AIX

Description

The AIX Platform Hosting Service provides Customers with standardized AIX server and operating system configurations, deployment, management, and administration of AIX-based software applications.

Benefits

  • A dedicated support team of experienced, certified professionals
  • 24/7 Service Desk support
  • Consultation available to identify the optimal solution that will meet business and IT requirements
  • No need to purchase or support servers, storage or network equipment
  • Hardware and software components are built to create a stable, secure, fault-tolerant, and scalable infrastructure
  • Customers focus on supporting their application product, not the hardware or OS

Included

The following components and features are standard for the AIX Platform Hosting Service.

  • Operating system
  • Server hardware
  • Connection to SAN
  • Backup and restore
  • Network connection

Operating System

AIX 7.1 TLX – X being the latest vetted release

Network

Connection to SAN

8 GB fiber channel cards (depending on requirements)

Network Connection

One IP address

Licenses

IBM’s AIX licenses are included in the standard Application Hosting service

Security

Operating system security strictly adheres to established, applicable CDT security policies. Policies include, but are not limited to, an established quarterly operating system patch cycle and routine third-party security scans to test for known vulnerabilities. For more information, see Security Services.

Availability

Optional

CDT offers hardware and software options for the AIX Platform Hosting service in a secure and controlled environment.

Hardware

CDT offers single or multiple IBM Systems utilizing virtual partitions. Virtual servers (LPARs) are built using Customer core and memory requirements. The configuration is subject to the minimum/maximum configurations of the current IBM pSeries hardware offering.

High Availability

  • PowerHA (formerly High Availability Cluster Multi-Processing or HACMP).

Database

CDT offers a number of database management system (DBMS) technologies.

  • DB2 Linux, Unix, Windows (LUW)
  • Oracle

Middleware

CDT provides a number of middleware technologies, including:

Disaster Recovery

CDT Disaster Recovery consists of the planning and preparation necessary to enable Customers to recover critical information technology applications hosted on the platform.

Features

  • Centralized backup system
  • Last backup Recovery Point Objective (RPO)
  • Capability to failover to an alternate campus
  • Hardware to support critical applications
  • Exercise schedule flexibility
  • Cost-efficient DR services
  • Technical support during an exercise and in the event of a disaster
  • 24/7 Service Desk support during DR exercises

File Transfer

File transfer is supported through CDT’s Secure File Transfer service.

Anti-Virus

Anti-virus protection is provided as requested by the Customer.

Storage

  • SAN storage is available in increments of 1 GB
  • Data storage on disk using a redundant array of independent disks (RAID)
  • Off-site storage

Consulting

CDT offers IT consulting when support is outside our normal service offering. For more information please see IT Consulting Services.

Roles & Responsibilities

Computing Software (Servers)

RoleCDTCustomer
Operating SystemX
Operating System PatchingX
Application
Exception: Depends on the owner of the application.
XX
Application Layer Security
Exception: Depends on the owner of the application.
XX
Application Maintenance
Exception: Depends on the owner of the application.
XX
Application Support
Exception: Depends on the owner of the application.
XX
DNSX
Email Relay
Exception: Additional Cost.
XX

Storage

RoleCDTCustomer
Device(s)X
Connectivity to ServersX
Disk Space Management
Exception: Customer requests modification of storage.
X
Backup and Recovery
Exception: Customer requests file system recovery. CDT implements file system recovery request.
XX
Capacity MonitoringX

Network Infrastructure

RoleCDTCustomer
Customer required network access
Exception: Must be approved by Security.
X
Firewall and IPS hardwareX
Firewall context configuration and managementX

IT Security Management

RoleCDTCustomer
Configure system security toolsX
Monitor system securityX
Ensure system securityX
Ensure system security responseX
Manage system authenticationX
Maintain user accounts
Exception: Customer requests modification of accounts. CDT implements account request. No client root/sudo with exception.
XX

Resource Administration

RoleCDTCustomer
Monitor resource performance
Exception:
Customer submits request for additional capacity.
X
Fix resource performanceX
Monitor resource capacityX
Add resource capacity
Exception: Customer requests modification of capacity. CDT implements the capacity request.
XX

Administration

RoleCDTCustomer
System software procurementX
Maintenance contract managementX
Hardware procurement and maintenanceX

Administration

CDT provides administrative support including managing the allocation of user accounts, server management, monitoring, security, preventative maintenance, backup, and restore services for the AIX Platform Hosting service. Server Administration does not include installation and support of Customer installed software applications. The performance of a specific platform is dependent on many factors, most of which are outside the scope of the system administrators. The systems are initially sized based on initial project recommendations. Refreshed systems are sized based on historical information. Unplanned workload growth can affect the performance of any application. CDT will upgrade or replace servers to meet new workload demands, as requested by Customers.

Server Administration

CDT provides AIX server maintenance administration including Operating System (OS), patching and updating of servers, 24/7 monitoring of the performance, wellness, security, and connectivity of the server. With planned patch management, CDT ensures the data is protected at all times. CDT informs Customers of planned maintenance (such as OS upgrades or patching). The Customer installs, maintains, patches, and troubleshoots all of the hosted application software on the provisioned servers.

File System Administration

  • Root disks are reserved for Operating Systems only.
  • CDT provides shared centralized file storage and retrieval for equipment connected to the CDT network.

Disk Administration

  • CDT monitors and manages the disk space usage using Tivoli.

Backup and Restore Administration

Backups
Daily backups between 6 PM and 6 AM, Monday through Sunday. This includes one full and six incremental backups per week.
Daily Backup Job Summary Reports, available upon request.
Backup copy redundancy
• On-site Primary Backup copy, 28-day retention
• Additional Off-site Secondary backup copy, 14-day retention
Restore
File and disk restoration for disk failure and operational recovery purposes.
Non-operational restore requests only when approved by CDT and coordinated through your Account Lead.
Database Backups
Detailed services are listed separately and can be found here:
SQL
DB2
Oracle
MySQL

Monitoring

CDT proactively monitors the network and server infrastructure health with multi-layer security and monitoring systems designed specifically for the managed servers. CDT’s monitoring service tracks the resources, processes, and services running on servers including:

  • CPU utilization
  • Memory utilization
  • Running processes and applications

Technology Refresh

Hardware is refreshed every five years, or as needed.

Vendor Contract Administration

CDT manages vendor contracts for the AIX platform and provides licenses for hosted servers.

User Account Administration

AIX Server Administration (SA) authority is restricted to CDT designated personnel. Restricted server access is permitted based upon server function and data type. SA privileges are never permitted on shared services. Configuration changes made outside the scope of the service request which require intervention, correction, or troubleshooting by CDT staff may incur additional charges.

Rates

The rate schedule represents standard CDT services. If a Customer requires technology solutions that are not part of the standard, CDT will review the Customer’s request and provide customized pricing as necessary.

AIX

Service DescriptionService IdentifierProduct NameUnit of MeasurementRateService CodeNotes
AIX LPAR; Does not include Memory or CPUAIXMonthly/Per LPAR$2,023.00 M501
Virtual AIX ServerAIXMonthly/Per Virtual Server$1,403.00 M507
AIX Set-up FeeAIXOne-Time/Per Server$396.00 M512

AIX Add-Ons

Service DescriptionService IdentifierProduct NameUnit of MeasurementRateService CodeNotes
CPU CoreAIX Add-OnsAIXMonthly/Per Core$818.00 M505
MemoryAIX Add-OnsAIXMonthly/Per GB$43.00 M506

AIX Optional Add-Ons

Service DescriptionService IdentifierProduct NameUnit of MeasurementRateService CodeNotes
IBM HACMP Software License and MaintenanceAIX - Optional Add-onsAIXPer LicensePass-through + 2.79% CDT Processing FeeD101 - AIXPass-through + 2.79% CDT Processing Fee
IBM HACMP SupportAIX-Optional Add-OnsAIXMonthly/Per Cluster$560.00 M513
IBM HACMP Set-up FeeAIX-Optional Add-OnsAIXOne-Time/Setup$2,239.00 M514

Subscriptions to this service are available.

Request Service

Service Request NameLink
New Server or Server Environment
Please see the Enterprise Services Delivery Process.
Enterprise Services Delivery Process
Change to a Current Server/System or decommission
Request a change to a current server or system (SUDO, CPU, Memory or Storage), or request a decommission of a server or system.

For SUDO requests, a Security Exception Form must be completed and attached to the Case/Request. For assistance in completing the required items, please contact your CDT Account Lead.
Order a Change or Decommission of a AIX Server or System

Service Level Objectives

Service OptionFulfillment Timeframe SLONotes/Dependencies
Server Build95% within 60 Calendar DaysProcess includes:
  • Customer Engagement Document Completion – Avg 13 Days
    • Customer submits request, completes questionnaire and diagram

  • Architecture Review - Avg 18 Days
    • Customer, CDT Enterprise Service Delivery team and Service workgroups meet to review/approve architecture and gather tech requirements

  • Customer and CDT Commit – Avg 9 Days
  • Build - Avg 5 days
    • CDT Service workgroups plan, build, and test customer environment

  • Deliver - Avg 15 Days
    • Customer tests connectivity and installs apps

  • Includes 45 days from Case submission to “deliver” server to customer; additional 15 days for customer validation.
  • Based on “average” complexity case; 4 servers or less, only 1-2 design meetings required.

    Dependencies
    • Customer brings appropriate staff to design meetings scheduled at frequency CDT requests
    • Customer submits accurate supplemental cases - e.g., admin access, firewall.
    • Cases CDT and Customer place in "hold" status may delay completion.
  • Server Decommission95% within 21 Calendar DaysDate from the requested decommission date in which server is taken offline and billing is stopped
    Change Server CPU/Memory95% within 3 Business DaysDependent on customer to accept/allow scheduled change within SLO timeframe, reboot maybe required. Large CPU or Memory requests may require a CDT procurement, which would delay the fulfillment timeframe by several weeks
    Change Server SAN Storage95% within 3 Business DaysDependent on customer to accept/allow scheduled change within SLO timeframe. Large Storage requests may require a CDT procurement, which would delay the fulfillment timeframe by several weeks
    Change Server SUDO Access95% within 3 Business DaysRequests for SUDO access beyond a temporary period require a Security Exception Request, which must be approved by customer ISO and CDT Security before SUDO access can be completed. This may add up to two weeks to the fulfillment timeframes