Tips For Managing Collocated Servers

Collocated Servers Can Be Managed Remotely Over the Internet
With colocation services you would put servers in a state-of-the-art colocation facility which will provide a 100Mbps or 1,000Mbps or 10,000Mbps Internet
connection. You can administer the servers remotely and the colocation facility will provide any needed support 24/7.  With this type of service there is no local loop charge as there would be with a dedicated line to your location.  This is a great way to go when you need to use a decent amount of bandwidth and need extreme uptime and a low budget.

You can work on your servers as though they were under your desk.  You can collocate the servers and access them via Terminal Server (Windows 2000/2003 Server) or VNC (Windows, Linux, Unix Servers).  Terminal Server and VNC both give you a "console" view of the server from anywhere in the world.  There are also several other software that perform this same function.

Collocated Servers Are Easy To Manage At A Distance In A Colocation Facility Which Has Good Remote Hands Services
Most of the very best colocation facilities will offer a service called Remote Hands Service or Smart Hands.  This is a service where you can email or call in to have the data center take care of physical things that you might normally think you would do yourself in person.  This might be something like typing a few commands to help recover a server or plugging in network lines, or even mounting new server hardware in a rack and plugging network lines into it.  The very best premium facilities, such as Hurricane Electric, will have staff on site around the clock 24/7 to help do the Remote Hands Staff.  Hurricane is one of the few companies that includes this service fro free with their colocation.  Most companies such as Equinix or Level 3 will charge $100/hour or more for this type of service.  One of the benefits of having the service already included is that there is no paperwork involved when you need a task done in a hurry.  This saves you having to fill out forms and supply a credit card, and schedule the work, etc.  It is a great and useful tool that can allow you to manage your servers from an hour away, or from half way around the world.

Benefits of Secure Locking Colocation Cabinets VS Cages In Racks
There are several common space options offered in most colocation facilities.  The older method of selling colocation was to get a rack in a shared cage.  The disadvantage of getting just one of the racks in a cage is that if someone from another company comes in and is working on another rack and inadvertently trips and grabs lines or power cords on your cabinet, they could easily, though mistakenly take down your companies collocated services.  The most popular space option offered is colocation full cabinets which are usually 42u tall (about 7 feet tall) and 19 inches wide.  Secure Locking Cabinets are the most popular because hey are secure and modular.  You can easily add another cabinet and each cabinet is individually secure.  Cross connects between the cabinets are easy within the best colocation facilities.  Though be aware that some colocation facilities charge for cross connects and some do not.  Check this before setting up your planed growth.

Benefits of Getting Your Own Full Cabinet VS Shared Cabinets
When considering a shared cabinet situation verses getting your own full dedicated locking cabinet with a dedicated power circuit, here are some important things to consider:

A Full Secure Individually Locking Cabinet would be far better than sharing a cabinet and sharing power.  Here are three critical reasons why it is best to get a full cabinet when using colocation services as opposed to sharing a cabinet:

1. Improved Security is Imperative for Colocation
If you have the Full Cabinet all to your own company only, there is improved security knowing that no one else would be going in the cabinet. If you only get shared cabinet space, then some other company would be in the same cabinet and their staff would be going in there.

2. Dedicated Voltage Smoothed, UPS & Generator Backed Power Circuits Are an Important Part of Achieving Colocation Stable Uptime.
If you were to only purchase part of a rack, then the colocation cabinet space and power will be shared.  Your equipment would also be using the same power circuit as other companies in the shared cabinet.  This means that if the other company in the cabinet overloaded the power circuit it would bring your equipment down.  It is best for you to get your own individual cabinet with your own dedicated power circuit so that you are protected from something like this. T his way your power is not shared with any other companies.

3. Seamless Upgrade Path of a Dedicated Full Colocation Cabinet Illuminates Costly Downtime
A third very important benefit of having the full cabinet from the start is that if you got only part of a cabinet then when you upgraded to the full cabinet your equipment would have to move to a new cabinet and would have to set up your network all over again.  This creates unnecessary and sometimes costly downtime. It is best to start it our right.  Colocation services are all about security and stability with fast 24/7 service so the best colocation companies do not offer 1/2 colocation cabinet.  Those companies who do offer shared ½ cabinets are not offering what is in your best interest.  The full cabinet is best for your needs if you can afford it.

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