Datacentre server

chroniclard · 12 Oct 2021 at 23:17

Unsure if right section but.......Need to look into getting some kind of server in a UK datacentre but one caveat is we have to put in our own router thing which connects securely to a DVLA API.

Server runs a mostly Microsoft tech stack, websites, API's, SQL databases, unsure of how to find someone who can accommodate this....and unsure the best solution (virtual, dedicated, other.....)

Have looked at Azure but seems hideously expensive and not sure how we would use the above mentioned router.

Currently we run it from the office on a Dell server but its growing too much now to be feasible much longer.

Throrik · 12 Oct 2021 at 23:36

Any Colo should be able to accommodate you. Does it need to be a router, or a Firewall? Neither should be a problem.

As for servers it completely depends, are you looking to run your own server or rent one?

chroniclard · 13 Oct 2021 at 09:24

Its a Juniper SRX300 I believe and we have no choice but to use it for the gateway/firewall/whatever it is.

Seems 2 or 3U co location might work....

We are a very small business and I am trying to figure our what we need and its not my area(software dev

), struggling. :cry:

Caged · 13 Oct 2021 at 15:38

Claranet will let you put pretty much anything in your cabinet, pretty sure they do half racks as well. They're alright, cheap at least.

Glanza · 14 Oct 2021 at 10:39

Could try: Data Centre, Private Cloud Provider & Secure Rack Space - Custodian DC

They have a YouTube channel going over their kit and how they run / install customers gear.

On Holiday · 16 Oct 2021 at 17:08

chroniclard said:
Its a Juniper SRX300 I believe and we have no choice but to use it for the gateway/firewall/whatever it is.

Seems 2 or 3U co location might work....

We are a very small business and I am trying to figure our what we need and its not my area(software dev ), struggling.

Are you looking to colo your own server or rent a dedicated server but have your SRX300 in-front of it?

Colo for your own server and a small firewall shouldn't cost you more than £60/month excl VAT as a starting price but can vary depending on bandwidth and power requirements.

A modern hardware dedicated server could be anywhere from £65/m to £lots depending what you really need.

chroniclard · 16 Oct 2021 at 17:19

On Holiday said:
Are you looking to colo your own server or rent a dedicated server but have your SRX300 in-front of it?

Colo for your own server and a small firewall shouldn't cost you more than £60/month excl VAT as a starting price but can vary depending on bandwidth and power requirements.

A modern hardware dedicated server could be anywhere from £65/m to £lots depending what you really need.

I don't know, I'm struggling to come to a conclusion. I think Colo 2-3U, we buy our own server, then relocate the router box, is the easiest route at the moment.

I spoke to a few places and they will not put the router in with a dedicated server.

Hellsmk2 · 18 Oct 2021 at 17:13

chroniclard said:
I don't know, I'm struggling to come to a conclusion. I think Colo 2-3U, we buy our own server, then relocate the router box, is the easiest route at the moment.

I spoke to a few places and they will not put the router in with a dedicated server.

Not sure who you've spoken to, but something must have been lost in translation; putting your own firewall/ router into a DC should 100% not be a problem. I've worked on countless sites for customers who do just that.

chroniclard · 18 Oct 2021 at 20:24

Hellsmk2 said:
Not sure who you've spoken to, but something must have been lost in translation; putting your own firewall/ router into a DC should 100% not be a problem. I've worked on countless sites for customers who do just that.

if we rent a dedicated server they won't put the router in with it. If we Colo we can do what we want.

Hellsmk2 · 19 Oct 2021 at 09:11

chroniclard said:
if we rent a dedicated server they won't put the router in with it. If we Colo we can do what we want.

Understood.

How big is the server you need? You could always look at purchasing it outright - you could look at a Dell server and purchase with Dell Financial Services to spread the cost out to something more manageable. You should be able to get a discount by going through someone like Techdata / Softcat / Arrow, or one of their partners too.

chroniclard · 19 Oct 2021 at 09:36

Hellsmk2 said:
Understood.

How big is the server you need? You could always look at purchasing it outright - you could look at a Dell server and purchase with Dell Financial Services to spread the cost out to something more manageable. You should be able to get a discount by going through someone like Techdata / Softcat / Arrow, or one of their partners too.

Doesnt need to be insane, been looking at an AMD Epyc one for about 5k should be more than enough for now. Will check out the ones you mentioned thanks.

chroniclard · 19 Oct 2021 at 10:04

Gah, we also need a firewall if we are collocating our own server?

On Holiday · 19 Oct 2021 at 14:29

chroniclard said:
Gah, we also need a firewall if we are collocating our own server?

You don't need a firewall to co-locate, though I thought you had the requirement for your SRX300 to be in-front of it ?

The majority of colocated servers are placed straight onto the internet on a public IP address with a software firewall running on the server itself.

Deleted member 77746 · 19 Oct 2021 at 14:34

On Holiday said:
The majority of colocated servers are placed straight onto the internet on a public IP address with a software firewall running on the server itself.

That's like going back to windows xp

Never knew people did this in colo.

chroniclard · 19 Oct 2021 at 15:07

On Holiday said:
You don't need a firewall to co-locate, though I thought you had the requirement for your SRX300 to be in-front of it ?

The majority of colocated servers are placed straight onto the internet on a public IP address with a software firewall running on the server itself.

The srx300 is solely for connection to the DVLA. Probably be wise to get our own firewall I think as well.

Caged · 1 Nov 2021 at 00:45

Does it have to be an SRX300? Would a vSRX running in public cloud be an option?

chroniclard · 1 Nov 2021 at 05:45

Caged said:
Does it have to be an SRX300? Would a vSRX running in public cloud be an option?

Yes, we already have it and have no choice.