Web Wiz Network Announcements

Windows Server Updates - December 2019

11 December 2019, in Shared Hosting, Cloud Servers, Dedicated Servers

We will be carrying out Windows Updates to our Windows Shared Hosting Servers, Cloud Servers and Managed Dedicated Servers during the times set out below.

Start of work - At Risk period:

Start Date: 12th December 2019

End of work - At Risk period:

Risk End Date: 13th December 2019

Times work will be carried out:

Start Time: 05:00

End Time: 8:30

Service Impact:

Servers will need to be rebooted after updates are applied.

Reason:

Microsoft releases Windows updates and patches on the second Tuesday of each month. These updates fix security vulnerabilities, performance and other issues.

After testing the latest updates we roll out Windows updates to all Web Wiz Managed Windows Servers.

Web Server Web21-Nemesis Outage

21 November 2019, in Shared Hosting

November 21st 2019 @ 08:25

We are currently aware of an issue with one of our web servers, Web21-Nemesis, which has failed.

We are working to fix the issue and hope to have the server back online as soon as possible.

Update @ 08:40

The web server Web21-Nemesis, has been restored and all services are back online.

Windows Server Updates - November 2019

13 November 2019, in Shared Hosting, Cloud Servers, Dedicated Servers

We will be carrying out Windows Updates to our Windows Shared Hosting Servers and to customers servers with Managed Cloud and Managed Dedicated Servers during the times set out below.

Start of work - At Risk period:

Start Date: 14th November 2019

End of work - At Risk period:

Risk End Date: 15th November 2019

Times work will be carried out:

Start Time: 05:00

End Time: 8:30

Service Impact:

Servers will need to be rebooted after updates are applied.

Reason:

Microsoft releases Windows updates and patches on the second Tuesday of each month. These updates fix security vulnerabilities, performance and other issues.

After testing the latest updates we roll out Windows updates to all Web Wiz Managed Windows Servers.

UPS, AMF, ATS and Generator Load Testing - November 2019

08 November 2019, in Data Centre

As part of Web Wiz planned and preventative maintenance regime we will be carrying out load testing on the Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS), Automatic Mains Failure (AMF), Automatic Transfer Switching (ATS) and Neutral Gas Powered Generator Systems at our Data Centre.

During the test period, the UPS systems will take the full load of the Data Hall while the Generator comes online and the AMF moves the facility to Generator Power.

The Generator will take the full load of the facility for a 20 minute period, once the test is completed power to our facility will return to our usual mix of Solar, Battery, and Utility Power.

Automatic Transfer Switching (ATS) will move rack power from "A" to "B" Power Feeds before returning each Rack to "A" Power Feeds.

At Risk period:

Start Date: 12th November July 2019

Times work will be carried out:

Start Time: 08:00

End Time: 08:20

Service Impact:

No impact to services is expected.

Reason:

This routine maintenance is essential to ensure that the UPS, Generator and Automatic Switching systems work as intended and are able to provide power to our Data Centre in the unlikely event of a Power Outage.

Windows Server Licensing (Itemised Billing)

31 October 2019, in Cloud Servers, Dedicated Servers

Microsoft's Service Providers Licensing is supplied differently to Microsoft's perpetual licenses in that Service Providers pay monthly for Microsoft Licenses on a subscription bias.

We have always combined the cost of the Windows Server Standard License with our Cloud and Dedicated Servers.

The monthly cost of Windows Server Licenses has increased over the last ten years by up to 300%, and this has accelerated in the previous 4 years.

To better improve billing accuracy and to reflect the price of the Windows Server License in billing we are moving to itemised billing where the cost of the Windows Server License is separate from the price of the server.

If you pay monthly, you will not see any difference in the price you are paying now but will see the server billing itemised.

If you are paying annually, you will still receive the same two months free discount for your server, but there will be a slight increase in the overall price as we are unable to provide a discount on the Windows Server License as we do not receive discounts from Microsoft for their licensing.

These changes will also mean that we can offer servers with different operating systems with our servers.

We hope that you can understand these changes.