Pasted Apr117, 20141 Ron Kirksey
ÐÔ¸£ÎåÔÂÌì University's Division of Information Services last week formally retired two major obsolete systems as part of the division's strategy to respond to advances in technology and save resources.
The two systems, the tape library of stored information and the telephone PBX (private branch exchange) switch, have been replaced by upgraded technology, and will result in cost savings related to data centers in Moulton Hall and the Kent Campus Library.
"Retiring this equipment is part of an ongoing response in which we save money and put better technology in place of outmoded systems," says Ed Mahon, ÐÔ¸£ÎåÔÂÌì's vice president for information services and the university's chief information
The new tape backup and restore system, with Quantum Disk-to-Disk Backup equipment rep I acing the Tape Library shown in the photo, saves 260 square feet in the Library data center.
The new Unified Communication system, replacing the PBX shown in the photo, saves 390 square feet of space in the data centers.
Approxlmately 16 kilowatt hours of electr1dty will be saved. At the ÐÔ¸£ÎåÔÂÌì rate for power, this amounts to an annual savings of $11,940.
Shutting down the PBX equipment and the Tape Library wlll save about $5,900 a year from the reduction In Computer Room air conditioning alone.
Labor saving from eliminating daily tape processing will be 180 hours per year.
Savings and convenience also will result from eliminating the need to store tapes in an off-site center and constan11y moving tapes back and forth. This annual savings in tape storage and shipment will be about $20,400. The disk system also al lows faster file restoration when recoveling lost or accidentally deleted files.
For data recovery in an emergency, the Quantum Disk-to-Disk Backup removes the cost and delay of manually shipping tapes to the Disaster Recovery facility before the recovery can begin.
The cost in expense and time also is removed for Division of Information Services' staff members who no longer need to travel during data recover exercises or emergencies.
"Our goal as always is to reduce technical complexity and enhance reliability, so we can focus more of our staff time on student and faculty needs," Mahon says.
Mhin the last two years, the DMsion of Information Services boosted university productivity by retiring or upgrading eight technology systems. These advances include email, online learning, online server configuration.
''We will continue our comprehensive plan to find ways to save resources and improve communications technology for the ÐÔ¸£ÎåÔÂÌì community,• Machon syas.