Server
Hardware
Industrial strength web server equipment for performance and
reliability. Servers have a minimum of 256 megabytes of
memory with storage spread across multiple SCSI hard disk
drives.
Server
Software
Both UNIX and Microsoft Windows based servers for maximum
flexibility. Installations include the Apache web server,
qmail mail server and mySQL database server.
Data
Centre
Equipment is located in a shared data centre in London Docklands,
providing the servers with the optimum operational
conditions. Facilities include the round the clock provision
of security personnel and an air conditioned, controlled
environment.
Internet
Connection
Located in the proximity of one of Europe's busiest Internet
hubs, enabling direct access to the highest
capacity broadband IP network in the UK. Bandwidth to server
racks is presented on two gigabit fibers from independent
routers yielding a network with no single point of failure.
Power
Supply
Each server has multiple hot swappable power supply units.
In the event of a failure of the incoming power supply, both
battery and propane generator backup systems ensure the
security of each website.
Data
Backup
Each server has two identical hard disk drives; should the
primary drive fail, the secondary unit can take over the
work load with no loss of availability. To prevent
accidental data loss all data is backed-up each night, with
backup tapes stored off the premises.
Network
Monitoring
Server and network performance is constantly monitored by
software, alerting technicians to potential faults before
they occur. Backbone performance is also constantly monitored
by sending IP traffic down the shortest path using the Cisco
BGP4 protocol.
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