Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Dedicated Server : Setting up our 1st Datacenter. How is this...

[Dranoel]

We are setting up our first Datacenter. Here are the Specs:

10 Gateway 9200 ALR (Quad Zeons 400mhz, 4 Gigs Memory, 300 Gig SATA Drives, 3 Power Supplies)

Breakdown: 2 DNS, 2 Web Servers, 2 Mail Servers, 2 MySql Servers, 1 Gateway/Firewall Server, 1 Backup Server.

We are using Battery Backups for each Computer, Switch, and Cisco Router.

Software will be CentOS for all computers, and using H-Sphere to handle Control Panel for users. We will be using HA Clustering (For Web, Mail, MySql Servers) & Heartbeat for server failures.

We have a dedicated fiber Optic T1.

Here are my question. If we host fewer than 150 web sites- does this setup seem to work? If so, could it support more?

Also, any other suggestions to make better use of our hardware? I know it is older equipment, but it is what we have at the moment. =)

Thanks for your thoughts and experience, and welcoming me into your community.

Dale

[HostingFuze]

It's Quad Xeon, and you are starting a full datacenter for 150 websites or are you colocating it? No need for battery backups, you should get a generator, battery backups won't last that long on a large power outage. Fiber Optic T1; Could you give a specific speed on this (ie: T1 is 1.5MBPS).

Cicso is a great way to go, we use them for all our servers. Best way is to get a managed cisco switch so you can monitor bandwidth, or setup MRTG. I personally prefer a managed switch.

[Dranoel]

Originally Posted by SelectByte

It's Quad Xeon, and you are starting a full datacenter for 150 websites or are you colocating it? No need for battery backups, you should get a generator, battery backups won't last that long on a large power outage. Fiber Optic T1; Could you give a specific speed on this (ie: T1 is 1.5MBPS).

Cicso is a great way to go, we use them for all our servers. Best way is to get a managed cisco switch so you can monitor bandwidth, or setup MRTG. I personally prefer a managed switch.

We have it setup at our facility. It has been a 4 month process.

The T1 is a 1.54 provided by Verizon.

We are looking at getting a LP Generator on an outside skid (enough to power building & AC units), but that won't happen until the 1st of the year. Until then, we are counting on now prolonged power outages.

[HostingFuze]

How large is your facility and how many servers do you plan on placing on this line? Honestly I would not even recommend putting more than 2 boxes on a Standard T1 line, as you can't even pass 350GB~.

[qwidjib0]

Selectbyte's correct about batteries not lasting long - but batteries and generators are both typically important, since generators don't start up instantly. APC has some cost-effective UPS (uninteruptable power supply) systems you may consider implementing so your servers don't still turn off with the power. Redundant internet connections with diverse paths, cooling, and fire suppression are good points to consider too.

1/4 rack of servers is a bit smaller than most data centers I've seen start at (even many colocation offerings), but I see no reason why this wouldn't work - it just probably won't be totally cost-effective to get the security and reliability you'd see at a professional facility.

[HostingFuze]

Originally Posted by qwidjib0

Selectbyte's correct about batteries not lasting long - but batteries and generators are both typically important, since generators don't start up instantly. APC has some cost-effective UPS (uninteruptable power supply) systems you may consider implementing so your servers don't still turn off with the power. Redundant internet connections with diverse paths, cooling, and fire suppression are good points to consider too.

1/4 rack of servers is a bit smaller than most data centers I've seen start at (even many colocation offerings), but I see no reason why this wouldn't work - it just probably won't be totally cost-effective to get the security and reliability you'd see at a professional facility.

I agree 100% with you. Security and reliability is a must. We currently are renting large space in a datacenter local to us. We checked into starting our own facility before starting the business but it is not cost effective. Have 1 network provider at 1.5MBPS is truly out dated; 99% dedicated servers run on 10MBPS minimum connection per server.

[taylorwilsdon]

You could have 25 quad xeons @ 4ghz each and your customers still would get awful load times with a 1.54mbps pipe.

If you really think you can host 150 sites on a narrowband pipe, think again. I can't imagine why you'd invest all this money into infrastructure and finish it off with a weak pipe. You'll be bottlenecking with a couple small file downloads to cable customers.

[HostingFuze]

Originally Posted by taylorwilsdon

You could have 25 quad xeons @ 4ghz each and your customers still would get awful load times with a 1.54mbps pipe.

If you really think you can host 150 sites on a narrowband pipe, think again. I can't imagine why you'd invest all this money into infrastructure and finish it off with a weak pipe. You'll be bottlenecking with a couple small file downloads to cable customers.

Or you can have 1 and have a ddos attack which will take down your network and make it severly slow. It's much better to purchase space from a datacenter and get a burstable connection for each line, so if you get a ddos attack you can burst past your allotted speed, as long as you don't go past 10 megs in the end.

[quid246]

If it is only a single T1 (1.544 Mbps) you are getting, then I hate to say it you'll be out of business sooner than you think. Considering cable modems run at twice that speed (albeit most of them one way), a few broadband users will tap that mother out.

A T1 was adequate in the early days of dialup... but those days are thankfully behind us.

Seriously... colo is the way to go. The moment you have an outage due to powerloss, HVAC problems and so forth... people will be scrambling to get off your servers like they were the plague. Leave DC business to facilities that can handle the all the details... not to mention you will get a nicer pipe there.

[HostingFuze]

Good poing quid246. I have 6MBPS (download) comcast cable and if I download from a T1 line I will practically wipe out all the resources.

[RyanD]

Why use the 7-8 year old machines?

A current day dual-core AMD x2 3800 or P4D-805 will significantly out perform those systems. They also will probably be significantly more reliable since they aren't already 8 years old. They'll also consume less power.

I guess if those antiquated Xeons were free then you could find some use for them but I wouldn't base my entire business around that line of hardware.

[HostingFuze]

Originally Posted by WireSix

Why use the 7-8 year old machines?

A current day dual-core AMD x2 3800 or P4D-805 will significantly out perform those systems. They also will probably be significantly more reliable since they aren't already 8 years old. They'll also consume less power.

I guess if those antiquated Xeons were free then you could find some use for them but I wouldn't base my entire business around that line of hardware.

You are right, and I bet they are P3 Xeon's.

400 x 4 = 1600MHz (1.6GHz Server).

Who uses 1.6 for hosting these days?

[quid246]

Originally Posted by SelectByte

Who uses 1.6 for hosting these days?

*laugh* So true, you can't even find 1.6's on most server companies clearout/closeout specials.

Mind you, depending on what you are using it for... a 1.6 box might be enough to do certain types of hosting... albeit not alot of it.

If one were setting up a data center in perhaps a third-world nation where dialup is the norm, then that setup might not be too shabby. But considering he is getting the line from Verizon... chances are likely they are in the USA. As much as applaud the OPs entrepenuerial spirit... it sounds like a backroom operation to me.

[RyanD]

Originally Posted by SelectByte

You are right, and I bet they are P3 Xeon's.

400 x 4 = 1600MHz (1.6GHz Server).

Who uses 1.6 for hosting these days?

I thought the pIII xeons started at pIII/500mhz/1mb cache xeons? maybe those are pII

[HostingFuze]

Hm, I think your right WireSix. Most of the boxes we sell under ~2.6GHz are usually just for testing out things, running a shoutcast, maybe a few sites.