Inside our datacentres
All our web hosting hardware is securely housed in state-of-the-art datacentres. With tightly-controlled access, uninterruptible power, protection from natural disasters and multiple points of connection, your data stays safe and your websites are constantly available.
Tight security
A bombproof datacentre door
All our datacentres have been designed to offer an exceptionally high level of physical security. Every centre is physically manned 24/7, every day of the year.
One of our datacentres is actually housed in a decommissioned Bank of England bullion vault - the server hardware is where the gold used to be kept!
Protected by two 7ft thick walls, over 70 cameras (to avoid blind spots) and situated beneath street level, we think this is one of the safest places in the country you could house your server(s).
The only way into the server vault is through two interlocking gates. The inner gate cannot be opened unless the outer gate is closed. And in between the two is a 12-ton bombproof door.
Power
Our datacentre power equipment
Each of our datacentres has access to an ultra-reliable, steady source of power.
In normal operation, all our datacentres draw power from the National Grid - sometimes routing the supply through our own step-down transformers.
However, we have equipped each datacentre with uninterruptible power supply (UPS) equipment so we can stay fully operational - even in the event of a prolonged power outage.
If the main power supply fails, our datacentres will immediately switch to UPS power. This keeps all hardware functioning in the short term, while the system automatically fires up on-site diesel generators.
At a minimum, we store 36 hours worth of fuel for these and have more generating capacity than we need (the bank vault datacentre has 3 generators, even though 2 can supply the necessary power).
LAN and internet connection
High-speed tier one network
The local area networks (LANs) within the datacentres are based on Cisco architecture.
Each LAN is connected to our own tier one network. With multiple points of presence across the country, this has no single point of failure.
Its huge capacity and fast connection to the global internet is what allows us to offer unlimited bandwidth to dedicated server customers and resellers.
Climate control and protection
Temperature and humidity control
Each datacentre is equipped with a climate control system to monitor and adjust the temperature and moisture levels within the server rooms.
Air conditioning units all have dual-circuit designs for maximum availability; each datacentre has more cooling capacity than it actually requires. Alarms alert the datacentre staff to any problem - like if the temperature or humidity move outside a tightly-defined range.
Floors are raised to provide flood protection and we have installed under-floor moisture, temperature, air-flow, humidity and fire detection.
Fire prevention
Fire suppression equipment
Every datacentre is equipped with a fully-automated fire detection and suppression system.
These systems are able to detect the sub-micron particles released during a fire's early stages. They also monitor heat and smoke.
Fire suppression is provided by gas systems which release Inergen gas (75% carbon dioxide) to neutralise combustion. These systems activate 30 seconds after the first stage alarm is triggered.
We have carefully designed every aspect of our datacentres to keep the server hardware - plus the data stored on that hardware - absolutely safe and secure. You can trust us to keep your data safe and your websites available.
- Get more information about Donhost and our philosophy
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