Server colocation: what it is and why to move your server to a data center.

Many businesses keep their server in a room at the office, next to the printer. It works, until the power goes out, the air conditioning breaks or the internet drops. Server colocation solves exactly that: the equipment stays yours, but it sits in a data center built for servers. Below you will find what colocation is, what 1U, 2U and tower mean, what you get in a data center and what it costs.

What colocation is

Colocation means you bring your own server or network equipment to a data center and pay for rack space, power, cooling and the internet connection. The hardware and the data remain yours. The provider takes care of the building, the power supply, climate control, physical security and the network.

What 1U, 2U and tower mean

Servers are mounted in racks, cabinets standardized by the EIA-310 standard. Height is measured in units: 1U means 44.45 mm, that is 1.75 inches. A slim server takes up 1U, one with more drives 2U or more, and a “tower” server is an upright case, like an ordinary computer. A full rack usually has 42U.

Colocation or a server kept at the office?

• Power — at the office, a power cut stops the server; a data center has redundant power lines, UPS units and a generator.
• Cooling — servers heat up a room a lot; in a data center, climate control is redundant and monitored.
• Internet — an office usually has a single provider; a data center has several, with automatic failover between them.
• Physical security — controlled access, video surveillance and an entry log, instead of an office door.
• Cost — you no longer pay for power, air conditioning and internet subscriptions for a server room of your own.

How the quality of a data center is measured

The Uptime Institute, the organization that certifies data centers around the world, divides infrastructure into four levels, from Tier I to Tier IV. In short, the higher the level, the more components are duplicated: at Tier III, for example, any power or cooling component can be taken offline for maintenance without stopping the servers. When you choose colocation, ask specifically what is duplicated: the power lines, the transformers, the generator, the cooling and the internet providers.

What to check in a colocation offer

1. The power included — how many watts the equipment can draw.
2. Connectivity — port speed, included traffic and the number of internet providers.
3. Access — whether you can reach the equipment at any time, including at night and on weekends.
4. The uptime in the contract and what happens during a power cut.
5. Extra services — mounting support, remote hands and backup outside the server.
6. Where the data is — a data center in Romania keeps data in the European Union, under GDPR rules.

Server colocation at RDN Network Data

Colocation takes place in our own data center in Romania, with two medium-voltage lines, two dedicated transformers, a generator and solar panels. Internet comes through two different providers, Telekom and Vodafone, with 1 Gb/s connectivity and unmetered traffic.

Prices start at €12 per month for 1U, €25 for 2U and €30 for a tower server. You get 24/7 access to your equipment, free mounting support, an IPv4 address included and 99.80% uptime in the contract. For a second copy of your data, somewhere other than the server, we offer Online Backup based on Veeam.

Frequently asked questions about colocation

What is server colocation?

Hosting your own server in a data center, where you pay for rack space, power, cooling and internet, while the equipment stays yours.

How much does server colocation cost?

It depends on how many units the server takes up and how much power it draws. With us, colocation starts at €12 per month for a 1U server.

Can I reach my server at any time?

Yes, access is 24/7, including weekends and holidays. If you can't come, we step in for you.

What is the difference between colocation and a dedicated server?

With colocation the server is yours, you bought it. With a dedicated server you rent a machine from the provider, including part replacement.

In short

Colocation keeps your server yours, but puts it in a place made for servers: redundant power, cooling, internet from several providers and controlled access. Write to us about the equipment you have and we will recommend the right plan.

Official sources

• European Union: Regulation (EU) 2016/679 — GDPR