Pittsburg Community Schools Mail - Virtualized Server Host Lists
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https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=b89814e135&view=pt&q=s...
Dallas Kranker
Virtualized Server Host Lists Dallas Ryan Kranker To: Noah Grotheer
Wed, Nov 7, 2012 at 11:05 AM
Noah, The virtualized environment and existing SAN provides us the resources to host several critical and non-critical services to administration, staff, and students. Many of which never existed nor had the ability to exist before it was brought in. Servers utilizing the resources of the ESX Hosts and SAN Storage currently used, include; DC-02. Which is a redundant Domain Controller. While we have always had a dedicated domain controller, for a district of our size a redundant server in case the primary domain controller fails is a good idea, so it was created as a virtual machine to provide us that service. Domain controllers hold the authentication system for our network, all security checks for services such as logging into Windows machines, Servers & Server shares, HelpDesk, etc. flow in and out of this or the primary domain controller and is logged here. Dragontube. (Doesn't need mentioned necessarily) but it runs an older version of Linux and provides staff a place to host videos internally when the need arises. Not a highly utilized service. KCA-Server. KCA Testing is only done at certain times of the year, and the KCA-Server provides what CETE calls a Local Caching Service. While again not required as KCA will function by tying directly to CETE, if there is a drop in the internet connect our Local Caching Server retains the student testing data to be transferred to CETE when the connection is restored. WIN-PAK. WinPak is a software that controls access control to all of our building door lock systems. This service used to run on our domain controller, but due to software restrictions of this older software and our internal rules about not bundling together too many services on the same server, this software was moved to it's own server. Outside support agents are also allowed to connect to this server in a controlled environment and not interfere with internal operations. APP-SVR. The Application server was born from the idea of our original Program-Server, which was a collection of software hosted for students. Because of software requirements of new Kid's Learning software, such as JumpStart Math, Reading, and Sc Type To Learn; created the need for this entirely new virtual server. AR-Server. Accelerated Reader testing server and Renaissance Place software, including Math Facts in a Flash, Accelerated Math, English in a Flash, Star Math, Star Reading and Star Early Literacy, provide students online reading test capability, math and reading skills. vCenter-Server. Houses software that controls the Virtualization system,VMware vSphere, etc. WDS. Windows Deployment Server provides technology staff the ability re-image computers over the network. Archive-Server. Archive Server was created as a resource to store old File-Server files. This creates a giant database of files, but provides us a way to recall files that were at one point copied to the File-Server, which in itself a large shared resource of data files, both created by staff and students, as well as storing installers for technology staff. This server is a redundant copy of File-Server and prior to the start of school, allowed the main File-Server to have it's resources freed up. Future plans with advanced software will allow this server to provide better deleted and removed file recall ability. Imagenow-Server. Once a hosted service, it became cheaper for us to host this server internally. No server was ever physically purchased for this purpose so as a cost saving measure a virtual server was created to hold our giant database/archive of student records including transcripts and board meeting minutes dating back to 1907 (?). Most of which were transitioned to a digital format from Microfiche or Scans. PowerSchool. Our most critical service, our student information system that provides resources to Student, Parents, Staff, and Administration as well as the State via specialized reporting. Print-SVR. Is a new creation which no server was appropriated for, but was created as a means to provide reporting capabilities to administration and a third-party company to assess and monitor paper, ink and printer resources effectively. Web-Server. No longer our primary web host as we've moved to a hosted service (SOCS), but many things including special projects, teacher websites, staff directory and other resources still too numerous to mention are hosted from this server for both internal use (students via teacher websites), teacher use, public use, and technology staff. This provides both web and ftp capabilities to staff and others when needed on an OpenSource CentOS Linux platform as opposed to Windows 2008 or 2003 which is mostly standard on the rest of these servers mentioned.
11/27/2012 10:50 AM
Pittsburg Community Schools Mail - Virtualized Server Host Lists
2 of 2
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=b89814e135&view=pt&q=s...
The SAN also holds ISO images of software installs, mainly server installs and some newer OS's many of which we no longer receive on physical DVD media and require a functioning internet connection to download should we not have a copy otherwise. Snapshots of past versions of a complete server also take up space on the SAN, as well as some limited backup copies which can provide some restoration capabilities, but only to particular points in time. Complete installed server template images on the SAN allow us to spin up a new server without having to wait for an install when new servers are requested. The SAN is 8TB in total of storage, and 1-1.8TB remain unused. When the 4th physical (ESX) Host is purchased for the SAN, another mission critical application, our accounting software (MAPP80) or MACS will be brought into this environment, with most of our other remaining 15-20 physical servers ultimately being brought into this system with the new SAN at it's core as we move forward due to aging server hardware. DNS and DHCP and the primary domain controller, which are required network services still remain on this legacy server hardware, but ultimately will also be brought into a virtual environment as their hardware either fails or we make plans to upgrade them to new operating systems, or provide better, more robust solutions for these required services. Thanks. -Dallas Ryan Kranker Network/Systems Administrator USD 250 Pittsburg Community Schools Technology Department 300 E 13th St Ste A Pittsburg, KS 66762 Ph. 620-235-3246 Ext. 402 Cell. 620-232-0537 Fax. 620-235-3113
http://helpdesk.usd250.org http://ww2.usd250.org/dkranker
11/27/2012 10:50 AM
