Time has come when I feel almost 'certain' that our new network is 100% completed, tested and ready to go live. However I want to make sure I've not left anything out. So I would like any input, whatever it may be! :) Especially input for those who purchase reseller packages from others.

I want to provide the best possible service to my customers so this is why I am asking for suggestions before our teams fly back to Australia.

I¡¦ve been doing heavy research over the last 8 months into which datacenter to secure our roots into, I¡¦ve also employed a network consultant to help me with my decisions as I am a perfectionist. I ended up choosing 365main.net in San Francisco after a very, very impressive walk thought of the facilities. This building is short of amazing and boosts only one of very few datacenters that is as well setup as this one, including being N+2 redundant and NOC staff on every floor dedicated to each colocation and caging areas.

Our network deployment consists of Cisco switching gear (3750) and Cyclades power strips, and serial console devices on our own redundant dedicated GigE network connections directly connected to 4 Tier 1 IP providers. I am also debating if we should pick up another additional Cisco switch as for a secondary backup with its own backup fiber connection.

As far as management capabilities go, all servers can be remotely rebooted, cycled, turned off and on as well as their power currents monitored all remotely. The console server is connected to our main, backup and other devices allowing us to do anything from system operating system reinstall remotely to reconfiguring any part of our network. We¡¦re also thinking of deploying a 48 port Cyclades console server per cabinet and directly connecting each and every single server for total remotely management capabilities; even the ability to enter bios, and reinstall the operating system remotely.

For backup plans, we¡¦ve made guarantees with both the president of the datacenter, our the NOC guys who have guaranteed us very impressive turn around times for any issue we can¡¦t handle remotely. As well as this, we¡¦ve made relationships for new server installs, upgrades with a local resident that can deploy himself to the datacenter in 2hours. We can¡¦t deploy ourselves this fast as we¡¦re from Australia! ƒº.

As for equipment, we¡¦ve made relationships with Supermicro, and wholesalers that can provider us with any amounts of CPU¡¦s, Processors, and Ram modules within 24hours. As well as this, we¡¦ve stocked each cabinet with additional ram modules, and each type of hard drive we use. Most servers are hot swappable and all spare backup hard drives are already in caddies for <5min replacement. Each server is on rails, and positioned so they can be worked on without needing to take the rack out of the cabinet. As well as this, we¡¦ve increased the distance between the top and bottom of each server to increase airflow and reduce heat.

As for support, we offer response time guarantees and immediate action on urgent problems. This guarantee is across the board, for shared, reseller, dedicated and our high paying managed customers. This is our main selling point, and I am determined to maintain it. If you think we take support lightly, our support staff are issued with hand held Compaq¡¦s that can connect anywhere in our area (75km/radius) to attend to support issues and also carry devices that alert of servers with high loads, power out, or network status down. As for me personally, I carry two devices on two different types of network connectivity to alert me of anything that could cause downtown to any type of customer of ours as well as prevention alerts to prevent downtime. I carry two devices for redundancy, as well as this, one device connects directly to my alarm clock for when I sleep and will only wake me up for urgent problems that cause downtime.

My aim is to deploy the best possible product people can buy. I am currently posting this messages from the datacenter and with me, and also with me is my sales team (but not billing) so he also knows the working of this network so he can assist anyone with very detailed information.

Now from a prospective of a reseller, can anyone additionally give me any suggestions on your thoughts of this? Also, what we could do to further strengthen our business model and network.

Any input would be much appreciated.

Very impressive. Your serious :)

Will you offer reseller packages? I'd like to see the packages (and the 'grand opening' specials :D

Cpanel or Ensim?

Any Website up yet?

Whats the Australian connection. I'd like a host downunder

Redundant GigEs... for reseller packages? Why would you spend all that money if you're just offering reseller packages? You want to be the next Rackspace, I guess... but Rackspace does dedicateds.

To me, this seems like a lot of initial expense. I see a lot about how much money you've spent, but nothing about your business plan. How are you going to make this work? (Hint: "Better" alone won't sell; you'll need marketing and advertising... did you save room in the budget for that?)

Originally posted by Simpli-Erica
Redundant GigEs... for reseller packages? Why would you spend all that money if you're just offering reseller packages? You want to be the next Rackspace, I guess... but Rackspace does dedicateds.

Not entirely correct, we’re already an established business with very large American customer base and small chunk of local Australian businesses. We’ve always offered reseller packages, but only when people specifically inquired about them.

To me, this seems like a lot of initial expense. I see a lot about how much money you've spent, but nothing about your business plan. How are you going to make this work? (Hint: "Better" alone won't sell; you'll need marketing and advertising... did you save room in the budget for that?)

Good point, but with our current network we were actually spending more money per month maintaining it. While short term what we've just completed has cost us a fair chunk of capital we've now pretty much cut our monthly expenses in half but with room to power almost any service we would like to provide, with the advantage of it being superior in almost any form.

The advantage we have in this situation is, my business is very well established, this move while we haven't moved the chunk of our customers is resulting in our jobs being much easier. And quite possibly the best advantage of all is, we’re already established and we’ve just dropped our monthly expenses but highly increased our capacity so now we can slowly without the worry of making anything work increase our customer base.

If you ever read our business plan, it states for the first 5 years any extra income apart from expenses will go directly back into streamlining and making the company better for the customers, so with the extra money we will have I plan to further employ additional support stuff who specialize in FreeBSB, and maybe Windows and also setup toll free US phone support (This is setup, just testing the VoIP).