Fwd: RE: [LOD] Topica Update [RE-wrenches]

[Michael Welch, Home Power]

Hello gang. I thought the Wrenches, specially the CA ones in PG&E territory would be particularly interested in why Topica's web site was down and why some RE-Wrench and RE-Markets mail deliveries were slowed. 

"Collocation" is newspeak for a "server farm," a place where hundreds and even tens of thousands of Internet companies rent their servers. These places are HUGE loads, usually requiring lots of air conditioning to keep the rooms, computers, and assorted datacomm equipment cool. Because of this, they are truly a peak load . 

That this server farm went down during some of the hottest days of the century was partly responsible for the rest of us in CA not suffering rolling blackouts. 
;^)}}}}}

This from Scott Nelson, Topica's Director of Operations:

>Hi Michael,
>
>The collocation that we recently moved into does indeed have a UPS 
>system (two of them actually).  One thing they don't currently have - 
>but have on order is an onsite backup generator.
>
>The main feed that this facility uses is from PG&E.  When this feed was 
>installed PG&E claimed that the cabling was done properly.  The main 
>feed cable was actually under rated (by several hundred amps) and caught 
>fire because of high load - and caused a transformer to explode in the 
>street in front of the building.  At that point the backup power from 
>the UPS kicked in but was quickly drained - within about 30 minutes.  
>Our provider has a contract to have a generator onsite within 1 hour - 
>but their vendor failed to deliver.  They have a backup vendor who was 
>able to bring a generator onsite within 4 hours (in rush hour traffic 
>mind you).  PG&E has also replaced the transformer and brought power 
>back online.  Our provider will be running the generator indefinitely 
>for now - possibly until they install a permanent one onsite.
>
>I hope that explains things a bit more clearly.  We are obviously very 
>upset about having another large outage shortly after we moved to a new 
>facility.  While there wasn't much we could do - we will be working with 
>our new facility to help make sure this does not happen again.  We 
>currently expect that they will have onsite backup power available via a 
>permanent generator within about 4 weeks.
>
>I should note that the collocation/Internet hosting market has been 
>decimated by the Internet economy downturn.  Some of the major players 
>have had serious problems - MFN and Exodus both filing for bankruptcy.  
>Other large players like Qwest and Worldcom have their own financial 
>troubles.  We chose a regional company who are smaller - but in many 
>ways more stable as a company.  They are profitable and debt-free - in 
>part because they didn't build out multi-million dollar facilities 
>without having the customers to fill them.  Sometimes it hurts to be 
>with someone as they go through growing pains - but in the long run 
>we'll be better off with a company that (hopefully) will be in business 
>years from now.  
>
>Thanks,
>Scott Nelson
>
>Director of Operations, Topica Inc.
>
>
>michael.welch at homepower.com wrote:
>> I can't believe it! Topica is in California with no UPS during peak 
>> electrical season! Duh!
>> 
>> >A major power outage has occurred locally here in San Francisco that
>> >has affected the Email Publisher site, making it inaccessible. Our
>> >teams are backing up all systems and working to resolve this as soon
>> >as we're able - this may take up to 6 - 8 hours. We'll update you as
>> >progress is made. Thanks for your patience!

  
Michael Welch
  
------------------------
"In a nation of sheep, one brave man forms a majority."
			Edward Abbey
        
Michael Welch, michael.welch at homepower.com
     Home Power magazine
     www.homepower.com
     To reach me: 707-822-7884
     To reach Home Power: 800-707-6585

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