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Shipping Locations

Mendax Micro will ship your product from one of our two shipping outlets. If your “ship to” destination is in the United States, your product(s) will ship from our U.S. outlet in Plattsburgh, NY 12901. If your “ship to” destination is in Canada, your product(s) will ship from our Canadian outlet in Montreal, Canada H2Y1A3.There will never be brokerage charges or duties when you order from Mendax Micro and your product(s) is delivered to the United States or Canada. If you are elsewhere in the world, your product(s) will ship from our U.S. or Canadian outlet, other charges may apply depending on regulation and customs of the destination country.

We also ship to US APO / FPO with USPS. Click Here

Locations where you can buy a Mendax Server: Click Here

All warrenties mentioned on this page are apply to all Mendex Manufactured Products only

Limited Warranty for Mendax Manufactured Products

Mendax Microsystems Inc. warrants that the Product as defined in the “List of Mendax Microsystems’ manufactured products” to be delivered hereunder, if properly used and installed, will be free from defects in material and workmanship and will substantially conform to Mendax’s publicly available specifications for a period of three years (two years for desktops computers) after the date the product was purchased from an authorized Mendax reseller or from the Tonykara.com website.

This limited warranty does not apply to issues or defects arising from the use of components not validated by Mendax Microsystems for that product.

A listing of Mendax-validated components is available on each product configuration page.

Software of any kind delivered with or as part of products is expressly provided “as is” unless specifically provided for otherwise in any software license accompanying the software. If any product furnished by Mendax which is the subject of this Limited Warranty fails during the warranty period for reasons covered by this Limited Warranty, Mendax, at its option, will:

  • REPAIR the product by means of hardware and/or software; OR
  • REPLACE the product with another product, OR, if Mendax is unable to repair or replace the product,
  • REFUND the then-current value of the product.

If such product is defective, transportation charges for the return of product to buyer within the USA and CANADA will be paid by Mendax Microsystems Inc.

For all other locations, the warranty excludes all costs of shipping, customs clearance and other related charges.

Mendax will have a reasonable time to make repairs or to replace the product or to refund the then-current value of the product.

In no event will Mendax be liable for any other costs associated with the replacement or repair of the product, including labor, installation or other costs incurred by the buyer, and in particular, any costs relating to the removal or replacement of any product.

THIS LIMITED WARRANTY, AND ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES THAT MAY EXIST UNDER STATE/PROVINCE LAW, APPLY ONLY TO THE ORIGINAL PURCHASER OF THE PRODUCT.

Extent of Limited Warranty

Mendax does not warrant that products to be delivered hereunder, whether delivered stand-alone or integrated with other products, will be free from design defects or errors known as “errata.” Current characterized errata are available upon request.

This limited warranty does not cover damages due to external causes, including accident, problems with electrical power, usage not in accordance with product instructions, misuse, neglect, alteration, repair, improper installation, or improper testing.

Warranty Limitations and Exclusions

These warranties replace all other warranties, expressed or implied including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Mendax makes no expressed warranties beyond those stated here. Mendax disclaims all other warranties, expressed or implied including, without limitation, implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of implied warranties so this limitation may not apply. Warranty service is limited to customers whose account is in good standing order.

All expressed and implied warranties are limited in duration to the limited warranty period. No warranties apply after that period. Some jurisdictions do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts, so this limitation may not apply to you.

Limitations of Liability

Mendax’s responsibility under this, or any other warranty, implied or expressed, is limited to repair, replacement or refund, as set forth above. These remedies are the sole and exclusive remedies for any breach of warranty. Mendax is not responsible for direct, special, incidental, or consequential damages resulting from any breach of warranty under another legal theory including, but not limited to, lost profits, downtime, goodwill, damage to or replacement of equipment and property, and any costs of recovering, reprogramming, or reproducing any program or data stored in or used with a system containing this product. Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitations or exclusions may not apply to you. This limited warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights that vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Any and all disputes arising under or related to this limited warranty shall be adjudicated in the following forums and governed by the following laws: for the United States of America, Canada, North America and South America the forum shall be Plattsburgh, New York, USA and the applicable law shall be that of the state of New York, USA; for the Asia Pacific region, the forum shall be Singapore and the applicable law shall be that of Singapore; for Europe and the rest of the world, the forum shall be London and the applicable law shall be that of the United Kingdom. In the event of any conflict between the English language version and any other translated version(s) of this limited warranty, the English language version shall control.

30-day Satisfaction Guarantee

All Mendax Products carry a thirty day satisfaction guarantee. This guarantee is only available to single product of any model at one time and not to multiple products. This guarantee has been put in place to allow Mendax customers to evaluate Mendax manufactured products with peace of mind. All products that are not deemed satisfactory to the client can be returned to Mendax Microsystems for a full refund within 30 (thirty) days from the date of delivery.

The client will still be responsible to pay any shipping or customs charges for both ship to and ship back. Mendax will only refund, credit the client once Mendax has received the product and has inspected it. All products that have been modified or altered without a consent form from Mendax will be returned to the client at their expense and no refund / credit will be made. Operating Systems cannot be returned.

“Out of the box” Guarantee

Mendax Microsystems Inc. ensures that all products prior to delivery will be tested and checked for any defects and proper functionality. Mendax ensures that all related documents, drivers, cables as listed in the “What’s in the box” section of each product will be included in your package at delivery time. If we do not deliver on this promise, we will credit your account per instance $25.00USD to be used towards your next purchase and a maximum of $25.00USD per product and $250.00USD per order.

Product Restrictions

Certain brands carry restrictions and can only be sold in a specific manner such as:

  • Microsoft OEM products can only be sold with a qualifying hardware.
  • Cisco branded products can only be sold to the End Users (end user information will be required)

How to Obtain Warranty Service

To obtain warranty service for this Product, you may contact Mendax or your authorized reseller. Please be prepared to provide:

  • (1) your name, address, and telephone numbers;
  • (2) model name and serial number of the product;
  • (3) an explanation of the problem.

[Note: The Customer Service Representative may need additional information from you depending on the nature of the problem.]

In North America: To request warranty service from Mendax, call Mendax at 1-800-963-9329 during the warranty period during normal business hours (Eastern Time), excluding holidays.

In all other countries: To request warranty service from Mendax, call Mendax at 1-514-392-9111 during the warranty period during normal business hours (Eastern Time), excluding holidays.

Any replacement Product is warranted under this written warranty and is subject to the same limitations and exclusions for the remainder of the original warranty period.

Support (Technical and Parts replacement)

Mendax Microsystems Inc. offers three levels of customer support for all Mendax manufactured products.

Standard Level Support: Mendax standard level support is included with every Mendax product at no extra cost.

It includes telephone / email technical support for the time of the warranty period.

If the customer has enrolled in the Mendax AWR (Advanced Warranty Replacement) program, part replacement is usually sent to the client within 1 – 3 days; otherwise SWR (Standard Warranty Replacement) method is used for part replacement.

This support covers issues regarding Mendax hardware.

It does not cover any issues regarding 3rd party software such as Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Red hat… The standard level support give clients access to our 24/7 support line.

The maximum response time is immediate to 1-hour. Standard level support is available to all customers 24 hours per day / 7 days a week including holidays.

Mendax standard support is valid worldwide. Mendax standard level support is listed on our product pages as “24/7 Support, Next day – 3 days Parts Replacement” Bronze Level Support: Mendax bronze level support is offered at an additional cost with all Mendax manufactured products.

It allows the customer to benefit from onsite service which includes parts replacement and labor for the time of the warranty period.

The customer is automatically enrolled in the Mendax AWR (Advanced Warranty Replacement) program.

This support covers issues regarding Mendax hardware.

It does not cover any issues regarding 3rd party software such as Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Red hat… The bronze level support give clients access to our 24/7 support line. The maximum response time is immediate to 1-hour. Bronze level support is available to all customers 24 hours per day / 7 days a week including holidays.

Onsite response is guaranteed at “Next Business Day”. Onsite response is dependent on geographical area – it covers most major cities. Mendax bronze support is only valid for the United States and Canada. Mendax bronze level support is listed on our product pages as “24/7 Support, Next day Onsite Service + Parts Replacement”

Gold Level Support: Mendax gold level support is offered at an additional cost to most of Mendax manufactured products.

It allows the customer to benefit from onsite service which includes parts replacement and labor for the time of the warranty period.

The customer is automatically enrolled in the Mendax AWR (Advanced Warranty Replacement) program.

This support covers issues regarding Mendax hardware only. It does not cover any issues regarding 3rd party software such as Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Red hat… The gold level support give clients access to our 24/7 support line. The maximum response time is immediate to 1-hour.

Gold level support is available to all customers 24 hours per day / 7 days a week including holidays.

Onsite response is guaranteed at 4 hours operating between 7:30AM and 11:00PM from the time of the request.

Onsite response is dependent on geographical area – it covers most major cities.

Mendax gold support is only valid for the United States and Canada. Mendax gold level support is listed on our product pages as “24/7 Support, 4 Hours Onsite Service + Parts Replacement”

Advanced Warranty Replacement (AWR)

AWR is an industry-leading warranty replacement service that is offered to eligible clients of Mendax Microsystems Inc.

AWR covers Mendax Products (limits apply) purchased from Mendax authorized resellers or directly from TonyKara.com.

AWR allows Mendax to immediately ship replacement Products or parts to eligible clients before they return the Product or part for warranty service.

Clients get authorization for replacement Products or parts by Mendax technical support.

Advanced Warranty Replacement is an incremental benefit extended to Mendax Microsystems’ clients. AWR program is subject to restrictions.

Limits: AWR for new (client less than 1 year) Mendax Clients is limited to 1 Product or spare part per order and a maximum of 2 total outstanding Products or spare parts. AWR for existing (client more than 1year) Mendax Clients is limited to 4 Products or spare parts per order and a maximum of 8 total outstanding Products or spare parts. Different limits may apply in some geography. Limits are applied to ensure the benefit is available to all eligible Mendax clients and avoid Product or part shortage. Standard Warranty Replacement (SWR) is recommended for clients that need replacement for more than the allowed limits or for non-mission-critical situations. Neither Advanced Warranty Replacement nor Standard Warranty Replacement change the terms of Mendax’s limited product warranty. Mendax reserve the right to add to and/or change the AWR terms and conditions at any time. Further, Mendax reserves the right to deny AWR support for any request that does not meet the AWR requirements, to clients whose account is not in good standing and may discontinue the AWR service with prior notice to participants. No fault found: In the event that no fault is found in a returned product, Mendax will charge the customer for all shipping charges related to the AWR. Returns: Defective AWR products must be returned to Mendax within 15 days of the time the client receives the replacement product or part. Failure to return the product or spare part on time will result in a charge on your account of the actual cost of the product or spare part. Products received after 15 days and before 30 days of the date which the client has received the replacement product or spare part will be credited to the client less 15% (fifteen percent) administrative charge. All products or spare parts received after 30 days of the date which the client has received the replacement product or spare part will be refused and returned to the client.

Clients are not automatically enrolled in the Mendax AWR program unless an additional support package is purchased.

Applying to the AWR only take a few minutes and can save you hours and even days.

Please take the time to enroll in the Mendax AWR program right now rather than to leave it on a day that where you will need to make use of this program.

It is FREE to all Mendax clients – Click here to apply now!

List of Mendax Microsystems’ manufactured products A.K.A. PRODUCT or PRODUCTS

An updated list of Mendax manufactured products can be found at this location: mmpl

Warranty and Returns on all other parts or units

All non-Mendax parts or units (desktops, servers…) carry their own manufacturer’s warranty. Mendax will facilitate warranty claims for these parts for the first 20 days after the purchase. All other claims must be made directly with the manufacturer of the part. Mendax will not do an AWR (Advanced Warranty Replacement) on these parts on units. If for any reason the manufacturer of the product does not perform a repair or replacement of the product, Mendax will not be held responsible for the product. Mendax will only return a product to the customer once it has been returned to Mendax.

If a product is delayed or never returned to Mendax, Mendax cannot be held responsible for this situation.

If you prefer returning the product yourself to the manufacturer or the repair center you may do so by contacting the appropriate party.

RETURNS: Return can be made for defective merchandise for an exchange within 20 days after the purchase date.

An exchange for a defective item may take up to 3 weeks. Certain exchanges for defective items can only and must be done with the product manufacturer.

All merchandise with physical damage such as damages due to external causes, including accident, problems with electrical power, usage not in accordance with product instructions, misuse, neglect, alteration, repair, improper installation, or improper testing may not be returned to Mendax Microsystems Inc.

Software or any other licensed item cannot be returned once opened. Returns are permitted within the first 15 days of the purchase date

Returned items must be unopened and sealed. An RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization number) is required for all returns. An RMA number does not guarantee you a credit or a refund. Certain returns require authorization from the manufacturer (example: Toshiba laptops, IBM Parts), without this authorization from the manufacturer, even unopened products will not accepted as returns.

All returns are subject to a restocking fee of twenty percent. Returns for credit are reimbursed by check or credit card refund.

There is no cash refund. SUPPORT: Support for all non-Mendax products can be obtaining by calling the manufacturer of the item.

Their number is usually on their web site.

Revised: May 1st 2007

30-day Satisfaction Guarantee

30-day Satisfaction Guarantee All Mendax Products carry a thirty day satisfaction guarantee. This guarantee is only available to single product of any model at one time and not to multiple products. This guarantee has been put in place to allow Mendax customers to evaluate Mendax manufactured products with peace of mind. All products that are not deemed satisfactory to the client can be returned to Mendax Microsystems for a full refund within 30 (thirty) days from the date of delivery. The client will still be responsible to pay any shipping or customs charges for both ship to and ship back. Mendax will only refund, credit the client once Mendax has received the product and has inspected it. All products that have been modified or altered without a consent form from Mendax will be returned to the client at their expense and no refund / credit will be made. Operating Systems cannot be returned.

30 day guarantee

Mendax Micro ships worldwide. We accept the following payment methods:

Credit Cards – VISA, MASTERCARD, AMERICAN EXPRESS

We do not ship to PO Boxes, we prefer you do not a free email account such as yahoo, hotmail or MSN. We verify all ship to addresses before shipping. You may be required to fill out a Credit Card Approval Form (CCAF) located here: http://mendax.com/support?opt=contact When using this method of payment, we can only ship to US or Canada

Wire Transfer

Bank Info for US customers: Support Bank Info for Canadian customers:Support All international customers must pay in US Dollars (USD) and wire transfers must be sent here: Support When using this method of payment, we will ship Worldwide.

PayPal

We will only ship to confirmed address. We reserve the right to refuse payment from any suspicious buyer. When using this method of payment, we can only ship to US or Canada

Purchase Order – Net Terms

We understand that many companies work on a PO system. If you are a government agency, military, aerospace, school or large corporation (over 250 employees) you can simply choose on account when placing your order online or fax us your purchase order to 514-392-1255. If you are a small or medium business and would like to order by using a purchase order, simply download our credit application form here: Support When using this method of payment, we will ship Worldwide.

Lease

Mendax Micro will lease almost everything we sell. For more information about our leasing programs simply go to this page:Leasing options When using this method of payment, we will ship Worldwide.

Money Order

Mendax Micro will also accept money order as a form of payment. Money order must be sent to one of our two headquarters. Money order must be sent by traceable courier (such as Fedex, UPS). Mendax Micro reserve the right to refuse and return any money orders that is found to be suspicious and may hold products until payment has cleared (up to 60 days). We do not accept COD, Personal checks, Cash on Pickup.

Our Mission

Our mission is to be the consumer's first choice for commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) rack mount servers and specialized mission critical custom server platforms. Our Pledge Our pledge is to listen and understand the needs of our clients. Mendax Microsystems' goal of growing your company or organization is reflected in its slogan: "Helping you grow 1U at a time." Two main reasons why customers choose us over the competition: 1) Quality Products – We take pride when building or designing your solution. Our quality control standards ensure that nothing is overlooked. Once you look at our completed products, you will see for yourself the details, the attention and the care that has been put into building your server. Our experience makes the difference. 2) Personalized Service – Throughout the whole acquisition process our salespeople and engineers will answer all your questions, help you choose the best solution available for your requirements, deliver in a timely manner and support you for as long as you own that machine. Our people truly make the difference.

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History of Mendax

Here's a little bit of history on our company. In the mid-late eighties Mendax was a well known, very popular, local BBS (bulletin board) called Mendax BBS which was running on Renegade software. In 1996 Mendax Microsystems was incorporated. In 1998, Intel Corporation was looking into creating a channel program called "Intel Premier Providers" (IPP). We were approached by one of their representative to join this program in June of 1999. That same year Intel introduced us to servers and by mid 2000, we introduced the first rack mount server which was called our Mendax Cayman server, based on the Intel 815 chipset.

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Your Privacy Is Important To Us

Our Privacy Policy

We take your privacy very seriously at Mendax Microsystems. Our disclosure and data usage policies are in line with the standards that are accepted around the world for online business and payment processing. There are times when we may opt to collect personal information about our customers. That may include registrations, purchasing information or other data when you become our customer. If at any time, our privacy practices are changed, we will update this information as soon as possible.

Your Rights

When you send your personal and payment information through our website, you can feel reassured that your data will be collected responsibly and securely. As a consumer, you have certain rights when it comes to your information. Here are some common data rights you should be able to have access to:

  • Opting Out – At any time, you can opt out of our regular email correspondence with you by simply notifying us.
  • Data Usage – You have a right to get information about the data that you have submitted to us.
  • Data Deletion – You can request to have all of your consumer data information deleted from our records whenever indicated.

Questions?

If you have questions or need more information about our disclosure practices, please contact us. You can call us at (514) 392-9111, and one of our representatives can talk to you about your concerns.

Q. What is RAID?

Redundant Array of Independent Disks In computing, a redundant array of independent disks (more commonly known as a RAID) is a system of using multiple hard drives for sharing or replicating data among the drives. Depending on the version chosen the benefit of RAID is a one or more of increased data integrity, fault-tolerance, throughput or capacity compared to single drives. In its original implementations (in which it was an abbreviation for "Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks"), its key advantage was the ability to combine multiple low-cost devices using older technology into an array that together offered greater capacity, reliability, and/or speed than was affordably available in singular devices using the newest technology. At the very simplest level, RAID is one of many ways to combine multiple hard drives into one single logical unit. Thus, instead of seeing several different hard drives, the operating system sees only one. RAID is typically used on server computers, and is usually implemented with identically-sized disk drives. With decreases in hard drive prices and wider availability of RAID options built into motherboard chipsets, RAID is also being found and offered as an option in higher-end end user computers, especially computers dedicated to storage-intensive tasks, such as video and audio editing. The original RAID specification suggested a number of prototype "RAID Levels", or combinations of disks. Each had theoretical advantages and disadvantages. Over the years, different implementations of the RAID concept have appeared. Most differ substantially from the original idealized RAID levels, but the numbered names have remained. This can be confusing, since one implementation of RAID 5, for example, can differ substantially from another. RAID 3 and RAID 4 are often confused and even used interchangeably. The very definition of RAID has been argued over the years. The use of the term redundant leads many to split hairs over whether RAID 0 is "real" RAID. Similarly, the change from inexpensive to independent confuses many as to the intended purpose of RAID. There are even some single-disk implementations of the RAID concept. For the purpose of this article, we will say that any system which employs the basic RAID concepts to recombine physical disk space for purposes of reliability or performance is a RAID system.

Q. What is a Network Attached Storage (NAS)?

Network Attached Storage Network attached storage is simply about storing data using a method by which it can be made available to clients on the network. Over the years, the storage of data has evolved through various phases. This evolution has been driven partly by the changing ways in which we use technology, and in part by the exponential increase in the volume of data we need to store. It has also been driven by new technologies, which allow us to store and manage data in a more effective manner. In the days of mainframes, data was stored physically separate from the actual processing unit, but was still only accessible through the processing units. As PC based servers became more commonplace, storage devices went 'inside the box' or in external boxes that were connected directly to the system. Each of these approaches was valid in its time, but as our need to store increasing volumes of data and our need to make it more accessible grew, other alternatives were needed. Enter network storage. Network storage is a generic term used to describe network based data storage, but there are many technologies within it which all go to make the magic happen. Here is a rundown of some of the basic terminology that you might happen across when reading about network storage.

Q. What is SCSI?

Small Computer Systems Interface This acronym is pronounced "scuzzy" and stands for Small Computer Systems Interface. There are now three types of interfaces for hard drives, CD-ROM drives, etc. One is SCSI, another is IDE (also called PATA, Paralle ATA) and the newest one which replaced IDE is called SATA (Serial ATA). IDE and SATA are much more common and less expensive. SCSI is more expensive and also more flexible and generally faster. With a single SCSI card you can have 15 or more devices whereas you are only allowed to have 4 devices with an IDE system and a single device per SATA port. The fastest hard drives (and generally CD-ROM drives too) are SCSI-based. Examples are the 15,000 rpm Seagate Cheetah hard drives. The fastest IDE and SATA drives run at 7,200 rpm. To have a SCSI-based computer, you have to have a SCSI card (or an onboard SCSI interface), SCSI hard drive, etc. SCSI is more complicated to configure and should not be taken on by amateurs. There is a variety of connections such as 25, 50, 68, 68 LVD, 80 SCA, etc. (where the numbers represent the types of connections.)

Q. What are Rack Units (RU) - 1U, 2U, 3U, 5U, ...?

1U (or 1RU) = 1.75" (inches) A unit = 1¾ inches, indicating the amount of space taken up by a piece of electronic equipment in the mounting system described below. It is based on the height of the equipment's front panel; the width is standardized at 19 inches (482.6 mm). (Standard racks with widths of 23 inches (584 mm) and 30 inches (762 mm) are also made, but rarely if ever encountered by the consumer.) The nominal height of the panel is a multiple of 1¾″ ; the size of the equipment is described by the number of 1¾″ units the equipment takes up. Symbol, U, or sometimes RU. A 3U panel would be (1¾″ × 3 = ) 5¼″ high. This mounting system originated with the telephone company, who needed a standard for housing the millions of relays at one time used in the telephone system. Its adaptability, and the high quality and ready availability of components lead to the system's use in housing electronic equipment in industry and research, and in the 1980s by manufacturers of consumer audio equipment. The latter unfortunately sometimes made nonstandard sizes. The main parts of the rack itself are two uprights, usually steel. Down the center of each runs a series of holes tapped to accept 12-24 machine screws. A clear space 17⅜ inches wide is left between the uprights. To mount a piece of equipment, its front panel is held against the uprights and screws passed through the panel into the holes in the uprights. Very heavy equipment may need additional support, such as angle brackets mounted to the rear of the uprights, or shelf supports running to additional uprights in the rear. The holes in the upright occur in pairs with their centers ¼ inch apart. The pairs are spaced with 1¼ inches from the center of the bottom hole in a pair to the center of the uppermost hole in the pair beneath. Some manufacturers add additional holes. The 19″-wide front panels are generally aluminum 3⁄16″ thick or steel ⅛″ thick. The actual height of the panel is only a nominal multiple of 1¾″, because 1⁄64″ is taken off both top and bottom to provide a bit of clearance. The sides of the panels are notched to accommodate the screws; these notches are ¼″ wide and end in a ¼″ hole whose center is 5⁄32" from the panel edge. The placement of the notches depends on the panel's height. The positions of the notches are always measured from the horizontal centerline of the panel. 1U and 2U panels have two notches on each side. In a 1U panel the centers of the notches are ⅝″ above and below the centerline, and in a 2U panel, 1½″ above and below the centerline. The 3U, 4U, and 5U panels also have a single pair of notches on each side, but they are much farther from the top and bottom edges, about 1½". The centers of the notches are the following distances above and below the centerline: 3U, 1⅛″; 4U, 2″; 5U, 2⅞″. The standard 6U panel has 4 notches on each side. The centers of the notches nearest the centerline are 1½ inches above and below the centerline. The centers of the other two notches are 2¼″ from the centers of the previously mentioned notches, placing their centers about 1½″ from the edge of the panel. The 7U is 12¼″ high and has 6 notches on each end: the first 1⅛″ above and below the centerline, and then two more on 1¾″ centers. The centers of the highest and lowest notches are thus about 1½″ from the panel's edge.

Q. What is a Data Center?

Secure location for web hosting servers A data center is a facility used for housing a large amount of electronic equipment, typically computers and communications equipment. As the name implies, a data center is usually maintained by an organization for the purpose of handling the data necessary for its operations. A bank for example may have a data center, where all its customers' account information is maintained and transactions involving this data are carried out. Practically every company that is mid-sized or larger has some kind of data center with the larger companies often having dozens of data centers. Most large cities have many purpose-built data center buildings in secure locations close to telecommunications services. Most colocation centers and Internet peering points are located in these kinds of facilities. As data is a crucial aspect of most organizational operations, organizations tend to be very protective of their data. A data center must therefore keep high standards for assuring the integrity and functionality of its hosted computer environment. This is depicted in its physical and logical layout. During the dot com crash, millions of square meters of general-purpose data centers were built in the hope of filling them with servers for web hosting and application service providers. However this demand never come true.

Q. What is SAS?

SAS - Serial Attached SCSI Ultra320 SCSI has been released allowing for a 320MB/sec data transfer rate. The SCSI specifications allow for the future release of Ultra640 as well doubling the transfer rate again. Ultra 640 is however will not eventuate due to issues with "data skewing" and the release of Serial Attached SCSI. The release of Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) overcomes the problem of "skewing" of parallel data bits on the cable by running all communications via a Serial interface. The SCSI committees are working on a future development of the Serial standard. Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) is pin compatible with SATA allowing SATA drive caddies to be used in Serial SCSI. SAS controllers can also use SATA drives. Current SAS controllers operate at 3Gb/sec to 6Gb/sec and will scale up to 12Gb/sec in the next few years . A SAS controller can have up to 128 devices attached. There can be multiple controllers in a SAS configuration allowing for both redundancy in case of failure and increased performance. The main difference between SAS and SATA continues to be the higher spindle speeds, faster access times, and higher transfer rates available in SAS drives. SAS continues to be the high performance storage system, while SATA arrays provide cost effective mass storage. In another area is the release of iSCSI. This allows for the SCSI protocol to be used over an IP network. This means that iSCSI drive arrays can be consolidated at central points and accessed by servers anywhere in the room, building, country or world. It allows a SAN equivalent without the cost of Fibre networking and Fibre switches. Some of the iSCSI releases actually use SATA or SAS drives in the array, with the unit providing a iSCSI interface to the network. This allows for large amounts of cheap storage to be implemented anywhere on the network. it does however require some form of storage management system which can add significantly to the cost.