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Introductions


Research IT VM Service (RVMS)

Simon Hood

its-ri-team@manchester.ac.uk

Research IT Infrastructure Manager, IT Services,
University of Manchester


. . .for another six weeks. . .


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What is it?

Research VM Service


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Past and Present

A long time coming. . .

Now soft launched:


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Use Cases

Why not simply use Amazon/Azure?

What is this platform particularly suitable for?


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Operating Model 1/2

Funding Model, Cost and Entitlement to VMs
  • Largely funded by research groups to meet their requirements — receive VMs equivalent to financial contribution.
  • Limited-specification VMs available free-at-the-point-of-use (e.g., 1 core, 4 GB RAM, 30 GB block storage)
    • Limited capacity for these.
About the Platform
  • VMware — VSAN (cheaper than EMC SAN and as fast).
  • OS offered: Sci Linux 6.x, 7.x; Ubuntu LTS; MS Windows — need licences. (Not OS-X.)
  • VMs are backed up.
  • Research Data Storage can be mounted on VMs.
  • NSX software defined networking (e.g., custom DMZs).


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Operating Model 2/2

Root/Administrator Privilege and Available Support from IT Services
  • Customers can have root/admin access (network ACLs then apply).
  • All VMs spun up by RI team — no plans to allow customers to do this.
  • ITS will support basic software stack — custom software stacks are not supported as part of this service.
Responsibilities of the VM Owner and VM Administrator
  • Research groups with root/admin access must apply all vendor OS patches and maintain a suitable firewall.
  • Use of all VMs must comply with University IT policies (esp. data protection).


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Enquiry Routes

How do I get a VM?

Free-at-the-point-of-use:
  • LANDesk form (cf. RDS form) — to come.
Existing Contributors
  • Email its-research@manchester.ac.uk
Temporary solution:
  • Email the RI team, as above.


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Future

In the future, we will have the best of both worlds. . .


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More Information

For more information about the Research VM Service please visit the sites linked below:

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