Services / Glossary
Agent Based Monitoring
A method of monitoring a system to make sure it is running smoothly. Agents are small software programs that can act as data-flow monitors when placed on servers. Part of the Ultraspeed Healthcheck solution.
Availability (HA)
High availability means applications will be highly responsive and reliable. They will not suffer the drops in performance commonly associated with periods of high traffic.
Cloud
Cloud computing enables convenient access to a shared pool of resources that can be managed with minimal effort or service provider interaction.
Data Centre
The Ultraspeed data centre is a climate-controlled environment designed and implemented by Ultraspeed engineers to house the servers.
DC Rectifier
Converts AC (alternating current) to DC (direct current). Virtual servers do not use power supply units, instead DC Rectifiers are used at a rack level.
Disk Chunklets
Chunklets are the HP/3par term for 256 Mb blocks of data distributed across their Storage Array Network (SAN).
Downtime
Those periods of time when a server is totally unavailable to all its users.
Enterprise
Enterprise software refers to high-end software used by businesses. In other words, a software platform too large and complex for individual or small-scale use.
Fibre Channel (SCSI) / Nearline (SATA)
Fibre Channels are a faster form of data storage. Nearline is a cost effective method that is not as fast, and used for client snapshots.
Firewall - UltraSecure
UltraSecure is a managed firewall service built by Ultraspeed. A system that prevents unauthorised access to/from a private network.Firewalls protect against attacks such as block sourcing, which denies users access to an IP address. Ultraspeed customize traffic rules on an individual basis.
Hot / Cold Aisle System
A strategy to reduce cooling costs by reducing the heat generated in the data centre, with cold air circulated in front of the servers and hot air expelled through the exhaust behind.
HP / 3par
HP/3par manufacture systems and software for data-storage, and have developed a disk array used by Ultraspeed called Utility Storage. Ultraspeed are also a 3par Cloud-Agile Partner.
iSCSI
Abbreviation of Internet Small Computer System Interface. A standard for transferring data from the Storage Array Network (SAN) over a network.
Input / Output (IO)
Data transferred to/from a server, and to/from other corresponding devices, such as the Storage Array Network (SAN).
Kernels
The central component of most computer operating systems.
Load
The strain placed on a website by a function requiring a large amount of resources. Load is not necessarily due to high traffic, more to inefficient coding.
Load-Balancing - UltraScale
UltraScale is a load-balancing service offered by Ultraspeed. Load-balancing is the distribution of activity across multiple servers so that no single device is overloaded. Ultraspeed adjust each load-balancing on an individual basis.
Network Partners
Ultraspeed work with the following network partners: Cogent, Interoute, Telia, and LINX.
Operating System
The foundation of software applications on a server, e.g. Windows 2003/8 and Linux CentOS, which are used by Ultraspeed.
Programming Language / Protocol
Ultraspeed use the following programming languages: API (Application Programme Interface), .Net, PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor), Ruby, and Java.
Physically Diverse Networks
A physically diverse network guarantees a layer of redundancy by passing data through separate units. It means the network does not wholly rely on its individual parts. Having separate units also means different systems can run simultaneously, adding an extra dimension of redundancy.
Physical Server / Host
Physical hardware that hosts the VMware virtualisation software and virtual servers. Ultraspeed use a VMware Hypervisor (ESXi).
Racking
The system of using LAN or network furniture to hold hardware such as servers and hard disk drives. Racking is measured by U, which stands for Unit and refers to the physical space on a rack that a client uses.
Redundancy
A security methodology that refers to multiple points of failure being built-in to ensure consistent uptime. A specific example is RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks).
Router
A device that forwards data packets along networks. Routers are situated at gateways where two or more networks connect. Routers do not filter data, they just move it on.
Scalability
Industry term for the capacity to swiftly adjust a system, scaling up and down according to changes in demand.
Security Zone / Zoning
Zoning means the SAN can be separated into units, giving each client their own private network and firewall configuration.
Server
A program (running on a machine) that serves other machines with specific services.
SLA (Service Level Agreement)
The levels of service offered and provided to clients in terms of guarantees e.g. 100% uptime
Snapshot
A virtual copy of an environment, used to restore data in case of a fault. A snapshot shows any changes made since the last one was taken. A full data snapshot is taken every night, with a full replication to the Ultraspeed data centre in Amsterdam made every week (or more if requested).
Storage Array Network (SAN)
A SAN is a high speed dedicated network of shared storage devices. As the hard disks have been removed from the virtual servers all data is accessed from the SAN, which removes a common point of failure from the servers themselves.
SYN
The first packet sent across a TCP (Transmissions Control Protocol) connection is known as a SYN or ‘synchronize’ packet, telling the web server it wants to connect.
3rd Line Engineer
The Ultraspeed helpdesk is manned exclusively by 3rd line systems engineers, whom clients can email or call on a dedicated line at any time. All clients are assigned their own 3rd line engineer to work on their particular solutions. Ultraspeed do not use first or second line engineers, who are typically deployed in call-centres and have only limited technical expertise.
Traffic / Data Throughput
Data transfer rates to/from networks are measured in terms of throughput. Typically measured in kilobytes per second (kbps), megabytes per second (mbps) and gigabytes per second (gbps).
Uptime
The measure of time a server has been fully functional and totally available to its users.
Virtual Server / Machine
Performs like a physical server/machine but does not use the same level of resources, meaning multiple instances can co-exist.
VESDA
The worlds leading ASD (Aspirating Smoke Detection system) system, VESDA (Very Early Smoke Detection) can be used in a broad range of environments. Ultraspeed use VESDA in the London and Amsterdam data centres.
Virtualisation
Virtualisation software (Ultraspeed use VMware) allows Ultraspeed to host multiple environments (virtual servers) on a single piece of hardware. This is efficient because it typically cuts the amount of hardware by consolidating physical servers into virtual ones (P2V), and reduces power usage by around 10%.
VMware
VMware supply the virtualisation technology used at Ultraspeed.
VPN / Tunneling
Short for Virtual Private Network. A network constructed using public wires to connect nodes (personal computers). Can be site-to-site, in which two sites interact, or client-to-site, in which case a user connects to a site. An example is creating a network that uses the Internet to transport data.
