Service Description: Shared SQL Server Database Hosting
- Product Summary
- Description of Services
- Types of Services
- Environments Available
- Product Benefits
- Backup and Recovery
- Services Not Included
- ITS Client Support
- System Requirements
- Policies
- Database Hosting Request
Product Summary
The shared Microsoft Structured Query Language (SQL) Server product is available to all University staff and faculty.
Description of Services
Information Technology Services (ITS) provides shared SQL Server environments (production and development) on the Windows platform. Department offices access SQL Server data using the well known Structured Query Language (SQL) via applications and other standard interfaces.
Types of Services
- Limited Service: ITS will provide only the database space with limited access to a vendor. ITS personnel will assist in the initial installation if necessary. This type of service happens when the UNCG client has a service contract with an outside source. Information Technology Services (ITS) will work with a vendor to install a database, but the clients will not interact directly with the databases via any administrative tools. ITS will assist a Vendor with administration and maintenance as needed. Examples include applications already built to function with a pre-defined database structure.
- Self Service: ITS will provide the database space to a department. The department will provide a qualified Database Administrator. Clients will be responsible for all installation, management and maintenance of the databases they install. This person will have an UNCG account with administrative access rights
Environments Available
- Development: Development and testing should not occur in production. To facilitate this, a development environment will be provided.
- Production : Two production environments will be provided to accommodate both services (Limited and Self Service).
Product Benefits
ITS manages the SQL Server environment by providing these services:- 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, support of the SQL Server environment
- Software upgrades, as well as preventative software maintenance of the SQL Server environment
- Maintenance of the SQL Server environment so that ITS has full vendor support of the environment
- Administration security for the SQL Server subsystem
- Data placement and backup and recovery
- Failover recovery for production systems utilizing database mirroring and system clustering
Backup and Recovery
Backups are created and retained at the ITS Data Center for the purpose of restoring data in case of a hardware or software failure. For more information, please check the Computer System Backup Policy.
Services Not Included with this Product
- ITS does not provide application programming services as part of the SQL Server Database Hosting product.
- Creation of tables, indexes, relationships, procedures, or views. After database hosting delivery, the client will be responsible for any modification within the database and normalization.
- In case of existent database migration, the client must provide the scripts already tested and functional to be run on the Microsoft SQL database server.
ITS Client Support
Problem resolution by ITS staff, and vendors is managed and coordinated through the ITS Service Desk Center. The following parameters govern ITS efforts to resolve technical issues:
- Problem priority is based on defined criteria for the importance of the system affected, the severity of system degradation, and the number of affected users.
- Problems can be submitted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by telephone, by email or by 6tech online.
- Initial Response targets details can be found under the ITS Incident Management Manual.
System Requirements
Client applications associated with the SQL Server Database product must comply with the ITS Policy.
Policies
- Database environments that are disruptive to other shared users or that require resources beyond the scope of this product offering may not be candidates for an MS SQL Server shared environment.
- Users are expected to adhere to best practices regarding password maintenance and should change them regularly.
- The MS SQL Server database environments are only available through connections within the University Network. Special requirements may require firewall changes or VPN usage and will be managed on a one on one basis.
Database Hosting Request
Any UNCG department interested in Microsoft SQL Server Database Hosting should contact 6-tech:
- The client fills out a request form on the ITS Web site.
- ITS contacts the client to gather additional information.
- ITS provides a schedule estimate to the client.
- ITS builds the requested database environment and informs the client when the
environment is ready for use.