DataCenters & Network Infrastructure

There is one important point, and that is the server location. It makes a difference if the server is in the United States or some other country. If your visitors are from South Carolina and you have to host from Europe, the ping can be more than 400ms, and as we know seconds matter regarding user engagement. As Google's Matt Cutts says, "speed and location are ranking factors." So for the US visitors, you need US hosting from iGateway MS.
Brian Smith BrianSmith.Design December 4, 2016, 12:23 PM-EST

Datacenter & Network Details

Our Success Depends on Your Success.

The Network

The data centers connect to the internet with Gigabit Ethernet connections from separate backbone providers using fiber optic cables through different entry points.

These backbone providers consist of Tier 1 (telecommunications), and Tier 2 (ISP) providers.

Security

The data center locations restrict physical access to the sites to select personnel, with controls including layered security systems starting with fencing, bollards, mantraps, video camera surveillance and permanent security guards. Movement throughout the facilities is monitored and escorted at ALL times. Between the cameras, access control, and the security team, the datacenter facilities remain secured all year round.

Power

The data centers are equipped with redundant UPS systems to ensure clean power. Furthermore, an ATS (Automatic Transfer Switch) is in place to automatically kick in a generator in case of a power failure.

Cooling

Redundant A/C systems, each running at a fraction of their capacity, keep the server rooms cool. The units alternate so that each one stays in optimal condition.

Advanced Smoke Detection & Fire Protection Systems

The data centers contain specialized fire detection and protection systems, including passive and active design elements, as well as the implementation of fire prevention programs in operations, meant specifically for protecting servers. Fire protection in the server room uses a clean agent fire suppression gaseous system and high sensitivity smoke detectors for business continuity & asset protection.

How iGateway MS can claim 99.9% uptime

This Standard specifies the minimum requirements for telecommunications infrastructure of data centers and computer rooms including single tenant enterprise data centers and multi-tenant Internet hosting data centers. The topology proposed in this is intended to apply to all our chosen data centers operating at Tier 3 and Tier 4 levels.

Tier Level Requirements
Tier 1
  • Single non-redundant distribution path serving the IT equipment
  • Non-redundant capacity components
  • Primary site infrastructure with expected availability of 99.671%
Tier 2
  • Meets or exceeds all Tier 1 requirements
  • Redundant site infrastructure capacity components with expected availability of 99.741%
Tier 3
  • Meets or exceeds all Tier 2 requirements
  • Multiple independent distribution paths serving the IT equipment
  • All IT equipment must be dual-powered and fully compatible with the topology of a site's architecture
  • Concurrently maintainable site infrastructure with expected availability of 99.982%
Tier 4
  • Meets or exceeds all Tier 3 requirements
  • All cooling equipment is independently dual-powered, including chillers and heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems
  • Fault-tolerant site infrastructure with electrical power storage and distribution facilities with expected availability of 99.995%

The difference between 99.671%, 99.741%, 99.982%, and 99.995%, while seemingly nominal, could be significant depending on the application.

While no downtime is ideal, the tier system allows for unavailability of services as listed below over a period of one year:

  • Tier 1 (99.671%) status would allow downtime up to 28.817 hours a year
  • Tier 2 (99.741%) status would allow downtime up to 22.688 hours a year
  • Tier 3 (99.982%) status would allow 94.608 minutes a year
  • Tier 4 (99.995%) status would allow 26.28 minutes a year