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)
| Role | CDT | Customer |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | X | |
| Operating System Patching | X | |
| Application Exception: Depends on the owner of the application. | X | X |
| Application Layer Security Exception: Depends on the owner of the application. | X | X |
| Application Maintenance Exception: Depends on the owner of the application. | X | X |
| Application Support Exception: Depends on the owner of the application. | X | X |
| DNS | X | |
| Email Relay Exception: Additional Cost. | X | X |
Storage
| Role | CDT | Customer |
|---|---|---|
| Device(s) | X | |
| Connectivity to Servers | X | |
| 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. | X | X |
| Capacity Monitoring | X |
Network Infrastructure
| Role | CDT | Customer |
|---|---|---|
| Customer required network access Exception: Must be approved by Security. | X | |
| Firewall and IPS hardware | X | |
| Firewall context configuration and management | X |
IT Security Management
| Role | CDT | Customer |
|---|---|---|
| Configure system security tools | X | |
| Monitor system security | X | |
| Ensure system security | X | |
| Ensure system security response | X | |
| Manage system authentication | X | |
| Maintain user accounts Exception: Customer requests modification of accounts. CDT implements account request. No client root/sudo with exception. | X | X |
Resource Administration
| Role | CDT | Customer |
|---|---|---|
| Monitor resource performance Exception: Customer submits request for additional capacity. | X | |
| Fix resource performance | X | |
| Monitor resource capacity | X | |
| Add resource capacity Exception: Customer requests modification of capacity. CDT implements the capacity request. | X | X |
Administration
| Role | CDT | Customer |
|---|---|---|
| System software procurement | X | |
| Maintenance contract management | X | |
| Hardware procurement and maintenance | X |
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 Description | Service Identifier | Product Name | Unit of Measurement | Rate | Service Code | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIX LPAR; Does not include Memory or CPU | AIX | Monthly/Per LPAR | $2,023.00 | M501 | ||
| Virtual AIX Server | AIX | Monthly/Per Virtual Server | $1,403.00 | M507 | ||
| AIX Set-up Fee | AIX | One-Time/Per Server | $396.00 | M512 |
AIX Add-Ons
| Service Description | Service Identifier | Product Name | Unit of Measurement | Rate | Service Code | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU Core | AIX Add-Ons | AIX | Monthly/Per Core | $818.00 | M505 | |
| Memory | AIX Add-Ons | AIX | Monthly/Per GB | $43.00 | M506 |
AIX Optional Add-Ons
| Service Description | Service Identifier | Product Name | Unit of Measurement | Rate | Service Code | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IBM HACMP Software License and Maintenance | AIX - Optional Add-ons | AIX | Per License | Pass-through + 2.71% CDT Processing Fee | D101 - AIX | Plus the CDT Processing Fee of 2.71% |
| IBM HACMP Support | AIX-Optional Add-Ons | AIX | Monthly/Per Cluster | $560.00 | M513 | |
| IBM HACMP Set-up Fee | AIX-Optional Add-Ons | AIX | One-Time/Setup | $2,239.00 | M514 |
Subscriptions to this service are available.
Request service
| Service Request Name | Link |
|---|---|
| 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 Option | Fulfillment Timeframe SLO | Notes/Dependencies |
|---|---|---|
| Server Build | 95% within 60 Calendar Days | Process includes:
Dependencies
|
| Server Decommission | 95% within 21 Calendar Days | Date from the requested decommission date in which server is taken offline and billing is stopped |
| Change Server CPU/Memory | 95% within 3 Business Days | Dependent 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 Storage | 95% within 3 Business Days | Dependent 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 Access | 95% within 3 Business Days | Requests 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 |