We have tons of circuits with various providers. Often times the demarc /
handoff switch from the provider is not running on battery backup.
Sometimes if the demarc device is located in the same room as our
equipment we mitigate this and plug the device into our backup systems.
Am I wrong to think that the demarc from the provider is a sacred thing
that should only be touched by said provider. Thus they should provide
their own battery system? Is it normal for this equipment not to be
battery protected? We are not dealing with any crazy SLA's however I think
it would be standard build practice to put UPS's on your gear. Even if its
small handoff switch sitting right next to my switch.
Kenny
It is normal. They don't have to so it's your problem if you want to.
Their site spec docs probably say as much, AT&T's certainly did.
Customer provides AC power or somesuch; that can be straight utility or
off a UPS you maintain, but they're not going to maintain batteries for
you if they don't have to. Some diverse ring OC-x that came with a DC
battery plant where they were mandated to have X hours runtime on it is
a different era than today's "toss an Ethernet switch on the end of some
fiber" circuits.
~Seth
We have tons of circuits with various providers. Often times the
demarc / handoff switch from the provider is not running on battery
backup.
>Sometimes if the demarc device is located in the same room as our
equipment we mitigate this and plug the device into our backup systems.
I've witnessed a data center ask the upstream to install gear inside
their data center because of the lack of UPS for demarcs.
Am I wrong to think that the demarc from the provider is a sacred thing
that should only be touched by said provider. Thus they should provide
their own battery system? Is it normal for this equipment not to be
battery protected? We are not dealing with >any crazy SLA's however I
think it would be standard build practice to put UPS's on your gear.
Even if its small handoff switch sitting right next to my switch.
You are not wrong IMO. Many upstreams/providers/carriers now days simply
drop a DC plant to maintain 8 hours (If I recall correctly) of run time.
Which is usually sufficient unless you've got an extended outage lasting
longer than 8 hours. If you have a UPS and generator backing I would
recommend you have them make the demarc inside your locations every
time. Most carriers could consider this extending the demarc, thus an
extra charge.
I have several clients who have cisco Metro Ethernet switches on Fiber
circuits. The provider just provided the switch and expects the client to
deal with the power. The rational is if the switch is not up it's not our
fault.
Justin
Working with Comcast and their ethernet product, they don't battery
back the on-site gear (fiber/ethernet switch), but I do get a phone
call within minutes of them noticing the switch they provided is down.
They care enough to call me, but battery backup is my/our
responsibility.
Brandon