Our local web servers
Our cloud exit strategy
Our local on premise servers are a testament to cutting-edge green technology, offering unmatched energy efficiency, cost savings and compact design. They require no additional cooling systems or external peripherals, making them both space-saving and environmentally friendly. Our largest servers consume only a mere 3 watts of energy, while our most energy-efficient models operate on less than half a watt. This represents a true breakthrough in sustainable computing, especially when compared to traditional cloud servers, which typically consume at least 350 watts each. Furthermore, these cloud servers also demand substantial additional resources for air conditioning and other peripheral devices, making our approach far more energy-efficient and cost-effective.
Now, let's discuss reliability. We’ve been running our efficient servers for over two years, and throughout this time, we’ve maintained an uptime of more than 99.9%, hosting over 15 websites without a hitch. This remarkable performance is due to the simplicity of our setup. Fewer components mean fewer opportunities for failure, and by implementing 24/7 monitoring, we ensure that any potential issues are detected and addressed immediately. Additionally, power failures are not a concern for us, as we’ve equipped our servers with a robust power backup system that includes 20 kWh of battery power supported by a 6 kW inverter. This setup is powerful enough to keep our entire data center running for extended periods without interruption.
To further enhance our reliability, we have multiple backup strategies in place for long-term power outages. One of the most efficient solutions we’ve implemented is the ability to rapidly deploy remote cloud servers using virtual machines. These VMs are provisioned in the same manner as our on-premise servers, which means that within just a few minutes, we can seamlessly switch our websites over to the cloud and get them back online without disruption. This offers an additional layer of protection and ensures that our clients’ websites remain operational no matter what.
The secret behind the efficiency and reliability of our systems lies in our non conventional hardware. We use a combination of single-board computers, such as Raspberry Pi, and other similar compact boards, all running the same version of Linux and configured identically. This uniformity in setup allows for easy scaling and quick replacements if necessary. Our servers are also incredibly portable, meaning we can relocate them with ease should the need arise. We maintain a stock of spare hardware to ensure that we can rebuild any server quickly and continue operations without delay. Additionally, we use Espressif ESP32 microcontrollers for specific applications. These small but powerful devices can run on a single battery for weeks, offering incredible efficiency in resource-constrained environments.
Our hardware ecosystem is provisioned using industry-standard Linux, but we are not limited to it. Our websites can be hosted on other platforms as well, should the need arise. This flexibility allows us to adapt to different requirements and ensures that we can offer our clients the best possible solution for their needs.
Cost savings with a cloud exit strategy:
As you may already understand, the "cloud" is not a money saver. It's darn expensive. It's a re-occurring monthly cost and progressively gets more expensive over time as they raise prices and you consume more of their services. We never jumped to the cloud, but have worked with many large enterprises who have. The one thing we hear over and over is how expensive it is. I'm not exaggerating when I hear bills over a hundred thousand dollars per month and they want to shut down services to save money.
In summary, we are extremely pleased with the performance of our non cloud configuration. It has proven to be a reliable, energy-efficient and more cost-effective than a cloud solution over time. If you’re considering a cloud exit strategy or interested in implementing a similar on-premise solution for your own needs, we would be happy to discuss how our approach can be customized to meet your specific requirements. We are always excited to help others embrace sustainable, economical, high-performance technology.