Server Down Time

22nd Feb 2010, 11:42 a.m.

Between the time of 10:38 and 11:30, on Monday 22nd Febuary, 2010 one of the web and email servers experienced some down time.

Web server - stringer.amarus.co.uk, 87.117.230.193
Mail server - marlo.amarus.co.uk, 87.117.230.151

The problem, as we have been informed, was due to an air conditioning unit not working correctly in the datacentre. As result of this the servers over heated and required their high current breakers to be replaced. This was completed within around 30 minutes, and the remaining time was spent allowing the servers to cool down and return to temperature.

We would like to take this opportunity to apoligise to affected customers, and also to thank all of the customers we spoke to for their understanding and patience.

Unfortunetly, the bottom line is that downtime does happen. While precautions are taken to ensure maximum uptime, there are occasions when servers require emergency maintenance or suffer sudden downtime. We're not the only ones to experience downtime due to faulty air-conditioning lately, Spotify, the free music service, also had problems with their servers this weekend!

So what can we do to improve things in the future?

First, both Stringer and Marlo, the servers in question, are due to be retired shortly. We've invested in brand new webservers and email servers, which have been operational since Christmas time. That's why the Amarus webpage and our own email remained online through the downtime. We're going to speed up this move, and over the next week we will be contacting around 10 customers on the old servers to arrange moving their website and email.

We've also improved communication. We've introduced a new telephone number specifically for emergency contact. This telephone will be on 24 hours a day and can be rang in case of emergency. Please contact us if you are a hosting customer and would like the emergency support telephone number.

Once again, I would like to apoligise for any inconvience caused and thank all customers for their patience.

Regards,

Daniel Davies
Managing Director