|
Vinax owned and operated our servers, equipment in
Steadfast Networks Data Center in downtown Chicago (Lakeside
Technology Center, Suite 240; the same building in which Equinix is located). The data center offers complete redundancy in power, HVAC, network connectivity,
and security. The datacenter facility sits atop multiple power grids driven by ComEd, with full UPS battery backup power and a diesel generators onsite. Our network is supplied by
several separate networks including, Level(3), Savvis and AT&T. Dozens more third party backbone providers are available in the building via
cross connect, such as MCI, Global Crossing, Abovenet, Qwest, XO Communication, Sprint,
and Williams. The fiber provided to the data
center is also provided over redundant paths, with two 10 Gigabit Ethernet lines from our cabinet in Equinix, on the 5th floor, and several pairs of
fiber to providers in the Meet-Me Room on the 2nd floor. The data center was previously operated by 360 Networks with everything built to
telecommunications grade specifications and it has maintained full operation, without any failures, since it was constructed.
Why Chicago?
More long haul fiber goes through Chicago than any other city in the United States. Most of the fiber connecting the East and West coasts of the
United States goes through Chicago, giving Chicago ample network capacity as well as routes that offer low latency to both the East and West coasts.
Chicago also has an extremely low occurence of natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornados, floods, and earthquakes compared to most of the rest
of the United States, meaning there is a reduced risk of outages due to natural disasters. In addition, Chicago has a much lower average cost of
living compared to other major markets such as New York, San Francisco, and Washington DC. The lower cost of living reduces the expenses we incur as
a whole and allows us to pass those savings on to you.
Fire Suppression System
A state-of-the-art fire suppression system constantly monitors the physical environment for smoke, chemicals and other hazardous materials that might spark a fire. The data center uses a dual-interlock pre-action sprinkler system throughout the facility. These pipes are dry-filled with compressed air - until two alarm conditions are reached thereby releasing the valve to charge the system. Water is only released in the area when a sprinkler head has lost its seal, or is actuated, due to heat, AND the fire detection system has detected a fire condition. If a head is accidentally knocked off, water does not flow into the system. Any water discharged will be sprinkler-head specific, which will limit the potential for damage caused by over-spray.
Redundant and Precise HVAC System
Air control is critical in maintaining fast, efficient performance from our customers' equipment. To create the right environment, the data center
is fitted with a comprehensive Liebert HVAC system that delivers constant, ideal air conditions, between 68 and 74 degrees Fahrenheit and between 40%
and 50% relative humidity at all times. Our HVAC system uses efficient and effective chilled water cooling, not a standard forced/chilled
air configuration. HVAC systems maintain a minimum of N+1 redundancy, allowing the data center to maintain a constant, cool
environment that is conducive to our customers' mission-critical equipment and operations.
Redundant Power and UPS
The power systems are equipped with a level of redundancy that guarantees continuous operation. To ensure that the data center is always
operational all the time, a multi-layer power generation system, using some of the highest grade equipment available, is in place. Conditioned AC
power with two independent A & B power buses, respectively, is available. In addition, UPS, battery and diesel generators back up every power system.
Unlike some other data centers the climate control and security measures are also backed up with redundant power to ensure clean operation during
power outages. The UPS systems maintain three hours of battery backup and a 2 MW diesel generator is onsite for longer outages. If there are
issues with the diesel generator the three hours of battery backup gives ample time to dispatch a portable diesel generator system, if needed.
Security
Visual confirmation and strict sign-in procedures, both conducted by trained security personnel, along with key cards, and photo ID verification
ensure that only authorized personnel have access to our data center. No customers are allowed in our space unattended and staff is on-site 24/7. In addition, all aspects of the data center are monitored and
recorded via color, hi-resolution digital video cameras. All video footage is kept on hand for a period of at least 30 days.
Our
network utilizes
routing and
switching products
from Cisco Systems,
the leaders in the
industry. We utilize
redundant Cisco 6509
(SUP720) routers as
our core
routers/switches and
Cisco 2950/2960
switches in our
aggregation/customer
layer. Additional
network equipment
includes an InterNAP
FCP to optimize
network routing and
performance and
RioRey DDoS
mitigation hardware
on each of our
incoming carriers,
allowing us to
mitigate
multi-gigabit
DoS/DDoS attacks. In
addition, 10 Gigabit
Ethernet is used at
the core of the
network to reduce
the risks of
internal congestion
due to DDoS attacks
and to maintain
optimal flexibility.
Our
network is fully
meshed, using BGP,
and redundant with a
wide selection of
backbone providers,
including Level(3),
Savvis, TeliaSonera,
nLayer, and
supplemented by
local peering. We
took care in
choosing our
carriers; our
research showed them
to be some of the
fastest and most
reliable networks
available. Not only
are the providers
redundant, but their
entry paths are
redundant as well.
Some carriers are
brought into the
network at Equinix
and carried down
three floors to our
data center over
redundant 10 Gigabit
Ethernet lines while
several pairs of
fiber also conect us
to provider in the
building Meet-Me
Room (MMR). In the
building there is
also fiber from
dozens of other
companies such as
Global Crossing,
Abovenet, Qwest, and
Sprint and easy
access to the
Equinix peering
fabric as well as
the
Chicago Internet
Exchange.
Internal Network
-
Redundant
Cisco 6509 (SUP720) core routers/switches
-
Cisco
2950/2960 series aggregation/customer layer switches
-
InterNAP
FCP for Performance Network route optimization
-
DDoS
mitigation hardware on each incoming connection
-
10
Gigabit Ethernet internal backbone
-
100%
network uptime SLA
Backbone Carriers
-
Level(3)
- Direct 10 GigE (10,000mbit/sec)
-
Savvis -
Direct 10 GigE (10,000mbit/sec)
-
nLayer -
Direct 10 GigE (10,000mbit/sec)
-
TeliaSonera - Direct 10 GigE (10,000mbit/sec)
-
Comcast -
Direct 2x GigE (2000mbit/sec)
-
Chicago Internet
Exchange - Direct 2x GigE (2000mbit/sec)
-
Private
Peering - Direct 2x GigE (2000mbit/sec)
Level(3)
Level(3) is
one of the world's largest and most reliable carriers. Nine
out of ten of the world's largest telecom carriers all
continue to use Level(3) services, as do five of the top six
U.S. Internet Service Providers, and nine out of ten of the
largest European telecom carriers. The company operates a
22,500 mile broadband fiber optic network in 72 US markets
and 20 European markets.
Savvis
The Savvis IP
network spans 110 cities in 45 countries, encompassing the
U.S., Canada, Latin America, Europe, The Middle East, Asia
and The Pacific Rim. Known as The Network that Powers Wall
Street, more than 4,700 financial institutions, including 75
of the top 100 worldwide banks and 45 of the Top 50
brokerage firms, connect to SAVVIS to conduct secure
high-speed transmission of financial and economic data. From
this heritage of providing real-time applications management
for the world's most demanding customers, Savvis now has
over 70% of its customer base comprised of non-financial
enterprises and 50% of the Fortune 500. Savvis' network
reliability was declared "perfect" in Network World
magazine's groundbreaking study of backbone performance.
Savvis has recently purchased the US assets of Cable &
Wireless making them one of the largest US carriers and is
continuing its record of fast and extremely reliable
service.
nLayer
nLayer
Communications has designed and deployed a robust,
legacy-free, and highly scalable network spanning key
markets across North America. Major backbone nodes are
connected via multiple OC-192 (10 Gbps) diversely routed
circuits, provisioned over a highly scalable Dense Wave
Division Multiplexing (DWDM) infrastructure.
TeliaSonera
TeliaSonera
is the leading Nordic and Baltic telecommunications group
which was established in 2002, as the result of a merger
between the Swedish and Finnish telecommunications
companies, Telia and Sonera. Both companies have more than a
century of experience in the telecommunications industry.
TeliaSonera operates in more than 20 countries in Europe and
in the U.S. and Russia with more than 24,800 wholly-owned
global network route miles.
|
