MIS Policies Manual

Chapter 5: Resource Management

1. Requests for Data Storage
   Advance planning and coordination of changing data storage requirements will increase the ability to manage Administrative Cluster data storage effectively. Changes in storage requirements result from three general categories: 1) new applications; 2) functional changes to existing applications; 3) normal growth of existing applications. In all cases, new storage requests should be submitted as described below.
   • Request Procedure
     
     • Requests for additional storage are the responsibility of the application project leader.
     • The request should include:
       • The justification for the request
       • The amount of storage space required
       • The projected growth rate and pattern
       • The access characteristics (on-line or batch, frequent or rare) and associated response time requirements

     • The written request should be submitted to Technical Services. Technical Services will coordinate with the project leader and Operating Systems personnel to determine the appropriate media and whether resources exist or must be purchased.
     • The Director of MIS will approve or deny the request. If the request is approved, and either additional storage must be purchased, or existing resources must be allocated by the system managers, the request will be forwarded to Central Computing Services.
     • Central Computing Services will either allocate resources or initiate the process to purchase additional storage. Operating Systems will notify Technical Services when the storage has been allocated.
   • New Applications
     An estimation of data storage usage is one of the requirements for initiating a new project. See section 3 of this manual.

   • New Functionality in Existing Applications
     Changes in application function which significantly increase storage requirements should be treated the same as new projects.

   • Changing Storage Requirements for Existing Applications
     
     • ITD Technical Staff (Database Administrators and Operating System staff) will collect and analyze data on storage usage growth patterns on a regular basis.
     • ITD Technical Staff will work with lead developers and management to identify large and/or rapidly growing databases and files.
     • Large application files which experience significant annual growth should be evaluated for possible re-design. Options include purging data, summarizing data, and/or archiving data to alternate, slower media.

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       Last Updated: 20 June 1997 [Comments]