Physical hosting is the job of placing and supporting the hardware that runs a service. For on-premises hardware, the two main locations are an office building—perhaps a dedicated room—or a remote data center with servers in racks. The choice depends on the space and resources available, but neither location removes the need to keep the equipment running. section 8.3.2
Before choosing a location, check the operating requirements:
- Provide a network connection and enough cooling. An office cupboard without air conditioning can become uncomfortably hot. section 8.3.2
- Check that the electrical circuit can carry the load and that power is clean and uninterrupted. section 8.3.2
- Plan for capacity changes. Buying, delivering, provisioning, and installing hardware can take weeks and may require a substantial capital outlay. section 8.3.2
A promotion-driven spike
A private cloud can let an organization turn off some internal servers and use the freed capacity for frontline servers during an online promotion. That flexibility helps, but it does not create more physical hardware. section 8.3.2
