{"id":23427,"date":"2020-11-16T13:57:55","date_gmt":"2020-11-16T18:57:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rc.fas.harvard.edu\/?page_id=23427"},"modified":"2023-09-26T15:42:41","modified_gmt":"2023-09-26T19:42:41","slug":"data-center-hosted-systems","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.rc.fas.harvard.edu\/services\/data-center-hosted-systems\/","title":{"rendered":"Data Center Hosted Systems"},"content":{"rendered":"

Description<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Hosting services provide a secure, environmentally controlled data center space with redundant power and network feeds.\u00a0 This allows researchers to not have to house computer equipment such servers and storage within their lab spaces. Professional IT staff can provide a variety of services to support these systems if needed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Key Features and Benefits <\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Using a centralized data center allows for a hosting service that provides an uninterruptible power supply infrastructure with emergency backup power, ensuring that hosted systems will not power off in the event of a power outage.\u00a0 This alleviates the expense for individual labs to install specialized power and cooling to on-campus locations. In addition, some hosting services include operational management of the systems being hosted, allowing labs to focus more time on research and less on IT.\u00a0 For those labs who prefer to manage their systems remote console access is available.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In order to operate a large number of systems at scale with a limited staff we require the following for hosted systems:\u00a0 redundant power, rack mountable, remote management, EULA should allow products to be installed within a data center, warranty.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At the end of the useful life of the system it will be removed from the data center and can be collected within a timely manner (up to 1 month).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Definitions:<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

Data Center: <\/b>A physical space providing racks for mounting computer equipment\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Redundant Power:<\/b> Two power feeds from separate power infrastructure provided to rack, sourced from diverse external power feeds\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Redundant Network: <\/b>Two network feeds available to each rack utilizing diverse network switching infrastructure.\u00a0 In addition, two, or more, diverse network links in\/out of the data center\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Environmental Control:<\/b> Air or liquid cooling systems in place designed to provide cooling for computer equipment.\u00a0 In addition, humidity control systems are also in place\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Uninterruptible Power Supply:<\/b> Generally, a battery power supply that will last long enough for emergency generators, or other system, to come online\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Emergency Generator:<\/b> Generally, a diesel generator that can provide power to the data center for an extended period of time in the event of a loss of normal power\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Security:<\/b> Many data center providers meet a number of industry standard physical security frameworks (I.e. SOC2) allowing for Level 4 data to be stored on systems in the data center\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Inventory Tag:<\/b> All systems installed in a centrally managed data center will require a Harvard University asset\/service tag\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Remote Management: <\/b>\u00a0There are different forms of remote management.\u00a0 Out of band management (<\/span>OBM<\/b>) allows for full power on\/off of a system remotely using baseboard management controller (BMC) via commands like ipmi.\u00a0 <\/span>Remote console<\/b> provides remote access to the keyboard, mouse, and monitor of the hosted system.\u00a0 This allows an end user to connect to the system as if they were sitting in front of the system.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Warranty:<\/b> Vendors provide a warranty of the hardware and maintenance contract for a set number of years upon purchase, and can be extended up to end-of-life of the system (usually 6 years).\u00a0 Warranty should include troubleshooting and part replacement.\u00a0 Systems that are managed by IT Staff require an active warranty.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

EULA:<\/b> End User License Agreement is a contract that defines how a user can use the software or hardware provided by the manufacturer\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Management:<\/b> There are two options for management:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. Self-Managed*:<\/b> FASRC staff will install the hardware in the data center, connect power and network, and provide remote console access to the system administrator to configure, manage, and support\/troubleshoot the system (both hardware and software).\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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    1. Fully Managed:<\/b> FASRC staff will install the hardware in the data center, connect power and network, and, in consultation with the system owner, configure and manage the system.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      *Note: Only FASRC and data center staff will have physical access to the system to provide hand and eyes support\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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      Service Expectations and Limits:<\/b>\u202f\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

      At FASRC, availability and uptime is provided as best effort with staff that do not have rotating 24\/7\/365 shifts.\u202f\u202f\u202fFASRC will work with PIs to obtain quotes from our preferred vendors for computing hardware to meet specific needs beyond the standard cluster and virtual machine offerings.\u00a0 No other types of equipment will be accepted.\u00a0 Typical time from purchase to installation is 6-8 weeks based upon product availability.\u00a0 All equipment will be maintained while under hardware warranty and until the end of the useful life, typically 5 years.\u00a0 After 5 years the rate of hardware failure dramatically increases, as well it becomes difficult to source parts from vendors.\u00a0 At the end of useful life, FASRC, will work with PI to decommission the server.\u00a0 FASRC will place priority on building and maintaining its basic services (compute, storage, networking) over that of individual servers as those affect thousands of researchers at a time. \u00a0 MGHPCC has an annual power maintenance (typically in early June), that causes a full day outage.\u00a0 FASRC maintains an asset inventory in netbox and can verify physical location of servers annually if needed.<\/span><\/p>\n

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      Available to:<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

      Available to all PIs with an active FASRC account.\u00a0 Please contact FASRC<\/a> to discuss your needs.<\/span><\/p>\n

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      Service manager: <\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

      Service Manager:\u202fBrian White, Associate Director of Operations & Systems Engineering Team\u202f\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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      Offerings (Tiers of Service)<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

      Location: Markley-Boston\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n