Cloud Servers

Cloud Computing at RackForce

VMware vCloud Powered

In 2011 Cloud has become a mainstream delivery model for organizations of all sizes, across all industries. The majority of CIOs and IT Directors include Cloud as an element of their IT strategy. And more progressive organizations are extensively leveraging Cloud services, enjoying the flexibility, scalability, cost advantages and - most importantly - the agility advantages Cloud provides.

Cloud-B Features:
  • » 1 - 4 VPU IBM System x
  • » 1 - 4 GB DDR2 PC2-5300
  • » 50GB - 2TB* General Purpose or High Performance SAN
  • » 20Mbps Burstable Unmetered BW
  • » 99.9% SLA
  • » CentOS | Red Hat | Windows
  • » Private Subnet w/ 3 IPs
  • » Download Overview (429KB PDF)
Quote / Order
Cloud-E Features:
  • » 1 - 8 VPU Westmere x5650
  • » 1 - 12 GB DDR3-1333
  • » 50GB - 2TB* General Purpose or High Performance SAN
  • » 100Mbps Burstable Unmetered BW
  • » 99.99% SLA
  • » CentOS | Red Hat | Windows
  • » Private Subnet w/ 3 IPs
  • » Download Overview (430KB PDF)
Quote / Order

* NOTE: Usable hard drive space is dependent on the selected Operating System (O/S). Windows O/S requires approx. 25GB of HDD and Linux O/S requires approx. 10GB of HDD space.

RackForce's Cloud portfolio provides you attractive options regardless of where you are on your Cloud adoption journey. We provide a broad suite of server, storage and network services with extensive granularity. This enables you to leverage Cloud for uses ranging from small dev/test/sandbox environments, to high performance, high availability platforms supporting your mission critical applications.


Hybrid Hosting

RackForce understands no two organizations are alike, each having their own unique IT needs. That's why we deliver our Cloud services in a "Hybrid" model, customized for each client. For example, you can use our colocation services to house your dedicated equipment at our site, integrating your self-managed servers with our Cloud services. Or integrate RackForce Cloud services with your existing, in-house virtual infrastructure. And by utilizing RackForce's optional VMware vCloud powered features we'll create the ultimate in Cloud manageability and flexibility, tailored specifically for you.

Basic Cloud

Our base service is delivered on leading products that provide reliability, performance, security and flexibility:

  • Servers - IBM System X
  • Storage - IBM and NetApp SANs
  • Network - multiple 10Gbs connections from diverse carriers
  • Virtualization - industry leading VMware vSphere Standard
  • Management - Nimsoft and proprietary management tools

We package this together in our base product called Cloud-B, which delivers great performance and availability at a very compelling price point. Cloud-B supports applications with less stringent requirements, such as development & test, tier-2 applications, etc. Clients needing higher levels of performance and scalability can choose our Cloud-E, offering a step up in technology and scalability.

Enterprise Cloud

We've built our flagship enterprise service on leading products that deliver reliability, performance, security and flexibility:

  • Servers - Cisco UCS and IBM System X
  • Storage - enterprise class IBM and NetApp SANs
  • Network - multiple 10Gbs connections from diverse carriers
  • Virtualization - industry leading VMware ESXi Enterprise Plus
  • Management - Nimsoft and proprietary management tools

We wrap all this up in a package called Cloud-E, which delivers value for the long term . flexing and scaling up or down, changing configurations on the fly, adding or removing features and services. All to support the evolving needs of your business.


Cloud Hosting Centers

RackForce's Cloud services are hosted in leading facilities, designed for service providers. Our Kelowna, B.C. GigaCenter contains advanced security, tier 3 configured power & cooling infrastructure, and Cisco Nexus Datacenter 3.0 10Gbps network. Our Toronto Cloud is delivered from 151 Front Street, the central Canada network hub with a proven, high quality delivery infrastructure. Both the Kelowna and Toronto operations are SAS70 and CICA5970 certified.


Green and Secure

RackForce cloud computing uses advanced VMware virtualization technologies, energy efficient design and 'green' hydro power. This can lower your carbon footprint by up to 50x, compared to an average data center. For more information on RackForce's detailed efforts to create a Green IT world please see our Green to the Core program.

Each Cloud server has dedicated RAM and SAN space and each Cloud customer has their own private VLAN. The RackForce Cloud and your data center can be linked via a private layer 2 WAN connection. This provides an optimized secure environment.


Custom Cloud Hosting

  • Optimized for specific application
  • Dedicated firewall and hardware
  • Bare metal servers available
  • Available as managed or unmanaged
  • Access to VMware vCenter console
  • Off-site data backup available
  • Choice of network carrier and bandwidth options

Architecture Advantages

  • Dynamic scalability
  • Infrastructure-as-a-Service model
  • Automatic cluster fail-over
  • Redundant fiber channel internal links
  • Optional offiste data backup services

Customer Benefits

  • Availability features & redundancy up to 99.99% SLA
  • Highly secure & scalable
  • Dynamic configuration changes and upgrades
  • Simplicity and flexibility
  • Custom configurations and solutions available
  • Powered by 'green' hydro-electric power
  • Most cost effective computing platform

Low Carbon Footprint

  • As low as 2% of a typical data center
  • Green hydro-electric power
  • Exceptional efficient data center design
  • Optimized 'Free cooling'
  • IBM 'Big Green' engineering


  Cloud-B Cloud-E
Technology
Virtualization: VMware vSphere VMware vSphere
Servers: IBM System X Cisco UCS and IBM System X
Storage: IBM and NetApp Enterprise SANs IBM and NetApp Enterprise SANs
Operating Systems: Linux, Microsoft and others Linux, Microsoft and others
Redundancy: High Availability (HA) clusters High Availability (HA) clusters
Data Center LAN: Cisco Nexus 10Gbs converged Cisco Nexus 10Gbs converged
Network: RackForce private; Shaw; Bell; US carriers RackForce private; Shaw; Bell; US carriers
Granular Scalability Increments
Processors: By core, up to 4 By core, up to 8
Memory: By GB, up to 4GB By GB, up to 12GB
Storage (SAN): By 10GB, up to 2TB* By 10GB, up to 2TB*
Bandwidth: By 100Mbps By 100Mbps
Firewall: Dedicated or Virtual Dedciated or Virtual
Optimal Network Connectivity
Internet or Private Network to Server: 20Mbps 100Mbps
Access: Carrier-neutral access Carrier-neutral access
Redundancy: Multi-homed Internet; Network path diversity Multi-homed Internet; Network path diversity
Communication: Unified I/O and Fiber Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) Unified I/O and Fiber Channel over Ethernet (FCoE)
SLA
Uptime Guarantee: 99.9% 99.99%
  Download Overview (429KB PDF) Download Overview (430KB PDF)

* NOTE: Usable hard drive space is dependent on the selected Operating System (O/S). Windows O/S requires approx. 25GB of HDD and Linux O/S requires approx. 10GB of HDD space.