Colocation Resources
Everything you need to know about data center colocation
What is Colocation?
Colocation (often abbreviated as "colo") is a data center facility where businesses can rent space for their servers and other computing hardware. Instead of maintaining your own data center, you place your equipment in a facility that provides the power, cooling, bandwidth, and physical security your infrastructure needs.
This approach offers enterprise-grade infrastructure without the capital expense and operational complexity of building and maintaining your own facility.
Key Colocation Concepts
Power & Redundancy
Data centers provide redundant power with multiple utility feeds, backup generators, and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS). Power is typically measured in kilowatts (kW) per rack or cabinet.
Common Power Configurations:
- • 2-5 kW: Standard office servers
- • 5-10 kW: High-density computing
- • 10+ kW: AI/ML, high-performance computing
Cooling Systems
Proper cooling is critical to prevent equipment failure. Modern data centers use sophisticated cooling technologies to maintain optimal temperatures.
Cooling Technologies:
- • Air Cooling: Traditional CRAC/CRAH units
- • Liquid Cooling: Direct-to-chip cooling
- • DTC: Direct-to-chip for high-density
Network Connectivity
Quality colocation facilities offer diverse network connectivity with multiple carriers and low-latency connections to major internet exchanges.
Key Features:
- • Multiple carrier options
- • Direct cloud on-ramps (AWS, Azure, GCP)
- • Low-latency connections
Physical Security
Enterprise data centers implement multiple layers of security to protect your equipment from unauthorized access and threats.
Security Measures:
- • 24/7 security personnel
- • Biometric access controls
- • Video surveillance
- • Mantrap entries
Understanding Tier Classifications
The Uptime Institute's Tier Classification system is the global standard for data center reliability and availability. Here's what each tier means:
Tier I - Basic Capacity
Single path for power and cooling, no redundancy. Expected availability: 99.671% (28.8 hours downtime/year)
Tier II - Redundant Components
Single path with redundant components. Expected availability: 99.741% (22 hours downtime/year)
Tier III - Concurrently Maintainable
Multiple power and cooling paths, only one active. Expected availability: 99.982% (1.6 hours downtime/year)
Tier IV - Fault Tolerant
Multiple active power and cooling paths. Expected availability: 99.995% (26.3 minutes downtime/year)
Common Colocation Configurations
Rack Space
Rent individual rack units (U) in a shared cabinet. Ideal for small deployments.
- Starting at 1U of space
- Shared power and network
- Most cost-effective option
Full Cabinet
Dedicated cabinet (42U) with allocated power. Perfect for growing businesses.
- 42U of dedicated space
- 2-10+ kW power allocation
- Private locking cabinet
Private Suite
Dedicated caged or suite space. Best for large deployments and sensitive workloads.
- Custom space allocation
- Enhanced security controls
- Scalable infrastructure
Key Considerations When Choosing a Data Center
Location & Latency
Choose a location close to your users or main office. Consider disaster recovery requirements and geographic redundancy for mission-critical applications.
Power & Cooling Capacity
Ensure the facility can meet your current and future power requirements. High-density computing (AI, ML) requires significantly more power and cooling than traditional servers.
Network Connectivity
Verify the facility offers your preferred carriers and network services. Look for diverse fiber paths and direct cloud connectivity if needed.
Compliance & Certifications
Confirm the facility meets your industry's compliance requirements (HIPAA, PCI-DSS, SOC 2, etc.) and holds relevant certifications.
Scalability & Flexibility
Ensure the provider can accommodate your growth. Look for flexible contract terms and the ability to easily add power, space, or connectivity as needed.
Support & SLAs
Review the provider's service level agreements and support options. 24/7 remote hands support and clear escalation procedures are essential.
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