What performance advantages do bare metal servers offer over cloud instances?
Bare metal servers deliver 2-3x performance of comparable cloud instances due to zero virtualization overhead and exclusive hardware access. Key benefits: sustained disk IO (NVMe RAID 10 achieves 100K+ IOPS), guaranteed CPU performance without noisy neighbors, full memory bandwidth, consistent low-latency networking. Ideal for: large-scale databases (MySQL/PostgreSQL clusters), high-frequency trading systems, real-time gaming servers, video streaming platforms, and enterprise applications with strict performance SLAs.
What out-of-band management capabilities does IPMI provide?
IPMI delivers complete lights-out management: 1) Remote KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) access as if physically present; 2) Power cycle and hard reset even when OS is crashed or network is down; 3) Mount ISO images for remote OS installation of any distribution; 4) Monitor hardware health (temperatures, fan speeds, power status, disk SMART data, memory errors); 5) View system event logs and alerts. Enterprise customers can integrate IPMI into monitoring platforms (Zabbix, Prometheus, Nagios) for automated infrastructure management and alerting.
What are typical deployment timelines and expedited options?
Standard configurations (common CPU/RAM/disk combinations): 12-24 hours including network provisioning and burn-in testing. Custom enterprise builds (high-end Xeon, large NVMe arrays, complex RAID): 2-5 business days. Expedited deployment available: 6-12 hour rush delivery with advance notice (subject to inventory, expedite fees may apply). Enterprise customers receive complimentary capacity planning and configuration consulting—we recommend ordering 2+ weeks ahead for large deployments to guarantee availability and optimal pricing.
How should I choose RAID configuration for enterprise workloads?
RAID 0 (striping): Maximum performance, zero redundancy—any disk failure = total data loss. Use only for ephemeral data. RAID 1 (mirroring): Dual-disk redundancy, 50% capacity penalty, ideal for boot volumes and small high-reliability datasets. RAID 5: 3+ disks, single-disk fault tolerance, fast reads but slower writes, suitable for read-heavy workloads. RAID 10 (recommended): 4+ disks combining RAID 0+1 benefits, optimal performance with redundancy, tolerates specific disk failures. Best practices: RAID 10 + hot spare + offsite backups for mission-critical systems. We offer free architecture review for enterprise deployments.
What network specifications and performance guarantees apply?
All bare metal servers include 100% dedicated bandwidth with zero oversubscription. Hong Kong/APAC: 10Mbps-1Gbps dedicated with CN2 GIA China routes and premium Tier 1 BGP, optimized for Asia-Pacific. Japan: 100Mbps-1Gbps BGP multi-homed (NTT/IIJ/KDDI peering), best APAC latency. USA: 100Mbps-10Gbps unmetered on premium blend, ideal for high-volume applications. Enterprise upgrades: 10Gbps ports, BGP ASN announcement, private cross-connects. All plans include baseline DDoS mitigation (10-20Gbps), with 100Gbps+ advanced protection available. IPv4 + IPv6 dual-stack standard.
What SLA and hardware replacement commitments do you provide?
99.95% hardware availability SLA with 24/7 proactive monitoring. Replacement response times: Disk failure (RAID configs maintain service continuity): 4 hours to replace and rebuild array. RAM/PSU failure: Emergency replacement within 2-6 hours. Motherboard/CPU failure: Migration to standby hardware or component swap within 6-24 hours. All hardware replacements are free including parts and labor. Enterprise SLA available: 1-hour response, priority queue, standby server guarantee, on-site spares. Financial SLA credits for downtime per service agreement.
What enterprise contract and volume discount programs are available?
Enterprise benefits: 1) Volume discounts: 10+ servers 10-20% off, 50+ servers custom pricing; 2) Flexible billing: NET15/NET30 terms, annual contracts with price lock, multi-year commitments; 3) Custom configurations: bespoke hardware specs for specialized workloads; 4) Dedicated services: named account manager, priority support queue, quarterly business reviews, architectural consulting; 5) Invoicing: W9/tax documentation, PO acceptance, proper billing entities. Process: submit company profile → needs assessment → custom quote → MSA execution. Contact our enterprise team for RFP support.
Do you offer colocation services for customer-owned equipment?
Yes, full-service colocation in our Tier III+ certified data centers. Inclusions: 1U-42U rack space, dedicated IP allocations (/29-/24 blocks), flexible bandwidth (10Mbps-10Gbps burstable or commit), redundant power (dual A+B feeds, UPS, generator backup), precision cooling (N+1 CRAC units), physical security (24/7 NOC, biometric access, video surveillance), remote hands service (reboots, cable management, hardware swaps). Pricing: rack unit + bandwidth + power consumption (metered). Ideal for customers with existing hardware investments, specialized equipment (custom GPUs, FPGAs, appliances), or compliance requirements for owned infrastructure.