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Friday, October 14, 2011

How To Spot A Top Quality Co-Location Host

By Lincoln Vinson


Deciding to use colocation services is a big investment so you want to make sure you select a good host. The process of selecting a colocation uk provider isn't a simple one though as there are many of them. You can pinpoint an excellent co-location provider by utilising the advice that follows.

A colocation service should make sure your system is well-monitored to avoid a large amount of downtime. The colo provider must offer remote hands assistance at any time of the day, accessible through phone and email. Round-the-clock onsite remote hands assistance that comes as part of your co-location package is much better than round-the-clock offsite assistance where the co-location provider will charge a great deal of money if their staff have to travel to the co-location site to sort a problem. Make sure that if the colocation service says they have 24/7 onsite staff that they are network staff as opposed to only guards who can't help you with network problems.

A first class co-location provider will include hardware maintenance within the colocation service packages they offer as opposed to charging extra for it because it offers a more rewarding colo experience for their customers. The replacement of faulty hardware should take no longer than an hour and rebooting the system should take less than half an hour.

There shouldn't be any hidden costs that you find out about only after you have signed a co-location contract. As an example, you should ask the host about the number of IP addresses you will get with your package and if it costs extra to add more further down the road. Make sure you are clear on the charge rates for different transfer speeds, for instance how much extra it will cost to upgrade from 10Mbps to 100Mbps in the event you want to do so. Adding extras later can be very costly and you may not be aware of this before you agree to the colo contract. Try to find a co-location package that covers all your requirements within the monthly bill you pay to the host.

A good colocation service host will offer reliable uptime. The colo provider can offer good uptime by connecting to over a hundred internet backbones and making use of OC192 network cables that offer 10Gbps speeds. The co-location host should have redundant air-conditioning systems in each colocation suite as opposed to just within the colocation building.

How long a co-location host has been in business is a good indication of how good their service offerings are. A business history of at least 7 years suggests that the colo provider offers efficient and professional services that have encouraged customers to continue doing business with the host. Make sure the colo host doesn't have a history of downsizing or relocating customers because some facilities had to be closed and make sure the host hasn't been bankrupt in the past.

It is always a good idea to compare co-location hosts before choosing one. Search on the internet for customer reviews of several colo hosts and use the reviews to aid you in picking a host.




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