BOF: Meeting the Challenges of Sustainable eResearch ‘Infrastructure’(University’s IT Perspective)

Anthony BeitzGeneral Manager, Monash e-Research Centre22 October 2013

eResearch ‘Infrastructure’

People

Applications – e.g. eTools

Platforms – e.g. Virtual Labs

Infrastructure - e.g. compute, storage, networks

National & Global Online Services – e.g. federated security

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About Researchers

Focused on research outcomes

Work in an interpretive mode

– Characteristics include: an iterative process; open-ended; and thrive on ambiguity

Their requirements and goals may change over time

Generally more loyal to research community than their institution

May require an ICT capability for only a short period of time

Very resourceful and driven

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About a University’s IT Division

Generally have an institutional focus

Generally deal with enterprise level solutions

Put solutions in place for at least 3-5 years

Work in an analytical mode

Focused on cost optimisation (e.g. SOE)

Generally aim to minimise risk, maximise stability and availability of services, and reduce ambiguity

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Specialisation of ‘Infrastructure’

Applications

Platforms

Infrastructure

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Sp

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ion

eResearch ‘Infrastructure’ Sustainability Challenges for IT (1)

People– Acquisition & retention– Providing a career path

Applications & Platforms– Transitioning support & maintenance for a bespoke system– Ongoing support & maintenance for a bespoke system– Supporting a broad and diverse ecosystem of users, many external to the

institution– Covering the gap between the researcher and the application or platform– Keeping the application or platform relevant to the targeted research

community/communities– Adding new functionality to a bespoke system– Funding support & maintenance– Training for a bespoke systems

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eResearch ‘Infrastructure’ Sustainability Challenges for IT (2)

Infrastructure

– Funding support & maintenance– Funding growth & replacement– Maintaining relevance to future applications & platforms

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Suggested Strategies (1) People

– Offer at least 3 year contracts– Adopt hub & spoke model– Grow own capability– Outsource

Applications & Platforms– Utiltise ‘common’ infrastructure, e.g. NeCTAR Cloud & RDSI

storage– Promote DevOps– Acquire staff comfortable in adding new functionality, supporting

and maintaining bespoke systems– Consider enabling and empowering the IT help desk to assist

external users, for specific systems– Encourage self-serve systems

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Suggested Strategies (2)– Establish a team who can close the gap between researchers and

compute, data and visualisation infrastructure– Shift from being just a service provider to being a strategic

partner, go on the “journey of the unknown together”– Become more Agile– Adopt/Adapt/Develop– For community-based platforms, consider tapping into research

funding. Perhaps through a subscription mechanism.– Provide easy access to online training material and courses– Empower support staff to provide informal training sessions and

train-the-trainers

Infrastructure– Consider tapping into a share of the subscriptions for applications

and platforms utilising the infrastructure– Become more Agile

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For more information…

Contact:

Anthony BeitzGeneral Manager, Monash e-Research CentrePhone: +613 9905-8681Email: Anthony.Beitz@monash.eduTwitter: twitter.com/a_beitzLinkedIn: au.linkedin.com/pub/anthony-beitz/1/7a4/78a

Website:

http://www.monash.edu.au/eresearch/

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