Boyd Data Center Hosting

Standards for Hosting Equipment in the Boyd Data Center

(Revised March 15, 2006)

Production Machine standards

This document is to set Standards for production hardware/software deployment in the Boyd Data Center (BDC).

1) All hardware/software deployed in the BDC must be server class with the following characteristics:

• Rack mountable, unless otherwise approved by Boyd Data Center Service Request/Evaluation Committee (BDC Committee)

• Redundant (n+1) power supplies 

• The required rack configuration for new installation is to connect 1/2 of the Power Distribution Units in a rack to each of two independent circuits of sufficient capacity

• Servers must be configured for on-site and out-of-band management:
• Either to a rack mounted keyboard/video/mouse (KVM) device
• Through the use of lights out management (LOM)
• Or through a serial connection to the terminal servers
• Disk fault tolerance must be mitigated through the use of:

• RAID configuration directly attached storage or redundant connections to:
• IP network attached storage
• Storage area network (SAN) technologies

2) All new services will follow the Process for Requesting Computer/Software Services to be Housed in the Boyd Data Center (http://www.eits.uga.edu/ops/bdc/service-request-form.html).

3) Any changes to the current hosted equipment will require an EITS Production System Change Request Form at (http://www.eits.uga.edu/ops/bdc/production-system-change-form.html) and must be approved through the BDC Committee.

4) Once approved, EITS will use the information supplied by the Boyd Data Center Service Request/Evaluation Form or Change Form to order any environmental work necessary to provide the required level of services. We will require written approval from an authorized representative and a valid account number for billing.

Security Standards:

1) For physical security purposes, all on-site support for non-EITS hardware/software must be coordinated through CITP, a division of EITS.

2) Hardware/software must meet UGA Minimal Security Requirements

InfoSec Security Policies

3) A signed Site Security Plan (SSP) must be on file in the UGA Office of Information Security (OIS).

4) All hardware/software not supported through an Service Level Agreement with OIS will have to be certified and accredited by OIS before it can be connected to the network.

5) Signed authorization will be kept on file allowing OIS to conduct a "vulnerability scan" at will.

6) At least two persons must be designated by the Client for the responsibility as the system security contact.

7) A Contingency and Disaster Recovery Plan will be required for all hardware/software to be housed in the BDC. It should be developed in conjunction with OIS and kept on file in that Office.

Maintenance Standards:

1) Hardware/software maintenance contracts must be in place for all hosted systems.

2) On-site maintenance support in the BDC will be coordinated through CITP.

3) All circuits will be supported by the central UPS and generator for back-up power support.

4) Every reasonable effort will be made by EITS to provide 24/7/365 electrical and network service. EITS will not be held accountable if services are interrupted.

System Administration Standards:

1) Departmental system administration must be done:

• Either remotely through a departmental system administrator
• Remotely through contracted CITP services
• On-site by contracted CITP services

2) On-site support is defined as any activity requiring physical presence in the BDC (e.g., initial installation of hardware/software, upgrades of existing equipment, etc.) There may be support costs associated with these activities.