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At WebAssist, we understand the importance of speed, security, and stability; and have invested heavily in hardware and facilities with global providers that ensure your websites are up and running on the WWW 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

Connected to Three Worldwide Internet Backbones

We have bandwidth-on-demand connections with GlobalCenter, Qwest Communications, and Genuity, a division of GTE. These Tier 1 providers service such giants as Yahoo!, Netscape, USA TODAY, Electronic Arts, RealEstate.com.au, Pacific Access (Yellowpages and Whitepages Online), Looksmart, dstore.com.au and PeakHour.com.au to name a few, and together make up one of the primary Internet backbones in the world. Our servers are situated 'OnNet' (on the backbone not connecting to it) to multiple OC-12 and major OC-48 fibre optic connections running straight into peering arrangements with other Tier-1 global telecommunications carriers, allowing WebAssist to offer one of the fastest, most reliable connections available for dedicated data serving.

Furthermore, because of these unique connections, WebAssist does not need to link to the Internet though a telephone circuit, therefore cutting out circuit failure problems all together. Using Dense Wave Division Multiplexing (DWDM) technology these connections can handle several times the bandwidth of an OC-3. Whatever your bandwidth needs may be, WebAssist has the scalability to meet them.

Network Redundancy and Performance

Our systems use intelligent end-user routing software called Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), between Qwest, GC and GTE, who use the same protocol. BGP identifies which path is the most efficient for each data packet and then routes the packet to its destination on the fastest path. This increases the speed at which web pages sent from our servers arrive at their destination.

Studies have shown that the most common reason for downtime is circuit failure on Tier 1 provider backbones, the major data highways. To guard against this potential problem, we have three Tier-1 providers. If one experiences problems, we can route traffic down the other one. Furthermore, because we are OnNet with GlobalCenter we share their digital distribution architecture, which includes private peering network connections to major US and worldwide Internet carriers such as MCI Worldcom, Sprint, UUNET, C & W Optus, EUNET, AT&T, AOL, Best, Erols, @Home, IBM Advantis and others. These private peering arrangements allow WebAssist to exchange packets of data with every major backbone carrier in a one-to-one environment quickly and efficiently.

Network Reliability

Industry analysis reveals that 70% of downtime over ten hours with any ISP is caused by telephone circuit failure. Since we connect directly to GlobalCenter, Qwest and GTE, circuit failure is virtually eliminated because there is no phone circuit between us and our provider. Instead, there is a direct connection between our Cisco 7500 router and theirs.

Our providers also have peering connections with other major Tier 1 providers, which allows traffic to be switched to alternate backbones should the need arise.

Uninterruptible Power System

To guard against local power failures, we have two industrial-grade, three phase Liebert UPS systems. These act as back-up batteries, maintaining uninterrupted power in case of surges or power outages. With these backup systems in place, we can keep our network up and running indefinitely without relying on external power.

Industrial-Grade Air Conditioners

There are two Liebert ten ton industrial air conditioners, which condition the computer rooms and operations centre. Our computer room is kept at an optimal temperature of 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

Custom Web Servers

Our web servers are custom-built industrial machines designed for a 24/7 web serving environment. All WebAssist servers are equipped with dual redundant 450-watt power supplies, hot swap Seagate Barracuda/Cheetah drives and force-filtered cooling systems. In addition, an inventory of identically configured, burned-in standby servers are on standby if needed.

Force Filtered Cooling

All of WebAssist's custom web servers are equipped with a positive pressure filtered-air system. Four large fans pull filtered air into each server's protective case and the components within are cooled by fans which circulate this purified air. This constant introduction of clean air into the case creates a positive pressure environment ensuring dust and particles remain outside of the server.

Hot Swap Seagate Drives

The drives and drive bays of all servers are constructed from high-grade aluminium, and rest in shock mounted drive cages, which adds to the durability of the hardware. 

Redundant Hot Swap Power Supplies

Each server employs dual-redundant hot swap power supplies. If a power supply were to fail, the server would continue running with power from the alternate supply. Meanwhile, alarms would alert a technician, who would quickly restore redundancy. In the meantime, servers and client sites would experience no downtime.

Standby Servers

We keep spare servers on-line of all CPU configurations. If a server were to experience a hardware failure, we would turn a key, grab the handle on the drive, pull it out, and insert it into an identical standby CPU. We would then reboot the second machine and the server would be up and running again in a matter of minutes.