Looking to the future...advice

abluegrape · 3rd April 2008

Evening all.

For the past x amount of years I have been renting dedicated servers from places and wondered how difficult it would be to get a rack somewhere and start using my own hardware.

So, looking at you guys and what you do, could any one give me the broad picture of what this would mean and what I would have to look for.

For example if I look to get a rack somewhere (better starting with half / quarter / whole to start?), how do I stand in respect of connectivity etc, do I have to get providers into my rack or what?

This is where I get confused - what do I have to arrange etc to get a few servers in me own rack!

ANy advice / pointers / pages to look at greatly appreciated.

Ry

JamieBeeston · 3rd April 2008

If you get your own rack, the burden for everything falls on to you..

You can get your own Connectivity, or use your providers
You can get your own IP range, or use your providers
You can get your own Hardware, or use your providers
You can get your own network hardware, or use your providers
You can come down install the kit yourself when you sell more servers (and probably pay the provider to let you in assuming adequate notification is given), or pay your provider to install it.
You can come down and repair / replace / fix the kit when it breaks (and probably pay the provider to let you in assuming adequate notification is given), or pay your provider to install it.

It's a big step, and not one that suits most people.. you'll invariably find you're better off overall renting kit unless you live locally, can get to the DC quick smart in an emergency, and can afford to have spares to hand for most components / spare live servers to hand.

It's cheaper for a reason.. you're buying the responsibility for the kit back from the provider.. so they are no longer responsible for looking after it (unless you pay them!)

abluegrape · 3rd April 2008

Thanks Jamie, thats a cracking checklist there for someone looking at this type of thing.

The servers and network kit isn't a problem - I can even install it all as my background (although a few years ago now!) was in networks.

Now you mention getting your own providers and IP ranges - that, to someone like me, sounds like it may involve a wedge of cash and a lot of form filling.

Is there a place I can look up these things, how to get providers into a rack and how to get an IP range.

As an aside - is it possible to own an IP range but use them on dedicated servers rented from other places. How would most providers react if you ask them to route your IPs through their network?

Sorry for all the questions, but I would like to know about these things and this place seems to know the ins and outs of the business very well!

RY

JamieBeeston · 3rd April 2008

It's possible to rent and use your own IPs, but most people wouldnt be interested at the budget end I'd suspect.. you also need to factor in the cost of the provider letting you get on to site (most will(should) insist you're escorted for any shared / non-dedicated cabinet access.

IPs arent expensive (few K) but is alot of paperwork.

Best bet if find someone you want to work with and ask them to help.

J

abluegrape · 3rd April 2008

Cheers for the advice - like you said, best look around for some DCs that may help me out a bit!

RY

JamieBeeston · 3rd April 2008

DC's wont so much help you, but providers who resell DC services should (if your budget is commensurate with your requirements)

abluegrape · 4th April 2008

The financial side of things is in order, that bits not the problem (for a change!).
I will go and look for some resellers to throw questions at.

Again, cheers for the help!
Ryan

JamesSykes · 4th April 2008

It's not as difficult as Jamies post makes out!

1. Find a supplier on these forums. There are plenty offering racks at a decent price. Most will allow unescorted access to your dedicated rack. You can even pickup lockable quarter racks if you want to start small! They will provide the bandwidth and the IP's.

2. Buy a switch and a firewall (recommended!) and take them to your rack and plug them in, configure them using the details they have provided to you. (Some suppliers will offer managed firewalls for a fee if you don't know how to manage one)

3. Buy some decent servers. If you live far away and your servers are important then buy some spares, even better keep a whole spare server on tap to cannibalise if needed. Some suppliers have staff on-site 24/7 and will be able to help you out in a pickle. This can cost £40-100/hour but when it's 4am and your stuff is down...it's a small price to pay. You can also look at IP/KVM sollutions or HP ILO/ DELL DRAC which will enable you to troubleshoot/fix/reinstall servers remotely.

4. Plug them in, set the IPs and away you go!

The biggest part of going the colocation route is the responsibility. Everything is now in your hands and that can be a good thing and a bad thing! If you understand the network side of things and are capable of maintaining a server online then you shouldnt have a problem. Buy decent hardware and choose your suppliers carefully and they will help you along your way and be a vital asset!

Good luck

[inx]Olly · 5th April 2008

I think the biggest thing I'd be looking at in your situation is, "If a server goes pop at 4am, I need to know I don't have to get up"

And by that, not so much having an able supplier with engineers on tap.

Moreso, a redundant setup / hot swappable, remote access, clever backup system that has your back covered as far as possible.

othellotech · 5th April 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by abluegrape

For the past x amount of years I have been renting dedicated servers from places and wondered how difficult it would be to get a rack somewhere and start using my own hardware.

Not at all difficult if you're able to manage the network and hardware side of things, or pick a rack provider who can offer that as a service as well. We've been offering rackspace as a "plug-and-go" service for 10 yearsso have got used to making it as easy on the client as allowing them to turn up with their servers, everything else having been done and setup for them.

The real question is what you think you're going to acheive by using your own hardware above and beyond renting someone elses ?

abluegrape · 6th April 2008

To be honest I would like all my servers in one spot, yes I know that introduces a single point of failure but what I am running off of them is not hosting related really so the only person shouting at me is me!

With the service I am getting from support on a couple of servers I rent, if something went wrong its probably quicker for me to get to London area than wait for the times I am lately with them.

Quite interested in your 'plug and go service' so will contact you off thread so you don't get done for advertising in the wrong place!

Ryan

tony · 6th April 2008

On the same subject, I have a fairly different (and some would say radical) opinion.

I believe the days of people individually renting/buying a rack full of servers and worrying about all the issues (as have been discussed above) are on their way out.

Cloud/Utility computing, where rather than renting the hardware, you just rent the computing power (and the related bandwidth etc) that you need, is the way forward.

I'm doing a talk at 'Datacentres Europe' next week in London on 'The disruptive case for utility computing' if anyone is attending. If not, I'd be happy to talk to anyone seperately about it.

For more info take a look at http://www.nicholasgcarr.com/bigswitch/ by Nicholas Carr.