Overview
Colocation allows University of Oregon faculty, staff, and departments to place their new or existing servers in a rack in the data center.
- Located in the basement of Allen Hall, the Allen Hall Data Center (AHDC) provides a secure, temperature-controlled home for your server. You will continue to manage your own hardware and software.
- Colocation is energy-efficient and can reduce costs for departments and the university. Currently, colocation in the AHDC is available at no cost.
- This service is provided by UO Information Services.
Information
Security
- 24/7 video surveillance
- Rack-level security
- Access is logged and audited
- May facilitate compliance with data security requirements for human subjects and NIH grants
Reliability
- Redundant power
- Redundant cooling
- Redundant network options available
High-performance network connectivity
- Multiple 10-Gigabit Ethernet connections
Professional management
- Trained staff manage the facility and can assist with equipment installation
- Maintenance and facility upgrades handled for you
Energy-efficiency
- Highly energy-efficient thanks to heat recovery and use of UO chilled-water system for cooling
- Saves money and reduces pollution
- Helps UO meet goals for energy savings
Saves local space and staff time
- Frees up space and staff time currently dedicated to local server facility management
Access
- Facility is accessible 24/7 to approved staff
Getting Access
Want to colocate a server? To get started, please go to the Datacenter Colocation Service page and read the Requirements section. Once you are ready to start the process, click on the Request Help button located on the Datacenter Colocation Service page and log in with your Duck ID and password.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What services are available in the AHDC?
Services include redundant power, network connections, firewalls, and other security options that can be discussed with Information Services staff during the onboarding process.
How much does it cost?
Currently, AHDC colocation services are available at no charge.
What are the network capabilities in the AHDC?
Network connection options include 1-Gigabit and 10-Gigabit, both using RJ-45 Ethernet patch cables.
What are the requirements for equipment?
Equipment must be rack-mountable, with venting front to back.
What kind of power is available?
240V. Information Services can provide the correct types of power cords. Acceptable plug types include C13/C14 (below left) and C19/C20 (below right):
What kind of building security is in place?
An access-control system is used to provide access to the room and to each cabinet, and security cameras are used to monitor and log activity in the room.
Will I have physical access to my equipment?
Yes, 24/7 keycard access will be provided to as many as three staff members from each group.
Will my servers be accessible by other servers in the data center?
By default, servers in the AHDC will be logically separate from all other servers in the room. However, if you have multiple servers, you may request access policies that facilitate communication among your devices.
Why should I put my servers in the AHDC instead of having them in my department?
The AHDC is significantly more economical to operate than small server rooms across campus. It also provides greater security (physical and network) than individual departmental server facilities.
How much space is available?
Space is available in the AHDC for a reasonable quantity of servers and related hardware from most departments on campus. However, space is not unlimited, and the University must make efficient use of this limited resource.
Can I reserve space for future colocation?
Information Services staff always strive to balance the needs of new and existing groups with the constraints of space management. That said, we do not provide any guarantees about where future equipment may be located relative to existing equipment.
Are IPv4 and IPv6 both supported?
Yes, we can provide IPv4 and IPv6 addresses. As part of the onboarding process, we will ask what type of addressing you need.
Can I have my departmental IP network(s) extended into the data center?
No. The data center facilities have their own IP addressing.
What IP address(es) will I get in the data center?
A block of addresses will be allocated based on your needs and anticipated growth. You have two options for addressing. The first option allows you to connect to others at the University but does not allow you to connect to the Internet. The second allows you to connect to others at the University as well as connect to the Internet and other research networks. Information Services staff can discuss these options with you as part of the onboarding process.
Are firewall services part of the offering?
Yes, for services that would benefit from being behind a firewall.
What types of network interface connections are offered?
We can offer single or high-availability network interface connections for your servers. We encourage using redundant network interface connections except to accommodate service requirements or limitations of your servers.
Three types of high-availability network connections are available:
- Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP)
- LACP provides automatic configuration.
- EtherChannel
- EtherChannel is similar to LACP but is configured manually.
- Network-Interface Card (NIC) Teaming
- NIC Teaming allows for one active interface while the other is in a passive state on standby in case the active interface fails.
All of them allow you to take several network interfaces and bundle them into one logical interface. LACP and EtherChannel increase both throughput and redundancy. For instance, you could take two 1G interfaces and bundle them to allow up to 2G of throughput, which also helps prevent service interruptions: if one connection fails, the other one will remain connected. NIC Teaming provides only redundancy.
Depending on the type of system you want to bring into the data center, we will need to work with you to determine which of the above options you will need to configure. Staff will help ensure the correct option is used and tested prior to bringing your systems and services into production.
Who do I call if there is a problem in the data center?
Please contact the Technology Service Desk.
I'm interested in locating equipment in the AHDC. How do I get started?
To get started, please go to the Datacenter Colocation Service page and read the Requirements section. Once you are ready to start the process, click on the Request Help button located on the Datacenter Colocation Service page and log in with your Duck ID and password. The webform will gather some initial information from you. If you have any questions, please contact the Technology Service Desk.
What is the process for putting equipment in the AHDC?
After you complete the webform mentioned above, we will ask you to facilitate a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between your group and Information Services. It generally takes about 10 working days to set up space and network ports once Information Services has the MOU and all your details, such as port types, equipment information, and firewall rules. (Please note: We handle requests in the order we receive them. The intake process may take longer if there are many requests ahead of yours.)
Is AHDC the only site for colocation?
All new colocation services for UO groups will be provided in the AHDC. (In the past, Information Services provided colocation services in the Computing Center (CC) and Oregon Hall Data Centers (OHDC), but no new groups will be added to those locations.)
Why did the university invest in this facility?
It is much more efficient to manage one large data center than multiple smaller data centers spread across campus. In addition, UO has an abundance of critically important data and server applications for research, teaching, and administrative work. By providing an enterprise-class server space with redundant power and cooling, the University has invested in helping to preserve and maintain these data and applications.
More Information
For more information, visit the Data Center Services Support page.
If you have any questions, please contact the Technology Service Desk.