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Our Facilities

Does Gryphyn Media have it's own datacenter? Certainly not. Like most hosting companies, we lease servers at the datacenters of telecommunications giants. Learn why >>

Seriously, do you want a host with a handful of servers in an air-conditioned closet? Worse, do you want one who fibs about having a datacenter to look "bigger?"

No, you want one with access to a virtually endless supply of machines and "fat pipe" (lots of bandwidth to handle your site's traffic). Bigger is not always better. Better is better.

We are not a monstrous hosting giant. We offer more personal hosting support. But we buy wholesale, so we can still offer a great deal. We are not reselling someone else's hosting packages with a fee tacked on... we use multiple vendors, cherry-picking the best of the datacenters.

Each of the Network Operation Centers (NOC) features high level security, raised flooring, climate-control, dual power feeds backed up with UPS, fire suppression system, as well as Cisco routers and switches, and multiple redundant connections to major backbones such as Verio, Level3, Williams, Internap and MFN. Each NOC is also equipped with backup batteries and diesel generators, and is staffed 24x7 by qualified system administrators and engineers. All servers are secured in a state-of-the-art Smart POP; monitored by both on-hand technicians, IP cameras and door security via hand geometry reader; OC3C connections are physically diverse and Sonet protected.

Additionally, all Network Operation Centers use industry-standard SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) and provides round-the-clock monitoring of all hardware, including routers, switches, UPS systems, and servers. The Network Operation Centers also monitors power, environmental factors (such as temperature and humidity), generator status, and network connectivity. All critical services/ports are monitored, including FTP, HTTP, SMTP, HTTPS, SSH and POP3.

We actively work to keep our servers safe and functional. To that end, we ban the use of some applications, and reject certain file types if they arrive as email attachments. Please check the Acceptable Use Policy for details before signing up. These are firm policies.

Learn more: Understanding NOC

The hosting industry has a "manufacturer - wholesaler - retailer" structure. Network Operations Centers are like manufacturers. Individual hosting companies are usually retailers... buying bandwidth, leasing servers, and contracting for maintenance, then providing customer service to individual end-users.

You can't call up the NOC and buy hosting for one website, just like you can't go to the Nike factory and buy sneakers at cost. Besides... you want the customer relationship you will get at a smaller "retail" host. NOCs don't explain how to set up your Outlook email account.

Here is a great article, courtesy Web Host Industry Review, that explains why the phrase "owning your own NOC" is thrown about with such abandon. "The network operations center is the most misunderstood, misrepresented and marketed concept in the Web hosting industry."
>>Full article

Network operations centers are also referred to as datacenters and carrier hotels. Read an example of the emergencies that constantly test a datacenter, at the Carrier Hotel industry newsletter.
>>Full article

The datacenters we use for Gryphyn Media clients faced a number of challenges in 2003, without serious downtime:

"Let's see... so far this year, the datacenter has survived a major DDOS attack, a fire, a huge blackout... and now a hurricane. The NOC guys jokingly offered to put my servers in giant Zip-Lock bags." What's next... locusts?"
>>Read real Service Blog notes

Your Computer is Ours, Too.

What?!

Yes, your own home or office system is actually PART of our network... you connect to it when you pick up email or upload files. So there is a very real role you can play in keeping it all running smoothly.

Use virus protection. Our Linux servers tend to be less targeted by viruses than Microsoft servers... but a MS virus can still make us unreachable when virus traffic clogs the network. So please keep your system clean with up-to-date virus protection.

Keep your passwords secure. Please don't use simple passwords that can be guessed. Your account can be highjacked by spammers in a heartbeat. Password cracking is the largest source of unauthorized account use. I can recommend password management tools... I do NOT recommend Gator.

Don't spam. It isn't just rude, or a bad business risk. It puts everyone in our IP block at risk for being blacklisted as "associated with spammers" and blocked by corporate email programs. You WILL be kicked off the server for spamming... even if I know you personally. Check with me if there is even a chance that your planned project is unsolicited bulk email. I can help you find a better way.

Check with us before installing things. Some scripts and programs cause problems in a shared hosting environment. We can help select compatible scripts... be sure to check the auto-installable script available from the control panel, too.

More reading:
- Good article with Windows security checklist for the home/small office user
- Truse or False: You are a Spammer