The Central Server, commonly referred to as Central, provides local area networking services to University faculty, departments and offices. It consists of a set of high-speed computers that stores office applications and data files shared by many different people in a department or work group.

The Central Server offers a reliable, cost-efficient alternative to installing a local file server at your location. The moderate monthly cost per user provides you with all the features, resources, and services you expect from a LAN, but without the worry and expense of having to manage your own.

A Citrix Server is used for fast remote access to all your Central files and Windows applications.

Advantages of Central

Computer Center infrastructure provides better reliability and performance.

• 7 by 24 by 365 coverage
• Climate-controlled environment
• Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS)
• Emergency generator power
• Data backed up daily and sent offsite
• Extra backup server parts on site
• Cluster configuration of servers (for more reliability and increased performance)
• Spare server on site
• Robotic backup and recovery system with multiple drives
• Management boards monitor server components and automatically notify staff of problems

High-level, experienced group manages the LAN for you.

• Group-managed coverage by certified technicians
• Dedicated LAN staff monitors industry events and trends
• Integrated support with other University technical groups
• Mobile devices used for 7 by 24 coverage
• Remote access to all servers for quicker recovery

Software licensing allows for more options.

• Standardization of versions for all office and home PCs
• Microsoft licensing also includes Access, Project, Visio, Publisher and PC operating system
• Central software licensing includes the home PC
• Flexibility to upgrade mid-year without additional licensing costs
• Off-campus access to all Central and Exchange files through web-based Citrix server

Departments save money and resources.

• Planned expenditures: no technology upgrades or emergency costs to manage
• Staff freed up for other work
• Legitimized software licensing
• Flexibility to purchase private space, defined by the departments needs
• No premature purchase of disk space or servers
• File-level recovery of data (six versions of data files kept on tape)

Central provides you with a reliable, cost-efficient alternative to installing a local file server at your location.

The monthly cost is $41 per user.