Connectivity

St. Louis Missouri, Data Center with optionally managed servers. We do not outsource our support techs from abroad. Our dedicated servers in Missouri are in a  APS 400 Certified datacenter connected via 10-Gigabit Ethernet & 2.5Gbps Wavelength handoff(s) on redundant/dual-path OC48/OC192 DWDM fiber-optic transport connections to XO™ Communications and Zayo™ Bandwidth, vital for any web hosting service. Verizon™ (Formerly Bell Atlantic PA) andFrontier™ Communications (Formerly Commonwealth Telephone – CTSI), fiber is also available in the facility.

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The network currently connects POPs (Points of Presence) in Dunmore, Philadelphia, & NYC. Transit is provided via multiple 10-Gigabit/Gigabit Ethernet transit circuits from Global Crossing™ (http://www.gblx.com), Cogent™ Communications (http://www.cogentco.com), BTN™/PCCW™ (http://www.btnaccess.com), XO™ Communications (http://www.xo.com), Hurricane Electric™ (http://www.he.net), & Deutsche Telekom™ (http://www.deutschetelekom-icss.com). We also peer with multiple carriers at the New York Internet Exchange™ (http://www.nyiix.net).

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For redundancy, Hosting and Designs L.L.C. is currently running BGP4 (border gateway routing protocol). This maintains the speed and uptime for all our dedicated servers. If one backbone line goes down, it will balance the load with the other(s). If one line gets congested, it will load balance the traffic. Hosting and Designs L.L.C. has dedicated servers on the St, Louis and is currently negotiating with additional major backbone providers to open POPs in the Hosting and Designs L.L.C. Missouri facility, with XO™ Communications being available already at this time.

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Hardware

The Network Operations Center utilizes ONLY top name brand hardware for our server hosting service. The network is centered on Cisco™ 6500-series border/core routers and 4900M switches. These connect via Gigabit Ethernet (1000mbps) to the Cisco™ 6500-series aggregation switches. Hewlett Packard™ Procurve™ & Extreme™ Summit™ 24/48/4 managed distribution switches comprise the power and stability of the internal network, operating at 10/100/1000 Mbps switched ethernet speeds. 

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The Cisco Guard™ protection systems protect our web hosting service from Distributed Denial of Service (DDOS) attacks. Hardware utilized in the facility is comprised of name brands, including the following: Intel™, Asus™, Supermicro™, AMD™, Adaptec™, Cisco™, Kingston™, Micron™, Crucial™, 3Ware™, Maxtor™, Abit™, Western-Digital™, Seagate™, Hitachi™, Dell™, Realtec™, & Belkin™, APC™, Tripp-Lite™, Powerware™, & Liebert™. Facility monitoring is provided by a Geovision™ Digital Video System over Sony™ & Panasonic™ CCTV cameras.

 

Failsafe Power Supply

Our St. Louis Missouri Data Center currently has 1200amps 480V & 800amps 208V 3-Phase power currently available from PP&L™ (Pennsylvania Power & Electric). The facility is currently backed up and protected by multiple 275KVA and 160KVA Powerware™ 9315/9395 facility-wide UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) systems, which feed PDI™, MGE™, & Liebert™ PDU (Power Distribution Unit) systems. In a very rare case of a utility outage, our Cummins™ 250KW & Detroit Diesel™ 580KW & 675KW diesel generators start automatically, taking over for the UPS systems and supplying all necessary power for the facility. The generators interface to the power grids thru Asco™ 7000 & RussElectric™ RTBD automatic transfer panels. With multiple fuel tanks on-site, the generators are capable of running without refueling for approximately 48 hours.

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Environment Precision-controlled raised floor air conditioning systems to protect and cool mission-critical web hosting services and equipment in the St. Louis data Center. The facility is controlled by multiple 30-Ton APC™/Airflow™, 20-Ton Liebert™, & 20-Ton Data Aire™ dual-compressor redundant systems. These systems provide a virtually dust-free and particle-free computing environment, with temperature, humidity, and air-quality regulation. This is important for any web hosting company.

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Security Restricted access to the Network Operations Center is monitored by qualified personnel 24 hours a day, every day. Visitors and clientele are only allowed on-site if escorted by Network Operations Center staff. Our St. Louis data center is monitored, ensuring prompt response and thorough coverage to fire or security alarms. We supply all our Network Operations Center customers with advanced firewall, encryption, intrusion detection and other security measures. Hosting and Designs L.L.C. maintains a full digital video surveillance system of the Network Operations Center.

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Backup Systems

These services are optionally available to all dedicated server clientele. Hosting and Designs L.L.C. offers secondary hard drives for data backups, They also provide free off-server and off-site backup services labeled as “FTP backup” for all our dedicated servers in St. Louis Missouri.

 

24x7x365 Monitoring

The Network Operations Center uses industry-standard SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol.) It provides round-the-clock monitoring of all hardware, including routers, switches, UPS systems, and servers. The Network Operations Center also monitors power, environmental factors (such as temperature and humidity), generator status, and network connectivity.

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Monitoring of all critical services is possible. This includes FTP, HTTP, SMTP, HTTPS, SSH, TELNET, and POP3. We provide network monitoring of the Local Area Network, Internet connectivity (all routers, switches, and wiring), and the Internet backbone via MRTG. We are in constant communication with our upstream backbone providers. This ensures that our customers have constant access to high-performance Internet connections. Failure on any monitoring service results in audible alarms, LAN messages, and alerting our staff paging system. Hosting and Designs L.L.C. offers remote cold boot hardware for a dedicated server, with private, password protected, web-based access.

 

Software

The Network Operations Center utilizes the CentOS Linux operating system on the majority of servers present. CentOS Linux is a highly configurable system, and well known for speed and stability. CentOS Linux servers have been documented to remain operating for up to one year at a time without even requiring a reboot. The Apache Web Server nicely compliments the CentOS Linux Operating System. The majority of remaining dedicated servers operate on the Microsoft Windows 2012/2016 Server operating system. Hosting and Designs L.L.C. also supports FreeBSD, Fedora, Ubuntu, Debian operating systems. CPanel, Plesk, DirectAdmin, vePortal/OpenVZ, & Virtuozzo control panels compliment the default OS.

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