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Tier 3—Low Cost Central Storage

The Low Cost Central Storage tier handles office documents, digital media, web content, and AFS. Low Cost Central Storage uses the University's general-purpose public network. Storage devices in this group are significantly cheaper (or even free; AFS storage is provided free of charge to all full-service SUnet account holders) and generally provide lower levels of performance and reliability. Tier 3 storage has many of the features available in mid-tier storage but uses SATA drives and lower-cost IP-based infrastructure (NAS). File protocols include (but are not limited to):

• AFS
• CIFS
• iSCSI (available Spring 2010)

Note: AFS storage includes automatic backups including a copy sent off site for Disaster Recovery. File and data restores can be requested via HelpSU. Backup service for CIFS is by subscription.

Service Levels

All storage systems are monitored 24x7 for performance and component failures. Storage systems personnel are alerted to failures and will respond to alerts.

The window for scheduled maintenance is on Sunday between 12–6 p.m. Scheduled maintenance, required for reconfiguration of the storage arrays, is performed about two or three times a year. Hardware is refreshed regularly on a rotational basis at the end of the warranty cycle or about once every three years. Change Management requests will be submitted for any scheduled maintenance.

All support requests should be submitted via HelpSU under the Category: Billable Services and the Type: Storage Administration. Tickets are assigned and responded to per SLA escalation guidelines.

Rates

For current storage rates, please see the Computing Services Rates web page.

How to Order

Requests to change an existing storage profile by adding, modifying, or deleting storage must be submitted by the client as an IT Services service order via orderit.stanford.edu, or by calling 5-HELP (option 2).

How to Use

There are many ways to use low cost storage and they are summarized on the Low Cost Central Storage Use Cases page.

For More Information...

For additional information about low cost central storage, please send an email to su-storage@lists.stanford.edu.