Just imagine how frustrating this is: You are successfully running your website, and boom! — the lights go out. You’ve lost power, your Internet is gone, and your server is now inoperable. Sounds scary and frustrating very quickly! Having experienced this, a power outage can be devastating; it can cause your site to crash, corrupt your data, and severely hurt your business.
That leaves you wondering — just how safe is your server in the event of a loss of power from the Electrical Grid?
A good friend of mine had a small server he maintained from home. One night a storm unfolded, he lost power, and once he regained power, his computer hard drive was compromised, and all of his information was gone.
Before I forget, ask yourself — if your power were to go off right now, would your server still be on? If not, you may want to get started on that...
When we say "UPS," here are some things to consider:
• Battery backup duration: Should last for at least 15–30 minutes
• Surge protection: This will protect your hardware if the power spikes
• Smart alerts: Alerts you when the power is starting to run low
If your setup is more amplified, like a small hosting rack or data center, obtain yourself a generator. It does not always look pretty, but it will keep your server running when the grid is down.
Here's what helps:
Would like a simple test? When it’s safe, turn off the power once to see how it goes. This is the best way to find out if your server can handle it.
Next time the lights flicker, just sit back and relax — your server is prepared for this.
That leaves you wondering — just how safe is your server in the event of a loss of power from the Electrical Grid?
The Dangers Of A Power Outage
Loss of power is more than just an inconvenience; it can be hazardous. A loss of power can result in a sudden electrical surge, your system poofing in front of you, and broken hardware!A good friend of mine had a small server he maintained from home. One night a storm unfolded, he lost power, and once he regained power, his computer hard drive was compromised, and all of his information was gone.
Before I forget, ask yourself — if your power were to go off right now, would your server still be on? If not, you may want to get started on that...
Use Backup Power to Stay Connected
The best way to secure your server is through a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply), which is kind of like a battery backup that allows you to stay up and running for a short time when the power is down.When we say "UPS," here are some things to consider:
• Battery backup duration: Should last for at least 15–30 minutes
• Surge protection: This will protect your hardware if the power spikes
• Smart alerts: Alerts you when the power is starting to run low
If your setup is more amplified, like a small hosting rack or data center, obtain yourself a generator. It does not always look pretty, but it will keep your server running when the grid is down.
Protect Your Data
If your server is still running, you should safeguard your data. That's why you need backups.Here's what helps:
- Automatic cloud backups that will save your files for you, periodically.
- RAID storage to protect against drive failure.
- Monitoring tools that will notify you if something is wrong.
Be Prepared Before It Happens
You don’t really need luck to survive a power failure, but you do need a plan. Test your UPS, check your generator, and confirm that your backup system is functioning well.Would like a simple test? When it’s safe, turn off the power once to see how it goes. This is the best way to find out if your server can handle it.
A Few Final Thoughts
Power grid failures can happen at any time. But that doesn’t mean your server has to go down with them. By having backup power, conducting regular tests, and protecting your data, your system can indeed continue to operate when the rest of your neighborhood is dark.Next time the lights flicker, just sit back and relax — your server is prepared for this.
