Web Hosting

Our servers are stored at two separate locations for security and redundancy. Each has a dedicated 2Mb link to the Internet with a 10Mb burst rate capacity, 156 times faster than an ISDN line.

The backbone network is faster not only due to having a bigger connection but its location is 'Tier 1' the highest level location of access on the Internet comparable to BT and NTL with the server actually at the main network switch. The switch is the junction of the European Tier 1 network and is joined by two transatlantic links to a Tier 1 network in the States. In short there are a few comparable locations for hosting a server in the UK.

Security

Physical Security: All servers are located in a secure building with both physical and electronic security including securely sectioned areas. All Network Operations Centres are protected by secure key card entry control, CCTV monitoring and recording and a NACOSS approved intruder detection system.

The core routers are protected by intelligent redundant border firewalls providing constant monitoring of network packets. The firewalls provide complete control over TCP/IP information entering or leaving the network.

Resilience through redundancy

The server has a number of fail safe mechanisms, including:
RAID 5 Hard drives:
- If one hard drive fails the others seamlessly continues operating, the drives are also striped for database performance.
Redundant power supplies:
- If one supply fails the other continues to supply electricity.
Redundant Network cards (NIC):
- If the network card fails another on board continues to provide connectivity.

UPS and Power generator

1 KW per rack of UPS and generator protection providing 20 minutes of UPS with auxiliary diesel backup power generation.

Fast Server

The computer itself is a dual Pentium Xeon 2.4Ghz NT server, with 36Gb Fast and Wide SCSI RAID 5.

Server Administration

The computer is supported remotely by VSI-thinking and has an onsite support contract from the network provider and the hardware supplier. Our technical expertise in server administration ensures a level of performance and security above that of a managed solution. We perform regular OS Updates, Application Patches, Firewall updates, Virus file scanning and updates and monthly disk defragmentation.