I currently co-locate a server but I have been talking with a couple of investors about taking this to the next level.

I am going to order a T-1, get a router, firewall, and a Linux server, and start offering, dedicated server hosting.

We were looking with going with a T-1 from Ardent and getting 256 IP address from them as a start.

We were looking at providing Athlon Servers and Pentium III/IV servers for dedicated servers.

We are looking at the Cisco 1605 + Cisco 3600 DSU/CSU for the WAN interface (not sure if we need that though).

So my questions are concerning the hardware that I will need.

Could any of you tell me the hardware that you are using? Such as your router, firewall, etc.

I am looking at the cost to do the startup. We have a building, just need to remodel.

Thanks
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Keith

Unless you offer VERY, VERY cheap dedicated servers, I don't see why people would want a dedicated on a T1 when they can get a dedicated server at a data center with much higher speeds for approx. same range of pricing.

You dont plan on offering your dedicated servers off of the T1 Line you plan on getting do you:confused:.

If so perhaps you may want to rethink your plan. You currently colo a server. Not exactly sure where this is at or what kind of connectivity the have or use but more than likely it is probably at least a single DS3 or multiple ones. By trying to host multiple servers (if this is your intention) off of a single T1 line will be like trying to sqeeze a bowling ball through the eye of a needle.

A T1 has a transfer rate of 1.544 Mb/sec whereas a DS3 is equivilant to a T3 or roughly 45 times the transfer rate of a T1. If you have just 1 server with a few heavy sites hosted on it, this will bring the T1 down to its knees. Not to mention a single point of failure.

I would recommend staying with the company where you are currently co-located at and then go through with your plan as you can use their backbones to provide much faster and more stable connections. or if you are not happy with them find another company to deal with.

Just my opinion.

You gotta start somewhere. I can't go out and get an DS-3.

I think you could run quite a few servers off of 1 T-1 line... couldn't you?

______________________
Keith

R E D U N D A N C Y & P E R F O M A N C E :)

what are you going to do (or explain to your customer) when the t1 goes down cus' any failure?

Why would you take on the responsibility and headaches of maintaining connectivity with a non-redundant T-1 solution when for probably significantly less money you can colocate and let someone else deal with those issues, have better connectivity and tend to other hosting issues?

I recommend finding a good data center that is local to you, rent some racks there, and co-locate your equpment. As has been said already, what happens if your single T1 line goes down? Or what happens if there is a power outage -- do you have UPS and generator backed equipment there?

If you still want to run your own data center, you would need at least:

1. Dual T1 lines from different providers
2. UPS backups
3. Generator
4. Secured room
5. 24/7 staffed, or at least always have someone that is on call

I agree with this post with all of my heart.

Here is how we started:

We started with a single T1 - but we DID NOT do dedicated servers. When people buy a dedicated server, you can bet 99% of the time they are running "mission critical" stuff on it that if it goes down, thier whole business is down. If you are going to get a single T1 - just start with hosting websites to generate enough money to get a second T1 (from a different provider) if for nothing else but redundancy. Y

You can even go with a Dual T-1 (otherwise known as a 3Mb) if needed from the same provider for redundancy, but go with a known company that knows how to put you on different switches in different cities (i.e. - Qwest, Sprint). I know that Qwest (who we use) will run the 3Mb connection for you on striped T's and it will still be fully redundant where if you were to lose one T, you would not be down, but you would only be half as fast.

As far as having your own datacenter, if you are going to do colocation, yes, you better have security and a whole lot of insurance on that equipment that you are going to have. If a fire, theft, or anything happens, you are going to have the liability of those customers machines, and you are going to have it overnight. They are going to want another box that same day that thiers is gone.

I agree everyone has to start somewhere, heck, we did! We have grown enough though that T's are in the past, but whatever provider you decide to go with, make sure that you are not locking yourself into a provider that does not know how to mux T'1s so that you can grow, or you will have another headache in 6 months with a normal 2 year contract. If you need information on where we have been and to avoid the problems we have seen, PM me off list and I can help you with who to stay away from, and who is ok to go with for scalability for the future.

Frank Arena
Node Hosting Internet Services
http://www.nodehosting.com

I am more optimistic about the ability of a "good" telco to service a leased line. Yes, it may go down on the average of twice a year - but the down time should be short-lived. Of course this varies enormously and depends on a number of factors but it is "possible" to get quality T-1 service and bet your hosting business on it - the chances are you will win that bet.

And despite the comments here about how little a T-1 is I would be very surprised if you could not carefully locate 20 or 30 servers on a T-1. You just have to gracefully turn away customers that need the big-pipes.

But like many that have replied here - even giving a single T-1 the benefit of the doubt, is it the smart business decision? In my opinion it is not. On the other hand, if it is not a purely analytical business decision and you just have to do it all yourself, then by all means order up the T-1!

Like my daddy use to say; "If you are going to skate on thin ice you might as well dance".

Scott Hirsch
securewebs.com