Our Hosting Centre

Eclipse Internet's flagship enterprise hosting facility is based at Global Switch, London. The facility is one of the best in the world and provides a range of services from being a data centre, providing data storage and disaster recovery rooms, through to telecommunications environments ideal for voice and data transmission and co-location.

Our facility at Global Switch provides diverse, redundant levels of power, high capacity cooling and fire suppression systems to create an environment that remains permanently operational. Other building characteristics include raised floors capable of accepting high floor loadings and greater-than-average floor-to-ceiling heights. Underpinning this is an N+1 design philosophy, which ensures the back-up of all key services, together with the provision of sophisticated security systems and dedicated 24/7 365 days a year facilities management staff.

Perimeter & Building Security

• 24 hour manned car park with barrier entry control
• The accommodation is manned 24/7 365 days a year with a security force. The guard station is hardened for protection from a firearm attack. The guard force can observe all areas of the accommodation from a central location. There is a camera presence outside the building as well. All doors are monitored by CCTV.
• Access to all areas of the accommodation is via card readers/palm readers and principally the main entrance revolving man-trap door. Guards certify the identity of card user by comparing the picture of the card user with the actual user entering the building. Once inside the lobby, only verified cardholders can proceed to other areas of the accommodation. Access into the co-location areas is further controlled through the use of a card reader to assure identity and authorisation.

Data Suite Security

• CCTV , 24/7 recording, delivered over IP to NOC monitors
• Individual rack keys
• Hosting in 'Zones' (Co-location, Managed & Eclipse Systems all separate)

Network Operations Centre

• Dedicated Eclipse NOC space
• 24/7 Eclipse engineers for helpdesk and remote hands support
• Workspace available for client engineers for install/maintenance
• Full network monitoring

Network

• Triangulated link from Telehouse to Global Switch and IX Europe Heathrow
• Eclipse network peers with LINX, LONAP & AMS-IX, transit via Level 3 and Abovenet
• Resilient N+1 network core
• Dedicated layer 3 port for every network interface
• Structured cabling from patch panel within each rack to comms cabinets at either end of row
• Backup LAN runs over separate switching infrastructure facilities

Power

The accommodation is fed from a London Electricity 11kV service. Two feeders, diversely routed from the primary substation, supply the switch-room that exclusively services the facility. The two feeders give 100% redundancy to the supply cable.

Mains Distribution

Three 2.8MVA, 11kv/415V transformers each supplied via their own MV feeder, feed independent strings of LV switchgear, designed so that any one string may be serviced at any time without interruption to critical or essential loads. The transformers are also configured so that any one transformer can be serviced at any time with the remaining transformers able to supply all three strings of switchgear.

Generator Service

Each UPS system is supported by a 2,500HP Caterpillar diesel engine that also generates power for essential loads such as the cooling plant. All essential plants have dual supplies with automatic changeover. The essential distribution is designed to enable the service or maintenance of one generator without compromising the back-up supply to the essential plant.

Fuel is stored on site in two 30,000 litre below-ground diesel fuel tanks located in secure areas along the side of the building. Dual fuel supply systems ensure reliable fuel delivery to the day tanks for each diesel engine.

UPS Capacity

The accommodation has three rotary UPS systems to provide N+1 redundancy, each rated at 1,100kVA. All three UPS systems work together to distribute dual source 3 phase 415V clean power to the accommodation. The distribution is designed so that any one system can be taken out of service at any time and the remaining two systems will automatically supply the facility without any interruption to load.

Power Distribution

Power distribution to the accommodation is through Piller Automatic Static Transfer Switches and into 415 volt Power Distribution Units (PDUs). The purpose of the Automatic Static Transfer Switch (ASTS) is to select the preferred power source – and deliver that power to the PDU. The PDU delivers power to the customer racks via distribution boards which provide dedicated 16A, 230V circuits to racks and cabinets. The racks/cabinets are equipped with a 1,200V (maximum) individual 16A circuit distributed over a minimum of a 10 way 13A socket strip. The UPS is capable of supporting a combination of utility and generator sources for power. Thus, the systems are able to be load-tested frequently, which helps to assure the reliability of the facility. Each UPS system can be exercised independently or together with each other. Each UPS can be taken off-line individually and tested with a load bank while maintaining UPS power to the accommodation.

HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) System

The data suite is serviced by 5 x 60kW Liebert-Hiross downflow air conditioning units that pressurise the raised floor areas. Conditioned air rises up through cutouts under the racks/cabinets and through floor grills in the circulation routes.

Air is re-circulated at high level back to the downflow units. The downflow units are equipped with chilled water coils and supply fans. The cooling capacity is modulated by way of 2-port valves on the chilled water pipework controlling the return air temperature. To assure reliability from a power standpoint, units are alternately fed from separate switchgear locations.

The chilled water is generated by 5 x 500kW air cooled York screw chillers which are provided on an N+1 basis. The N+1 criteria ensures that redundancy is created by having one more chiller than is required for the total maximum load. Chilled water is distributed around the accommodation via a flow and return ring main system that is fed by diverse routings. This ensures that should any section of pipework fail, that section can be isolated and the flow maintained to all other parts of the installation. The chilled water pumps are provided on an N+1 basis and are fed from a dual busbar control panel, which in turn has dual feeds. The ingress of pollutants and contaminants to the data halls is controlled by pressurising the data halls by roof mounted air-handling units. These AHUs are equipped with ultrasonic humidifiers to control the data halls RH level.

Leak Detection System

The chilled water piping under the raised floor is monitored by a leak detection system. Any leak will activate this system and can be located by control panel graphics. A leak occurring directly under one of the downflow units will cause that unit to shut down and isolate the leak.

Fire Protection Plan

The data suite is provided with a pre-action fire protection system and an FM200 gas fire suppression system. The FM200 system comprises gas cylinders positioned at the datasuite perimeters with distribution pipework to cover the room volume and floor void. The FM200 system is provided with safety interlocks to protect against an accidental discharge.

The pre-action sprinkler system serves only the ceiling voids and comprises a system of distribution pipework filled with compressed air. Should any of the sprinkler heads be subjected to temperatures encountered in fire conditions the system charges with water and extinguishes the fire.

Any incipient fire will be detected by a VESDA air sampling system which covers the floor and ceiling voids, and the room space. The VESDA is interlocked with the conventional smoke detection installation to arm the FM200 system in the event of a double knock.

Building Management System

The environmental controls for the accommodation are managed by the Trend Building Management System. This system gives operators the ability to change set points, monitor the status of various pieces of mechanical equipment, and make management decisions about the environmental stability of the accommodation from any off-site location.