Does living across the road from a large datacenter open up new possiblities for an Internet business ? Now and then I hear web host complaining about having to wait some time for DC techs to attend to their servers while clients breathe down their necks. Proximity would help then ?

Originally posted by Ben99
Does living across the road from a large datacenter open up new possiblities for an Internet business ? Now and then I hear web host complaining about having to wait some time for DC techs to attend to their servers while clients breathe down their necks. Proximity would help then ?

I don't know... if you were able to pop over the street at 3am in the morning to hurry up the techs, I can see you getting 'tagged' (for want of a better word) ie "Here's Brad Baker, we'll put this job to the bottom of the pile, he such a pain, wish he would just let us do our job!"

I would say a good DC would make a difference as well as a good relationship with the DC.

Really if you manage your own servers correctly and have a good DC the only time you need to contact them is to change a piece of physical hardware ie hdd etc etc.

Most DCs require secure authorized access. Living across the street from it wont allow you in the building, that's their job.

Originally posted by Ben99
Does living across the road from a large datacenter open up new possiblities for an Internet business ? Now and then I hear web host complaining about having to wait some time for DC techs to attend to their servers while clients breathe down their necks. Proximity would help then ?

if you are a competent technician, you can offer your remote hands services to folks who collocate in said datacenter. chances are you will be able to undercut the datacenter's pricing, provide more qualified and attentive service all while charging fair fees for your work.

alternatively, you could sell servers with onsite service warranty, like interpromicro does with henet in fremont.

paul

Does living across the road from a large datacenter
Do you really want to live across the road from a large datacentre?

Originally posted by Amdac
Most DCs require secure authorized access. Living across the street from it wont allow you in the building, that's their job.

Exactly !
But I have heard some ppl getting Access on request because they had 10+ Servers with the DC.

Most datacentres do allow client access, espeacially on colo
I'd be pissed if I couldn't access my kit...

Most datacentres do allow client access, espeacially on colo
I'd be pissed if I couldn't access my kit...
Yes, but you can't just walk in as if you own the place, or without anyone knowing you're there. They'll let you in, yes, but they will know you're there as well.

Originally posted by robdavy
Most datacentres do allow client access, espeacially on colo
I'd be pissed if I couldn't access my kit...

The only way they'd allow you in is with a personal escort to and from your colo server, as letting someone in the building poses a serious security risk to every server in the DC. This would definately not even be an option on dedicated severs.

I'd love to know where you get the info to say most datacenters will allow you to walk in and mess with a server. I've never seen a single one.

the only time a dc will let you in to work on a server is if you are a colo customer.

They may be able to run bandwidth to your place. If your office is secure and setup for it, you might consider colo'ing your boxes there. We actually started out that way...when we used to be in the same building as a local ISP. They ran 100 mpbs ethernet to our offices for a really discounted rate.

--Tina

Originally posted by Amdac
The only way they'd allow you in is with a personal escort to and from your colo server, as letting someone in the building poses a serious security risk to every server in the DC. This would definately not even be an option on dedicated severs.

I'd love to know where you get the info to say most datacenters will allow you to walk in and mess with a server. I've never seen a single one.

you are speaking bullcrap. if you are a colo customer with a lockable enclosure, most decent datacenters will allow 24/7 access. likewise, you will be able to designate such agents (ie employees) as you deem necessary to be allowed access to your enclosure via an access list.

if you were to sign a contract to provide remote hands services to folks collocating at said datacenter, they shouldn't experience any problems getting you on the access list for their gear.

paul

If you're a colo customer, you'll be let in, but you'll be guarded. Someone wil probably follow you around, and make sure you only go to your cage/rack or U.

I agree with everything rusko has said, and the bottom line is that if you have the access to the DC you are in a good situation because of your location.

If you offer dedicated servers, you just need to run across the street instead of a 15 minute ride to the DC :)

You're lucky.

With all the story we heard about how datacenter mishandle your server. You're in a position where you don't have to worry about that.

Peace of mind is invaluable.

Good Luck!

Cheers,

Matt

I used to live right behind The Planet/ServerMatrix. Visited their datacenter and was told that ,n the rented servers, you couldn't really do anything with them in terms of hardware upgrades/changes. I can't remember if you could plug in a monitor and do stuff locally though.

However, it's always convenient if you're renting real estate (co-lo/rackspace) with them so you can hop over there whenever there's an emergency.

Roj

With ThePlanet/ServerMatrix, you could use their meeting facilities for company meetings and what not :)

I personally think it really depends on the rules the datacenter has in place in regards to allowing on site access. I realize that some give 24/7 access by having a "check in" system by utilizing man traps or staff acting as scheuffers. For example I live 11 minutes away from 151 Front Street where I plan to be colocating in the next while, however unfortunately the way its setup I wouldnt have access to my gear. :mad:

Regards,

Troy

Well if I could afford tolive in london, I could gain access to redbus any time I wanted, they give you a Proximity Access Tag which you just wave at the door and walk in. To gain access to the lifts tho the ops staff have to approve you, but there's always someone there to click ok on the console...

Okay, what Troy said is quite common sense I think. Please *check* to see that the datacenter has policies that make sense for you so that you can use it when you think it's necessary...

Roj

If the datacenter offers colo services, then you can make a nice profit by offering remote hands on-site.

If they don't you can ask for a private line / LAN / net to your home and colo some servers there.

Originally posted by Anjay
Do you really want to live across the road from a large datacentre?


Sure i would... i would somehow figure out a way to tap into the backbone :)

Nothing like a OC-192 Backbone to your house:rolleyes:

Its alot better to have your offices as close to your data centre as possible , that way you dont have to wait for the data centre staff to get round to it if you need a re-boot done asap etc , Customers also respond better when they know you can be beside the server in a matter of mintues should there be a problem.

Originally posted by Sposs
Its alot better to have your offices as close to your data centre as possible , that way you dont have to wait for the data centre staff to get round to it if you need a re-boot done asap etc , Customers also respond better when they know you can be beside the server in a matter of mintues should there be a problem.

Once again, it's almost impossible to gain entry access to a DC. None of the major ones allow any public access for security reasons.

Originally posted by Amdac
Once again, it's almost impossible to gain entry access to a DC. None of the major ones allow any public access for security reasons.

huh?

I am assuming you mean they don't allow public access to any bum who walks off the street looking for a cool place to lay down. I've never known a datacenter not to allow access to customers.

Agree with nickn ,why would you ever sign up to a datacentre that doesn't allow you access to your own equipment?

Originally posted by nickn
huh?

I am assuming you mean they don't allow public access to any bum who walks off the street looking for a cool place to lay down. I've never known a datacenter not to allow access to customers.

Example:
http://www.ev1servers.net/english/dc/secure.asp

Hard to trust people not to walk around and start pulling plugs.

Originally posted by Sposs
Agree with nickn ,why would you ever sign up to a datacentre that doesn't allow you access to your own equipment?

Dedicated servers aren't yours to modify, they're leased.

Originally posted by Amdac
Dedicated servers aren't yours to modify, they're leased.

I would imagine the majority of people in here are NOT talking about dedicated servers. They seem to be discussing co-located equipment which they do own.

Originally posted by Asci
I would imagine the majority of people in here are NOT talking about dedicated servers. They seem to be discussing co-located equipment which they do own.

I mentioned that on page 1 :D Co-location may give access via escort, but it's very unlikely with dedicated servers.

Originally posted by Amdac
I mentioned that on page 1 :D Co-location may give access via escort, but it's very unlikely with dedicated servers.

No one is asking for access with dedicated servers. In fact, there is no need for access with dedicated servers. However, in a co-location situation it is absolutely crucial that you are able to access your systems. I've not found a single datacenter that doesn't allow co-located customers access to their equipment.

Unless you feel like paying outrageous amounts for the datacenters incompetent technicians, access is a necessity.

Originally posted by Amdac
Dedicated servers aren't yours to modify, they're leased.

We have hundreds of dedicated servers that we own and colo in a DC , the thoughts of not been able to access them whenever we want is not worth thinking about.

We used to have colo at a Level 3 datacenter. Since it was all locked cabinets/cages/vaults all that was needed was a key card and the hand that matches it and you could gain access 24/7 at a moments notice. I would say if it was free standing racks then you would need to make an appointment and would be escorted.

In respects to the OP, living nearby to a DC might be a good thing, if you're qualified for working on clients servers, however, taking on such a position would also mean you'd always have to be next door to the DC as well. Since the thread seems to be more about Collocation, yes, most DC's have approved access lists, giving you 24 X 7 access to their facilities. For a normal dedi server though, no, you would not get access for it, but it was already noted as being about colo, so I won't go into that part. You might also want to talk with the DC, and see if they'd be willing to put you on staff to assist with things, such as a NOC admin, reboot technician, hardware guy, etc.

Thanks,