Chicago Equinix and Quest Data Centers

PageDesk facilities are equipped to support your system's Internet protocol (IP) connectivity and are directly connected to Qwest's 10 Gigabit-per-second (OC192) and for redundancy, also connected to Equinix (OC48 and OC192) coast-to-coast backbone network.

  Power

With Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems and emergency backup diesel generators, our electrical distribution system is designed to power your systems, even during a blackout.

UPS systems prevent power spikes, surges and brownouts while redundant backup diesel generators provide additional fuel to keep the data center powered up in the event that public utility fails. The entire electrical system has built-in redundancy to guarantee continuous operation. The overall system is N+1 redundant, including each component within the parallel electrical systems.

  Environment

The IBX center is completely fitted with redundancy for precision HVAC, power and fire detection/suppression systems, etc.

  Redundant HVAC:

To provide optimum conditions for equipment operation and minimize downtime due to equipment failure, the HVAC system provides appropriate airflow, temperature and humidity. Redundancy features provide additional protection for customer operations. Air-cooled package chillers arranged in N+1 redundancy configuration and backed up by generator supply is adopted to provide round-the-clock chilled water supply to the precision air conditioner units throughout the IBX center.

  Fire Detection and Suppressions:

Multi-zoned, dry pipe, water-based fire suppression system with sensory mechanisms (sniffers) to sample air and provide alarms prior to pressurization. Dual alarm (heat and/or smoke) activation necessary for water pressurization of system. Water only enters the fire suppression system in the event of two cross-zone alarms, and will only disperse in the event of a broken or melted sprinkler-head. Any water discharge will be sprinkler-head specific, which will limit the potential for damage caused by over-spray.

  Flood Control:

Built above sea-level with no basements, tightly sealed conduits, moisture barriers on exterior walls, and dedicated pump rooms; drainage/evacuation systems; moisture detection sensors.

  Earthquake:

Location-specific seismic compliance. Structural systems meet or exceed seismic design requirements of local building codes for lateral seismic design forces. In addition, equipment and nonstructural components, including cabinets, are anchored and braced in accordance with the requirements of the 1997 Uniform Building Code.

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  Interconnectivity

To meet our customer’s strategic growth plans and their need to respond to fast-changing traffic demands, the patented IBX cabling infrastructure allows almost infinitely scalable and flexibly configured interconnections. The data distribution system also effectively minimizes interference problems and maintains an orderly cable distribution structure. It permits rapid provisioning of bandwidth from a large choice of participating providers. Equinix IBX cross connects allow IBX customers to directly connect to any other IBX customer within the center. This cabling infrastructure forms a high-performance backbone for customers, with multiple redundant core switches and powerful routers – a scalable architecture that can rapidly meet increasing customer demands.

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  Physical Security

Mission-critical Internet operations require the highest-level security features, and Equinix IBX centers deliver multi-level physical security. All areas of the center are monitored and recorded using CCTV, and all access points are controlled. Every IBX center is staffed with 24-hour security officers to augment physical security features, providing financial grade protection of your mission-critical Internet operations. Visitors are screened upon entry to verify their identity, and in shared situations, are escorted to their appropriate locations. Access history is recorded for audit by customers, as needed.

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  Security Features

• Center is manned by on-site security on a 24x365 basis.
• All doors, including cages, are secured with biometric hand geometry readers.
• IBX exteriors are fully anonymous and have no windows.
• CCTV digital camera coverage of entire center, including cages, with archival system.
• All exterior walls are bullet resistant.
• Entire perimeter bounded by concrete bollards/planters.
• A silent alarm and automatic notification of appropriate law enforcement officials protect all exterior entrances.
• CCTV integrated with access control and alarm system.
• Motion-detection for lighting and CCTV coverage.
• All equipment checked upon arrival.
• Shipping and receiving area walled off from colocation areas.

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