Smart Data Centers Feature Editorial

Operating its own global IPv4 and IPv6 network and several data centers in Fremont, California, Hurricane Electric (News - Alert) is considered one of the nation’s leading Internet backbone and colocation providers. Hurricane Electric also runs multiple N-by-10 Gbps links throughout North America, Europe and Asia. In terms of the number of networks connected, the company currently operates the largest IPv6 Internet backbone in the world. Driven by huge customer demands, the company has taken up an expansion project for its 208,000 square-foot Fremont 2 data center. This happens to be third time that the center is undergoing expansion. The third phase expansion had to be kicked off ahead of schedule due to excessive customer pressure, the collocation provider informed.

The company officials informed that the 24,000 square-foot space will be identical to Hurricane Electric’s phase-two expansion, which opened last November and is expected to be at full capacity by the end of the year. It was further announced that the carrier neutral facility will offer access to multiple carriers and enable customers to easily order low price cross connects.

To keep with the tradition with its previous phases, energy efficiency will be the core focus for the third phase of expansion. Just like the previous build out, the new space will employ energy-efficient cooling infrastructure technology, including McQuay’s Maverick II rooftop HVAC system, which offers 100 percent economizer mode, and Eaton Corporation’s (News - Alert) 9395 UPS system, which operates at 99 percent efficiency.

“We at Hurricane Electric are pleased with the accelerated growth of our colocation business. It’s clear that people are choosing Hurricane Electric for our competitive pricing and record of nearly 100 percent uptime,” Mike Leber, Hurricane Electric’s president, observed.

It would be worthwhile to mention here that Hurricane Electric’s Fremont 2 facility is outfitted with popular colocation amenities, including 24/7 on-site knowledgeable staff, sophisticated up-flow HVAC systems and uninterruptible power sources with back-up generators. The facility also contains a state-of-the-art digital-video surveillance system that monitors every entrance, exit, hallway and rack in the facility.

It has been a long journey for Hurricane Electric that started its journey 16 years back in the modest set up of Mike Leber’s garage space. In addition to its booming colocation business, Hurricane Electric has experienced rapid growth in its IPv6 network in the recent times. Hurricane Electric first deployed IPv6 on its global backbone in 2001. Hurricane Electric now connects to more than 900 associated IPv6 backbones.

It is one of the few global Internet backbones that is IPv6-native and does not rely on internal tunnels for its IPv6 connectivity. The Hurricane Electric Officials said that IPv6 is offered as a core service and every customer is provided IPv6 connectivity, as well as classic IPv4 connectivity.

.