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In the early 2000s, NYSERNet recognized a critical need within New York’s research and education community: secure, reliable, and affordable disaster recovery and business continuity solutions. With input from our members and guidance from industry experts, we embarked on a bold initiative—the development of the NYSERNet Data Center.
A Vision for Resilience
The idea for a dedicated data center emerged from NYSERNet’s long-standing commitment to empowering member institutions with cutting-edge infrastructure. Just as we built our statewide optical network and helped establish key peering points, we saw an opportunity to create a facility that would provide unparalleled support for disaster recovery, off-site storage, and high-performance computing.
Our Board and Data Center Working Group conducted extensive research, evaluating multiple locations across the state. Syracuse, NY, was ultimately chosen as the home for this facility due to its geographical stability, accessibility, and proximity to NYSERNet’s operational headquarters. Conveniently located near two major interstates, Hancock International Airport, and an Amtrak terminal, the site ensures accessibility while maintaining the necessary distance from primary data centers to satisfy institutional disaster recovery requirements.
Designed with Members in Mind
The NYSERNet Data Center, which opened for business on June 1, 2007, was built for members, with members in mind, ensuring it meets their evolving needs. Strategically located on the NYSERNet statewide optical backbone, the facility has always been deeply integrated with our network services, providing commercial-grade colocation, redundant power and cooling, secure access, and expert technical support from NYSERNet staff.
Over nearly 18 years of operation, the Data Center has supported multiple generations of technology—from Gigabit Ethernet connections and rack-mounted servers in its early years to today’s 100 GE infrastructure, hyperconverged blade systems, and solid-state storage. Its availability has also enabled NYSERNet to participate in large-scale research initiatives, including GENI (Global Environment for Network Innovations) and the National Research Platform, reinforcing our commitment to advancing science and education through high-performance computing and networking.
A Member-Powered Initiative
The NYSERNet Data Center was envisioned as a community-driven initiative, where early adopters played a crucial role in making the facility a reality. By leveraging NYSERNet’s optical network infrastructure, members gained access to enterprise-grade disaster recovery solutions without the high costs of commercial providers.
Since its opening, the data center has continued to support education, research institutions, and cultural organizations, providing them with a secure, redundant, and scalable solution for critical IT infrastructure.
Honoring the Past, Building for Tomorrow
As we celebrate NYSERNet40, the development of our data center stands as a testament to the power of collaboration and forward-thinking innovation. Our mission has always been to provide solutions tailored to our members, and the NYSERNet Data Center continues to play a vital role in securing their digital future.
For more details on the NYSERNet Data Center, including a full breakdown of features and services, download our datasheet here (email required).
Up next: Join us next week as we explore NYSERNet’s Network Expansion, along with a look at what we’re currently working on to support our member
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