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Data Center Redundancy: 2N, N+1, 2(N+1) Explained

Mar 7, 2019

Maintaining a 100% uptime should be a top priority for every  data center. If data centers experience power outages, customers can lose thousands of dollars for every second they are down. 123Net heavily invests in 2(N+1) redundant data center infrastructure to protect customers from this.

What Does Redundancy Mean in Data Centers?

When data center providers advertise their facilities’ redundancy, they are referring to the amount of backup power available. If utility failures occur due to severe weather, equipment failure or powerline damage, data centers with more redundant power will be better equipped to avoid costly periods of downtime.

Most data centers have systems in place to cut the risk of downtime.  These systems can be categorized into N+1, 2N, and 2(N+1).

What is N+1?

A simplified way to look at N+1 is if you were ordering bagels for an office breakfast. There are 20 people working in your office and you decide to order one more bagel than needed just in case. “N” would represent the exact number of bagels you need (20), while the extra bagel is the “+1”. You would be showing up to work with N+1 or 21 bagels.

Applying this to data centers, “N” could stand for the number of uninterruptible power supply (UPS) modules needed. The “+1” would be one more module more than required. Having more power available than needed lowers the chance of downtime. Although N+1 is often called “parallel redundancy” these data centers are not fully redundant because they share common circuitry instead of being sourced from two separate fields.

What about 2N or 2N+1?

If you ordered bagels with a 2N mindset, you would order 20 bagels from one bagel shop and 20 more another shop. The 2N would stand for two times, or double, “N”, the number of bagels you would need. If one of the bagel shop loses your order, you will still have enough.

For data centers, having a 2N redundancy means you have twice the amount of equipment needed with no single point of failure. When extended power outages occur, 2N systems will be maintained without losing power to subsequent systems.

If a data center offers 2(N+1) redundancy that means it has double the amount of power equipment needed, plus an additional UPS module on each side. Referring to the bagel example, you would order 21 bagels from two different shops. If one of the shops doesn’t deliver and there is an issue with one of the bagels that does show up you will still have enough.  For this reason, 2(N+1) data centers offer the highest guaranteed uptime.

123Net’s four 2(N+1) redundant data centers come with a 100 percent power uptime Service Level Agreement. If your business cannot afford losing access to mission-critical applications, you should consider collocating at 123Net. To learn more power redundancy, schedule a data center tour with 123Net today. Visit https://www.123.net/data-center/

VoIP: Future-Proof Voice Solutions

Dec 18, 2018

What is VoIP?

VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, is often referred to as internet telephony or internet calling. Essentially, voice calls are sent over an IP network, such as the public internet or a corporate intranet, rather than traditional phone lines. This network can also act as your business’s data network, simplifying network management by combining services.

Benefits of VoIP

VoIP pricing is generally very cost-effective, as it combines data and voice services over a single network. Furthermore, “local” and “long distance” calls frequently receive the same flat rate. By routing calls through the internet, VoIP can be used across multiple locations, mobile devices, and cloud systems, making it extremely versatile. Finally, VoIP is often easier to work with as lines are added with little configuration required and telecommunications companies are committed to continuing to upgrade and update VoIP services, though upgrades are less frequent with the advanced equipment VoIP utilizes.

123Net’s Voice Services

Many companies are making the switch to future-proof VoIP solutions. As they seek to cut costs, improve features, and grow their businesses, VoIP technology will continue to expand to meet demands. 123Net is the largest independent phone company in Michigan and has been committed to providing enterprise grade VoIP services since 2001. To learn more about how you can upgrade your business voice services to VoIP, with services including SIP Trunking, Dynamic PRI, and Hosted IP PBX, visit https://www.123.net/voice-services/

Why Data Center Location Matters

Oct 30, 2018

Data center location should always be a top priority for customers. Choosing a data center in an optimal location not only provides immediate advantages, it also prevents major headaches down the road. 123Net carefully handpicked an ideal environment for each of its four Michigan data centers.

Network Speed

While people may think that bandwidth is the only factor determining speed, that’s not the case. The physical distance from a data center to an application can significantly affect network latency. For this reason, many companies, such as healthcare companies, are seeking data centers local to their office space. These companies are gaining a clear edge over the competition due to the speed advantage lower network latency provides. While it could be less expensive to collocate further away, it is often not worth sacrificing speed.

Natural Disasters

Businesses that collocate in areas prone to natural disasters are playing with fire. Events such as earthquakes, hurricanes, and tornadoes can cause critical power outages, leading to crippling downtime. If the best data center option happens to be in a disaster-prone area, consider selecting a backup data center at a safer location, preferably on a different power grid.

Accessibility

Data center space should be in an area that is comfortable to reach. Personnel may need to travel to the data center to make upgrades and service equipment. If a data center is out of driving distance, consider the logistics of transporting personnel and equipment through the air.

Connections

Businesses can take advantage of data center connectivity by creating multiple channels that will keep data moving freely despite outages. This makes data centers in well-connected areas safer and more reliable. It also gives businesses more room for growth, as they can easily make plenty of connections within the data center itself.

123Net’s three Southfield data center facilities have a superior location. They have access to more than 20 carriers, are in low-risk southeastern Michigan and close to thousands of Metro Detroit businesses. 123Net also has secure, easily accessible data center space in Grand Rapids that makes for premier primary or backup colocation space. Learn more about the strategic advantages you can gain from data center location or to schedule a tour of our data centers, visit: https://www.123.net/data-center/

How Cloud Connect Gives Customers Private Access to the Public Cloud

Oct 25, 2018

Cloud services are gaining more popularity, however, many businesses are still hesitant to adopt them. There are concerns that transitioning data to the cloud will hike up prices, reduce reliability, and raise security issues. With 123Net Cloud Connect, that is far from the case. This solution brings network service providers, cloud service providers, and enterprises together, allowing them to create private, point-to-point connections.

What Is 123Net Cloud Connect?

123Net Cloud Connect is an Ethernet switching service that facilitates secure, Software-Defined (SD) connections for direct cloud access with automated provisioning. The fabric directly connects businesses’ infrastructure to the cloud service provider of their choice, including industry leaders such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Salesforce, Google Cloud Platform, and many others. Available across several locations, the solution is designed to provide scalable, agile connectivity. This enables businesses to reach anyone instantly, nearby or across metros, driving the future of business communications.

Reliable

Improve application performance by connecting directly to cloud service providers over a consistent, high-throughput path. Cloud Connect empowers customers to determine how and where connections are made, giving them the peace of mind that specific paths will be followed to their preferences. The public internet is avoided, ensuring that enterprises will receive reliable, low latency connectivity.

Scalable

Cloud Connect is engineered to keep pace with growing businesses. Delivered through a single, Software-Defined Ethernet portal via fiber internet, enterprises can easily scale connection speeds between 50 Mbps and 10 Gbps. Capacity management can be performed at any time, over any device.

Secure

Create a more secure environment for applications by deploying them within a data center’s local area network. Deploying private connections, and avoiding the public internet, protects sensitive business data and information as it moves from data centers to cloud service providers.

Building direct, secure, reliable connectivity to cloud service providers via 123Net Cloud Connect allows businesses to take advantage of cloud computing without the hassle. To learnhow your enterprise can benefit from 123Net Cloud Connect, visit: https://www.123.net/network-services/cloud-connect/ 

Temporary Wireless is Key to Events Requiring High Capacity Internet

Oct 11, 2018

TEDx, Detroit Jazz Fest, and Electronic Music Festival rely on 123Net’s premier event wireless, because it provides quick and easy high-speed internet access. Fixed Wireless technology is a highly effective solution for concerts, trade shows, conferences, and much more.

When organizing an event, finding a dependable, high-speed internet connection is always a concern. Premier event wireless solutions simplify this challenge by creating a temporary, reliable internet solution that is rapidly deployed and does not require a long-term commitment. Premier event wireless gives event-goers access to high-capacity applications needed to send pictures, stream videos, and much more.

Rapid Deployment

Fixed Wireless can be up and running in as little as 7-14 days. Traditional internet solutions require more time and effort from the service provider. With premier event wireless, organizers can plan weeks ahead instead of months.

Flexible

Temporary Fixed Wireless is far more versatile than traditional internet services. Bandwidth is easily scalable, ensuring that specific requirements are met. Wireless internet provides service in hard-to-reach areas where physical cables are not available. If events are held in an area limited by infrastructure or other restrictions, customers can simply have a Fixed Wireless receiver installed for connectivity.

Reliable, Low Latency Internet

Temporary Fixed Wireless offers premium quality without the hassle. Towers transmit narrow beams, limiting interference. This helps lower latency and improve overall connectivity. Fixed Wireless beams are also secured by 128-Bit AES Encryption, protecting customers’ confidential information.

Traditional internet options are often more expensive and time-consuming. Wireless networks are installed with far less construction, reducing overall cost. After events, Fixed Wireless equipment can be quickly dismantled upon request.

123Net’s premier event wireless provides dedicated, symmetrical speeds up to 10 Gbps, along with the flexibility to scale bandwidth to your specific requirements. If your event requires reliable, high-capacity internet, 123Net’s premier event wireless will deliver. For more information, visit https://www.123.net/fixed-wireless/

Why Your Data Center Should Be Carrier Neutral

Oct 4, 2018

Inside a data center, 123Net believes your choice of carrier should not be limited to the data center owner. We make it as easy as possible for new carriers to build into our data centers. Opening the doors to more carriers greatly benefits businesses looking for more robust, diverse networks.

What Does Carrier Neutral Mean?

Having more options is a good thing. A carrier neutral data center, often referred to as a carrier hotel, is a facility that offers its customers the ability to purchase connectivity from any carrier in the building. Since these facilities are independent of providers, customers are open to many more carrier options. There are several factors that make carrier neutral facilities more desirable than their carrier-affiliated counterparts:

Diversity

Keeping your network running 24/7 is critical. Having carrier diversity, meaning multiple carriers connected to your business’s network, provides a backup option if a single carrier experiences an outage. Carrier hotels have a major advantage in that they support carrier diversity, whereas single provider data centers are less able to.

Cost-Effective

Using a carrier neutral facility can naturally lower the price of services through competition. When there are fewer options to choose from, customers are more likely to settle for higher prices. Moving to a new data center can be a costly and time-consuming process, so selecting a carrier neutral data center allows competition to keep costs low, without having to move to change providers.

Internet Exchange Connectivity

Carrier neutral data centers can also host internet exchanges. Internet exchanges allow enterprise, service provider, and carrier networks to peer with one another, lowering latency, network hops, and costs.

123Net has four, Tier 3, carrier neutral data center facilities and hosts the Detroit Internet Exchange (DET-IX), a not-for-profit regional exchange point in Michigan. To learn more about 123Net’s data centers, or to schedule a data center tour, visit https://www.123.net/data-center/