Enhancing Student Learning Experience with Private Cloud File Services

Project description

The Department of Computer Science (CS) provides file services to all faculty and students. Faculty members use the file systems to store files related to their teaching and research missions. Students may use the file system for any CS coursework-related function; however, students primarily use the file system to write, compile, and test code projects.

Most CS classes that involve coding use the CS servers as a uniform testing and grading environment, requiring that students confirm their code works by uploading it to the file system, running the program, editing if necessary, and repeating the process until the code works the way the student wants. When users want to transfer files from department servers to their own computers, they must use command-line file transfer programs like SCP and SFTP. The first limitation of this method is that the transfer process is manual, requiring that specific and precise commands be entered into a text prompt. Undergraduate students learn the specific commands in our course “Introduction to Unix”, but over the years we have had many transfer students and graduate students who have not had this course and have never had to upload or download a file in a Unix command-line environment before they enroll at FSU. These commands are also very easy for a student to type incorrectly. Unix environments do not have a confirmation “Are you sure you want to overwrite” screen like a Windows or Mac system, nor do they have an Undo function. If a student makes an error—copying the old version over the new version instead of vice versa, downloading an older version of a file instead of the newer version, deleting a newer version of a file instead of the older version, etc.—they are stuck with it. As code projects typically require frequent saving and retesting after small edits, there are many chances to make a potentially project-ruining error.

The second limitation of the file systems is file sharing and security. Throughout a semester, professors often need to share their sample code and lecture notes to their classes. Students may need to share files with their teammates for group projects and presentations. The UNIX file system only allows three types of file permissions: ‘Owner’, ‘Group’, and ‘Other’. ‘Owner’ is the owner of the file. ‘Group’ is the primary group the owner belongs to. ‘Other’ is everyone with an account on the system. We use Groups to group students and faculty to assign department resources (storage space, printer pages, server access, etc.); the UNIX Group structure is a system resource management utility and isn’t designed to handle small, short-lived groups for individual courses and projects. Due to this limitation, a professor who wants to share code examples with his/her class has to grant access permissions to all of the undergraduate students and/or

graduate students. Students who are working on group projects have to resort to emailing files to each other or using USB drives to share files, which creates even more potential for version conflict problems. Students working on group projects are sometimes tempted to temporarily change the permissions of the files they want to share in a manner similar to the previous example where a professor wants to share notes with an entire class. Even if the commands are issued properly, in doing this, students are inadvertently making their files accessible to every student in the department. If the commands are issued incorrectly, which is very easy to do, students can potentially make additional files for other projects, notes, and files containing personal information accessible to every student and faculty member in the department. Both of these scenarios would result in honor code and privacy concerns.

We plan to use Nextcloud to build a private cloud file system for our faculty and students to overcome the aforementioned limitations. Nextcloud is the leading open source free software for self-hosted file share and communications platform. It supports all current operating systems which include Linux, Windows, MacOS, and mobile operating systems like Apple iOS, Android, and GooglePlay. Nextcloud also provides functions like two-factor authentication, ransomware protection and recovery, as well as quota warnings alerting students when they are close to reaching their storage limits. Users install the Nextcloud application on their computers and mobile devices and set up automatic file synchronization between their own devices and department file servers. The new cloud file services will allow users to share their files with specific users safely and conveniently by creating public or private web links. Content can be shared by defining granular read/write permissions between users and/or groups. Nextcloud can be augmented with "one-click" applications and connected to Dropbox, Google Drive, and the Amazon S3 cloud system.

Impact of this project

File services are used by all CS students and students who take CS courses. This private cloud service will provide students with options to use their own computers to edit files and sync files back to department servers to take advantage of department file backup services. It will also allow faculty and students to share their files to their intended users and groups in convenient and safe ways.

Project plan

We would like to purchase a Dell Storage MD1420 for $10,890 and two servers for $8,695. Total costs $19,585.

Ongoing support

Software and server installation, configuration, and maintenance will be provided by the CS Systems Group.

Description of the project team

The project team consists of the Systems Group led by Yu Wang. Mr. Wang has a Master’s Degree in Computer Science and 18 years of experience administering large complex computer and network systems.

Supporting documents

1. Price quote for the disk storage and servers

From: Dell (please do not reply) on behalf of Dell Inc. To: Yu Wang Subject: Dell Computer - Saved Quote Information -1026939381541 Date: Wednesday, November 28, 2018 9:52:23 AM

You have saved an eQuote 1026939381541

An eQuote is now saved in your Dell Online Store. This will be held for 60 days and will expire on 01/27/2019

Your eQuote has been sent to: Emailed to: [email protected] [email protected]

To retrieve this eQuote Login to Premier Sign in to Florida State University SpearMart Click on "Quotes" in the top menu bar and search for eQuote number 1026939381541 eQuote Name Yu Wang Saved By [email protected] eQuote Description Disk Storage for Cloud system Authorized Buyer Notes/Comments Account Name Florida State University SpearMart Contract Code 29ABG

Shipping Info Billing Info FSU MC 2391 FINANCE DEPT FSU MC 2391 FINANCE DEPT UCA-5607 UNIVERSITY CTR UCA-5607 UNIVERSITY CTR PAYABLES / DISBURSEMENTS PAYABLES / DISBURSEMENTS TALLAHASSEE, FL 32306-2400 TALLAHASSEE, FL 32306-2400 (850) 644-5021

eQuote Summary Description Quantity Unit Price Subtotal

Dell Storage MD1420 1 $9,564.75 $9,564.75

MD14XX ONLY support 13G server, Customer Kit - PERC 2 $662.36 $1,324.72 H830 RAID, 2Gb, Low Profile eQuote Subtotal $10,889.47 Shipping* $0.00 Shipping Discount* $0.00 Tax* $0.00 Environmental Disposal Fee* $0.00

eQuote Total* $10,889.47

*The eQuote total, including applicable taxes and additional fees, may be viewable online.

eQuote Details Description Quantity Price

pv_md1420_1360 | Dell Storage MD1420 1 $16,887.00

Premier Discount $7,322.25

______$9,564.75

Product Module Description Sku ID Code Dell Storage MD1420 Dell Storage MD1420, 24 HDs 2.5", rackmount, 2Us MD1420 [210-ADBP] 1 Bezel No Bezel Option NOBZL [350-BBBW] 1532 Enclosure Management Enclosure Management Module, Dual EMMD [403-BBGM] 1535 Module RAID Controller Controller Included Shipping Separately CTRLR [405-AAGN] 1519 Cables (2) 12Gb HD-Mini to HD-Mini SAS cable, 0.5m CB05M [470-ABDN] 1624 Hard Drives (14) Hard Drive Filler 2.5in, Single Blank HDBLNK [400-AEPR] 1570 (10) 1.8TB 10K RPM SAS 12Gbps 4Kn 2.5in Hot-plug Hard Drives Hard Drive 18GINH [400-AKKF] 1570 [389-BEVH] Power Supply Power supply, AC 600W, Redundant PS600W [450-AEBJ] 1620 Power Cords No Power Cord NOPWCD [450-AAGG] 1621 Rack Rails Rack rail, 2Us, Static RRAIL [770-BBJE] 1610 Shipping Dell Storage MD1420 Shipping - DAO DSHIP [340-AKQU] 1500 Canada Ship Options US No Canada Ship Charge USNONE [332-1286] 111 [978-2470] [978-2471] Hardware 3YR Basic Hardware Warranty Repair: 5x10 HW-Only, 3PD [978-2472] 29 Support Services 5x10 NBD Parts [978-2473] [996-8029] Deployment Services No Installation NOINSTL [900-9997] 714 Remote Consulting Declined Remote Consulting Service NORCS [973-2426] 735 Services MD14XX ONLY support 13G server, Customer Kit - PERC H830 RAID, 2Gb, Low Profile 2 $1,471.90 Sku [405-AAER]

Premier Discount $147.18

______(Unit Price after discount: $662.36 ea.) $1,324.72

eQuote Subtotal $10,889.47 Shipping* $0.00 Shipping Discount* $0.00 Tax* $0.00 Environmental Disposal Fee* $0.00

eQuote Total* $10,889.47

*The eQuote total, including applicable taxes and additional fees, may be viewable online.

Let's connect.

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Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions | Dell.com © Dell Inc. U.S. only. Dell Inc. is located at One Dell Way, Mail Stop 8129, Round Rock, TX 78682 From: Dell (please do not reply) on behalf of Dell Inc. To: Yu Wang Subject: Dell Computer - Saved Quote Information -1023026575721 Date: Wednesday, November 7, 2018 11:46:19 AM

You have saved an eQuote 1023026575721

An eQuote is now saved in your Dell Online Store. This will be held for 60 days and will expire on 01/06/2019

Your eQuote has been sent to: Emailed to: [email protected] [email protected]

To retrieve this eQuote Login to Premier Sign in to Florida State University SpearMart Click on "Quotes" in the top menu bar and search for eQuote number 1023026575721 eQuote Name Yu Wang Saved By [email protected] eQuote Description Authorized Buyer Notes/Comments Account Name Florida State University SpearMart Contract Code 29ABG

eQuote Summary Description Quantity Unit Price Subtotal

PowerEdge R630 2 $4,347.47 $8,694.94

eQuote Subtotal $8,694.94 Shipping* $0.00 Shipping Discount* $0.00 Tax* $0.00 Environmental Disposal Fee* $0.00 eQuote Total* $8,694.94

*The eQuote total, including applicable taxes and additional fees, may be viewable online.

eQuote Details Description Quantity Price

pe_r630_1337 | PowerEdge R630 2 $14,254.00

Premier Discount $5,559.06

______(Unit Price after discount: $4,347.47 ea.) $8,694.94

Product Module Description Sku ID Code

PowerEdge R630 PowerEdge R630 Server R630X [210-ACXS] [329-BCZI] 1 Trusted Platform Module (TPM) No Trusted Platform Module NTPM [461-AADZ] 1574 Chassis Chassis with up to 8, 2.5" Hard Drives, up to 2 PCIe Configuration Slots (With Optional Riser) 82O [321-BBKJ] 1530 Shipping PowerEdge R630 Shipping- 8 Drive Chassis D8SH [340-AKPS] 1500 Intel® Xeon® E5-2609 v3 1.9GHz,15M Cache,6.40GT/s Processor QPI,No Turbo,No HT,6C/6T (85W) Max Mem 1600MHz 8519 [338-BFFT] 1550 Additional Intel® Xeon® E5-2609 v3 1.9GHz,15M Cache,6.40GT/s Processor QPI,No Turbo,No HT,6C/6T (85W) Max Mem 1600MHz A8519 [374-BBGZ] 1551 Processor [370-ABWE] Thermal 2 CPU up to 120W HS1202 [412-AAEE] 1697 Configuration [412-AAEE] Memory DIMM Type and Speed 2666MT/s RDIMMs 5099278 [370-ADNU] 1561 Memory Configuration Advanced ECC AECC [370-ABSK] 1562 Type Memory Capacity (4) 8GB RDIMM, 2666MT/s, Single Rank GGE6CIB [370-ADNI] 1560 RAID Configuration RAID 1 for H330/H730/H730P (2 HDDs or SSDs) R1H [780-BBJK] 1540 RAID Controller PERC H730P RAID Controller, 2GB NV Cache H7302G [405-AAEH] 1541 (2) 480GB SSD SATA Mix Use 6Gbps 512 2.5in Hot-plug Hard Drives AG Drive G95I7VX [400-AZST] 1570 Additional Network Cards Broadcom 57406 10G Base-T Dual Port PCIe Adapter B57406 [406-BBLB] 1514 Embedded Systems iDRAC8 Express, integrated Dell Remote Access I8EXP [385-BBHN] 1520 Management Controller, Express Internal Optical Drive DVD ROM, SATA, Internal DVD [429-AAQM] 1600 ReadyRails™ Sliding Rails Without Cable Management Rack Rails Arm RDYRL [770-BBBC] 1610 Bezel No Bezel NOBEZL [350-BBBW] 1532 Power Management Performance BIOS Setting HPBIOS [384-BBBL] 1533 BIOS Settings (2) NEMA 5-15P to C13 Wall Plug, 125 Volt, 15 AMP, 10 Power Cords Feet (3m), Power Cord, North America 125V10 [450-AALV] 1621 Power Supply Dual, Hot-plug, Redundant Power Supply (1+1), 750W 750R [450-ADWS] 1620 System Documentation No Systems Documentation, No OpenManage DVD Kit NODOCS [631-AACK] 1590 Operating System No Operating System NOOS [619-ABVR] 1650 OS Media Kits No Media Required NOMED [421-5736] 1652 Shipping Information US No Canada Ship Charge USNONE [332-1286] 111 Network Daughter Card Broadcom 5720 QP 1Gb Network Daughter Card 5720QP [540-BBBW] 1518 [976-7671] Service 3 Year Basic Hardware Warranty Repair, 5X10 HW- U3OS [976-7728] 29 Only, 5x10 NBD On-site [996-8029] Deployment Services No Installation NOINSTL [900-9997] 714 Remote Consulting Declined Remote Consulting Service NORCS [973-2426] 735 Services

eQuote Subtotal $8,694.94 Shipping* $0.00 Shipping Discount* $0.00 Tax* $0.00 Environmental Disposal Fee* $0.00

eQuote Total* $8,694.94

*The eQuote total, including applicable taxes and additional fees, may be viewable online.

Let's connect.

Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions | Dell.com © Dell Inc. U.S. only. Dell Inc. is located at One Dell Way, Mail Stop 8129, Round Rock, TX 78682 Student Technology Fee Budget Template for 2018-2019 Project Funding Proposal

Project Title: Enhancing Student Learning Experience with Private Cloud File Service

Organization or College: Arts and Sciences

Department or Unit: Computer Science

Project Period Start Date: 7/1/2019 End Date: 8/30/2019

I. Senior/Key Personnel List senior and / or key personnel whose compensation will be funded through project non-recurring funds Requested First Name Middle Name Last Name Project Role Salary Fringe Benefits Funds Requested A. B. C. D. Total Funds Requested for Senior/Key Personnel $ -

II. Student & Other Personnel Requested Salary Fringe Benefits FTE Funds Requested Graduate Students Undergraduate Students Other Personnel Total Funds Requested for Students & Other Personnel $ -

Total Salaries, Wages & Benefits $ - Student Technology Fee Budget Template for 2018-2019 Project Funding Proposal

III. Equipment List items and dollar amounts for each item, including software, (or multiple items of the same type with a total cost of) over $2,000 - add lines as needed Item Description Funds Requested A. Dell Storage MD1420 $9,565.00 B. Dell PowerEdge R630, $4348 each, Total 2 $8,695.00 C. D. Total for items over $2,000 $18,260.00

Total for Additional items (less that $2,000 each) $1,325 Perc H830 RAID Adaptor $662.36 each, Total 2 Total Equipment Costs $19,585.00

IV. Other Costs Funds Requested Materials & Supplies Consultant Services Equipment or Facility Rental/Use Fees Additional Project Costs (describe in budget justification) Total for Others Costs $ -

Total Project Cost $ 19,585.00