Hosting Services
Zero-Downtime Network™
The Rackspace network has been engineered from the ground up to accommodate
the high-availability demands of our customers' mission-critical Web
applications. Our Cisco-powered, Zero-Downtime Network™ has unique
self-healing attributes that allow us to deliver on our 100% infrastructure
availability guarantee.
Rackspace doesn’t rely on any single connectivity provider. Instead, we
employ a multi-provider strategy. This offers benefits over simply
partnering with one network carrier. Working with multiple network carriers
creates natural redundancy in our network architecture and ensures that
packets can leave our network from multiple points. Additionally, if one or
more providers experience congestion or downtime, traffic can be rerouted
through other network partners until the issue is solved.
Beyond simply providing redundancy in case a particular provider experiences
downtime, our proprietary networking technology allows our network
operations team to actively probe the public Internet for packet loss and
latency and automatically reroutes traffic around these areas. This ensures
that traffic leaving the Rackspace network is not bound for a part of the
public Internet that is heavily congested.
Guaranteed Packet Delivery
Our providers are paid to make sure that packets of information are
delivered quickly and efficiently to your end users. This offers significant
advantages over simply peering with the major backbones. Peering agreements
rarely include Service Level Agreements (SLAs) so no one is accountable for
lost packets at congested exchange points. Because Rackspace has SLAs with
all of our network partners, we are able to guarantee that all packets will
leave our network at full speed.
Bandwidth Utilization
Rackspace substantial bandwidth capacity allows us to accommodate even the
largest spikes in traffic. To ensure rapid delivery of content, we
continuously add network connectivity and new routes. Low bandwidth
utilization allows for maximum uptime, even if multiple transit partners
experience simultaneous outages.
Network Providers
We work closely with leading telecommunications providers to build and
maintain our world-class network.
Data Centers
Rackspace Managed Hosting owns and operates four Tier-1 data centers located
in Texas, Virginia and London, England. Each data center is engineered to
the highest levels, with extensive systems to address security and network
redundancy, enabling Rackspace to offer our 100% infrastructure availability
guarantee.
Security
Access to data centers is restricted by two-factor authentication including
Biometric hand scanners. Rackspace data centers are physically isolated from
everyone but level three technicians. Public access is strictly forbidden.
All entrances and common areas are monitored 24x7 via closed-circuit
cameras.
Precision Environment
Our data centers’ HVAC (Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning) systems are
N+1 redundant to ensure that – even in the event of an entire HVAC system
failure – there is a duplicate system on standby to take over. All air is
circulated and filtered every 90 seconds to remove dust and contaminants. An
advanced fire-suppression system is in place to prevent any fire from
spreading – in the unlikely event that one could start. All cables to
servers and routing equipment are securely tied down and cable racks
suspended from the ceiling provide dual routes for all cables.
Conditioned Power
Power systems in Rackspace data centers are designed to run uninterrupted
even in the unlikely event of a total power outage. All servers are fed with
conditioned UPS (Uninterruptable Power Supply) power that will run if
utility power fails. The UPS power subsystem is N+1 redundant with
instantaneous failover in case the primary UPS fails. In the event of an
extended power outage, on-site diesel generators can run indefinitely.
Generators are regularly tested to ensure functionality in the event of an
emergency.
Core Routing Equipment
We use only fully redundant, enterprise-class routing equipment housed in
its own secure, core routing room and fed with its own redundant power
supply. Our fiber carriers enter the facilities at disparate access points
to ensure that there is no service failure, even in the unlikely event of a
fiber cut.
Network Technicians
At Rackspace, we realize that a Tier-1 data center is more than hardware and
software. That's why we employ a certified networking and security team with
years of experience in managing and monitoring enterprise-level networks.
Our certified Rackspace network technicians are trained to the highest
standards to ensure that we are able to meet our 100% infrastructure
availability guarantee.
