Uninterruptible Power
Dedicated 69 KV Substation and Transformer Yard
The facility is a priority customer of SMUD. We have our own dedicated Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) substation and transformer yard located on our property. Our substation is fed by redundant substations located a quarter mile away at the regional Natomas-Area SMUD Complex.
4 - Caterpillar Diesel Generators
The facility has four (4) two-megawatt diesel generators (N+1). Each 16 cylinder generator is fully redundant (starters, batteries, fuel pumps, etc.) and kept at a constant 120 degrees in order to start, synchronize and load balance within 13 seconds of a power outage. The generators are run every 30 days and twice a year a 2Mw load is put on each to test their ability to operate at full capacity.
2 - 8,000 Gallon Fuel Storage
The facility has two (2) 8,000 gallon fuel tanks. These fuel tanks are serviced by two fuel suppliers with four-hour priority response contracts. Under our current electrical load Herakles can fully operate on generator power for over 3 days!!
6 - Switch and Paralleling Gear Units
The facility has switch gear (N+1) which allows for the safe transfer from utility power to generator power. In the event of a utility power failure, the paralleling gear (N+1) automatically starts, synchronizes, load balances and switches from the transformer yard to all four generators within 13 seconds. During the next 32 seconds the power is stepped-up to the batteries and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS). The entire process takes 45 seconds from the time utility power is lost until the generator is fully powering the facility.
Battery Packs
The facility has substantial batteries (N+2) that can currently operate the entire facility well in excess of the time that it takes for the generators to deliver emergency power. All power goes through the batteries prior to distribution to the customer space.
10 - UPS and 33 - PDU
The facility has ten (10) UPS units (N+2) and thirty-three (33) Power Distribution Units (PDUs) (N+1). The PDUs are all connected to two (2) separate UPS units and have Automatic Transfer Switches.
Totally Diverse Routed Networking
Two Fiber Vaults
The facility has two fiber vaults located off of different streets on opposite sides of our facility. Each of our eleven network carriers is located in each vault and each vault is served by a different TELCO central office.
Dual SONET Rings
Dual, self-healing SONET rings deliver the fiber connection through two underground entrance points and into the facility. The networking is dual routed all the way to the customer installation.
11– Fiber Carriers
Herakles offers the choice of eleven network providers that each provides fiber connections. Herakles is and always has been a Carrier Neutral Facility. We currently offer TW Telecom, Level 3 Communications, Global Crossing, Verizon and Comcast, AT T, Cogent, Integra, MCI, Qwest, SBC, SureWest, and XO.
Redundant Environmental Conditioning
6 – 500 Ton Water Cooled Chiller Units
The facility is cooled with an energy efficient, closed loop chiller system that utilizes 6 – 500 ton water cooled chiller units (currently 2N). We rotate the units utilizing two different units each month.
With our 24’ ceilings we cool the first 10’ with a chilled water system and allow the heat to rise, thereby creating a heat reservoir. The heat reservoir is conditioned by rooftop air conditioners and air handling units that cool the air before it is returned through the CRAC units to the raised floor plenum. By doing so the data center design achieves a low carbon footprint that moves it closer to a “Green” design.
72 – Computer Room Air Handlers (CRAH) Units
The Data Center has 59 down flow 30 ton CRAH units to cool our 52, 500 square feet, two raised floor colocation areas. 13 of the CRAH units are for redundancy at full design load.
Physical and Electronic Security
Silicon Valley Security Team
Herakles employees the 24x7x365 professional security services of Silicon Valley Security Services to prevent unauthorized access to our facility. They constantly monitor our electronic security system (see below), walk the interior and exterior of our facility, create picture badges for newly authorized people, check authorized individuals into the facility, escort authorized persons to their space and unlock the space for access.
72 – PELCO Surveillance Cameras
Herakles uses 72 PELCO fixed or pan and tilt cameras to monitor the interior and exterior access points to the building. Multiple monitors display all the cameras at the front guard desk and in the Network Operations Center.
CCURE Security System
The CCURE Security System is utilized by Herakles to track the whereabouts of individuals, monitor the alarms, motion detectors, badge readers, pin pads and biometric devices. This sophisticated security system provides the ultimate in detecting unauthorized access, intrusions and tracking the whereabouts of all individuals. We know where you are, where you have been and when you were there.
Armor-Plated Riot Glass
The glass near the entrance to the facility is all armor-plated riot glass. It would take an individual with a sledge hammer over 35 minutes to penetrate. The other glass in the facility has a drywall, a steel-mesh security screen and a second drywall immediately inside it.
Data Center Safety Systems
Earthquake Stabilization
The Data Center is located in seismic-neutral Sacramento, California. There have been no recorded earthquakes and there are no known active faults in the Sacramento area. None the less, Herakles has been retrofitted with a steel beam “super-support” system, able to withstand a Bay Area Zone 4 sized earthquake.
Fire Detection and Suppression Systems
The Very Early Smoke Detection System (VESDA) is fully deployed at the Data Center. VESDA samples the air at the CRAC return units, under the raised floor and can detect particulates at 5 parts per million. It detects well in advance of an actual fire and will send alarms to our NOC and an outside third party monitor pinpointing the location of the problem.
The Herakles data center has a state of the art Fire Suppression System. Our double interlock, pre-action, dry pipe fire suppression system uses water from above and below the raised floor to extinguish fire in 10’ by 10’ grids. The dry pipe system (no water leaks) vacates the air from the pipe and a second valve fills the pipe with water. By using 10’ by 10’ grid areas, the fire can be put out without causing damage to other customers systems.
Data Center Operations
Command Center
Under the direction of the Director of Operations, the Herakles Command Center is staffed, 24x7x365, and is the heart of our colocation facility. From the Command Center certified engineers and technicians monitor and operate the building and entire infrastructure, report problems to customers, and help our customers resolve those problems. The Herakles' staff has access to the automated building management systems, two network management systems, the leak detection system, the fire detection and suppression systems, the video surveillance system, the CCURE Security System and the proprietary, interactive customer portal. These highly automated systems enable the Command Center Staff to run the Herakles data center with minimum personnel, and obtain consistent accurate results and allows us to respond in a timely fashion in order to achieve superior customer service.
Data Center Automation
One of the unique aspects of Herakles is our Automated Building Management System (ABMS). The ABMS is hard-wired to over 18,000 nodes throughout the facility. A rules-based system, the ABMS is programmed to operate every piece of infrastructure within Herakles. If a CRH unit fails, the ABMS starts the appropriate redundant unit. If the temperature reaches a certain threshold, additional CRH units are activated until the desired temperature range is met. If a generator is not operating properly, the ABMS starts and stabilizes a redundant generator, and switches over the power from the faulty generator, which is then automatically shut down. Using this and other automated systems allows Herakles to efficiently and effectively operate the facility with a small but highly knowledgeable staff.
Client Amenities
Conference Rooms
Herakles offers three conference rooms that can be used free of charge by our customers. Each conference room is comfortably furnished with conference table and chairs, white board, projection screens, Polycom conference call speakerphones, and Ethernet connections. The conference rooms can be used for a planning meeting, customer presentation or any other business meeting needs. Conference rooms can be reserved through the customer portal or by calling Herakles.
Computer Labs
Herakles offers computer labs which are available for rent to our customers. Each room is equipped with workbench space, network connections, different power options and telephone service. The labs can be used as a place to stage, set-up, configure and test systems prior to deployment on the data center floor.
Kitchenette Area
Herakles offers a small kitchenette area which includes coffee, vending machines, a seating area and a microwave oven are all available for use by our customers.
Office Space
Ten (10) office spaces are available (on a first come basis) for rent for those clients who require it. The offices vary in size with the larger capable of housing three or four officemates and the smaller handling one or two. Network and telephone connections are provided with the offices.
Antennas
Herakles allows roof space and access for client antenna installations.
