Data Center Overview

A Data Center is a combination of state-of-the-art hosting facilities and a fully redundant, multi-gigabit network infrastructure. Currently Silicon Valley Web Hosting colocates equipment with three of the worlds best Data Centers; AboveNet Communications, Level 3 Communications and CRG West. Combined they have invested literally billions of dollars in building their respective network infrastructure and Data Center hosting facilities.

Each Data Center offers an uncompromising level of physical security in addition to multi-stage fire suppression systems; redundant cooling units; and multiple uninterruptible power sources with fully conditioned power.

Physical security is maintained through the use of physical check stations (where ID must be presented before access is allowed to the facilities), closed circuit camera systems, and a combination access card and biometrics entry system. In the case of the access card and biometrics entry system, an access card is used to activate and palm scanner and the palm scanner is used to grant entry to the colocation floor. Once inside the colocation facilities all of our equipment is stored in either locked cabinets or inside of our own locked cage area.

Multi-level (redundant) fire suppression systems are used in the advent of a fire. A combination of dry chemicals and pre-action dry-pipe sprinkler systems are used to protect against fires. A typical response to fires can be broken down into three distinct phases:

Level-one
When the first smoke detector detects smoke, it primes the dry pipe system and activates alarms at the security desk, facility floor and inside the server room. As a precaution, the system waits for a second alarm.

Level-two
When the second smoke detector activates, it sounds an additional alarm and starts a 30 second count down to the release of the Heptafluorapropane. During the 30 seconds, the system can be overridden. At the end of the countdown the gas is released to stop the fire reaction.

Level-three
If the fire continues past the Heptafluorapropane release, the dry-piped pre-action system will isolate the fire. The heat will open one of the high heat sprinkler heads and release the air pressure in the pipe. The pressure release opens the water valve allowing water to flow through the open sprinkler on to the fire. This system will only dispense water through the pipe of the opened sprinkler. The rest of the facility will be unaffected.

Environmental conditions are kept at a constant in the colocation facilities. A constant temperature of 68 degrees (plus or minus 2 degrees) Fahrenheit is maintained with a humidity at a constant of 45%. Multiple redundant cooling units are maintained with ample spare capacity; in the event of a cooling unit failure the environmental conditions inside the facilities will not be effected.

The power system is designed to provide fully filtered non-stop power. The power is drawn upon three sources; (1) commercial utility underground conduits; (2) a full battery backup system; and (3) diesel generators each with 1000-gallon fuel capacity and full-load capabilities. The system utilizes an AC-DC-AC conversion process to completely eliminate surges and under-power conditions. At the heart of the system is the Automatic Transfer Control Logic system (ATCL) which constantly monitors the power throughout the entire system.

• Parallel redundant UPS modules
• Redundant primary 480V feeders
• Split switchboard with draw-out tie-breaker
• Redundant 500KVA K13 transformers
• 48V DC power plant with separate batteries and A+B bus for redundancy
• Dual-fed secondary switchboard and critical load distribution boards
• Maintenance bypass feeder with dedicated 500 KVA K13 transformer
• Dedicated 20 amp circuits with #10AWG (30 amp) wiring to rack plug strips, including dedicated neutrals feeding server racks

Combined, the networks peer at all of the major Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) and Network Exchange Points (NAPs) world wide. This includes US-based MAE-West, MAE-East, MAE-LA, Palo Alto Internet Exchange, NASA AMES, Pacific Bell NAP, Chicago Ameritech, and others as well as international exchange points such as those located in Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt, London, Tokyo, Vienna, and others. Multiple connections to each IXP and NAP are maintained from different points on the networks so if major regional outages occur connectivity to these exchange points will not be lost.

In addition to public peering, all networks maintain an extensive set of private peers and session exchanges. Private peering arrangements allow us to exchange traffic directly with other networks; completely bypassing the public exchange points. Among the list of private peers are AlterNet (UUNET), DIGEX, Sprint, Erols, America Online, MSN (Microsoft Network), Verio, AT&T, and hundreds of other large network carriers.