Dedicated Servers FAQ

What types of dedicated servers are available?

You can choose Dell 2850 (2U) and Dell 6850 (4U) Poweredge servers.

What operating systems are supported?

In a managed server scenario we will manage Red Hat Linux and Microsoft servers. We have expertise with Apache, IIS and Tomcat. If you elect to self-manage your server platform you can load any software that you own a license for.

Why does Profitability.net prefer Raid5?

Disk drives typically have the highest failure rate in hosting platforms. With Raid5 your server can withstand a disk failure and still operate without loss of data. Raid5 configured with 3 hard drives enables you with (# drives minus 1) * drive capacity. Three 36GB SCSi drives will provide you with ~ 72GB usable storage.

Does Profitability.net offer a server control panel?

Clients who prefer a control panel have access to the Hsphere control panel.

Does datacenter facility access have to be scheduled?

All half-cabinet, full cabinet and caged suite clients have 24X7 access to the facility and equipment. Escorted access is only required for clients locating equipment in a Profitability.net multi-tenant cabinet. Clients with several dedicated server platforms and opt to store their equipment in a dedicated half or full cabinet.

What type of physical security is offered?

The building and elevators are controlled by uniformed security guards with sign-in required after-hours. Upon exiting the elevator, all entrants enter a control room and are required to swipe a keycard and enter their personal 4-digit pin. The next layer of security is a reinforced door that requires a keycard and biometric fingerprint scan. The facility is staffed 24X7 and cameras monitor all facility activity. Cabinets are also locked at all times and electronic locking systems with an audit trail are available.

Is the facility in a safe and accessible location?

Profitability.net is conveniently located at 312 Plum Street (directly north of Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati). The area is among the safest in the downtown area and the parking areas are well lit. There is easy access to I-71 and I-75. A loading dock is also available on McFarland (north side of building) for delivery of oversized equipment.

Will we have a key to our cabinet(s) or caged suite?

Yes. There are only 3 senior level personnel who have security access to your cabinet beyond your team. Electronic locks with keypads are also available for clients with increased security or compliance requirements.

Does your facility have a UPS and generator system?

There are two UPS systems and two generators that feed facility PDU’s.

Do generators automatically activate in the event of a power outage?

Yes. The generators are on a closed transition switch and fire up with 10 to 12 seconds.

Is the facility covered by a Service Level Agreement with a fuel supplier for prolonged outages?

There is a Service Level Agreement with a fuel supplier to ensure a constant supply of fuel in the event of a sustained outage. Additionally there are two days of fuel onsite.

How often are backup systems tested with load?

The backup systems are tested weekly and load tested monthly.

What carriers do you utilize?

Verizon and TW Telecom.

How do you measure uptime?

All core systems are monitored for uptime and health every 1 minute 24×7. Alerts are sent to the administration team for immediate response and resolution.

Are spare parts kept onsite for critical routers and switches?

Yes. Additionally all core network devices are run in high availability mode. The core network design allows for a simultaneous router and switch failure at the same time without loss of Internet service for colocation clients. Spare parts are also maintained onsite for all core servers and devices not in a high availability configuration.

How do you monitor network performance?

Network health is automatically monitored 24×7 every 1 minute and manually monitored as part of daily practices. All data is processed and displayed for trend analysis. Our team automatically receives alerts if normal operating thresholds are breached.

How do you measure bandwidth usage?

Clients connect to Profitability.net’s network via 100Mbps Cat 5 Ethernet connections. Every circuit is burstable to 100Mbps. Burstable bandwidth allows greater flexibility in a pay-as-you-go approach. Clients select a base rate closest to their usage requirements.

Profitability.net uses the 95th percentile method to measure port utilization. Every month we compare inbound vs. outbound traffic and remove the lower of the two measurements. Next the usage data is measured in 5 minute increments and the top 5% of the usage data points are removed resulting in the top usage rate used for the billing period.

What is the experience level of Profitability.net’s team?

With an average tenure of 10 years in this industry our team has the expertise and developed processes required to protect your business. Please call 513.361.0800 to review your business requirements and discuss a dedicated server solution.