Enterprise Information Technology Services Press Release
The University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

WRITER: Bert DeSimone, 706/542-5110, bert@uga.edu
CONTACT: Mike Dennis, 542-7056, mdennis@uga.edu

Expansion of EITS Boyd Data Center increases capacity for research computing and hosting services

ATHENS, Ga.— The EITS Boyd Data Center, located on the first floor of the Boyd Graduate Studies Research Center, was recently expanded to accommodate growth in research computing, hosting of departmental computing equipment, and other computing equipment installations.

"The Boyd Data Center renovation was completed February 3rd, adding 4,300 square feet to the existing 11,700 square feet," said Mike Dennis, Director of Operations and Infrastructure for EITS. "The Data Center is critical to housing and securing the University's most sensitive data, and this expansion will enable us to better serve the University now and in the future."

Concurrent with this expansion has been a number of upgrades to the Data Center's fire suppression system, security systems, and power supply systems.

Computing equipment housed in the Boyd Data Center provides a number of campus-wide services, including UGAMail, WebCT, and the UGA Calendar Service. The IBM mainframe, which supports OASIS (the online registration and information system for students) and a number the University's primary business and administrative systems is also housed in the Boyd Data Center.

"One of the main drivers for this expansion was to ensure that we had sufficient capacity, and the appropriate environment, to support growth in research computing and departmental hosting services," said Dennis. "The Research Computing Center (www.rcc.uga.edu) continues to grow, and more UGA departments are showing an interest in locating their equipment in the Boyd Data Center."

Dennis suggested that UGA departments interested in hosting equipment in the Boyd Data Center may wish to contact the EITS Campus Information Technology Partnerships group (www.citp.uga.edu).

About EITS
Enterprise Information Technology Services (EITS) is committed to providing information technology resources and services in support of the mission of the University of Georgia as articulated in the overarching strategic plan for the University. Under the leadership of the University's Chief Information Officer, EITS executes its mission via eight core initiatives: strategic planning and governance, instructional technology, research computing, client support, information security, outreach and partnerships, business operations and administrative applications, and infrastructure support. For more information, please visit the EITS Web site: www.eits.uga.edu.