Colorado Web Hosting Network Systems and Architecture

Colorado Web Hosting is a facility-based provider of Internet outsourcing services. Colorado Web Hosting's USA network is part of a global backbone, high performance network architecture with industry-leading public and private peering arrangements. The allied strengths of Colorado Web Hosting's network and server infrastructure are fundamental to delivering the outstanding levels of performance and service to Colorado Web Hosting's customers and yours, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The Network

The network is connected directly to the Internet via 3Com SuperStack switches, Cisco 7000 series routers, and T3 DSU/CSUs (Data Service Unit/Channel Service Units). Colorado Web Hosting runs BGP4 protocol in order to peer with several ISPs. During failure events with one ISP, network traffic is not affected as alternate router paths are taken. This allows for greater availability of applications. These routers are continually active and will automatically redistribute our traffic load upon failure events, resulting in a minimal downtime for the client's application.

Network circuits are provisioned on separate local loop carriers fiber optics (Qwest, MCI, AT&T and Verizon) who use the latest SONET and FDDI technology for the highest level of availability. We have two physically diverse entrance facilities to our Network Operations Centers (NOC) to ensure maximum separation of circuits for greater reliability.

Facilities
Colorado Web Hosting actually operates three Network Operations Centers around the country - one in Denver, one in Atlanta and one in New York. Each Network Operation Center (NOC) is hardened to provide the maximum level of security and availability. The NOC is housed in Class A locked office space within a campus environment with 24/7 manned on-premises security. The server room is separately secured for authorized personnel only.

The server room has a separate air conditioning system sized for the BTU requirements of the space. All power supplied to the server room is provided by a UPS system that is SNMP managed. The entire facility is served by two separate power substations from the local power companies. The primary substation provides buried, concrete encased powers lines to the office parks.

Services
Application services are designed to provide maximum up-time and performance 24 hours per day. Backup servers replace our production servers if there is failure. Tape backups are stored off-site on a daily basis.

Once our UPS system has detected a power loss and instantaneously compensated by activating back-up systems, our triple-redundant diesel generators begin feeding power to the batteries within a matter of seconds. The generators produce enough electricity to maintain server operations and climate control systems for a full seven days - more than enough time to outlast the effects of devastating natural disasters (we hope).

Colorado Web Hosting servers are SNMP managed and utilize devices located on an entirely different network to notify us by pager of any problems that internal SNMP may not be able to detect.