Tour A Network Operations Center (NOC)

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Visit our server center and learn everything from the servers configuration up to the connections to the Internet backbones below.  

"We are in Fremont, in the heart of silicon valley and are speaking with our system engineer Orlando, who will lead us through the Hurricane Electric Network Operations Center where our servers are located."

P: Hello Orlando, thank you for taking the time to guide us through the server center.  
O: (laughs) Hi Philipp, you're welcome! Let's go in. The Network Operations Center (NOC) is a secured data center. Controlled access to the server center, and installation of the most current software security patches are the top two components of our company's security strategy. 

P: And from here everything is monitored?  
O: Yes, that is the control room of the server center. It is manned 24 hours, 7 days in the week. The monitoring team at the network operation center consists of network specialists and system engineers. They guarantee global maintenance and manage one of the most modern network administration centers in the World today.  

P: We've heard a lot of press about power shortages in California. Is this a problem for the NOC?
O: No, our server center is designed for NON STOP operation. An almost invulnerable current supply by redundant power management of systems - from which you see one on the right - to guarantee the smooth operation of our servers. The Internet Web server, Router and all other critical systems are supplied via "the electrically clean " operating voltage of the buffered batteries of several redundant UPS systems.  

This UPS system consists of a multiplicity of no-break power supplies. In case of emergency, the batteries of the UPS are charged via enormous 350 KW emergency power diesel generators. (picture left)

P: What specifications do the servers have and can I see them?  
O: Web servers are maintained within individually locked cabinets. High quality components are key. In terms of server hardware, we use Pentium IV 800+ MHz Computers, with 512+MB SDRAM and IBM Ultra Wide SCSI-II 10,000 rpm Hard Drives. We purchase nearly all of our hardware from a single trusted source to ensure consistent quality control. In addition we maintain the latest stable releases of Linux and Apache web server software. We like to maintain our web servers at less than 500 accounts per server, though we know the web servers could easily handle two to three times as many accounts.

P: And what about the connection with the Internet backbone?
O: Hurricane Electric provides a cross-country network with two OC48 (2.4 Gbps) circuits. The faster OC48 cross-country circuits augments Hurricane Electric’s already abundant network comprised of connections ranging from gigE (1,000 Mbps) fiber rings in the Silicon Valley to cross-country OC48 circuits, which connect several major exchange points, such as PAIX (Palo Alto), AADS (Chicago), Equinix Ashburn (Ashburn), NYIIX (New York) and MAE West (San Jose).

P: Thank you for this guidance.  
O: No problem Philipp, any time. You know we are here for you 24 hours a day.