Frequently Asked Questions

Dataforge is a trusted provider of enterprise-grade cloud infrastructure solutions with over 30 years of server and storage experience. Our team brings decades of hands-on expertise in designing, deploying, and managing complex server environments for businesses of all sizes.

We specialize in high-availability storage solutions, virtualization platforms, and managed infrastructure services. Our deep knowledge of both traditional and modern technologies allows us to deliver reliable, performant solutions tailored to your specific business needs.

Yes, Dataforge is capable of supplying comprehensive end-to-end managed hosting that directly complement your server and storage infrastructure. Beyond infrastructure hosting, we provide:

• Professional IT Management - Comprehensive technology solutions tailored to your business needs
• Full Stack Management - Complete management of your databases, applications, and software stack, including database and application installation, configuration, and support
• Cybersecurity Solutions - Advanced security including Sophos, Duo MFA, penetration testing, and custom security implementations
• 24/7 Support - Dependable, responsive IT support when you need it most
• Disaster Recovery Solutions - Complete business continuity planning and implementation

Our end-to-end approach means you can rely on Dataforge as your single technology partner for all your business IT needs. Learn more about our complete IT services.

CEPH is a distributed storage system designed for high availability and scalability across multiple nodes. It provides redundancy by spreading data across at least 3 nodes, making it ideal for enterprise workloads requiring maximum uptime. CEPH clusters automatically heal when a node fails.

ZFS is a local filesystem with built-in data integrity features, compression, and snapshots. It's excellent for single-server deployments like our PBS (Proxmox Backup Server) and dedicated storage systems where you need reliable, high-performance storage on a single machine.

Browse CEPH Cluster Configurations

CEPH requires a minimum of 3 nodes to maintain quorum and ensure data redundancy. With 3 nodes, your data is replicated across all nodes, so if one node fails, you still have two copies of your data available. This architecture ensures no single point of failure and allows the cluster to continue operating during maintenance or unexpected outages.

Additional nodes must also be added in groups of 3 to maintain proper data distribution and redundancy levels.

Proxmox is an open-source virtualization platform that combines KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) hypervisor and LXC (Linux Containers) in a single solution. It provides an easy-to-use web interface for managing virtual machines, containers, storage, and networking.

Our CEPH Cluster Packages run on Proxmox, giving you a powerful, enterprise-grade virtualization environment with integrated high-availability clustering, live migration, and comprehensive backup solutions through Proxmox Backup Server (PBS).

WireGuard is a modern, high-performance VPN protocol that provides secure, encrypted connectivity between your infrastructure and our datacenter. It's significantly faster and more efficient than traditional VPN solutions like IPsec or OpenVPN.

All our internet access options include WireGuard tunnels, ensuring your traffic is encrypted and your connection to our infrastructure remains secure. This is essential for remote management, secure data transfer, and maintaining compliance requirements.

We operate in a full national datacenter with extensive connectivity options. We offer a wide range of internet speeds and bandwidth options to meet your specific needs, from standard business connectivity to high-speed fiber connections for data-intensive workloads.

All internet access options include secure WireGuard tunnel connectivity. When you request a quote, you'll see the specific speed options available for each server configuration.

We operate in a national datacenter that maintains the highest security and compliance standards. Our datacenter facility is externally audited and certified with:

• SOC 2 Type II - We undergo yearly independent third-party audits under SSAE18 standards to ensure the effectiveness of our security controls
• PCI DSS Compliance - We conform with requirements 9 and 12 of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), applicable to colocation services
• ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Certified - All facilities are certified to this international information security management standard

These certifications ensure your infrastructure is protected by industry-leading security practices and compliance standards, giving you peace of mind for your mission-critical workloads.

Dataforge employs multiple layers of internal security to protect our infrastructure and your data:

• Sophos XDR 24/7 - Advanced extended detection and response security monitoring around the clock
• DUO MFA - Multi-factor authentication for all system access to prevent unauthorized entry
• Teramind Monitoring - Comprehensive user activity monitoring and insider threat detection
• Internal Custom Security Tools - Proprietary security solutions developed specifically for our infrastructure

These security measures work together to provide defense-in-depth protection, ensuring that both our systems and your hosted infrastructure remain secure from threats.

Proxmox Backup Server (PBS) is a dedicated backup solution designed specifically for Proxmox virtualization environments. Our PBS infrastructure runs on a dual node ZFS system that is highly redundant, ensuring your backups are protected against hardware failures.

Key features include:

• Incremental backups with deduplication to save storage space
• Client-side encryption for security
• Fast restore capabilities for minimal downtime
• Verification and integrity checking of backups
• Optional tape backup for long-term archival and air-gapped protection

Our Offsite Backup (Replicated) service stores your backups on our local Proxmox Backup Server and automatically replicates them to a dual ZFS array at a separate location in separate buildings. This provides:

• Protection against site-wide disasters
• Geographic redundancy for compliance requirements
• Peace of mind knowing your data exists in multiple locations
• Physical separation ensures protection even if one building is compromised

This is essential for business continuity and disaster recovery planning.

Dataforge offers comprehensive backup solutions to meet your data protection needs:

• Onsite Datacenter / On-Premise Backup (Optional) - Local backup solutions for immediate access and fast recovery times
• Dual ZFS Array at Separate Location - Your backups are automatically replicated to a dual node ZFS system located in a separate building, providing geographic redundancy and protection against site-wide disasters
• Quarterly Encrypted Tape Backup - Long-term archival storage with quarterly backups to encrypted tape for air-gapped protection and compliance requirements
• Optional Extended Geo-Redundancy - Additional geographic redundancy options available if needed for enhanced disaster recovery capabilities

These backup services can be combined to create a comprehensive data protection strategy tailored to your specific requirements. Learn more about our backup services.

All Servers and Clusters are dedicated systems exclusively for your use. Unlike shared hosting or cloud VPS providers, your infrastructure is never shared with other customers.

This dedicated approach provides:

• Consistent, predictable performance with no "noisy neighbor" issues
• Complete control over your server resources
• Enhanced security and data isolation
• Full customization options for your specific workloads

Systems listed with "On Premise Only" as their location are specifically designed and priced for installation at your site or your own datacenter. These are turnkey solutions that we build, configure, and deliver to your location.

All other servers in our solutions are priced for hosting in the Dataforge datacenter, where we provide the physical infrastructure, power, cooling, and connectivity. This is our standard offering for customers who prefer a fully managed, off-site solution.

If you need a datacenter-hosted version of an on-premise system, or vice versa, just let us know when requesting a quote and we can discuss options.

Managed service means Dataforge takes care of the infrastructure so you can focus on your business. Our managed service includes:

• Host OS upgrades and updates (server operating system, not VMs)
• 24/7 monitoring of all systems
• Network configuration and management
• Proactive maintenance and security updates
• Hardware replacement and repairs
• Technical support for infrastructure issues
• Performance optimization

With managed service, you get enterprise-grade reliability without needing in-house expertise to maintain the hardware.

Dataforge provides a 99.99% uptime guarantee (four nines) for all managed hosting services. This means your infrastructure will be available 99.99% of the time, with less than 53 minutes of unplanned downtime per year.

Our service level agreement (SLA) includes:

• 99.99% Uptime Guarantee - Enterprise-grade availability for all managed services
• Critical Issue Response Time - 30-minute response time for critical infrastructure issues
• 24/7 Monitoring - Continuous monitoring of all systems to proactively identify and resolve issues
• Proactive Maintenance - Scheduled maintenance windows with advance notice

This SLA applies to all managed hosting services and reflects our commitment to providing enterprise-grade reliability for your business-critical infrastructure.

A Server is a standalone dedicated server that can use local ZFS storage and connect to additional NFS storage systems. You would add backup and connectivity options separately based on your needs.

A Server Package is an all-in-one solution that includes the dedicated server plus necessary backup space and connectivity options built in. Packages are designed for customers who want a complete, ready-to-go solution without having to configure individual components.

Browse Server Configurations Browse Storage Systems

A CEPH Cluster Package is a complete 3-node Proxmox/CEPH cluster with everything you need included:

• 3 redundant high-speed storage nodes
• Appropriate backup services
• Network connectivity
• Full monitoring and management by Dataforge

These packages provide enterprise-grade high availability out of the box, with your data replicated across all three nodes for maximum protection.

Browse CEPH Cluster Packages

We offer flexible contract terms with increasing discounts for longer commitments. Discounts are automatically calculated based on the contract term you select.

You can select your preferred contract term when requesting a quote. The discount applies to your total monthly cost, and the exact discount percentage will be displayed when you select a contract term.

See Pricing & Request a Quote

Getting a quote is simple:

1. Browse Solutions - Explore our server and storage configurations and find what fits your needs
2. Add to Quote - Click "Add" on any configuration you're interested in
3. Review Your Selection - Adjust quantities and select your preferred contract term
4. Submit Your Request - Fill in your contact details and any additional requirements
5. We'll Contact You - Our team will reach out to discuss your needs and finalize the quote

There's no obligation when submitting a quote request. We're happy to discuss your requirements and help you find the right solution.

Browse All Servers Get Started with a Quote

Provisioning time varies depending on the complexity of your configuration. Each product type has an estimated provisioning time displayed on the configuration details page. Simple configurations like backup storage can be provisioned quickly, while complex CEPH clusters may take longer to ensure proper setup and testing.

We'll provide a specific timeline when we discuss your quote.