Platform as a Service - Mainframe

  Service Description

The NITC Mainframe Platform as a Service includes a fully managed operating platform for mainframe-based applications. This fully-managed service includes systems engineering services, software tools, storage services, technology refresh, and disaster recovery.

  What's Included

• Fully managed NITC Network Services and infrastructure
• Fully managed zOS and zVM (zLinux™) environments
• Third party software tools, utilities, and support
• System security administration and support
• Capacity planning and performance tuning
• 24x7 system and network monitoring and support
• Fully managed disk and tape storage services
• Fully managed Disaster Recovery of the operating platform
• Application data recovery support
• Customer certification testing support
• Job scheduling and related monitoring
• Standard database administration activities
• Systems engineering and consulting services
  - Install, configure, customize, and maintain the Operating System and system utilities
  - Research, coordinate, and apply OS maintenance
  - Management, analysis, and review of OS system audit logging - Troubleshoot and resolve OS-related problems
  - Disk and Tape storage administration
  - Perform system tuning within the limits of NITC configuration standards
• Related inheritable management controls

  How We Charge

Hosting charges are based on actual usage measurements.

Price Drivers:

• Operating Platform used [zOS™ or zVM (zLinux™)]
• Prime time and non-prime time CPU usage
• High, Normal, Medium, or Deferred Priority
• Amount of disk storage utilized
• Amount of tape storage utilized
• Additional charges may apply for
  - Specialized software
  - Database administration
  - Application support

  Service Level Metrics

* NITC reserves the option to schedule routine infrastructure maintenance activities on Sundays between 1800 to 2400 hours Central Time.

NOTE: NITC utilizes the USDA Universal Telecommunication Network (UTN) for Wide Area Network services. The UTN is contractually guaranteed to be 99.9% available but has historically delivered 99.997% availability.

  Cost Saving Tips

• Adhere to the scheduled maintenance window
• Provide at least 180 days notice for growth or retraction of processing requirements
• Communicate project processing requirements on a quarterly basis
• Participate in scheduled disaster recovery testing
• Archive data only when necessary
• Delete any unnecessary data
• Utilize standard tools and applications

Download the Hosting Services Platform as a Service - Mainframe page from the NITC Service Catalog.

http://www.ocio.usda.gov/nitc/hosting_svcs_mainframe.html
Last Modified: 03/01/2012