Data Storage Strategy Brian Boyle Network Services Manager HEAnet

Introduction Context Data Storage services Centralising service The case for NREN involvement HEAnet’s activities

Context Client expectations International developments – TF-Storage Survey – Requirements gathering Lead to multiple strands – Quick, cheap / Expensive, hi-spec – Not homogeneous – Many users – Research, ICT, Students…

International context Terena TF-Storage Working Group – Open to all – Mainly NREN and IT Services – Appearances by Storage Vendors Cloud Providers, Hardware people, etc Many examples of: – National Data Storage – IaaS by NRENs for IT Services

International Summary: Data Storage: – Is very complex & expensive – Not usually a core activity …but could easily take up this role! – Needs a lot of work Procurement System Administration End user support …

Centralised service There is a market for Centralised Storage. Why? Economy of scale Elasticity of supply High end functionality Good hosting environment Better administration Lower risk for data

NREN Service Why would an NREN get involved? Excellent network Sustainable trust relationship Client has strong influence Similar funding environment Cheaper than commercial offering – Tailored SLA, lower power costs, no profit margin – Leverages existing assets – No surprises

Data Storage Services Tightly coupled – High speed disk, bus, fast CPU Loosely coupled – Client/Server, local network Very loosely coupled – Widely separated client/server

The Solution Spectrum

HEAnet’s Storage Services Data Centre Storage – Data Centre users – Very highly scaleable – High Functionality – High Quality Today: Applications – FileSender – Media Hosting Tomorrow: Storage as a Service

Future? HEAnet’s planned pipeline:  Data Storage as a service  Procurement framework – On behalf of clients – Goals: Enable equipment procurement Attract cloud vendors Simple best practice – Based on client survey

Service Overview

Client Motivation (recap) Client would like; – Lower cost, more flexibility – Eliminate capex, depreciation – Reduced administration cost – Lowering risk So the provider must: – Build costs into service charge But users are comparing to raw storage – Building good commercial relationship But procurement rules can be tricky

Provider motivation (recap) Why else is in NREN interested? – Stay close to client – Build services that use the network – Add extra value without inordinate increase in cost – Alignment with stakeholders/funding

Cloud Challenges Cloud storage & Procurement – “Round peg, square hole” – Definition of “Cloud” Business model? Another name for managed service? – Offerings are very different Comparisons are difficult – Ireland is a small market

Next Steps Agree procurement requirements RFT specification Outline vendor contract Framework model Publication, evaluation, award Ongoing framework model – Lasts for 4 years – Support starts from delivery date

Conclusions NREN Clients require storage – Huge variety to requirements They would like NREN’s involved NREN’s have a strategic role to play – Great use for excellent networks – Part of solution, not whole of solution Services will be long term – “sticky”