Recharge Rates | computing@ssl

(Rates updated July 1, 2023)

Notes:

These rates do not include overhead.
MacOS Time Machine backup charges are based upon storage used. This rate is as given in “Tier 1 Storage”.

Description of SSL IT Recharge Service Offerings

LDAP Account:

Applies to: Every user account entry in the SSL LDAP database.
Services Provided: An entry in the LDAP database, which provides access to certain SSL services. These services include, but are not limited to: SSL wifi network, shell account (home directory) on the central IT services servers, SSL VPN access, access to secure areas of the lab web and file sharing space, IDL software. Shell account (home directory) storage and backup costs are included in the price, within reason (i.e., we certainly don’t want people storing a bunch of data that is better suited stored on a dedicated project science file server just to game the policy). Other services will be added over time to this offering.
Support level: Contact the SSL Help Desk for support accessing any of the services provided with an LDAP account.
Exceptions: Group LDAP accounts will not be charged for LDAP, but will be charged for storage and backups. This is because these accounts are typically setup for centralized and shared file-storage home directories instead of software, VPN/WiFi access, etc. Storage and backups costs will be per the standard rates for each.

Backup Services:

Enterprise Backups (EMC Networker):

Applies to: Unix, Linux and Windows systems requiring enterprise grade backups.
Services Provided: Any system that is subscribed will be backed up to the IT Services EMC Networker backup system. Data is stored onsite with copies moved offsite every six months to support disaster recovery. Backups are typically scheduled nightly, but other scheduling options are available for mostly static data sets. Typically for very large data stores, a full backup is only run yearly, with monthly differential backups and weekly incremental backups.
Charges are per gigabyte that is saved by the backup system. Data backup volume will not be the size of your data set, but how much data is stored on the back server. The amount of data that is stored on the backup server varies depending upon how often your data set changes.
Support level: IT Services will assist to ensure backups run successfully on any subscribed system. The backup system it self is maintained at priority 1 support (see below) to ensure data recovery is available.

Time Machine Backups file store:

Applies to: Macintosh computers.
Services Provided: Any Macintosh computer subscribed to this offering can use the Time Machine file store to hold Apple Time Machine backups. The storage is maintained on enterprise grade hardware to ensure availability of this service.
Support level: IT Services will assist to ensure backups run successfully on any subscribed system. The backup system its self is maintained at priority 1 support to ensure data recovery is available.
This service stores data onsite only. If offsite storage is desired, then any Time Machine data set can also be backed up using the EMC Networker Backup service.
This service is charged by the storage space consumed, at the same rate as Tier 1 Shared Storage. For pricing, please see pricing above

Systems Support Services:

Tier 1:

Applies to: This tier is for single user, desktop and laptop systems. If more than one user would be impacted by a tier 1 system failure, then this system is multiuser, and should be moved to tier 2. Enrollment is optional.
Services Provided: Tier 1 systems and all tiers above it get access to the shared IT services infrastructure, including networked user home directories, access to all enrolled project data servers, other shared storage across the network, shared terminal services. Services also include hardware configuration and repairs, operating system installation and upgrades, security patches and any work to fully integrate the system into the Space Sciences Laboratory network. Note that printers fall within this tier.
Support Level: Systems in tier 1 receive priority 2 support (see below for support definitions).

Tier 2:

Applies to: Small work group, multiuser systems (servers). This tier is defined by systems that would effect between two an ten users if they went down. Also included in this tier are shared computational, database, and small storage (under 5 TB) servers. Enrollment is optional.
Services Provided: Tier 2 systems are provide all the services from tier 1, and in addition can be optionally rack mounted in our collocated server room or the Campus data center, and will be monitored for availability. Services also include any setup necessary to configure the appropriate server resources for these systems.
Support Level: Systems in tier 2 would receive priority 1 support (see below for support definitions).

Tier 3: Discontinued July 2022

Shared Storage:

Applies to: Any system on the local network can access and use shared storage.
Services Provided: Supply multi protocol enterprise grade shared networked storage.
Support Level: Storage would receive priority 1 support, as it provides a service for many users, and is mission critical.
Pricing note: Data backup is provided at an additional cost

Tier 1 Storage:

This storage is good for large write-mostly data. Read performance is fast, where write performance is good.

Tier 2 Storage: Discontinued July 2022

Special cases:

Non-networked standalone engineering systems and offsite systems: These fall into tiers 1 and 2, based upon the number of users and storage they support. Enrollment is optional.
Complex or experimental software and hardware: Any system requiring that non-standard software and/or hardware be installed and supported are to be put into tier 2. Examples of such software are packages that do not have an installer, thus must be compiled from source code, debugged and monitored over time for stability. Also, support for legacy software or hardware that require customization to be supported on a modern computer fall within this category. These systems will be reviewed annually to see if they are in the appropriate tier.
Mission critical systems and virtual machine systems are typically tier 2:
1. Mission operations systems
2. Science operations systems located in the Silver SOC locker
3. Virtual machines hosted on the SSL-IT VMware cluster or MOC/BMOC VMware clusters

Support Level Definitions:

Priority 1 Support: This is highest level support. It provides 24/7 support as near as possible depending on the IT services staff availability. Problems covered by priority 1 support will always preempt priority 2 and 3 support issues.
Priority 2 Support: Support is typically provided during normal working ours, Monday through Friday, 8AM – 5PM. If there is a problem with priority 2 support, it will always preempt priority 3 support issues.
Priority 3 support: This is the lowest level support. Problems covered by priority 3 support will only be address during normal business hours when no other higher priority support issues require attention.