Enterprise Recovery
If computer rooms or equipment become unusable, ITC might have to install temporary floor space and replacement equipment to recover operations. The plan takes from five to eight days to execute, and it calls for all enterprise applications to be restored. It addresses a "worst" case disaster scenario. Users of ITC's enterprise applications must be prepared to function on their own for this length of time. (Processing an emergency payroll has been arranged, without needing the enterprise servers.)
Unix Systems
Recovery time estimates for Unix systems vary depending on the severity of outage. If a few systems supporting University-wide services were lost, the Unix Recovery Team could reallocate and reconfigure systems within a few hours. However, if a large number of systems were lost, replacements would need to be procured, and the recovery task could take from several days to more than a week.
Networks
ITC supports the University's data/video network and the network server infrastructure. Unlike the enterprise servers, networking is distributed, with switching equipment located in small areas in many user buildings and in central distribution points. Widespread equipment distribution and the number of components (along with the severity of the event) make Network recovery projections vary substantially. The Detailed Network Recovery Plan estimates as few as four hours for recovering from a minor event, to several days or weeks for a major event (where switching equipment and cable plant leading to the equipment are destroyed).
Micro Systems
A minor event, such as a server failure, can be repaired within twenty-four hours. Recovering from a more severe, but isolated, event is estimated to take between 48 to 72 hours after acquisition of replacement hardware. Extensive disasters requiring acquisition of new hardware would take from 72 hours to 128 hours.
Communications Services
In the event that the University's Siemens telephone system is rendered completely inoperative, due to a natural or other disaster, Siemens estimates that limited, basic telephone service can be restored to most locations within 72 hours.
Implementing the Plan
The current Disaster Recovery Plan has been accepted as the official document to guide us with recovery efforts. It will continue to be updated and tested on a periodic basis.
Plan Contents
For perhaps obvious reasons, the details of the Disaster Recovery Plan are not posted on the Web; however, an outline of the plan is provided below for those seeking a model to follow for their own plans. If you have reason to need more information about the ITC plan, contact Steve Maupin, the maintainer of the plan, at sym@virginia.edu.
