The Crisis That Changed Everything
January 6, 2025, 10:00 AM (UTC). Everything went dark.
Without warning, our entire Google Cloud infrastructure was shut down. No prior notice, no gradual restrictions – just an abrupt suspension that took down hundreds of thousands of websites, including our own. For years, we had relied on Google Cloud, paying premium rates for top-tier infrastructure and dedicated support. And yet, despite being a cloud partner, despite our compliance with all policies, we found ourselves completely locked out.
At first, we were accused of running crypto mining operations – something that was not only false but fundamentally impossible within our environment, which is built for web hosting. Hours later, instead of a resolution, the accusation shifted. Now, they claimed we were hosting phishing content. All of last year, we regularly received phishing reports, and each time, we acted immediately – taking down any reported sites within 15 minutes. We maintained strict compliance, ensuring that malicious content had no place on our servers. Yet this time, there was no warning, no chance to respond. Instead of a routine notification, we were met with an instant, sweeping ban.
We had no access to our account, no phone number to call, no live chat support. The only means of communication was Google’s support ticket system, where responses took hours. Meanwhile, our users were flooding us with messages – emails, Telegram chats, tickets – seeking answers, frustrated by the sudden downtime.
We knew we had no time to waste.
The Plan:
A Complete Migration – With Zero Downtime
Our priority was clear: we needed to move. Fast. But not just move – we had to rebuild our infrastructure in a way that ensured this could never happen again.
The key problem with Google Cloud was centralization. Everything – our servers, our networking, our IPs – was tied to a single provider. When they pulled the plug, everything collapsed. The only way forward was full decentralization, with no single point of failure.
Here’s what we set out to achieve:
Own our IPs:
No more rented Google Cloud IPs that could be revoked at any time.
Multi-provider infrastructure:
If one provider fails, others remain unaffected.
Global redundancy:
Distribute services across multiple independent data centers.
Automated failover systems:
Minimize disruptions, no matter what happens.
And we had to do it all without a single second of downtime for our users.
Step 1: Acquiring Our Own IP Addresses
One of the first hurdles was obtaining our own IPv4 addresses. Unlike IPv6, which is still widely available, IPv4 space has been completely exhausted since 2015. The only way to get them was through ARIN (American Registry for Internet Numbers) by purchasing them on the secondary market – at staggering prices.
We didn’t just need a handful of IPs – we needed an entire /22 block (1024 addresses) to maintain our operations. This was an investment of hundreds of thousands of dollars, but it was non-negotiable. Owning our IPs meant independence – no provider could take them from us again.
Step 2: Deploying Across Multiple Data Centers
With our IPs secured, we needed new homes for our infrastructure. But this time, we weren’t going to rely on just one provider. We carefully selected three top-tier, independent data centers:
NTT – A global networking powerhouse with extreme reliability.
WorldStream – High-performance European infrastructure.
Equinix – One of the most advanced hosting environments available.
Each of these data centers met our strict criteria: enterprise-grade hardware, low-latency global connectivity, and strict security protocols. More importantly, they were independent of each other – so even if one faced an issue, the others would continue running without disruption.
Step 3: Building a Fully Redundant, High-Availability Infrastructure
We didn’t just move servers; we completely re-architected our system for resilience.
BGP-Based IP Routing – Our new IPs were configured with Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), allowing us to move them seamlessly between data centers. If a server in Amsterdam goes down, the IP can be instantly rerouted to Tokyo or New York – ensuring uninterrupted service.
Distributed File Storage – Every server syncs in real-time to multiple storage locations, meaning no data is lost even if an entire facility goes offline.
Automated Failover Systems – If one data center detects an issue, services are automatically rerouted within seconds, keeping everything online.
Physical Backup Servers – Beyond cloud-based redundancy, we set up a dedicated, offline backup server that holds copies of all essential data. Even in the absolute worst-case scenario, we can restore everything.
Step 4: Executing the Migration – Live, With No Downtime
This was the real challenge: moving tens of thousands of active websites, databases, and accounts without taking anything offline.
DNS Transition Planning – We set up a controlled, staged DNS migration, gradually redirecting traffic to the new infrastructure.
Parallel Server Deployment – New servers were fully configured before traffic was shifted, ensuring a seamless transition.
Real-Time Data Syncing – Using advanced replication technology, we mirrored all files, databases, and settings in real-time.
Soft Cutover Implementation – Rather than a hard switch, traffic was gradually phased into the new data centers, allowing for instant rollback in case of issues.
Despite the massive scale of this migration, the entire transition was completed without a single second of downtime.
The Result: True Independence, Maximum Stability
As of today, WebHostMost is no longer reliant on any single provider. We have achieved true decentralization, meaning that no company – not Google, not Amazon, not Microsoft – can ever take us offline again.
Multiple Independent Data Centers – Strategically placed for global coverage and redundancy.
Own IP Ranges – No third party controls our ability to operate online.
Fully Redundant Infrastructure – Automated failover, distributed storage, and physical backups.
Enhanced Security & Performance – Our new environment is faster, more secure, and more flexible than ever.
The future is decentralized. And we’re leading the way.
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