SERVERS

File Servers

The faculty and staff have separate file servers (i. e., Dell PowerEdge 2600's) to store their personal files. These severs have two 2GHz CPU's, 3GB RAM, multiple 1Gb network cards, and 500GB of storage space. Each server is also connected to a Dell PowerVault 221S, which contains 14 146GB hard drives for 2TB of additional storage space. Each person has their own folder to save files in and they are the only people that have access to it. Users have unlimited storage space in their folder and their accounts are never deleted nor expire. Thus, student data is kept indefinitely. Data is backed up nightly via a Dell 136T 3 drive, 60 tape, dlt tape library with 20TB of compressed capacity. One set of tapes is rotated off-site for disaster recovery purposes.

Email Server

An Exchange 2003 email server provides email functionality to the College of Engineering. This server is a Dell PowerEdge 2600 server with two 2GHz CPU's, 3GB RAM, multiple 1Gb network cards, and 500GB of storage. Each user has an email address automatically created when a user account is created. There is no limit on the amount of email a user can have and it is never deleted, unless by the user. Outlook Web Access (OWA) can be used to securely access email over the Internet, so that users can check their email from anywhere in the world with an Internet connection.

Web Servers

Each department has its own dedicated web site (for a total of four) to serve the needs of its users. A Dell PowerEdge 2600 with two 2GHz CPU's, 2GB RAM, a 1Gb network card, and 500GB of storage space hosts the department web sites. An identical Dell PowerEdge 2600 also hosts faculty and student web sites. Both web servers are tied into a backend video server. All video files from classes, labs, and etc. are located on this backend server (Dell PowerEdge 2600) from which the other web servers pull.

OTHER SERVERS

SQL Server

The SQL 2000 server provides database functionality and is the data management platform for the College of Engineering . A Dell PowerEdge 2600 with two 2GHz CPU's, 1GB RAM, a 1Gb network card, and 500GB of storage space along with the SQL 2000 standard edition is currently used. Numerous databases are used to host backend services for programs such as faculty/student surveys, inventory, grade recording, and record keeping that are accessed through web sites.

SharePoint Portal Server

The SharePoint Portal Server (SPPS) resides on a Dell PowerEdge 2600 and provides college wide document management, search, and sharing capabilities. The SPPS allows the college to establish a central point of access to existing key information and applications as well as share information across file servers, databases, public folders, Internet sites, and SharePoint Team Services that are based web sites. Seamless integration with Office 2003 and Internet Explorer 6 allows for a very easy-to-use user interface.

Project Server

Microsoft Project Server 2003 is used to help create and track project plans, manage schedules and resources, and analyze project information. Professors can keep track of student progress on assigned group projects. Team members can collaborate with each other through a web browser by using Microsoft Project Web Access. Microsoft Project can also be used with SharePoint to link documents to projects and tasks, share documents, and track issues on individual projects.

Internet Security and Acceleration Server

Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2004 (ISA) is an extensible, multilayer enterprise firewall and web cache that helps provide secure, fast, and manageable Internet connectivity. ISA server works as a firewall at the network, session, and application layers. We can use these features to provide secure, granular access to internal and external resources. The web cache feature allows Internet content to be saved or cached to the local hard drive of the server. This greatly decreases the amount of time it takes to view web sites, download files, and watch media files.