As part of our efforts to continually improve the hosting experience of your customers, we are currently in the planning stage of migrating all UK services to a new data center facility.

This migration is scheduled to take place on Saturday, July 22, 2023, starting at 01:30 AM GMT+1 (12:30 AM UTC). 

We have chosen this specific time to minimize any disruptions during peak service usage periods.

What will the migration procedure be like?

We will be migrating our entire infrastructure, which includes physical IT compute, storage, and network devices, server racks, and related hardware components. 

It is expected that the procedure will take up to 8 hours to complete.

During this time window, all services, such as websites, databases, and email, may be temporarily unavailable. 

After the migration, there might be occasional interruptions for a maximum of 24 hours as we make adjustments to the new system and resolve any potential issues.

We will be keeping you updated on the migration progress via our ProperStatus page.

Data center migration and change of IP addresses

As this is a full-service migration, all IP addresses, both shared and dedicated, will need to be replaced.

For customers who are using our name servers, these changes will be handled automatically, and they won’t need to take any action.

However, customers with domain names that are not using our name servers (via the Don’t Manage DNS option) will need to make a DNS update.

To ensure an uninterrupted service, it is crucial that they replace their existing IP addresses with new ones on or before July 22nd.

We have informed all customers who are utilizing the UK data center services about the upcoming change through the ticketing system and a message on the Control Panel.

Why do we undertake this data center migration?

This important step is needed because we have reached the point where the current facility’s IT system cannot keep up with our growing system requirements.

With this migration, our main goal is to establish a more cost-effective environment for our expanding, custom-built cloud hosting infrastructure.

We assure you that this upgrade will lead to better performance, reliability, and an overall enhanced hosting experience for both you and your clients in the future. 

Our team will work diligently to ensure a swift migration process and address any potential issues that may occur afterward.

Do I need to do anything regarding the migration?

As previously stated, we are ensuring that your customers are well-informed about any technical aspects of the migration. 

In terms of marketing, it is advisable to reach out to your clients through email, social media, or phone to inform them about the need to save their work and refrain from making major modifications during this time. 

This presents an opportunity for you to demonstrate dedication and foster trust with your customer base.

New UK data center facility highlights

The new UK facility – Continuity House, is the latest addition to UK Servers’ data center network and is located in Coventry, central England.

These are some important features of the new data center facility, which is expected to offer lower energy costs, improved efficiency, and increased protection for your data:

Certification 

Ensuring utmost security is of utmost importance to UK Servers. The company has achieved ISO 27001 certification, which is the industry’s highest standard for information security. 

This certification confirms that the facility complies with rigorous standards to maintain the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data, as audited by an independent external body (UKAS). 

In addition to their robust and redundant infrastructure, customers can also benefit from DDoS mitigation and filtering systems for added security.

Power

The company has made significant investments in power systems for their data center. 

They use advanced n+1 144kw APC Symmetra PX systems with integrated power distribution, allowing them to constantly monitor power supply to each rack. 

They operate mirrored mains switchgear with multiple redundant mains supplies to our UPS systems. 

Additionally, they have backup diesel generator power that can sustain all systems for over two days in case of a grid failure.

Cooling 

The Coventry data center employs a cutting-edge green evaporative cooling system. 

This innovative technology, known as “ecocoolers,” is significantly more efficient than traditional computer room air conditioners (CRACs) that rely on compressors. In fact, ecocoolers can be up to 80% more efficient.

Power Usage Efficiency 

The data centеr has achieved an impressive power usage efficiency (PuE) of just 1.19 by incorporating advanced evaporative cooling technology and transformer-less UPS. 

In simpler terms, this means that only 1.19MW of power is needed to support every 1MW of IT load.

This outstanding efficiency makes our facility one of the most energy-efficient in the UK, resulting in reduced environmental impact and lower running costs. These cost savings are then passed on to customers.

Security 

Understanding the importance of data to businesses, UK Servers prioritizes security.

The company has implemented a multi-layered physical security system to protect the facility. 

Access to the building is closely monitored by visual checks and proximity access tags. 

Furthermore, constant surveillance of both the inside and outside of our data center is ensured through 24/7/365 video monitoring and digital recording.

Connectivity 

This facility is served by several carriers, such as BT, KCOM, Virgin Media, and Level 3, all of whom can provide 10Gb/s connections on-site.

Moreover, it has its own fast IP transit blend on-site. Upstream carriers include NTT and Level 3, as well as peering agreements at the London Internet Exchange (LINX).

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We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience that may be caused by this entire process. 

If you have any inquiries regarding the server relocation, please feel free to reach out to us.