Even with the rise of cloud computing and dedicated server options, colocation hosting services are still the main “staple” for IT centric businesses looking for a secure and redundant place to house their servers and network gear. In this article, we will review the most popular colocation hosting service space options.
Most popular Rack Space Options:
“U” Space – A “U” can be defined as 1.75″ as the actual thickness of the server. 1U servers which look very similar to a pizza box are becoming more and more popular these days because of efficiency and cost-savings. 2U is another rack space option – 2U servers are 3.5″ thick and tend to have a little more horsepower than their 1U brothers. 4U is the next most popular per U space option. 4U servers are typically used for traffic heavy websites or large database applications like MS SQL or Oracle. Major server manufacturers like HP and Dell offer new 1U, 2U and 4U servers starting at $750 a month.
Many colocation providers cater to per U clients and offer very economical colocation pricing starting at $50 a month per U. Per U space is typically provisioned within an open rack environment and physical access is on call, during standard business hours (8-5pm) or 24×7. Data centers in Texas offer the most cost-effective pricing in the US to find per U colocation pricing.
Partial Rack Space – Depending upon the data center provider, partial rack space is provisioned in both open and secure racks. 1/4 racks are approximately 8-10U of space. This is a great option for a couple of towers servers or several per U servers. 1/3 racks are approximately 12-14U and a bit harder to find in most US data center markets. Both 1/4 and 1/3 rack options are a perfect fit for clients looking for cost-effective colocation space less than a full cabinet or rack. Pricing typically starts at $300 a month for a 1/4 rack.
Half Rack Space – Most national and local US data centers offer half rack and secure half cabinet options. Half racks are approximately 20-22U of space. Depending upon the US data center market, half racks are more cost-effective than full racks. Pricing starts at $500 a month. However, in some US cities, colocation providers charge only $100 or $200 a month less than their full cabinet offering. In my opinion, they employ this strategy to encourage clients to take a full cabinet which is more monthly revenue and to reduce the overall amount of clients they need to manage within their data center environment.
Full Rack Space – Full racks and cabinets are the most popular option for clients with a growing server infrastructure. Full rack and secure full cabinets tend to be 42U, 44U and 48U depending upon the data center provider. Some data center operators will also allow for “right of first refusal” on adjacent cabinet space. If you plan on adding additional cabinet space in the near future, make sure you ask your sales rep if this is an option and what the data center’s policies and costs are for such a service.
Secure cabinets offer a lock on both the front and rear of the cabinet for added security. If your company is ultra security conscience, make sure to ask them if they keep a copy of the cabinet key on site and which data center personnel have access to it! Full cabinet and rack pricing start at $700 a month in the domestic US. Once again, Texas is probably the most cost effective market to find a cheap colocation cabinet.
Private Cage Space – Like it sounds, private cage space is a given amount of square footage which is privately enclosed within the data center. Cage size options very depending upon provider and geographic location. Typical private cage sizes are the following – 10 x 10′ (4 racks), 10 x 15′ (6 racks), and 20 x 20′ (16 racks). With a private cage, clients are allowed to bring in their own racks/cabinets or the data center will provide them for an additional one-time fee. Most colocation providers also offer “custom” private cages depending upon the amount required rack space and square footage. A private cage allows for more “elbow room” which comes with plenty of advantages. Private cage space pricing typically starts at $3000 a month.
Private Suite – Much like a private cage, a private suite is secure and totally enclosed. The main differences between a private cage and suite are the “suite’s” custom features like office space (desks, fax machines, printers and tables), extra floor space and additional amenities. Private suites are custom built to the client’s exact specifications for space, power, cooling, etc. Private suite space pricing typically starts at $7000 – $10,000 a month.
As you can see, clients have plenty of space options when looking for colocation hosting services. Before selecting an option, make sure you understand your server space needs today and for the future. This will save your company both time and money and eliminate migration headaches moving forward.
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