Connect 24 offers a comprehensive range of hosting solutions for websites, content management systems, internet applications and data storage.

As Much As You Can Eat
... Or store, at least!. We believe in providing our customers with as much space as they need to host their website or database systems so we provide unlimited storage space on our fast, dedicated servers - see below for more details of the services and facilities we offer as standard.

Unmetered Data Transfer
There are no monthly data transfer limits and no data transfer charges, and unlike some providers that artificially limit your connection speed with a virtual data pipe, there are no speed restrictions either. Our dedicated servers are directly connected to the tier one PIPEX network and is free to use as much bandwidth as required at no additional charge.

A summary of the key features of our hosting service are outlined below:

Apache Web Server
Securely host unlimited sites with Apache 2.0; every website runs as a separate user. You will have full access to all configuration options on a server and per site level.

Server-side Scripting
Scripting support for over twenty languages, including: Python 2.4, TCL, JavaScript (SpiderMonkey), Bash, Korn Shell, Zsh, Haskell (hugs), Basic (yabasic), Smalltalk (GNU Smalltalk), Parrot, Perl 6 (pugs), S-Lang, Pike, Lua, Bourne Shell, TCsh, Dash (Almquist Shell), BF, Unlambda, and Whitespace.

• Smarty templating system
• PEAR modules including: DB, Mail, XML_RPC, XML_Parser, HTTP_Request
• PEAR client for adding additional PEAR and PECL extensions

• DBI for MySQL
• MVC frameworks including: Catalyst, CGI::Application
• Choice of templating languages: Template Toolkit, HTML::Template, HTML::Mason
• Object-relational mappers: Class::DBI, DBIx::Class
• Hundreds more modules including CGI, DateTime, Email::Simple, Email::Valid, GD, Image::Magick, Image::Size, JSON, List::MoreUtils, LWP, Regexp::Common, WWW::Mechanize, YAML, XML::LibXML, cpan script for installing additional modules.

• Version 1.8
• Includes Ruby on Rails

mySQL Database Server
Unlimited mySQL databases with a Connect 24 dedicated server. Version 5 of the enterprise class mySQL database server is installed. Create an unlimited number of databases and user accounts. Full root access permitting any level of customisation.

Mail Server
The Connect 24 mail servers support unlimited domains, mailboxes, auto-responders and forwarders. POP3, IMAP, SMTP and web based access to your mail.

Clam Anti-Virus
All messages are scanned for viruses as they are received by your server. New virus definitions are checked for and updated automatically ensuring that no virus bearing email can make it into your mailboxes.

SPAM Bouncer Mail Filtering
SPAM Bouncer is a unique product, exclusive to us which filters unwanted junk mail out of your inbox. Both domains hosted on your dedicated server and with other service providers may be protected.

Graphical Traffic Statistics
Graphical web site access statistics for all your sites. Raw log files may also be downloaded and additional statistics software installed.

FTP server
FTP accounts to upload data to your site or for public or private file distribution can be configured - contact Connect 24 for more information on this service.

Management & Support
Connect 24 provides full server management, so you get all the benefits of a Dedicated Server with none of the pitfalls. We take care of the technical side of things including applying security patches and configuring software leaving you free to get on with running your business. Our team is always available to solve your problems and give informed advice and guidance, in friendly understandable terms, by telephone or e-mail at no extra charge. It's like having your own in house team of system and software engineers!

Control Panel
Our exclusive web based control panel software is installed, allowing you to control all aspects of your website from a graphical interface. Alternatively Connect 24 can look after these aspects of your account at no extra cost.

Security Patches & Hotfixes
We monitor news and developments relating to the software installed on your server and receive notification from vendors as security vulnerabilities are discovered. Our engineers will apply any needed patches and take mitigating action where necessary to maintain the integrity of your server. You may opt out of this service.

Monitoring & Tuning
Automated systems monitor the availability of your server, alerting our engineers immediately should a problem develop. Server configuration will be optimised for both performance and security to suit your applications, we will bring to your attention any potential problems such as resource starvation and propose corrective action. You may opt out of this service.

Software Upgrades & New Features
Much of the software installed on our servers is actively developed with new functionality being added regularly, we will periodically upgrade the software on our server, allowing you to take advantage of the latest technology. Our in house development team is constantly improving our proprietary control panel and hosting software based on feedback from customers, as new features are rolled out to our shared hosting platform, they will also be made available to you.

24hr Technical Support
Our technical support experts are on hand all day, every day, to maintain our servers hosting your website. This commitment to 24-7 technical support gives our customers extra peace of mind.

Hardware
All manufacturers argue that their hardware is the best, but our years of experience mean we really do know which components are most reliable and perform best in a demanding server environment. Each of our dedicated servers is built from branded components and tested to our uncompromising specification, assuring rock solid performance and dependability.

Intel Processor & Chipset
A fast Intel processor is at the heart of each Connect 24 server giving quick dependable performance for your websites and online applications. Whilst more expensive, Intel chips generate little heat and thus have greater reliability than those of other manufacturers making them the only choice for mission critical applications.

DDR Memory
A generous amount of the latest DDR memory. When memory is not being used by your website or applications it will automatically be utilised to cache frequently accessed files and data giving an additional speed boost.

Hot Swappable Seagate Hard Disk Drives
Connect 24 servers offer fast disk space in which to store your website or application files and data. The strain placed on the drive's moving parts by constant operation in a server environment makes the selection of this component critical. We have found the consistency and performance of Seagate disks to be unmatched, even by other big name manufacturers, which is why we specify them for all our machines.

Hardware RAID Controller
All Connect 24 servers include an Adaptec RAID controller card which mirrors writes to our hard disks and speeds up file access by balancing read requests across both drives. In the event of a disk failure, all requests are served by the remaining drive, the operation of our servers is uninterrupted and no data is lost. Again without interrupting the operation of the servers, the failed disk is replaced and the data on it rebuilt to restore redundancy. Beware of software based RAID and disk mirroring systems, these cheaper but more error prone solutions are not adequate for use in a mission critical environment.

Instant Hardware Replacement
We guarantee as part of our market leading service level agreement to always keep a standby server, installed, configured and powered up, ready to take over your hosting services instantly in the unlikely event that the server hosting your website or application suffers a hardware failure.

Data Backup
All Connect 24 servers include hardware based disk mirroring (RAID) providing protection against hardware failure. We also offer a daily tape backup option - your data is transferred to magnetic tapes every day with tapes stored off site. Individual files may be restored should you accidentally delete them and the entire machine may be restored in the event of a more serious problem.

100% Uptime Guaranteed
Connect 24 host our servers on the PIPEX Group Internet Backbone. This is a powerful tier 1 network with over 100 points of presence (PoPs) across the UK and consequently not reliant on any one other company for our Internet connectivity. Our data centre has multiple interconnects with our network and all network equipment is duplicated, enabling us to guarantee and achieve 100% uptime as part of our service level agreement.

Purpose Built UK Data Centre
Our servers are housed in a purpose built UK data centre, benefiting from UPS and generator power backup, strict environmental control and high levels of security. On-site technical support teams mean you benefit from instant response to problems demanding onsite attendance.

Unmetered Data Transfer
There are no monthly data transfer limits and no data transfer charges, and unlike some providers that artificially limit your connection speed with a virtual data pipe, there are no speed restrictions either. Our dedicated servers are directly connected to the tier one PIPEX network and is free to use as much bandwidth as required at no additional charge.

Fully Managed Cisco Firewall
All traffic from the Internet is filtered by redundant Cisco hardware. Unwanted and malicious traffic is blocked at the network level, reducing your data transfer usage and providing protection from hackers, viruses, worms and trojans.