What Is the Service?
Virtual server hosting uses technology that makes one server appear to mimic multiple servers running at one time. This hosting is more efficient in server capacity, hardware, and energy usage.
MSU IT provides enterprise-level virtual server hosting to departments. The service offers access to the same high-performance, high-availability hardware, and security features that MSU uses to deliver mission-critical applications and systems.
Benefits of virtualization:
- Reduced overall cost of hardware including server and cooling system
- Increased energy savings in terms of server energy and cooling
- Added opportunity for IT service continuity in the event of a disaster
- Improved security of university data and IT assets
- Enhanced physical protection through video surveillance and restricted access to the data center environment
- Optional central backup for off-site storage of valuable information
Who Is Eligible to Use It?
MSU departments may request and use virtual servers.
Where Can I Get It?
MSU IT offers both self-managed virtualization services, where you maintain the operating system and applications. Features of self-managed virtualization services include:
- Server with guest operating system
- Self-management console
- Self-service snapshots or recovery points
- Performance monitoring data
- Dedicated VLAN
- Optional file level backup
- Optional firewall
If you would prefer managed virtualization services, please visit Managed Virtual Servers.
How Do I Use It?
Managed and self-managed servers will be accessed differently.
Associated Fees
Service Rates
- $3.50 CPU/Mo
- $1.25 GB/Mo for Memory
- $0.20 GB/Mo for Enterprise Storage (operating system and performant data volume)
- $0.08 GB/Mo for Backup and Recovery
- $3.75 TB/Mo for Elastic Storage data volume in NFS or SMB