Service Alerts (1 New)

University Data Center

Project Information

An existing 12,000 gross square feet (GSF) campus facility is being renovated to construct a new, state-of-the-art data center. This facility will address immediate needs for a reliable data center capable of supporting co-location of currently decentralized departmental servers. It will also house enterprise-wide services critical to students, faculty, and staff, including Blackboard, WebSpace, UT Direct, e-mail, Web Central, and all mainframe functions (Admissions, Registration, HR, Payroll, Benefits, etc.).

The new UDC service consists of:

  • Raised floor space equipped with server cabinets, network switches and network connections
  • Server co-location for systems that meet server standards (under development)
  • IT facilities to support system administrators in setting up and supporting systems
  • Availability 24 hours a day, 365 days a year (excepting defined maintenance windows and events outside the control of ITS)
  • Systems monitoring and notification
  • Physical and information security
  • Management of climate control, fire suppression, and power systems
  • Consultation and assessment for academic and administrative units that want to move equipment into the new UDC

Cost of Service

We are currently working through the rate review process in order to establish an appropriate fee structure for the new UDC; our goal is to have details available in advance of the annual budget planning process in January. The IT Governance structure, recommended in the final report of the Strategic IT Advisory Committee, will review and approve these rates.

Documentation

As standards, processes and other relevant information are developed, they will be posted here.

System standards

Project phases

The major phases of the project are illustrated below:

Diagram showing the four phases of the project-Migraion, Occupancy, Move, Construction, and the underlying communication and project management.

Project participants

Strategic partners

  • University Operations
  • Office of Facilities Planning and Construction (OFPC)
  • Office of Campus Planning
  • Contractor: DPR Construction

Co-location customers

  • Alumni Center
  • Cockrell School of Engineering
  • Office of Accounting
  • President's Office
  • Technology Resources for University Operations
  • University Libraries

ITS team

  • Executive Sponsors: Brad Englert, Interim COO; Fred Friedrich, Controller
  • Project Manager: Garry Sitz, ITS Director of Operations
  • Project Coordinator: Linda Buckley, PMP
  • Networking and Telecommunications
  • Strategic Communications
  • Systems
  • User Services