User Tiers
From Peyton Hall Documentation
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== Reasons For Charging == | == Reasons For Charging == | ||
| - | Some of the largest expenses in keeping the computers and network running are the support costs - ie, that of the systems administrators. After studying the users of the systems and the load generated on the sysadmins, it was determined that there were about three levels of users in the building. Those that are likely to generate the most load are the users who have a physical office in Peyton Hall (in part because of desktop support issues on top of any other administration). The second layer of users are those who are working remotely, either elsewhere on campus or anywhere else across the Internet. Finally, the lowest load are the "passive" users who only use email, or read files from existing projects or repositories. | + | Some of the largest expenses in keeping the computers and network running are the support costs - ie, that of the systems administrators. However there's a lot of other devices and such which are required to keep the network functional, such as shared servers for email and web services, NAS units for shared storage such as home directories, and much more. After studying the users of the systems and the load generated on the sysadmins, it was determined that there were about three levels of users in the building. Those that are likely to generate the most load are the users who have a physical office in Peyton Hall (in part because of desktop support issues on top of any other administration). The second layer of users are those who are working remotely, either elsewhere on campus or anywhere else across the Internet. Finally, the lowest load are the "passive" users who only use email, or read files from existing projects or repositories. |
In early 2004, it was required of us to formally codify the policy that had been until then only verbalized. The tiers were drawn out on paper, and submitted to the University for approval of our charging structures and policies, which were not only approved but applauded for fairly applying usage charges to users based on their "drain" on the system resources. | In early 2004, it was required of us to formally codify the policy that had been until then only verbalized. The tiers were drawn out on paper, and submitted to the University for approval of our charging structures and policies, which were not only approved but applauded for fairly applying usage charges to users based on their "drain" on the system resources. | ||
Revision as of 05:18, 6 November 2009
To try to balance the costs of running computing systems with the load generated by its users, the department has had (for many years now) a three-tiered system for user accounts.
Contents |
Reasons For Charging
Some of the largest expenses in keeping the computers and network running are the support costs - ie, that of the systems administrators. However there's a lot of other devices and such which are required to keep the network functional, such as shared servers for email and web services, NAS units for shared storage such as home directories, and much more. After studying the users of the systems and the load generated on the sysadmins, it was determined that there were about three levels of users in the building. Those that are likely to generate the most load are the users who have a physical office in Peyton Hall (in part because of desktop support issues on top of any other administration). The second layer of users are those who are working remotely, either elsewhere on campus or anywhere else across the Internet. Finally, the lowest load are the "passive" users who only use email, or read files from existing projects or repositories.
In early 2004, it was required of us to formally codify the policy that had been until then only verbalized. The tiers were drawn out on paper, and submitted to the University for approval of our charging structures and policies, which were not only approved but applauded for fairly applying usage charges to users based on their "drain" on the system resources.
User Tiers
Primary User
A primary user includes all faculty, researchers, graduate students and undergraduate students who maintain a work area in Peyton Hall with access to the department's computer system. The base fee for the primary user provides support for one desktop machine and one laptop per user, access to the department's servers and printers, and related technical support. The supplemental fee is assessed for supported devices in addition to the base fee allowance of one desktop and one laptop. "Device" means a computer or related equipment. Storage fees are assessed on usage of the primary file server for home directories, with the first GB "free".
- Base Fee: $250/month
- Supplemental Fee: $20/month per device
- Storage fees: $.50/GB/month after the first GB
Secondary User
A secondary user has an affiliation to the department but no assigned work area in Peyton Hall. The user has a department email address and user ID for access to servers, and related technical support; however, the secondary user will be provided neither technical nor maintenance support (hardware or software) for desktop, laptop or printing devices outside of the department. Storage fees are assessed the same as a primary user. Affiliation may include, but is not limited to users from other departments such as Physics, Computer Science or PICSIE; active research collaborators from other institutions; and active former members of the department.
- Base fee: $25/month
- Storage fees: $.50/GB/month after the first GB
Tertiary User
Tertiary users are remote, passive users with affiliation to the department but no assigned work area in Peyton Hall. They will be provided no technical support of any kind, but do have a user ID for email and limited access. Generally this tier provides email and stored data access for inactive collaborators, non-active former members of the department and direct family members of department employees. Disk storage on the primary file server is limited to 1GB. Users cannot access a normal shell, but instead a restricted one which allows for scp/sftp, rsync, Subversion and CVS so they may transfer files to and from the department network, access source code repositories, and email.
- Base fee: None
- Storage fees: N/A (disk quotas set to below the level where fees would accrue)
