Suggestions for colocation needed
Michael T. Halligan
michael at halligan.org
Tue May 24 11:43:57 PDT 2005
Excellent list!
Just a few questions I would add :
Capacity :
- Will you have space when I need to expand in X (months|weeks|years)
Backbone :
- What are your peering options (some datacenters will let you drop a
router into a peering room for free)
Facilities :
- What is your utility rating, how long will it take for you to get
"turned back on" in case of a natural disaster.
- Do you provide conference rooms? (datacenters can be great sales tools)
Power :
- How many amps do you allow on your circuit (Abovenet used to trip 20
amp circuits when you hit 13 amps)
- Can you deliver multiple circuits into a rack/cabinet/cage from
multiple PDUS
- Do you have a web interface for customers to monitor their power usage
graphs (you'd be surprised how few places offer this)
- Do you monitor customer's power circuits, and alert them or
investigate when there is frequent variation?
Noc/staffing :
- How much do noc services cost, and how are they billed (some places
give an all you can eat NOC model, some, like equinix, bill
in 30 minute chunks at $250/hour)
Hardware :
- Do you provide shelves, screws, patch cables, and general rack
equipment (screw holes for square-holed posts), and provide a price-sheet
for them. (this one I find important. at 2am it's nice to know you can
knock on the noc window, and buy a crossover cable)
Tim Pozar wrote:
> BTW... For those looking for a colo... Take Michael and my comments
> with a grain of salt. Each has their own experience and there can be
> so many links that can break to support your gear. I do have a short
> list of questions I use when going into a colo for a quick
> due-dilligence. They are attached...
>
> Tim
> --
> SLA -
>
> Please submit your Service Level Agreement.
>
> What is your "mean time to repair" (MTTR) commitment?
>
> What is your guarantee uptime?
>
> What is your "Failure to Meet" commitment?
>
> Facilities -
>
> Description of the racks...
>
> ie.
> 2 / 4 post?
> Inside Depth
> 23 and 19 inch?
>
> What is in a typical rack?
>
> ie.
> Patch bays
> Power plug strips
> Lighting
> Grounding
>
> Do you provide workspace?
>
> Tools
> KVM crash cart
> Bench
>
> Power and Grounding -
>
> Utility or "Shore" Power:
>
> Are there two or more services from the power
> company?
>
> Are they routed from different directions and come
> in different entrances?
>
> Generators
>
> Please describe the generators at the site. Include
> Make/model of the generators.
>
> Is there a provision for outside power connections
> for generator rentals (also known as a "lug landing")?
>
> If so, specify wire size that can be
> accommodated and/or lug/bolt size.
>
> Do you have contracts for emergency rental of
> generators?
>
> How much fuel do you have on site? (Hours of
> generator run time at full load.)
>
> Do you have contracts for fuel for the generators?
>
> What maintenance and testing do you do with fuel and
> oil?
>
> How often do you test generators and the UPS with
> out and with loads?
>
> UPS
>
> Is the UPS always on line or switched to?
>
> How long will the UPS run with a complete outage?
>
> Please provide Make and model.
>
> Do you provide 48VDC?
>
> How is it distributed?
>
> How many hours of battery at full design load (no
> primary power)?
>
> Grounding:
>
> How is it distributed?
>
> Are the rack rails painted?
>
> How are the racks grounded?
>
> Describe the common ground point for the site
>
> How is power switched between services, UPS (if so) and
> generator. Ie. Manual, automatic. How many cycles does
> it take?
>
> Are circuits for each rack separate from other customers.
> Ie. Can some other customer overload my breaker?
>
> How are is the power panel secured? If my breaker trips,
> how do I reset it? Do others have access to my breaker?
>
> Is power monitored by a Ground Fault Interrupter?
>
> Fire -
>
> What is the fire suppression system?
>
> Gas (ie Haylon), water, etc
>
> If water:
>
> Is the system gas-filled and will shut down power?
> Is it zoned?
> How is water removed when it goes off?
>
> If gas:
>
> What warning do you have before it goes off?
>
> Are there O2 masks that can be retrieved if folks
> can't exit the space?
>
> Does the A/C shut down during a fire?
>
> Do you using computer flooring?
>
> Are you required and have a fire system under the
> computer flooring?
>
> Environmental Control -
>
> Is the A/C backed up with other units?
>
> Are they on standby or run at the same time?
>
> If on standby, how are they started?
>
> What level of air filtering do you have for this site?
>
> Do you supply a positive air pressure for the area?
>
> Earthquake -
>
> Does the building, racks and support equipment meet Uniform
> Building Code Seismic Zone 4 requirements?
>
> See: "Bellcore NEBS document TR-000063, Issue 4,
> 1992" or "Telcordia Technologies (formerly Bellcore)
> GR-63-CORE"
>
> How are the racks braced?
>
> Describe building bracing?
>
> Please list make model of racks
>
> How is wiring routed to take any building and equipment
> movement?
>
> Security and access -
>
> Can we access our equipment 24x7?
>
> Describe the physical access for the equipment and cabling
> to the cage.
>
> Do you use biometrics, magnetic or RF badges?
>
> What monitoring do you do?
>
> ie. cameras, doors, etc.
>
> Is there a challenge/response process for hands on work.
>
> Who else has access to our rack/cage?
>
> What is the process for removing / installing equipment?
>
> Do you escort clients in common areas?
>
> Internet Transit providers -
>
> Please list all the transit providers at the location now.
>
> Backbone providers -
>
> Please list all the backbone providers at the location now.
>
> Are they routed from different directions and come in
> different entrances?
>
> Staffing -
>
> Do you have 24x7 personal?
>
> Do you have hands on availability?
--
-------------------
BitPusher, LLC
http://www.bitpusher.com/
1.888.9PUSHER
(415) 724.7998 - Mobile
More information about the Baylisa
mailing list