VERIZON BUSINESS SA JHB DATA CENTRE
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All our Linux South African servers are housed in Verizon's Gallo Manor (JHB) Data Centre

Verizon Business provides a resilient and redundant network infrastructure. Their substantial bandwidth capacity allows us to accommodate spikes in traffic. Additionally, our low bandwidth utilisation allows for maximum uptime ensuring that our customers never experience network degradation.

DigiServ™ fully switched and collision free network ensures that data can be routed even in the event of device or link failure. Our cable routers are connected via a 100 MBit fibre optic cable to Verizon Business' backbone from where we have uncapped access to Verizon's local and international network. A second, redundant fibre optic cable follows a different path.

The reality of the greater Internet in South Africa is that there is no 100MBit path to any point of significance beyond Verizon Business' data centre. Essentially this means that DigiServ™ connection is never the bottleneck and that the size of the pipe is the lowest bandwidth of all the links that make up the connection from any point on the network to our router.

Verizon Business operates the largest global IP network, carrying over 50% of the world's Internet traffic. As a subsidiary of MCI, Verizon Business provides its South African customer base with a reliable and highly-available backbone.

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  	Direct links to local and international peering points
  	Full 100MBit fibre connection via Verizon Business' network backbone with a second redundant fibre connection to cater for the unlikely event that a cable is compromised
  	Air conditioning banks to sufficiently cool the internal environment with additional redundancy should a unit fail
  	Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) installed as well as a dedicated diesel power generator in case of an outage
  	Fire control equipment with automated triggering functions and protective cooling systems
  	24 hour security and monitoring facilities (video surveillance, biometric access) with the main entrance manned 24/7 by security guards
  	The data centres are also equipped with server hardware, cables, routers, switches and racks which together form a robust internal network structure.
  	All critical systems (UPS, air conditioning, temperature ranges, managed servers etc.) are monitored 24/7/365 with notification by email and SMS to more than one support staff member including the technical manager.

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  The data centre is designed to withstand catastrophical disasters - from flooding to fire, using various failsafe means such as raised floors, back-up generators and fire-suppressive gas.
  
  

The temperature in the data centres is kept at a constant level. Underfloor cooling takes care of heat generated from customers' cabinets. Deviation from the set temperature or any sign of smoke is immediately sensed by ionisation sensors - located centrally, as well as underfloor - operating on a double-knock system which means that at least 2 sensors in separate zones have to be triggered in order to release a non-toxic natural, inert gas, IG200, which suppresses all fires. There are no sprinkler valves.

Floors are raised to keep cabling out of the way and all water conduits are kept in separate wells, away from cables. Moisture sensors in cable wells will detect even the remotest drop of moisture and pinpoint this to 24-hour staff.

Batteries for backup power are kept in a separately ventilated room to prevent any possibility of chlorine gas leakage affecting customers' machines. Monitors here also sense any rise in heat.

Full access control to both buildings and data rooms prevents any unauthorised entry. Biometric hand or thumb print scanners control both entry and exit. All rooms - even the aisles between machines - are constantly monitored by television cameras. Recordings of all visits are kept for six months. Customers' cabinets remain locked, and keys have to be left with data centre staff after visits.

All power is filtered through the UPS's. In the event of a power outage, the UPS kicks in immediately, and hands over the load to the generator within 20 seconds. However, for added precaution, the UPS is capable of carrying a full load for at least an hour. Only one generator is needed for the full load, but a second generator is available should the first fail. On-site diesel tanks contain enough fuel for 24 hours.