Claranet Doubles Co-location Capability With Second Global Switch Suite

New datacentre provides high availability, multiple points of failure and connections to multiple other datacentres

Claranet, the expert managed services provider for business, has expanded into Global Switch 2 (GS2). GS2 offers increased space, speed, and security for Claranet's clients.

Claranet's second suite at Global Switch's latest London Docklands location has opened after a 15 month design and build project, which drew on the company's extensive experience in managing customer co-location.

When Claranet opened for business in 1996 its network had just 4KW of power. With the launch of their second Global Switch suite, the award-winning Managed Services Provider now boasts a total of 904 KW of power across their GS1, GS2, and TeleCity suites, more than twice its previous total of 394 KW. Pre-installed inter-rack cabling allows front and back end ethernet links, backup network links and management and monitoring options.

Michel Robert, Claranet's Managing Director said:

Claranet has always been committed to providing our clients with the fastest, safest and most reliable technology available. As a growing managed service provider, we are supplying our clients with ever-increasing capabilities and services; GS2 provides us with the increased network power to meet our clients' present and future needs for managed connectivity, hosting and applications.

Customers already using the new Global Switch Suite include the fraud screening company The 3rd Man, which has been provided with managed hosting, incorporating Disaster Recovery systems.

Paul Simms, Managing Director of The 3rd Man, said:

We have two sites - GS2 hosts the primary site and offers full high availability, with no single point of failure, and fourteen dedicated servers. Owing to the nature of our business, Claranet needed to provide us with full access and also had to meet the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). This was successfully achieved, with Claranet implementing the most rigorous security precautions, both in the network and physically at the datacentre.

In the datacentre, the servers are protected by multi-point locking on racks, and a large secure storage room is also available. Claranet customers benefit from dual 32 amp single phase power feeds and digital amp meters, both of which are installed as standard. Floor space has almost doubled from 8300 square foot (GS1 and Telecity) to 15,800 square foot. Claranet has also increased its rack depth to 1000mm, allowing for future developments in hardware technology.

Server racks are supplied with two N+1 power supplies and fully redundant network architecture, thereby eliminating single points of failure. This incorporates redundant access routers and switches for customer connections and fully redundant and diverse fibres into the building, which are sourced through different fibre providers. Static Transfer Switches have been installed in Power Distribution Units, as well as Variable Speed Air Handlers.

The upshot of this major investment is that server availability and quality of service has improved.

For further editorial information or to arrange an interview please email the Claranet press office or telephone 020 7609 1900.

About Claranet

Claranet was established in 1996 as a dial-up Internet access provider in the UK. The company's sustained profitability has resulted in continuous reinvestment, transforming Claranet into a multi-national managed service provider.

Today Claranet provides flexible and tailored network infrastructure that performs to the requirements of its 300,000 customers across six European countries and the US. Claranet customers have confidence in their connectivity. They are served by experienced, innovative and dependable technicians.

Claranet commits to the highest standard of service level agreement.

www.claranet.co.uk