About 1st4web & Glenkens Computer Services

History

We are a family-run business, originally established in 1995 as a computer support service called Glenkens Computer Services (on-going), commenced trading on in 1985 and progressing to and small network (SOHO)setup and maintenance.
The web design service began in 1995 under the same name, later to become 1st4web (2006).
We can supply Dynamic Website, Basic or Brochure Website, eCommerce Website, Community Website, Web Portal Website, Review Website, Directory Website, News Website.
We provide reliable website hosting using only the highest quality servers based in the United Kingdom.

Current Facilities

The data centre offers a secure, resilient environment for our web hosting platform.
Based in a secure facility, the data centre is built to an N+1 specification, so that if any particular service fails - e.g. electricity or air conditioning - another backup service automatically takes over the failed service's job.

Power

Dual power feeds enter the building at different points and Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) ensure that all power to the server area is clean and spike free.
In the event of a power outage the UPS can take the entire data centre load for up to five minutes.
However within 20 seconds our redundant generators are able to indefinitely take on the entire data centre load.

Security

The data centre is manned 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so that if anything goes wrong engineers can respond quickly and effectively to the problem.
Access to the data centre is via a master access list using Smart Card authentication.V Access to the data centre is by authorisation only.
CCTV operates throughout the facility.

Cooling & Fire Suppression

The temperature of the data centre is kept at a steady 20C to allow optimum equipment performance.
Our fire detection system monitors the room for any sign of fire and allows operators to respond to such a situation using a variety of fire suppression techniques.

Technology

100% Dell Servers

We use only Dell servers in our website hosting platform
Utilising state-of-the-art technology we have built a web hosting platform that is second to none
Our platform is designed in such a way that if any server fails another server automatically and without delay takes over that server's workload
For example, if one of our mail servers breaks down another server automatically comes online, with all the correct configuration, and takes over the work of the failed server, during this period no email is lost
As well as this, all data is stored in two large network disk arrays
Data is automatically synchronised between the arrays so that in the event of an array failing the remaining array continues to serve data to the servers with no downtime.
For further information on products from Dell, please visit their website.

Server Specification

Data Centre Features
Dual 100 Mb Connections to the Internet
Cisco Gigabit Network
Diverse Fibre Networks
Hosted on Dell Super Servers
Load Balanced Storage Systems
Redundant Data Backup
Redundant Power Feeds
Redundant Uninterruptible Power Supplies
Redundant Standby Generators
Redundant Cooling Systems
24 X 7 X 365 Onsite Manned
Incipient Fire Detection System
CCTV and Smart Card Access.

Software

Redhat Linux Platform
Redhat is the leading provider of Linux open source software.
For many years now Redhat Linux has been the number one choice for website hosting companies, not just because of Redhat's amazing scalability but also because of its track record as the most stable operating system available in the market today.
Our systems utilise the latest Redhat server technology to allow our servers to be continually up to date with Redhat system & security patches.
Unlike many of our competitors we run Redhat Enterprise Linux, the most stable release of Redhat Linux available and the only version that keeps completely up to date with security patches.

MySQL 5

MySQL is a true multi-user, multi-threaded SQL (Structured Query Language) database server.
SQL is the most popular database language in the world. MySQL is a client/server implementation that consists of a server daemon (mysqld) and many different client programs and libraries.

Versions
MySQL v5.0.45
Perl, PHP4 & PHP 5, Ruby, Python, Zend, Ghostscript, and ImageMagick Full support including the most commonly used modules for Perl, PHP and Python
Perl v5.8.5 with Crypt::SSLeay module v0.51
PHP v4.4.8 with Zend Optimiser v3.3.0 and PHP v5.2.5
Python v2.3.4
ImageMagick v6.3.4

Sun ONE ASP (Chili!Soft ASP)
Sun ONE ASP (Chili!Soft ASP) allows you to use the Microsoft ASP programming launguage on Linux

All standard Apache modules are installed on the web servers, including mod_rewrite
These are the correct versions as at 01 April 2008, for the latest versions please see the Control Panel demonstration.

Connectivity

Through use of the above facilities, technology, infrastructure, network, and software we provide one of the most stable and reliable website hosting platforms you will find.

Performance

Uptime We aim for 99.9% uptime, however we do need to take the servers offline for maintenance, replacement, or upgrade occasionally.
This is always scheduled for overnight, in the UK, and with as little disruption as possible.

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