IT & MCIS

DEFINITION OF STANDARD:
Workgroup can be defined as the hardware and software tools and technology to support groups of people working together on a project, often at different sites. The following are examples of the services network servers perform in a modern network.

1. File Server - A computer in a LAN that stores data files shared by users on the network. The network server acts like a remote disk drive. The File server can control one or more printers that queue the print-data from all users of the system and makes it available to the printer.
2. Application Server - A server in a LAN that performs data processing and/or contains applications (software) shared by network clients. In this case, it functions as a remote disk drive for storing applications.
3. Database Server - A computer in a LAN dedicated to database storage and retrieval. The database server is a key component in a client/server environment. It holds the database management system (DBMS) and the databases. Upon requests from the client machines, it searches the database for selected records and passes them back over the network. Database servers and file servers should be separate machines.
4. Inter/Intranet Server - A computer in a LAN dedicated to providing Internet services such as a Web Server, News Server, intranet applications, etc.

RATIONALE: Workgroup servers allow the enterprise to share data and communicate, while maintaining flexibility for each department to choose the server that best fits their needs. The campus uses different vendors solutions to provide workgroup network operating systems. At this time, Communications and Network Systems is supporting both Microsoft and Netware network operating systems. In addition, several versions of Unix, Linux, and Mac OS X are in use on campus to provide the same functionality.

PUBLICATION DATE: 11/15/01
REVIEW DATE: 6/1/04
REVIEW CYCLE: 6 months
RESPONSIBLE CONTACT:
Contact the Information Technology Customer Service Center at 257-1300 or send email to helpdesk@uky.edu.

Recommended Standard(s):
Windows 2003 Server
Netware 6.5 NOS
All flavors of Unix/Linux/Mac OS X

Minimum Configuration Options:

CPU
3Ghz or greater Pentium IV Xeon, SMP with 2 processors or greater
2GHz or greater AMD Opteron, SMP with 2 processors or greater
2Ghz or greater PowerPC G5

RAM
2GB MB RAM or greater

Storage
Multiple drive systems with all boot and data drives using hardware
Raid 1, Raid 5, or Raid 1+0. Hot swappable system strongly recommended, hot or warm spare desirable.

Backups
Active TSM backup client configuration or dDaily Local backup using reliable, removable storage medium with of a common fomat, for example LTO, DLT, DAT, etc. Backups should be automated and alert an administrator upon failure or success.

Power Supplies
Redundant power supplies recommended especially for systems with large numbers of drives.

UPS
UPS with automated alert and/or shutdown and runtime exceeded 2x the normal shutdown time for the system (typically 10-30mins).

Recommended Product(s):
Dell
IBM

Justification:
Servers offered by Tier I providers that are found on the current Microsoft Windows 2003 Hardware Compatibility List.

Technical Considerations:
The scope of the application(s) supported by the workgroup server must be carefully considered by the department in terms of architecture, scalability, availability and reliability features, database selection, concurrent users supported, printing, and web interface. As multiple services are offered on the same server, additional memory and processors should be added to support them.

For more information:
For more information on recommended configurations, contact the Information Technology Customer Service Center in 111 McVey Hall at 257-1300 or, if in the Medical Center, call 323-5230.