[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Carrier-neutral datacenters are by definition served by multiple ISPs. Usually several have a router present in the datacenter, so connecting to those ISPs is relatively simple: you just need a cable within the datacenter. Almost always you’ll be connected over Ethernet. Sometimes this can be UTP, but often it’s done over multimode or single mode short reach fiber. Be sure to discuss this beforehand and make sure your router or switch has an interface that can accept the available cabling or fiber module options. The datacenter may charge a fee for the connection.
If you need to bring in connectivity to your office or building, things are typically more complex and more expensive. Always make sure it’s possible to bring in the connection or connections beforehand. You don’t want to end up in the situation where you have signed a multi-year contract with an ISP or fiber provider but the landlord, building codes or physical barriers get in the way of bringing in the connection.
Gigabit and 10 Gigabit Ethernet are the most cost effective choices for connectivity. If you are leasing dark fiber (just a fiber connection with no equipment on either end), make sure you know the optical budget so you can buy the right kind of Ethernet fiber modules. They come in many different distance ratings—typically, the longer the reach, the more expensive. You also don’t want to buy longer reach than necessary because the receiver may actually receive too much power and need an attenuator to work.
Don’t forget to discuss how you want to set up BGP before you sign a contract with an ISP.
Ideally, with two ISPs you’d get enough bandwidth from each to be able to run without any slowdowns if one ISP goes down. With three or more ISPs, the choice is between being able to run without slowdowns if one ISP fails or being able to run without slowdowns if all ISPs except one fail.
For instance, suppose you need 1.2 Gbps. With two ISPs, ideally you’d get at least 1.2 Gbps from each. However, most types of traffic except audio and video will slow down fairly gracefully, so if you get 1 Gbps from each ISP and one fails, you’d have to go back from 1.2 to 1 Gbps, which is probably not too problematic. As a rule of thumb, losing less than 50% of your peak bandwidth requirement is survivable for web and web-like traffic.
With three ISPs, if you get at least 0.6 Gbps from each ISP, and one fails, you still have enough bandwidth to accommodate your peak needs. If you get 1.2 Gbps from each ISP, you have enough for your peak needs even if two ISPs fail. Of course you’ll also be paying for 3 x 1.2 Gbps burst capacity 100% of the time while you may only need this 0.1% of the time.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
| Note: Port capacity with the ability to burst beyond regular traffic levels may not be very expensive as long as you don’t make use of that burst ability very often, and having burst capacity on the remaining ISP will serve you well if your other ISP is down. |
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