1. Introduction
Modern hosting solutions generally do not consist of only one server. However, to ensure that all incoming traffic is balanced efficiently to all servers, or in the case of an issue, the traffic must be rerouted. PlusServer provides the Managed Loadbalancing solution to meet these requirements.
2. Product Description
The Managed Loadbalancing solution is designed to route the traffic through a redundant infrastructure of loadbalancers to achieve an optimal load sharing between all servers. The complete management, administration and maintenance are conducted by PlusServer. This service includes the hardware, connectivity, and any additional ordered services. In addition, the customers are supported by the PlusServer Support Team.
Managed Loadbalancing Local contains the following services:
- Consulting (technical specification of the individual service)
- First setup for loadbalancing (VLAN, VIPs etc.)
- Customization of technical parameters after consultation with the customer
- Documentation of the service and configuration
- Setup of server hardware
- Service and monitoring of the entire infrastructure
2.1. Technical Description
To configure a loadbalancing service, a virtual IP (VIP) needs to be set up on the loadbalancer, which is publicly accessible. All traffic is addressed to this VIP and gets load balanced to the real servers. There are different loadbalancing methods available; such as round-robin, or least-connection. Furthermore, safe balancing sessions, e.g. using cookies or read the http header, are possible.
PlusServer uses ServerIron Loadbalancers from Foundry as well as Big IP Loadbalancers from F5.
The following specifications are regulated per product version:
- Virtual IP (VIP)
A VIP is a virtual server configured on the loadbalancer with a public IP address, which receives all incoming traffic and forwards it to the servers. Each VIP can have multiple services configured like web server (http + https), mail service, ftp service, etc.
- Layer7 throughput in Mbit/s
The maximum bandwidth for the traffic in both directions that is routed through a VIP on the loadbalancer.
- Concurrent sessions
Open sessions at any given time, e.g. a user browsing a web page.
- Connections per Second
This is the amount of new connections per second to the loadbalancer.
2.2. Product Versions
2.2.1. Managed Mailfilter Medium
- Number of domains: 1
- Number of e-mail accounts: 10
- Maximal amount of e-mails: 50,000
2.2.2. Managed Mailfilter Large
- Number of domains: 5
- Number of e-mail accounts: 20
- Maximal amount of e-mails: 150,000
2.2.3. Managed Mailfilter X-Large
- Number of domains: 10
- Number of e-mail accounts: 60
- Maximal amount of e-mails: 500,000
3. Identification Methods
The Managed Mailfilter works together with highly accurate identification methods, which are based on the following approaches.
3.1 Reputation Filtering
With the help of a worldwide data base that contains information to the nearest second, the Managed Mailfilter determines from which IP addresses e-mails shall be accepted and which won’t be delivered. Thus, 70 % of all spam mails will already be redirected before arriving on the customer’s mail server.
3.2 Content Check
If an e-mail comes from an accepted sender, the content will be checked for known spam patterns in the next step and compared live to a worldwide data base. The customer can configure in his interface how to proceed with detected spam mails.
3.3 Anti-Virus Check
In the last stage, all e-mails that are not spam and can be forwarded to the customer’s mail server are checked for viruses by several anti-virus engines. The customer can configure in his interface how to proceed with detected spam mails.
4. Configuration Setup
4.1 Setup of Domains
Using a user friendly configuration menu, the customer can setup further domains on the Managed Mailfilter anytime and determine a forwarding destination. After the new domain has been activated in the Managed Mailfilter, its MX record has to refer to the filter. Afterwards, all e-mails will not be received directly by the customer’s server, but by the redundant filter infrastructure, before they are forwarded to the customer’s server.
4.2 E-Mail Address Configuration
Using the Managed Mailfilter, all active e-mail addresses of each domain can be checked to be certain that any e-mails addressed to incomplete or non-existing e-mail addresses are blocked. Alternatively, a Catch-All type setting can be configured. In this instance all e-mails are forwarded by the Managed Mailfilter to the customer’s mail server, who can decide on their delivery.
4.3 Blacklist/Whitelist Settings
Each e-mail account can have a Black and White List configured, which will be processed before any other filter is passed.
4.4 Spam Detection Behaviour
In case of spam detection, the Managed Mailfilter can add a tag to the subject (Tagging), e.g. ***SPAM***, and forward the e-mail to the customer’s mail server, or reject the e-mail and send it back (Bouncing) with the error code 554 (mail will not be accepted due to spam-/virusscanner result). Another alternative is deleting detected spam automatically without Tagging or Bouncing.
4.5 Virus Detection Behaviour
In case of virus detection, the Managed Mailfilter can either directly delete the e-mails or add a tag to the subject, which allows individual filtering with the customer’s e-mail client. By default, the PlusServer Managed Mailfilter just tags the mails, but does not delete them. This is to avoid that e-mails are deleted by mistake in case of an incorrect function.
5. Service Level
A Service Level Agreement is offered for PlusServer Managed Mailfilter. It contains service availabilities, maximum recovery times, and maximum response times. The service Level Agreement is provided as a separate document.
6. Service Management and Support
6.1 System Monitoring
PlusServer maintains a Support and Service Center for proactive monitoring, which is staffed by experienced system administrators around the clock (24 hours per day, 365 days per year). If the Support and Service Center identifies a service failure, arrangements to resolve the failure will be conducted immediately.
6.2 Hotline
PlusServer is available for its customers 365 days a year around the clock through its hotline. All necessary information about the hotline is provided to the customer after the service has been provisioned. PlusServer confirms incoming failure reports by customers in general within 60 minutes and informs the customer at short notice about the troubleshooting status.
6.3 Maintenance
PlusServer announces scheduled maintenance, which may impact a customer’s service, at least three business days in advance. Scheduled maintenance is normally performed between midnight and 6 a.m. CET.
PDF: » Product Description
PDF: » Service Level Agreement
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