In this article:
- Pupose
- RDC goals
- Facility use
- Facility infrastructure, capacity and oversight
- Oversight and management of equipment installed in the RDC
- Installation and recurring costs
- Liabilities
- Use of DIT managed equipment within the RDC
- Security and acceptable use of the RDC and equipment housed in the RDC
- Modification process
- Duration of the MOU
- Signatures
Purpose
The purpose of this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is to establish cooperative and beneficial relationships between the Division of Information Technology (DIT) and University researchers and research departments for use of the DIT managed Research Data Center (RDC).
The MOU sets forth the general expectations of each group with regard to:
- Facility use;
- Facility infrastructure, capacities and oversight;
- Oversight and management of equipment installed in the RDC;
- Installation and recurring costs;
- Liabilities;
- Use of DIT managed equipment within the RDC;
- Security and acceptable use of the RDC and equipment housed in the RDC;
- Service Level Agreements;
- Documentation;
- Contact information and general communications between the groups.
RDC goals
The goal of the RDC is to provide a centrally managed and cooperatively used data center which:
- Is more cost-effective than locally managed spaces;
- Provides researchers an opportunity to put their research equipment in a space that was designed for IT equipment and provides infrastructure that is likely an improvement to any locally available spaces;
- Allows researchers to focus on managing resources related to their research instead of facility related matters;
- Is continually improved with respect to the facility infrastructure and the associated services and support offered by DIT through the mutual and cooperative efforts of all parties.
Facility use
The RDC has limited space. Requests are honored on a first-come first-served basis. As a rule, the space is reserved for University research computing hardware. Restrictions may apply to the types of hardware that can be housed in the RDC. Please see DIT personnel for more information.
Facility infrastructure, capacity and oversight
The Research Data Center (RDC) is an approximately 2400 square foot co-location facility managed by the Division of Information Technology and supported by the University's Facilities Management group. It offers an improved facility infrastructure for non-DIT administered systems that would typically have to reside in office or building space not designed for that purpose. It is not intended to provide a defined level of uptime and currently offers little in the way of redundancy or backup and failover capabilities. Because the facility is designed with IT equipment in mind and because it is centrally managed, researchers can expect uptimes that are an improvement over most local spaces, however they should not expect redundancy or failover capabilities or any uptime guarantees. Researchers are strongly encouraged to look for alternative means for improved uptime for their equipment such as rack-installed UPS systems.
Oversight and management of equipment installed in the RDC
Oversight and management of equipment located in the RDC is the responsibility of the equipment owner. DIT does not support, maintain, or administer systems located within the RDC. DIT will assist in the troubleshooting of problems related to the equipment upon request.
Installation and recurring costs
The RDC is designed as a cost-recovery implementation. All costs incurred in the installation of equipment in the RDC will be billed to the equipment owner as a one-time installation charge. There is no charge for the use of the space itself and there are no regularly occurring costs associated with the use of the RDC with the exception of costs related to networking equipment. In addition to one-time network installation charges, equipment owners should anticipate a recurring network charge per internet protocol (IP) address assigned and a recurring network charge for cost-recovery for networking equipment such as switches and routers on a per connection basis.
Liabilities
DIT will take responsibility for any equipment damaged through the negligence of DIT staff; DIT is not liable for equipment damage related to the facility infrastructure or any actions beyond the control of DIT personnel.
Use of DIT managed equipment within the RDC
DIT offers common space including work tables, telephones, etc. which may be shared by all equipment owners. Requests for additional data center shared resources that will improve the facility for all users are welcome and will be reviewed on a case by case basis.
Security and acceptable use of the RDC and equipment housed in the RDC
Key-card access is provided upon request for those individuals responsible for the management of equipment in the RDC. Requests must be made in writing. Access includes limited building access and access to the RDC. Since the RDC space is shared amongst all groups, it is the responsibility of each group to ensure that their personnel do not interfere with the operation of other equipment located in the RDC. Equipment owners are also responsible for the periodic review and updating of access to the RDC for their personnel. DIT must be immediately notified of individuals who no longer require access to the RDC.
DIT reserves the right to revoke or refuse access privileges to the RDC for any individuals at any time.
Use of the RDC and equipment housed within the RDC are subject to University of Maryland Policy on the Acceptable Use of Information Technology Resources.
Modification process
Partners to this MOU may request, in writing, an amendment to this MOU. Agreed upon changes will be documented, signed, dated and attached to the original MOU.
Duration of the MOU
This agreement will go into effect on the date signed and will continue until one of the parties terminates the agreement and/or the equipment is removed from the RDC.
Signatures
Signatures constitute acceptance of this Memorandum of Understanding.
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Authorized Department Signature Date
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DIT Authorized Signature Date