Collocation Benefits Web Page Hosting Canada

Collocation is storing your server equipment in a purpose built facility along with other client servers. The facility is managed to provide reliable networking and power and security services. All equipment is generally rack mounted for effective use of space. If required you can access you machines by going to the facility at any time during business hours or by appointment after hours in the event of an emergency.

Collocation facilities have the following properties not found in most commercial offices:

Multiple links to the Internet.
Backup power supplies
Climate controlled air conditioning
Raised floors for cabling
Electronic security systems

Benefits of Collocation
Collocation provides a very cost-effective means of accessing a secure hosting environment.

High speed connections via multiple carriers to prevent downtime.
Guaranteed power supply incorporating battery UPS for short term combined with an onsite diesel generator and sub-station for extended outages.
You can deploy new machines within 24 hours and easily expand as required.
All services are monitored by network engineers 24 x 7.
Collocation facility uses electronic access security & security guards to protect your equipment.

Collocation vs In-house
The advantages of Collocation in Canada become clear once you recognize the cost and time delays associated with providing the same services in an existing office or premises.

Server racks for storage of equipment
UPS capable of supporting machine for at least 15 minutes
Diesel generator (most offices cannot accommodate such equipment)
Router to connect to incoming Internet connections.
Network switch to allow connection of multiple machines
Firewall to protect network from attacks
At least two DDS or ATM connections to the Internet
Network monitoring and paging equipment
Climate control air conditioning system

Allow at least 30 working days for provision or upgrade of Internet connections
High speed connections might not be available at your location
Install, configure and load test your equipment

Even when all of these costs and time delays have been allowed for, the chances are your connection to the Internet will be substantially slower than that of a data centre's and limited in expansion capacity; you'll need to invest further in new routers if in future you need additional capacity. You probably won't be able to install a diesel generator or afford to have it tested on a monthly basis. Your data will be costing you 50% more because the volume is much lower and worst of all when there's a problem at 3am on a Sunday morning YOU will have to deal with it!

There must be some benefits of having your equipment in house right? Yes there are, you can access your machine at any time with ease using a keyboard and monitor. A function quite comfortably performed remotely using SSH or one of numerous free remote control packages for Windows.

Is it really worth spending thousands of dollars, losing your weekends and waiting for Internet connections to be installed when you could be up and running on the same day from as little as $172/month? (1RU server with power, UPS and 1GB of data).

What is Collocation?