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Multiple Redundant Application Servers
Live backup computers that take over when
another computer fails
|
The main computers that host your website can fail at any time. This
is a fact of life. Multiple identical copies of the backup computer run
together. When one fails, several others take over flawlessly. Your visitors
never see a computer fail.
|
| Multiple
Redundant Load Balancers
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In the rare event that a load balancer itself may
fail, there is a secondary load balancer on
standby.
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| 24/7 System
Checking
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Special computer programs are setup to
automatically check the health of servers 60 times
an hour on each service. If a failed server is
detected, an automatic repair routine is run to
bring the server back online. In the event that
the server cannot be brought back, a technician is
automatically notified. Note that in the even of a
failure other servers have taken over the duties
of the failed server and users will not notice a
difference in service.
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| Secondary/Backup
Mail Server
|
In the event that a mail server fails, it will
automatically be restarted. In the meantime, a
secondary mail server will automatically take over
duties of the primary mail server. The result is
that users will never see a failed mail server.
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| Backup Database
Server
|
The database server where most of the information
for the website is stored has a backup. In the
event that the primary database fails, the backup
database can take over the duties of the failed
database server.
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| Every 4 hour
on-site backup
|
Backups are made to other servers on-site every
three hours to protect important information.
|
| 5 days per
week off-site backup
|
Backups are taken off-site 5 days per week to
protect data in a catastrophe.
|
| RAID (multiple
backup hard drives within a server)
|
RAID stands for “Redundant Array of Independent
Drives” and means that important information is
stored on at least two hard drives simultaneously.
In the event of a drive failure, the surviving
drive automatically takes over the duties of the
failed drive. The server operates as if the drive
never failed. A new drive is then swapped in and
the data is automatically rebuilt.
|
| Enterprise
class hard drives
|
All hard drives carrying important data are in
RAID format and are also stored on enterprise
class drives. An enterprise class drive costs two
to four times that of a desktop class drive (i.e.
the ones typically used in offices and homes) but
have much higher MTBF. MTBF stands for mean time
between failures and is a manufacturer rating that
estimates the average time between hard drive
failures.
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| Backup firewall
|
In the event that the firewall fails, a backup
firewall is ready to take over the duties of the
failed firewall.
|
| Backup file
servers
|
In the event that a file server fails, a backup
file server is ready to take over the duties of
the failed file server.
|
| Redundant
cooling
|
Backup air conditioning systems take over in the
event of a cooling failure.
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| Dedicated
server facilities
|
Chilled server room dedicated to housing servers
only |
| Backup power
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All servers are protected with backup power units.
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| Power generators
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For extended power outages, an on-site backup
power generator is available. |
