Computer equipment and supplies

Tender description

Currently across the University data is stored everywhere; data volumes continue to grow, almost doubling on an annual basis. Throughout the University there is a wide mix of individual, local and organisation-wide solutions resulting in duplication (of services and data), risk of data loss or corruption and loss of efficiency for those in research, teaching and learning. The platforms used to handle this data are an eclectic mixture of Windows, Linux, MacOSX, Android and iOS. These are typically managed by their primary users and are best considered as ‘BYOD’ computers. Across the organisation, the practice and professionalism of data management, even if some technology is implemented well locally, is not guided towards industry ‘best practice’ through University-wide principles, standards procedures and guidelines. The University has identified a number of broad ‘use cases’ for data storage (and consequently, data management). These use cases can be satisfied by small range of solutions which can be grouped into 6 types of service which we have named: File Share and Folder Sync (FSFS, e.g. OwnCloud), File System as a Service (FSaaS, e.g. NFS and CIFS), block device services (e.g. iSCSI) and Archive. As a result, the University needs to establish an on-premise storage fabric on which a number of private cloud or on-premise services can be hosted effectively and efficiently, covering, but not limited to FSFS, FSaaS, block device and Archive. For the avoidance of doubt, this programme is not concerned with establishing a consultancy (or any other) service designed to address storage needs at this stage. The University Information Services (UIS) intends to use seed funds to purchase an initial quantity of storage and then to resell it within the University, using monies received to buy more storage.