| CNIC Work Group Summary - April 2005 |
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| Overview - Architecture Stage |
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This summary of CNIC work group activities for the period of April 2005 is provided by the Peer Communications Group. It is intended as a brief synopsis of the activities of various CNIC work groups.
During the latter part of April 2005, the CNIC technical work groups concluded work on Phase One (Architecture) and presented recommendations to the CNIC Steering Committee for adoption. All architecture recommendations listed below in the areas of Network, Server, Mainframe, and Storage were adopted by the Steering Committee and become the basis for Stage Two, Detailed Design.
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| Network |
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During the architecture phase, the Network Work Group gathered common and unique agency network requirements and recommended the following IP addressing principles:
- Preserve current IP addressing scheme through data center migration
- Define a future standard scheme for IP addressing
- Employ both public and private addressing where necessary
- Leverage the NOC’s ongoing effort to allocate 10.0.0.0 address space among the agencies
- Consider IPv6 compatibility when network product decisions are made.
Standards Recommendations
- Standardize on IP as the layer-3 network protocol
- Standardize on Ethernet as the layer-2 network protocol
- Standardize on a naming convention for network devices that will provide for internally accessible and externally accessible devices
- Adhere to a standard multi-zone architecture for security.
LAN Architecture Recommendations
- Adopt a multi-layer architecture for the data center LAN
- Adopt an architecture based on Ethernet technology for agency site locations.
WAN Architecture Recommendations
- Adopt 3-tier architecture consisting of Core, Distribution and Access layers
- Adopt Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) as the key technology for the WAN.
Remote Access Recommendations
- Adopt the standard of “centralizing” remote access management and authentication to one or more security zones within the multi-zone architecture, while allowing for physical diversity of local dial-in access.
Network Management Recommendations
- Adopt the Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) architecture as a basis for the network management architecture for the CNIC network
- Allow for the possibility of both vendor and open source tools in the network management architecture
- Reduce the number of existing network management tools in the environment.
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| Server |
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The Server Work Group developed the following standards recommendations:
- Platform reduction
- Reduces complexity
- Introduces standardized approach to delivering computing services
- Virtualization
- Enables mainframe-like partitioning across all server platforms
- Automate and more efficiently deliver computing capacity.
Operating Systems Standards
- Initial review focused on reducing the number of operating systems within one of three major groups:
- WinTel (Windows and Netware)
- UNIX (AIX, Solaris and other UNIX variants)
- Linux (SuSe, Redhat, Mandrake).
While there are some recommendations to seek out cross-group or cross-platform solutions, the focus was on seeking a migration path within the three major groups.
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| Mainframe |
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iSeries
Three iSeries computers are in scope for the CNIC project. The Steering Committee approved the Mainframe Work Group’s recommendation to move to one iSeries computer long term. However, until resolution of security issues, two iSeries computers may be needed.
zSeries
There are three zSeries computers in scope. The approved recommendation is to consolidate onto one mainframe (model z990).
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| Storage |
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The principles used by the Storage Work Group during the architecture phase are as follows:
- Multiple storage tiers will be offered to satisfy the business requirements of any applications hosted by the state data center
- Storage tiers will be based on connectivity, redundancy, availability, performance and scalability
- Enterprise-wide storage management capability is required to manage data life cycle, storage assets, capacity planning and performance, reporting, and utilization
- Virtualization technology will be considered for leveraging currently deployed storage resources
- Total storage capacity should accommodate the current data storage requirements of the 12 CNIC agencies and their storage growth projections through 07-09
- Data should be located on the appropriate storage tier solution.
Architecture Recommendations
- Storage architecture will focus on maximizing current technology as much as possible
- Storage virtualization software products, as a front end, will allow for ease of management and a clearer enterprise view
- A single automatic tape library solution will be in place prior to migration
- CNIC will:
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Utilize a common set of storage tools for cross-platform management
- Utilize existing equipment and infrastructure where feasible
- Categorize storage into tiers based on performance and reliability
- Categorize data into tiers based on application and business needs
- Categorize data retention according to application and business needs
- Reduce the number of vendors supplying hardware, software or management tools to the state data center.
Data Storage Recommendations
- Data should be located on the appropriate storage tier solution
- Through the process of data classification and migration, hardware that is made available will be redeployed in the SDC when feasible
- Multiple agencies’ data should be consolidated into shared repositories where possible
- Storage virtualization will be a key component of how SDC will centrally manage storage
- An enterprise storage management tool set is required to manage:
- Data life cycle, storage assets, capacity planning and performance, reporting, and utilization
- A single automatic tape library solution will be in place prior to migration. This solution is necessary to:
- Fit the facility footprint
- Provide central point of management
- Minimize disruption to the production environment
- Support the mainframe strategy of parallel testing
- Maximize capacity utilization.
Backup/Recovery Recommendations
- A single solution is recommended to mitigate the risks and costs associated with:
- Potential loss of data
- Maintaining expertise in disparate backup systems
- Operational complexities
- Media incompatibilities
- Data security
- Specific backup and restoration needs:
- Solution will be sized according to expanded needs of SDC
- Standard backup strategies will be developed consistent with business requirements
- Information life cycle management will be utilized to optimize backup windows and reduce TCO
- An off-site facility will be used for vaulting.
Archive Recommendations
- After the archive solution is in place, data classification and inventory review will be conducted on the data
- Archive solution will have capability to verify media integrity
- Data on technology that is near end-of-life should be migrated to supported technology
- An off-site facility will be used for vaulting
- Archive data will be kept for varying periods of time due to legal or business requirements
- Archive data will be stored in a logical format allowing for easy retrieval of data, even after extended periods of time.
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| Security |
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The CNIC Security Work Group is working on aligning proposed security services and organizational roles, integrating security services projects with the overall CNIC timeline, and integrating immediate action plans with long-term project strategies.
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| Single Perimeter |
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The Single Perimeter Work Group is a part of the CNIC project and a larger enterprise security effort being coordinated by the Enterprise Security Office.
Installation of the state’s single perimeter began April 18. It is scheduled for completion on May 16. Initially, this will affect DAS, DHS and ODOT; the long-term strategy will encompass other agencies as well.
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| Service Management |
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The Service Management Work Group has completed definitions of CNIC service descriptions. They have also done a survey of the current services provided by CNIC participating agencies.
The group’s next steps include the following:
- Reconciling survey results
- Reviewing and incorporating CNIC approved technical recommendations
- Developing the state data center services catalog
- Detailing processes to deliver the services offered by the state data center.
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| Accounting |
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The CNIC Accounting Work Group is creating the chargeback model for the state data center for the 07-09 biennium. This will be based on the services description created by the Service Management Work Group.
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| Human Resources |
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With the finalization of the bargaining Letter of Agreement (LOA), and in light of the state data center being a division of the Dept. of Administrative Services (DAS), the Human Resources Work Group will be transitioning HR functions for CNIC to the DAS Personnel office.
Additionally, the recruitment for the data center director will be complete within a few weeks (the intended start date is early July). The director’s first task will be managing development of position descriptions, in consultation with DAS Personnel and the CNIC Steering Committee, along with the recruitment timeline and process.
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| Peer Communications |
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The Peer Communications Group sponsored a successful tour day for technical staff to view the construction site of the state data center. Because of the rapid progress of construction, participants were able to get a first-hand view of many of the features of the center. Peer Communications has also continued to serve in its role to disseminate project information to agency staff, report and respond to project rumors and frequently asked questions, and consult with the CNIC Project Office on communications.
Work group summaries index
Return to CNIC Project home page
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