pickles
12-06-2002, 11:36 PM
Hi folks,
I wanted to share my experiences touring the collocation facilities of ThePlanet.com. This may be helpful for folks evaluating new co-lo providers. I have a full rack with them, and am moving my servers over now. Today, I got stuck in Dallas, and decided to see if I could get a last minute tour to see my boxes. I called Jeff Renis, my rep, and 45 minutes later he was walking me through the data center.
ThePlanet has two data centers in Dallas. My server is located in the “2nd” data center. The facilities were previously “InFlows” that they acquired.
Security: The front desk required I trade a drivers licenses for a pass-key into the building. They verified I was a customer, and had me wait for my sales rep. While waiting, I witnessed, a PWC client, that the front desk obviously knew go through the same routine. She was given a key to her rack in addition to her pass, and was able to enter un-attended.
First Look: The first thing you can see, even from the lobby was the NOC. A large glass room, with 2 dozen or so large monitors, where folks were monitoring various center functions, and a huge (projection screen maybe) trouble ticket monitor. The data centers are tied together, so either center can respond to a trouble ticket. Four folks manned this area. Jeff told me there is a minimum of two folks onboard at all times, and as many as 6 or so during the day.
Rack Space Room: The racks are located in a very large room (couple football lengths maybe) with raised flooring. Some of the tiles are clear plexi-glass to allow folks to see what’s going on. I’m not sure they are there for tours, or if the serve any other function. Under the flooring are all the cables and fiber. Jeff explained how they use a row of hot and a row of cold. I guess he meant power vs bandwidth cables. He pointed out fire/smoke detectors in the floor and on the ceiling. There is also a VESDA (Very early Smoke Detector A???) installed through out the building by each air handler. These monitor not only smoke, but other chemical properties that may indicate a fire.
Racks. EVERY rack was locked with a steel-mesh door. Every rack appeared too neat. I’ve been in other data centers I thought were well organized, but I was wow-ed by how neat they kept these racks. In addition to locked racks, they also had “Cages” were folks can put racks and other equipment and and have there own room so to speak.
Power: The power room was located in the same building, but behind a fire-wall from rack room. Hairs stand on end in this room. I don’t recall all the details, but I think they have an “A” power grid for the left half of the room, and a “B” grid for the second have. A “C” grid, is available for backup should either A or/and B fail. From their we went outside where I saw three separate diesel powered generators, and a “diesel” tank with enough fuel to run the data center for 100+ days in a total-failure.
Crash/Console Carts: I saw at least two carts that had a monitor and PC/KB… These carts have folding chairs and can be wheeled to any rack necessary. Jeff explained that they are used by ThePlanet folks if you need them to be your eye/hands, and for the customers if you need direct access to your servers. This is nice, in that it means I don’t have to store similar equipment should I need this access.
Meeting/Training Rooms. Go figure, they have 2/3 meeting rooms and 2 training rooms that WE can use if available. Its on a first come/book first served basis.
Break Room: A break room with snacks/coffee and a fuz-ball table is also available.
This data-center way exceeded my expectations and my previous co-location. I don’t think The Planet is the cheapest out there, but for me they were competitive enough to select. In the end, it was Jeff’s help on the telephone that won me over. Now that I’ve seen the center I’m gad I made this choice.
This report is obviously biased. Not because I get anything in return, but because of how impressed I am with them. If you are in the Dallas area, give Jeff a call and ask for a tour. There is more that I saw and heard, but it doesn’t come to mind right now. If you have any questions that I can answer I’ll be glad to do so.
Bob
PS: My rack was up within days of ordering, and my server was up in less that 24 hours of FedEx signature.
I wanted to share my experiences touring the collocation facilities of ThePlanet.com. This may be helpful for folks evaluating new co-lo providers. I have a full rack with them, and am moving my servers over now. Today, I got stuck in Dallas, and decided to see if I could get a last minute tour to see my boxes. I called Jeff Renis, my rep, and 45 minutes later he was walking me through the data center.
ThePlanet has two data centers in Dallas. My server is located in the “2nd” data center. The facilities were previously “InFlows” that they acquired.
Security: The front desk required I trade a drivers licenses for a pass-key into the building. They verified I was a customer, and had me wait for my sales rep. While waiting, I witnessed, a PWC client, that the front desk obviously knew go through the same routine. She was given a key to her rack in addition to her pass, and was able to enter un-attended.
First Look: The first thing you can see, even from the lobby was the NOC. A large glass room, with 2 dozen or so large monitors, where folks were monitoring various center functions, and a huge (projection screen maybe) trouble ticket monitor. The data centers are tied together, so either center can respond to a trouble ticket. Four folks manned this area. Jeff told me there is a minimum of two folks onboard at all times, and as many as 6 or so during the day.
Rack Space Room: The racks are located in a very large room (couple football lengths maybe) with raised flooring. Some of the tiles are clear plexi-glass to allow folks to see what’s going on. I’m not sure they are there for tours, or if the serve any other function. Under the flooring are all the cables and fiber. Jeff explained how they use a row of hot and a row of cold. I guess he meant power vs bandwidth cables. He pointed out fire/smoke detectors in the floor and on the ceiling. There is also a VESDA (Very early Smoke Detector A???) installed through out the building by each air handler. These monitor not only smoke, but other chemical properties that may indicate a fire.
Racks. EVERY rack was locked with a steel-mesh door. Every rack appeared too neat. I’ve been in other data centers I thought were well organized, but I was wow-ed by how neat they kept these racks. In addition to locked racks, they also had “Cages” were folks can put racks and other equipment and and have there own room so to speak.
Power: The power room was located in the same building, but behind a fire-wall from rack room. Hairs stand on end in this room. I don’t recall all the details, but I think they have an “A” power grid for the left half of the room, and a “B” grid for the second have. A “C” grid, is available for backup should either A or/and B fail. From their we went outside where I saw three separate diesel powered generators, and a “diesel” tank with enough fuel to run the data center for 100+ days in a total-failure.
Crash/Console Carts: I saw at least two carts that had a monitor and PC/KB… These carts have folding chairs and can be wheeled to any rack necessary. Jeff explained that they are used by ThePlanet folks if you need them to be your eye/hands, and for the customers if you need direct access to your servers. This is nice, in that it means I don’t have to store similar equipment should I need this access.
Meeting/Training Rooms. Go figure, they have 2/3 meeting rooms and 2 training rooms that WE can use if available. Its on a first come/book first served basis.
Break Room: A break room with snacks/coffee and a fuz-ball table is also available.
This data-center way exceeded my expectations and my previous co-location. I don’t think The Planet is the cheapest out there, but for me they were competitive enough to select. In the end, it was Jeff’s help on the telephone that won me over. Now that I’ve seen the center I’m gad I made this choice.
This report is obviously biased. Not because I get anything in return, but because of how impressed I am with them. If you are in the Dallas area, give Jeff a call and ask for a tour. There is more that I saw and heard, but it doesn’t come to mind right now. If you have any questions that I can answer I’ll be glad to do so.
Bob
PS: My rack was up within days of ordering, and my server was up in less that 24 hours of FedEx signature.