A data center is the cornerstone of the technical infrastructure of any hosting provider or domain registrar. The uninterrupted provision of hosting services, the operation of VDS and dedicated servers, and consequently the functioning of internet projects hosted on them, depend on the stable operation of data centers. To maintain stable operation, data centers use a significant amount of electricity to power servers, switches, air conditioning systems, and other technical devices housed within the data center premises. Cityhost has server capacities in Ukraine, the Netherlands, Finland, and Germany. In Ukraine, we use Kyiv-based data centers of Volia and DC|COSMONOVA to host our servers.
Recently, Ukraine has been suffering from power outages due to constant attacks on energy infrastructure by the enemy. Therefore, we are in constant contact with our partners, monitoring the stability of their operations. Transparency and openness are among our core principles, so we decided to inform you about the technical preparedness of our partner data centers to operate under blackout conditions and their ability to use backup power sources.
We interviewed representatives of the Ukrainian data centers where our equipment is hosted and present their comments in this text.
Also, read the 2022 article How Data Centers Operate 'Without Light' and Under Constant Attacks on Ukraine's Energy System, to learn more about the principles of data center operations and why uninterrupted power supply is so crucial for them.
Data Center DC|COSMONOVA
This data center has been operating in the Ukrainian market for over 10 years, serving many hosting providers, IT businesses, and individual clients. COSMONOVA|NET Technical Director Yuri Goncharov answers questions regarding measures to ensure the uninterrupted operation of the data center.
— What alternative power sources do you have, and how do they work? Have backup capacities increased since the start of the full-scale war?
— In addition to two separate inputs to the data center, we have 3 powerful generators ranging from 80 to 250 kW. Each generator reserves its own section of the data center. Backup generator capacities have not increased recently because they already cover all necessary power requirements. However, since the start of the full-scale war, we have connected the server rooms and, accordingly, the generators, so even if one generator fails, backup power will be redistributed among other sections of the data center, and interruptions will not occur.
— What measures are you taking now to ensure sufficient power supply for the equipment?
— As always, we constantly monitor the necessary amount of fuel, including considering possible issues with fuel at gas stations. We also regularly perform preventive maintenance (PM) of the generators to ensure they are always operational. This includes periodic operation of the generators under load, even when there is a power supply. For power to remain uninterrupted and switch to the generator after a power outage, large UPS stations are required to maintain data center power until the generator reaches operating power. Therefore, to keep the entire system in optimal condition, fresh batteries, inverters, and UPS are also necessary. We continuously monitor their functionality.
— What is the longest power outage you have recorded recently? Can the data center operate solely on generators?
— This year, there have been no data center outages because the company is considered critical infrastructure. However, I remember that two years ago, in December, there was a continuous outage for a day and a half. We can work on generators until the fuel runs out, the total consumption of which in the absence of power from the city to the data center is 120 liters per hour. We have already contracted certain fuel supplies in case of local delivery issues.
Data Center Volia
Datagroup and Volia companies have invested over 150 million UAH in preparing the combined network, main nodes, and equipment for potential blackouts. Volia data center technical support specialist Vyacheslav Golubnichy explains that the Volia data center is connected to several power lines, providing primary and backup power supply. In addition, it is equipped with uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) that support operation for 30 minutes and diesel generators that ensure autonomous operation of the data center equipment for up to two days with the available fuel supply. For longer diesel generator operation, regular fuel deliveries are provided by a special logistics unit. This approach allows for uninterrupted data center operation even in the event of extended power outages.
In conclusion, our partner data centers in Ukraine are well-prepared for blackouts and continue to provide us with uninterrupted equipment operation services, despite the challenging situation in the country. This, in turn, allows us as a hosting provider to ensure the stable functioning and uninterrupted operation of your websites and other internet projects that use hosting services, virtual, and dedicated server rentals with hosting in Ukraine.
