[RTC List] Fw: Re Happy Holiday Wishes from Cole Machado

[Bob Morse]

Thanks for your concern, Van. I feel pretty safe because I am mobile. 
Servers are not. Don't get me wrong. I really like our office space.

Just to be clear, we don't just resell hosting. We manage the servers. 
We do outsource the hardware management.  But we set up and configure 
servers, manage security, maintain the software, all remotely. And we're 
clear with our clients that the hardware is located elsewhere. And they, 
too like dealing with us because we (the wetware) are local.

I am aware that power and network redundancy are possible locally and 
there are those who choose to do that in spite of the obstacles and 
cost. And while I was being sarcastic about servers in the living room 
(I don't know of any local business that currently does that), I do know 
that it happens. I have a friend, a local computer consultant, who used 
to run a server in his apartment for his web clients.

I wasn't really trying to 'plug' our service. I was, though, responding 
to Cole's remarks that no local hosting companies are reliable. I think 
ours is. And there are clearly others, as your post attests, whether the 
hardware is in Humboldt County or not.

'William Van Hefner wrote:
> Bob,
>
> If your office isn't safe for servers during an earthquake, I sure hope
> that you have a good escape plan for yourself! As for electricity, that's
> what UPS' and back-up generators are made for. With the new wireless
> providers in our area, achieving redundancy is already relatively simple
> task for any business (or school district, hospital, government, etc.)
> that demands it. At least one (very rural and underfunded) school district
> in the area has complete redundancy via both fiber and wireless.
>
> The main reason to use out-of-the-area server farms is cost. If you sell
> hosting, you can make more of a profit by buying wholesale service from a
> server farm than you can from maintaining your own network and servers.
> Redundancy is no longer an issue here. Money is. Becoming a hosting
> company entails a lot of start-up capital. Simply becoming a reseller (or
> middleman) for some other hosting company requires virtually no investment
> in hardware and is simple enough that very little technical expertise is
> required.
>
> I know of a few hosting companies that still exist here in Humboldt, and
> they largely stay in business because local businesses like doing business
> locally. I don't know of any who operate out of their "living rooms".
> There are also plenty of data centers in the area that do everything
> locally, and who do not "outsource". They have found ways to keep their
> network connectivity and power reliable. As a result, they employ more IT
> personnel, pay excellent wages and contribute a great deal to our local
> economy. Where there is a will, there is a way, even in Humboldt County.
>
> FYI, NO, I do not sell hosting service and am not here to plug anything.
>
>
>   


-- 
Bob Morse
Morse Media
Web Development * Web Hosting * Internet Marketing
http://morsemedia.net
707-444-9566
707-496-9191 (cell)
Blog: http://talkingtech.net