Facilities

Our Location

Southern Winds houses it's servers across three facilities, one in Denver, Colorado, houses a large number of our web servers, our primary name server is housed in the data centre in San Antonio, Texas (this is done for name server redundancy), and our mail and other webservers are housed in a fantastic new centre in San Francisco.

SAN FRANCISCO FACILITY
Connectivity

• Two connection entry vaults at building property line, currently supporting 864 strands of fiber-optic cable.
• Redundant cable and fiber-optic vaults guarantee room for massive network expansion through multiple existing duct banks.
• Four major carriers (XO, MFN, WorldCom & Pacific Bell) currently utilize the building's fiber-optic access, with fiber capacity to spare.
• Diverse, redundant paths to MDF and Telco rooms.
• Telco environments with 8,000 amps of DC distribution are available on the first floor.
• One MDF (Main Distribution Frame) room per two computing rooms, assuring survivability through an isolated disaster.
• POP (Point of Presence) services on-site.
• Cross Connecting services available on-site.

Security

• CCTV monitoring 24/7/365 by both hidden & visible CCTV systems in all essential perimeter and interior areas. Remote joystick control of camera heads. All surveillance videotape is archived on-site.
• Designed for on-site security staff 24/7/365 with responsibility for access control, CCTV monitoring, and asset protection for facility.
• Outer perimeter walls of computing spaces are Level III resistant against bullet, EMF and explosive attacks.
• Card access system controls all entry points.
• Physical alarms on stairwells and exterior doors.
• Office areas are separated by secured card access.
• Limited access by authorized personnel only beyond lobby entrance.
• Key access only to computing vaults, cages and cabinets.
• Computing areas are separated by access codes. Tenants will have access to their specific locations only.
• Proprietary alarm systems within tenant spaces.
• Corridors remotely sealable from CCTV station to create “man-trap”.
• Equipment and parcels checked in at front desk.

Fire suppression

• FM200
• Single lock, pre-action dry pipe sprinkler system
• Fire Extinguishers

Power and Backups

• 35-kilovolt primary feed established from PG&E.
• Ten 2.1 megawatt Hitec CPS (Continuous Power Systems) units on-site, identical to power backup systems utilized by the U.S. Department of Treasury, NATO Radar Silo installations, Intel, IBM and the air forces of Israel and Brazil.
• Power backup system features N+2 redundant architecture with multiple levels of manual bypass for system maintenance.
• Each computer room equipped with multiple static transfer switch PDU's (Power Distribution Units), redundantly fed from separate sources.
• State-of-the-art induction coupling (flywheel) system stores energy to cover power interruptions or switchover to backup power. Constant-on status provides power conditioning for critical loads.
• Less than 1/4 cycle (0.004 second) transfer time for any power outage or anomaly.
• Flywheel system eliminates need for legacy battery-based UPS systems, which account for 79% of core power failures in large-scale data center environments (per Uptime Institute).
  60,000 gallons of fuel stored on-site for 72 hour full-load power capacity.
• Contracts in place with two fuel providers for ongoing self-generation.
• Diesel fuel fill ports at building exterior for convenient tanker access during major events.

Building Facts and Figures

• Located on natural bedrock slab.
• State-of-the-art redundant systems for power, HVAC, security, seismic precautions and fire suppression.
• Total dedicated computing area 96,176 square feet.
• Eight computing rooms divisible into flexible spaces by tenants.
• Located immediately adjacent to Bay Area fiber-optic consortium on Harrison Street.
• Fifth floor penthouse of 28,936 square feet for centralized facility support and backup equipment.
• Secure, 51-space underground parking for tenants and guests.
• Office Space Total 14,800 square feet.
• Total Building Square Footage 191,899 (excluding parking).

Intelligent Planning and Design

• Highly sophisticated Building Monitoring System operates 24/7/365 with forensic capabilities.
• Network-neutral connection platform located on first floor. Easy access to multiple carrier cross connects.
• Easy-access data center floor plates are raised 24” above cement, with identical central trunk architecture on each floor for shortest wire runs.
• Laser-based VESDA (Very Early Smoke Detection) combines with heat detectors in tightly defined zones. Fire events are quickly isolated and extinguished without impact to surrounding areas.
• Ceilings have pre-installed main run cable troughs for connectivity to MDF (Main Distribution Frame) rooms.
• Central MDF rooms are isolated from computing floor areas.
  Sectioned collocation rooms are large enough to group critical staff, but small enough to isolate in case of critical events.
• Roof space available for satellite dish mounting.
• Support office space conveniently accessible from each colo for continuous systems coverage.
• 10,000 lb. freight elevator and extra-wide hallways ease major equipment maneuvering and loading.
• External loading dock with easy street access for all tenant deliveries.

Renovation Summary

• $130 million was invested to renovate the building into a secure, state-of-the-art data center facility.
• $30 million in structural upgrades alone, including base isolation system, complete foundation upgrade, major column upgrades and complete shear wall reconfiguration/upgrade.
• Building has been granted “Essential Facility” status, assuring that facility will remain operational during and after a major earthquake, and that tenants will be allowed on-site without the city inspection required of non-essential structures.
• Added fifth-floor penthouse centralizes facility support and backup for electrical and mechanical systems.
• Existing basement renovated into secure underground parking garage.
• All “uptime” needs for tenant's data installations are provided redundantly.
• Entire structure meets Bellcore Network Equipment Building System (NEBS: FR 2063) standard for Essential Facilities, and most recent 1997 UBC (Uniform Building Code) standards.
• Currently the most secure and well-equipped data center in San Francisco Bay Area.

Seismic Retrofit

• State-of-the-art seismic base isolation system.
• Probable Maximum Loss (PML) for major earthquake calculated to be 2.5% of building assets, per Skidmore Owings & Merrill.
• Building is designed to withstand “A once-in-a 1,000 year earthquake” per 1997 Uniform Building Code.
• Lateral displacement capability of 15 inches exceeds predicted MCE (Maximum Capable Earthquake) movement of 12 inches.
• Foundation was completely upgraded using an integrated grade beam system.
• Breakaway expansion joints in sidewalks and walls protect base of walls from ground shearing.
• Network access and service points are seismically anchored and braced, including conduits, fiber distribution, cable trays and other equipment piping.
• All mechanical/electrical and HVAC systems are also seismically anchored and braced, including plumbing, ductwork, chillers, heat exchangers, transformers and generators.
• Interior partition walls and ceilings are seismically braced for tenant safety, even though these are not load-bearing structures.
• Access flooring system is designed to resist seismic loads from tenant's anchored computer racks, pedestals and bins.
• Computer Room Air Conditioning (CRAC) units, Power Distribution Units (PDU's) and Remote Power Panels (RPP's) have been anchored to a structural slab independent of the access flooring system.
• Building's “Essential Facility” status ensures continued tenant operation during and after an earthquake.

DENVER FACILITY
Connectivity

• Connection via dual OC3's to the regional backbone.
• Redundant connectivity through 10 Tier 1 upstream providers
• Carrier neutral facility with fiber access from major telcos (Qwest, Winstar, MCI/Worldcom,etc.)
• State-of-the-art routing and switching equipment via Riverstone, Redback, and Cisco
• 24 x 7 monitoring to ensure uptime and reliability.

Location

• 20,000 Sq. Ft.
• Conveniently located downtown, just West of the Pepsi Center

Security

• Controlled entry via card key and recognition access
• Security cameras in building and facility running on a 72 hour loop
• ViaWest personnel on site, 24 x 7

Fire suppression

• FM200
• Single lock, pre-action dry pipe sprinkler system
• Fire Extinguishers

Power

• Uninterrupted power supply
• ATS (Automatic Transfer Switch) that instantly switches from dual Public Service power grids to generator power with no down-time.
• ATO (Automatic Throw-Over to instantly switch between two Public Service power grids with no down-time).

Backups

• Dual, local power grids with ATO
• 1500 KW generator with a 2000 gallon fuel supply and refuel contracts
• Dual phase 300 KVA UPS backup with ATO switch

Environmental Design

• Five (5) Data Air 10 ton AC units with dual pump configuration and triple redundant evaporative coolers to keep environment between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit and 40% relative humidity.
• Anti-static raised flooring with designated cable runs and cooled air delivery
• Environmental conditioning delivered direct to cabinets via raised floor

Network Operations Center

• Staffed 24 x 7
• Monitors entire regional network including POP connections, telecom facilities, routers, servers, and the applications running.