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Service Guides: Storage Service (SS)
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2. Technical Description

SS Technical Description SS Technical Summary

Storage Services (SS) provide Agencies with highly available, robust, and resilient storage services so that Agency data can be stored and accessed securely without interruption through reliable, disaster-tolerant systems. Three storage services are available to Agencies through Networx:

  1. Backup and Restore (BBKUP&R). Enables Agencies to backup copies of their data at the contractor's data centers. The government's data is restored as required by the Agency.
  2. Network Attached Storage (NAS). Enables Agencies to securely store data organized as files on a device or an array of devices at the contractor's data centers.
  3. Storage Area Networks (SANs). Enables Agencies to securely store large amounts of data on a high-speed shared area network dedicated to storage at the contractor's data centers.

An Agency may also need additional services such as, but not limited to, assessment and development of Agency storage strategy, engineering and detailed design, and support of Agency Continuity of Operations (COOP).

The Agency can order SS that will connect to and interoperate with the contractor's data centers, the Agency's data center networks and/or back-up sites. Interoperability and connectivity with Agency SANs and LANs is provided. Interconnection of storage sites and Agency sites may be accomplished by the use of underlying transport services supported by the Networx contracts (e.g., SONETS, DFS, OWS, PLS, and Ethernet). SS is a new service that was not provided on the FTS2001 contracts.

The diagram below illustrates the three SS types. The connectivity between the Agency sites and the contractor's data centers is via the contractor's network.




The 3 types of SS: BBKUP&R, NAS, and SANs


3. Technical Detail

Government Agencies rely on Networx contractors to store critical data and SS enables them to acquire storage media and storage networks without having to invest in infrastructure. The SS through Networx allows Agencies to utilize storage space whether off-site; using transportable media or even if the media can be remotely accessed (BBKUP&R) through automation tools.

The SS supports state-of-the-art, commercially available technologies and transport protocols. The contractors are required to partition their infrastructure installed in their data centers and assign specific partitions for specific Agency. The contractor must support storage services that meet Agency security certification and accreditation (C&A) requirements, including storage services for classified data if needed by the Agency.

The flexibility provided by the storage services ranges from managing the storage infrastructure in their data centers in accordance with the contractor's policies up to customizing the service to allow compatibility with Agency storage management policies, procedures, and tools.

With Backup and Restore (BBKUP&R), the contractor enables backup of Agency designated files and databases automatically, including files that are open at the time of the backup. The following functions are also provided:

  1. 1. Daily automated data backup, and more frequent schedules if needed by an Agency.
  2. 2. Daily incremental and full weekly backups of data, and more frequent schedules if needed by an Agency.
  3. 3. Data secured in a geographically separate location as required by an Agency. The contractor provides storage facilities that meet Agency security requirements.
  4. 4. Retention of full monthly backup data for at least three months, and for longer if needed by the Agency.
  5. 5. Restoration of the backup data performed as needed by the Agency.
  6. 6. Remote Data Replication (RDR) services available in geographically separate locations. Replication supported may be manually or automatically initiated by the Agency.
  7. 7. Remote Data Mirroring (RDM) services provided to enable two or more locations, such as Agency data centers and COOP sites, to store and share the same data.

With NAS and SAN services, Agencies are provided with scalable and robust storage infrastructures that meet Agency's requirements protected by rigorous security policies and procedures.

With NAS, storage devices "plug-and-play" into existing LANs, at the contractor's data centers, with a minimum of effort. NAS is suitable for read-intensive applications. NAS uses an IP network architecture and provides file systems rather than raw storage volumes.

SANs are high-speed, special-purpose networks (or sub networks), similar to LANs, which connect all the servers and clients to a shared pool of storage devices. They enable the sharing and exchange of large amounts of data dynamically, regardless of the operating system or application. They interconnect different kinds of data storage devices with associated data servers on behalf of a larger network of users. SANs located at the contractor's data centers are partitioned to be shared by multiple agencies.

SS enables Agencies to separate storage traffic from the rest of the network traffic thus improving network performance and simplifying network management.

There are no Features associated to the Networx Storage Services. The supported interfaces at the storage device and network levels range from 125 Mbps up to 10 Gbps supporting a range of protocols such as Gigabit Ethernet, Fibre Channel, etc.

Each Networx contractor may provide variations or alternatives to the offering and pricing for SS. The specific details can be found within each contractor's Networx contract files and pricing notes for SS.

For more information on the general SS specifications and requirements, please refer to Section C.2.11.10 of the Networx contract for technical specifications and Section B.2.11.10 for pricing.

4. Price Description

SS Price Basics

SS allows users to securely access data stored in the Networx contractors. data centers. Three types of SS are available:

  1. Backup and Restore (BBKUP&R). Enables Agencies to backup copies of their data at the contractor's data centers. The government's data is restored as required by the Agency.
  2. Network Attached Storage (NAS). Enables Agencies to securely store data organized as files on a device or an array of devices at the contractor's data centers.
  3. Storage Area Networks (SANs). Enables Agencies to securely store large amounts of data on a high-speed shared area network dedicated to storage at the contractor's data centers.

SS was not offered on the original FTS2001 contracts.

SS Price Details (BBKUP&R)


Usage charges are charged at the corresponding unit price per GB for the volume used.

Price components required for SS BBKUP&R:
  • Underlying access and transport services, such as SONETS, DFS, OWS, PLS or Ethernet, to provide connectivity.
  • Basic Service (NRC per server).
  • Usage (Usage per GB).
  • No features available currently.
  • Service Enabling Devices (SEDs) may be required to implement SS. [Please note that SEDs under Networx replace the FTS2001 User-to-Network Interfaces and Access Adaptation Functions (UNIs/AAFs). SEDs may differ between Networx providers. The pricing structure for SEDs provides for either a one-time payment or monthly term payments for purchase, plus a NRC for installation, and a MRC for maintenance.]
Example 1: Managed SS BBKUP&R:
  • Transport: Choose Networx telecommunications service such as SONETS.
  • Basic Service NRC: Choose CLIN 500001 (Managed Backup and Restore NRC per server).
  • Usage: Choose CLIN 500401 (Managed Backup and Restore Usage per GB).
  • SEDs may be required to implement SS.
  • SS Price Details (NAS and SAN)

    The basic service charge includes up to 2 Terabytes of storage per month. Usage-based charges only apply to monthly storage in excess of two Terabytes, and are charged on a per Gigabyte basis.

    Price components required for SS NAS and SAN:

    • Underlying access and transport services, such as SONETS, DFS, OWS, PLS or Ethernet, to provide connectivity.
    • Basic Service (NRC and/or MRC per service).
    • Usage (Usage per GB).
    • No features available currently.
    • Service Enabling Devices (SEDs) may be required to implement SS. [Please note that SEDs under Networx replace the FTS2001 User-to-Network Interfaces and Access Adaptation Functions (UNIs/AAFs). SEDs may differ between

    Networx providers. The pricing structure for SEDs provides for either a one-time payment or monthly term payments for purchase, plus a NRC for installation, and a MRC for maintenance.]

    Example 2: Managed SS NAS:
    • Transport: Choose Networx telecommunications service such as OWS.
    • Basic Service NRC: Choose CLIN 500002 (Managed Network Attached Storage (NAS) NRC per service).
    • Basic Service MRC: Choose CLIN 500102 (Managed Network Attached Storage (NAS) MRC per service).
    • Usage: Choose CLIN 500501 (Managed Network Attached Storage Usage per GB).
    • SEDs may be required to implement SS.
    Example 3: Managed SS SAN:
    • Transport: Choose Networx telecommunications service such as PLS.
    • Basic Service NRC: Choose CLIN 500003 (Managed Storage Area Network (SAN) NRC per service).
    • Basic Service MRC: Choose CLIN 500103 (Managed Storage Area Network (SAN) MRC per service).
    • Usage: Choose CLIN 500601 (Managed Storage Area Networks Usage per GB).
    • SEDs may be required to implement SS.

    Each Networx contractor may provide variations or alternatives to the offering and pricing for SS. The specific details can be found within each contractor's Networx contract files and pricing notes for SS.

    For more information on the general SS specifications and requirements, please refer to Section C.2.11.10 of the Networx contract for technical specifications and Section B.2.11.10 for pricing.