Server Infrastructure

I have always said that I am very proud of the infrastructure that we have.  Part of that infrastructure is our servers.

Here are some pictures of my server farm that I have running for our VXL Students.  For me to offer our servers at the speed and availability that I offer, it has taken $220,000 in investment and a monthly reoccurring cost of around $5000 to keep everything running smoothly.  My electricity bill alone comes to around $1500 a month.   None of these costs included the countless man hours for setup and maintenance.

I have to have the best for my students and I have made sure that even our servers are the best.  Most of our servers run 48GB Ram server with Twin Quad Core Chips and are running on a dedicated 50/5 MB line.  That is the fastest internet speeds in our area, unless I want to spend ridiculous money to get fiber, but those expenses are even beyond me.  By the way 50/5 MB dedicated line is very fast.

Here are a few pictures:

This is a picture of the server room that I got built.  

These are rack servers with 32 GB or 48GB ram and each server cost me about $5000.  This rack itself represents around $65,000 in investment.

The big servers on the bottom 2 rows are 48GB ram Twin Quad Core servers and they cost me around $8000 each.  The top row are cheaper servers around $2000 each or less.  This rack represents around $74,000 in investment, roughly.

The big servers on the bottom 2 rows are 48GB Ram Twin Quad Core servers and on average cost me around $8000 each.  This rack has around $64,000 in investment.

Besides these servers I also have a 68GB ram server that handles all our video conversions, that cost me around $10,000, and we use Amazon Web Services offering to boost what we offer.

Just that I would point out what it takes to run a training center.  It is not simply getting a space and hiring a teacher.  It takes hundred's of thousands of dollars in infrastructure.

I would bet you would have never guessed we have such a large investment in server infrastructure. 

VXL Core Principles.

I am hiring someone new to basically do what I used to do for the Detroit office and I though that I would take this time to outline our core philosophy in our business.  I want whoever we hire to understand how I would like him/her to make all decisions based on these core principles.

1) Our Students and Consultants are the most important resource we have.  Treat them with respect and love.

2) Do whatever you do with the idea that you are helping someone.  Do not do something, because you think you can make money. 

3) Success and Failure are part of life, do the very best you can and if you fail that is OK.

4) Treat the students and consultants like you would like to be treated.

5) Learn from every mistake and make sure you do not repeat it.

6) Most people are kind and generous, so judge everyone kindly until proven otherwise.

7) Do everything you do with a long term vision.

8) Do not allow mediocrity, VXL must be #1 or #2 in whatever training we provide.  If another company is very good at a technology that we do not provide, refer students to them.

9) Our goal is to help people, not to make money.  You will make money automatically if you realize that our goal is to help people.

10) Be passionate about learning and imparting knowledge, what VXL does, changes people lives and that is what should drive you to come to work.

11) Money is not important.  Spend money to have the best of everything, from infrastructure to teachers.  Do not settle for anything less than the absolute best.

12) Be available to the consultants and students at all times.  Good news or bad news, pick up the phone and talk to everybody. 

13) Do not lie to a consultant ever.  Do not hide bill rates.  Do not cheat a consultant.

14) Have fun.  Do your best. Be truthful, always. 

OK, these are our core principles.  I will keep adding to them.