CNS Open Systems Group (OSG) offers a number of UFIT sponsored hosting services. These services are designed to help UF organizations meet their computing needs without losing focus on their core missions.  All of these services leverage UFIT's private cloud to make enterprise-class computing, storage, and/or application environments availble to UF colleges, departments, and other official entities for purposes of conducting official UF business. 

These services can generally be grouped into one of two categories: Infrastructure Hosting or Managed Web and Database Hosting.

Contents:

Summary Tables:

• Infrastructure Hosting Summary Table
• Managed Web and Database Hosting Summary Table

Detailed Service Descriptions:

• Infrastructure Hosting
  
  • Virtual Machine Hosting with VMWare - new pricing and features for Nov. '12
  • File Server Hosting - new pricing and features for Nov. '12
• Managed Web and Database Hosting
  • Linux Based Application Platform
    • Apache Web Hosting
    • MySQL Database Hosting
  • Windows Based Application Platform
    • IIS Web Hosting - new pricing for Oct. '12
    • MSSQL Database Hosting - new pricing for Oct. '12

Our old hosting service page is still available and contains current pricing on VM and File Server Hosting. 

Service Requests and Problem Reporting:

For all requests or problem reports we ask that you use UFIT's Remedy ticketing system at:

https://request.it.ufl.edu

For questions not related to work requests or problem reports we welcome you to email us at cns-hosting-request-l@lists.ufl.edu

For additional information about contacting us please see the Open Systems support webpage for the appropriate links to submit questions, requests, and problem reports.

Summary Tables

Infrastructure Hosting

Managed Web and Database Hosting

Infrastructure Hosting

Infrastructure Hosting offerings provide compute and storage resources.

Virtual Machine Hosting with VMWare:

Virtual Machine (VM) hosting provides "bare-metal" VMs so that your organization's IT staff can run dedicated and highly customized Linux or Windows systems.  This allows your IT staff to focus on your computing needs without the worry of purchasing and maintaining hardware resources. 

Your VM will live in UFIT's secure private cloud which leverages:

• Multiple enterprise-class datacenters
• Secure enterprise-class network - public or UF private IP space available
• SAN/NAS-backed failover to prevent downtime due to hardware failure or maintenance
• VMWare vSphere 5 environment

CNS provides:

Everything up to the hypervisor (virtualization layer).  This includes all physical resources such as computing hardware, networking, datacenter resources, and VMware software.  CNS also provides VPN access to allow you to connect to your VM for management purposes (console access, power-on/off, etc).

Customer provides:

You provide IT staff to install, configure, and maintain all software on your VM – OS and Application software.   This includes maintenance of proper licensing for any software installed on your VM.  Your staff will be responsible for working with CNS Network Services to maintain network ACLs pertaining to your VM’s IP address(es).  Your staff will also be responsible for responding to and working with UFIT's office of Information Security and Compliance.

VM Service Menu (New! Nov. 1, 2012)

As of November 2012 sizing options for VMs are now a-la-carte.  All VMs consist of at least one unit of RAM and at least one unit of disk storage.

Information on the availability and impact of the Nov. '12 updates to existing VM hosting customer.

VM RAM: 2G RAM / unit: $8 / month

VM Storage options:

• Gold (Fastest) 80 G @ 40 IOPS / unit: $15 / month
  • Best base system disk
  • Storage with high IO requirements, such as databases.
  • virtual disk (vmdk) on SAN backed VMFS
• Silver (Faster) 250 G @ 10 IOPS / unit: $20 / month
  • OK for most systems disks. 
  • Best value for larger storage needs with average IO
  • virtual disk (vmdk) on SAN backed VMFS
• Bronze (Fast)  250 G @ 6.6 IOPS / unit: $15 / month
  • OK for systems without high IO needs
  • Best price per Gig
  • virtual disk (vmdk) on NAS backed VMFS

VM CPU:

By default all VMs will be given 1 CPU core.  Upon request you may have 2 cores.  Additionally, you may request up to 4 CPU cores in any configuration (1 socket X 4 cores, 2 socket X 2 cores); however, more isn't always better with virtual CPU.  You're encouraged to research the cost/benefit of increasing vCPUs prior to requesting this because sometimes increasing vCPU count can negatively impact your system's performance due to the increased hypervisor overhead of scheduling CPU resources in a virtualized environment.  Currently no charges are associated with CPU.

Example VM Construction:

Standard VM: 1 unit RAM + 1 unit of "Gold" VM disk = $23/month

This configuration is equivalent to 1 "building block" unit in the old (pre-Nov. '12) VM pricing menu.  In the old pricing model this VM would cost $30/month; however, under the new pricing scheme this VM will cost $23/month; that is $8 for 1 unit of RAM (2G), plus $15 for 1 unit of "Gold" level disk.

Memory Intensive VM: 4 units RAM + 1 unit of "Gold" VM disk = $47/month

This configuration includes a total of 8G RAM (4 units), and 80G Fastest disk (1 unit Gold) and demonstrates how in the new pricing model RAM can be scaled without adding additional disk.  The breakdown is $32 for 4 units of RAM ($8 each), plus $15 for 1 unit of "Gold" level disk.

Mix and Match Disk: 1 unit RAM + 1 unit "Silver" disk + 1 unit "Bronze" disk = $43/month

This configuration demonstrates how disk options may be mixed and matched on a single VM.  This VM only needs 2G of RAM, but needs a fairly sizeable amount of disk.  The 250G of Faster (Silver) disk will house the Operating System as well as storage for a daily data work-load requiring average I/O performance.  In addition, the 250G of Fast (Bronze) level disk will allow for archival storage of some data sets at the best price-per-Gig.  The breakdown is $8 for 1 unit of RAM, plus $20 for 1 unit of "Silver" level disk, plus $15 for 1 unit of "Bronze" level disk.

File Server Hosting:

File Server Hosting allows your UF organization to lease fully managed file server resources (accessible via CIFS or NFS) from within UFIT’s existing infrastructure.  This will allow your project to succeed without the worry of purchasing and maintaining hardware resources or administering servers.  Your file server will live in UF’s private file server cloud which includes NAS appliance failover across multiple physical locations to prevent downtime due to hardware failure or maintenance. 

CNS Provides:

CNS will provide all compute and network hardware and infrastructure for the file server appliance.  CNS will provision your file space and will work with your IT staff to assign administrative privileges and permit access via network ACLs and file system permissions.

Customer Provides:

You will be responsible for assigning one or more members of your IT team to fulfill the role of file share administrator.  This administrator will be responsible for configuring and maintaining snapshot behavior as well as file system privileges.  The customer’s IT staff is also responsible for managing drive mappings and other client-side configuration for users.

File Server Menu (New! Nov. 1, 2012)

Information on the availability and impact of Nov. '12 updates to existing File Server hosting customers.

All options include the following:

• 250G of EMC Isilon (NAS appliance) Storage
• Configurable file level snapshots (counts against total storage)
• Accessible via CIFS or NFS

What's NOT included:

File Server Hosting will no longer include TSM backups.  Backup functionality is controlled by the customer using configurable file-level snapshotting.  Additional data protection functionality is provided by the customer's selection of how many copies of their data are stored locally and offsite.

File Server Storage Options:

These options differ

• Gold - 250G w/ 2 copies local + offsite - $28 / month
  • Best for high value data 
• Silver - 250G w/ 1 copy local + offsite - $20 / month
  • Rough equivalent of current file hosting option.  Best value.
• Bronze - 250G w/ only 1 copy local - $15 / month
  • Inexpensive, no DR mechanisms.  Use for scratch space, and do so at your own risk!

Managed Web and Database Hosting

Managed Web and DB Hosting offerings provide varying levels of software management in addition to compute and storage resources.  While the Linux and Windows managed platforms are presented seperately it is possible to mix and match services from either platform.  For example you could have an IIS website that uses a MySQL database.  Additionally, if you have a simple website you may not need the accompanying database, or you may just need a database without a website- all services are offered independently and open to recombination.  Pick what you need and we'll work with you.

Linux-based application environment

This platform leverages open-source technologies built on Red Hat Enterprise Linux to provide an enterprise-class environment for your web applications.  CNS manages all aspects of load-balancing, high-availability, capacity scale-out, back-ups, and disaster recovery so that your IT staff can focus on the content and functionality of your web apps.

The core technologies in CNS's Linux-based application environment are the Apache webserver and MySQL database server.

Apache Web Hosting

Apache Website Hosting provides managed Apache/Linux website resources from within CNS’s infrastructure to run your website.  This will allow your project to succeed without the worry of purchasing and maintaining hardware and system software resources.  Your website will live in UF’s private computing cloud which includes a number of features to make your site highly-available and disaster-hardened.

CNS Provides:

CNS will provide a managed web hosting environment that includes all aspects of your website’s environment.  We provide you with access to manage your site’s content and application functionality.

Customer Provides:

As the customer it is your responsibility to create and maintain all content and application logic that comprises your website.   You own and are responsible for the content of your site.

All Apache website hosting includes: ($5 / month)

• 20G disk storage for one website's document root
• Document roots accessible via SSH, SCP, SFTP
• Secure CGI environment including
  • PHP
  • Python
  • Perl
• Shell access to interactive node for scheduling cron jobs
• Highly-available, load-balanced web servers
• Nightly backups with offsite storage to protect against data loss in the case of catastrophic infrastructure failure

Optional features: (no additional cost)

• Managed SSL certificate w/ dedicated IP
• Shibboleth Service Provider configuration
• PHP FastCGI environment for high-traffic websites

MySQL Database Hosting

MySQL database hosting provides managed MySQL database resources within CNS’s infrastructure.  This will allow your project access to managed database resources without the worry of purchasing computing hardware, managing operating system or DBMS software.   Additionally your IT staff will be able to leave disaster recovery and data center concerns to CNS.

CNS Provides:

CNS will function in the roles of System Administrator, System DBA, and Backup Administrators.  As such CNS is responsible for making sure the MySQL service is available to your Application DBAs and Application Developers and Administrators. 

Customer Provides:

As the customer it is your responsibility to provide IT staff to fulfill the roles of Application DBA and any Application Developer and/or Administrator needed to utilize the MySQL service.  Also, any end-user support must be provided by staff in the customer organization.  All data, including database schema design and implementation, will belong to and remain the responsibility of the customer.

MySQL Service Menu

All MySQL database hosting includes: ($10 / month)

• 20G disk storage for one named database in CNS's shared MySQL environment
• Administrative user with full control of database
• Additional users as needed
• Log-based replication to standby DB
• Nightly backups with offsite storage to protect against data loss in the case of catastrophic infrastructure failure

Windows-based application environment

This platform leverages Microsoft technologies built on Windows to provide an enterprise-class environment for your web applications.  CNS manages all aspects of scale-out, high-availability, and disaster recovery so that your IT staff can focus on the content and functionality of your web apps.

The core technologies in CNS's Windows-based application environment are the IIS webserver and MS-SQL database server.

IIS Web Hosting

IIS Website Hosting provides IIS/Windows Server website resources from within UFIT'’s enterprise infrastructure to run your website.  This will allow your project to succeed without the worry of purchasing and maintaining hardware and system software resources.  Your website will live in UF’s private computing cloud which includes a number of features to make your site highly available and disaster-ready.

As the customer it is your responsibility to create and maintain all content and application logic that comprises your website.   You own and are responsible for the content of your site.

IIS Service Menu

All IIS website hosting includes: ($5 / month)

• IIS 7.5 on Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise
• 20G disk storage for one website document root
• Document roots accessible via CIFS share
• Secure CGI environment including
  • ASP
  • PHP
  • .NET 4.0
• Highly-available, load-balanced web server cluster
• Nightly backups with offsite storage to protect against data loss in the case of catastrophic infrastructure failure

Optional features: (no additional cost)

• Managed SSL certificate w/ dedicated IP
• Shibboleth Service Provider configuration

MS-SQL Database Hosting

MSSQL Hosting provides managed MSSQL resources from within UFIT’s enterprise infrastructure.  This service allows your IT staff to focus on database and application development and operations without the burden of maintaining servers, operating system software or RDBMS software.  Your database will live in UFIT’s highly-available and disaster hardened MSSQL environment which is designed with redundancy on multiple infrastructure layers to provide continuity of operation.

CNS Provides:

CNS will function in the roles of System Administrator, System DBA, and Backup Administrators.  As such CNS is responsible for making sure the MSSQL service is available to your Application DBAs and Application Developers and Administrators. 

Customer Provides:

As the customer it is your responsibility to provide IT staff to fulfill the roles of Application DBA and any Application Developer and/or Administrator needed to utilize the MSSQL service.  Also, any end-user support must be provided by staff in the customer organization.  All data, including database schema design and implementation, will belong to and remain the responsibility of the customer.  

MS-SQL Service Menu

All MSSQL database hosting includes: ($25 / month) 

• MS SQL running on Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise
• 20G disk storage
• 512 MB RAM for running DB instance
• MS SQL high-availability clustering
• Nightly backups with offsite storage to protect against data loss in the case of catastrophic infrastructure failure

Impact and availability of Infrastructure Hosting service improvements to existing customers

The improvements to VM hosting and File Server hosting that CNS will be rolling out in November of 2012 will not be immediately available to existing customer's currently hosted services.  The primary reason for this is that these updates involve entirely new infrastructure.  Therefore the improved pricing and options will require an interruptive migration requiring coordination between CNS OSG and the customer.

Requirements for attaining new pricing for VM hosting

• Existing VMs must be migrated to VMWare vSphere 5 infrastructure
• Customer must install up-to-date version of VMWare tools software on guest VM OS

For the past several months new VMs are being created in vSphere 5.  If you connect to cns-esx5mgt.ad.ufl.edu to manage your VM(s) then the migration is not required.  However, you must still make sure your VM is running up-to-date VMWare Tools software.  If these things are already done then when CNS runs its monthly inventory and billing audit your VMs will begin being billed at the new rate.

Requirements for attaining new pricing for File Server hosting

• Customers must select new File Server hosting service tier ("Silver" is a rough equivalent to the current service level)
• Existing file shares must be migrated to the new NAS appliance.  This will require coordination between CNS OSG and the customer's IT staff.
• File shares on the old NAS appliance must be vacated and deprovisioned

Please contact CNS OSG with any questions regarding these issues.  You're welcome to email us at cns-hosting-request-l@lists.ufl.edu