventional home computer consumes an average of only 200 watts. A hydroelectric plant produces 19 megawatts of energy, enough to supply a city of 150,000 inhabitants.

Cooling

We talked in the topic above about the energy consumption of large colocation hosting, in addition to computers, which are connected uninterruptedly - another factor that contributes a lot to the high rate is the cooling systems. As we are talking about high-performance computers, with robust processors, it is normal for them to raise the room temperature while working. This temperature can reach 50º C and, if not controlled, can cause a series of problems, such as damage to equipment and even fires The Uk colocation must-have cooling redundancy, which should bring the temperature to 25º C, that is, reduce by half. This requires a lot of power from the air conditioners. Refrigeration is estimated to account for approximately half of the energy consumed by one of these systems. To mitigate this consumption and reduce costs, companies are looking for more sustainable solutions. Some of the tech giants, like Google, Facebook, Apple, etc., are betting on installing their server colocation s in colder countries. The UK region, where countries like Norway, Finland, Sweden, England, Iceland, and Denmark are located, offers opportunities for corporations to bet on the method known as “free cooling”. This method consists of channelling ambient air into the server rooms. The major concern in it is in relation to the cleaning of this external air, so as not to harm the durability of the equipment. Another solution, which is still in the experimental phase, is the installation of servers on the seabed. Microsoft is already testing prototypes, but there is still a long way to go before companies can really achieve that goal.

Telecommunications

We must not forget that server colocation s are not islands. Their existence is directly linked to the connection with devices in various corners of the world. This requires a solid telecommunications structure so that data can circulate cleanly. Like electrical power and cooling, a server colocation's telecommunications system also needs to function continuously. The best way to guarantee a fluid signal with the outside world is through the use of optical fibre One thing that few people imagine is that requests do not go directly to the servers. Users' demands go through a telecommunications room first, which is equipped with routers and other equipment that assist in the distribution of cables between racks. This telecommunications center automatically directs the request to the right destination. When you access your company's management system, if it is hosted in the cloud, your request goes to the server colocation passes through the telecommunications center and forwards your request to the rack in which the system is hosted, all of which extremely fast, thanks to the increasingly advanced fiber optic cables.

Safety

The first major concern for server colocation administrators is with the content they upload - often ultra-confidential business data and sensitive information from people using services hosted on servers. The concern with security is present since the design of this cheap ssl certificate uk in best email hosting and colocation hosting even the software equipped with powerful algorithms to detect the most refined standard deviations, the architecture of the server colocation s is designed for the protection of information. The access control to these buildings is usually very strict, to avoid any type of leakage. A single leak can wipe out a server colocation's reputation and cause the company to lose millions. Therefore, there are several layers of security for the control of entrances, ranging from simple badges to biometric identification systems.