Server Housing FAQ
Frequently asked questions about our housing services
1. Can traffic be accumulated with a second server?
Traffic is invoiced separately for each server. Surplus or an insufficient amount in the allotment of one server cannot be transferred to that of a different server. The traffic count is reset every month; the unused allotment expires and cannot be transferred to a new month
When you operate several servers and wish to distribute the traffic, please inform yourself about our Co-location services. Here traffic is billed cumulatively. In the case of high traffic use, we will also be happy to offer you bulk discounts. Please contact us and ask for an individual offer.
2. When do I have access to my server?
With the optional rack key and fingerprint you will have independent 24/7 access to your server.
Alternatively, you can obtain a loan badge during office hours in our office. You will receive this when you hand in your ID card. Please always have your attendance confirmed by telephone or e-mail.
3. Can I connect two servers with a crossover cable?
Of course. However, please inform us of this so we can position your servers next to each other.
4. Which speed will the connection of the servers have?
The switch port is set to 100 Mbps. You can utilise this line to the full capacity of this value. The flat rate products are an exception as their connection is lowered to a defined maximum value.
5. How do I measure the power consumption of my server?
We recommend the power consumption measurement unit "Energie-Kosten-Messgerät PM 230" for measuring the power consumption. It is available under article number 056098 - 14 from Conrad. You can also borrow this unit from us on request.
6. Can I house a server that is not rack-mountable?
In order to ensure uninterrupted operation we must be able to securely install the servers. Due to the fact that such servers do not have the fittings required for mounting in a rack, we can unfortunately not offer Server Housing for these servers. We would like to make you aware of our Co-Location services for desktop PCs, mini-towers or barebone computers. Here you can fit your racks with a tray and securely position your server on it.
7. Can I operate a hardware firewall with my server?
Personal firewalls (small devices with a low degree of power consumption) are declared as additional height units. Unfortunately, we cannot permit installing these behind servers, as they impede the carrying out of work on the rack and interfere with air flow for cooling. Due to these reasons, this equipment must be installed in a separate height unit.
Larger firewalls (from 1U) are billed as a separate housing, even when the firewall and server together only occupy a single switch port. The reason is the increased power consumption, which can lie in the region of a server. Distinguishing between a firewall and server is often no longer possible and usually not justified as we cannot verify which applications are being run on which server.
8. Can I connect a mobile phone for monitoring purposes to the server?
Mobile communications are not permitted by the operator of the data center. You can use the reasonably priced alternative SMS service offered by ASPSMS. Oliver Hitz will provide a suitable PHP API for ASPSMS. You can find a command line script suitable for the integration in Nagios and mon in contrib/.
9. Is a telephone or ISDN connection to the server possible?
A telephone connection for the purpose of a recovery console as provided for instance by the Google Search Appliance is possible, however rather expensive. Please ask for an offer in this regard.
10. Can I connect my remote management card?
You can lease an additional switch port for the connection of a remote management card such as the eRIC by Peppercon or the Dell Remote Access Card (DRAC). The same applies to all KVM-over-IP solutions (please include additional space requirements in your calculations).
Unfortunately, we cannot offer a serial terminal connection such as the PC Weasel 2000 or SUN's Lights Out Management (LOM). You must provide these via a second server or use a RS232 Ethernet converter.
