Data Server

The GNC DataManager , running continuously on the DataServer, observes the incoming folder “GNC-GROUNDST\incoming” on the groundstaion and processes immediately the incoming serializations. This means, the data is moved (not copied), unpacked and distributed to the local folders of the DataServer. In cases where the network connection to groundstation is interrupted or the data-server itself is down, the serialized data will be buffered on the GroundStation (up to several days). Afterwards the DataManager will continue, so no data will be lost. While the GroundStation is only in charge for receiving data, the DataServer is responsible for long-term data storage. The stored data can be accessed with reading rights by applications/clients through a shared network folder “\\GNC-Data\Geonetcast”. This network folder will serve as the central (and exclusive) access point for interfaces or third party services. Due license restrictions the data can only accessed in the internal university network and by using university account authentication.

By modifying the configuration of the DataManager, it is possible to define

• which products have to be processed
• where & by which naming convention the products have to be stored and
• how long they have to be stored on the data server.

System Specification

Operating System

Windows Server 2008 RC2 - 64 BIT

Hardware

• CPU - Intel Xeon E5504 @2GHZ
• 4 GB RAM
• 6 TB Storage

Running Software

• Geonetcast Data Manager

Access & Maintainance

NOTE: You can only connect to the server if you are in the university network (e.g. using vpn connection). This is due data license restrictions and security issues.

Two kinds of access:

• administrative access
  For maintaining purpose the DataServer is accessable using a windows remote connection. Your university account has to be linked to the administrator group and you can connect to the server via windows remote connection gnc-data.uni-muenster.de using your university account "uni-muenster\wwu_username"
  .
• file system access (only reading rights)
  In case you
  (a) are maintining a (interface) service to the data or
  (b) want access the raw data e.g. for research or education (lectures)
  it is possible to access the data directly on the file system with reading rights. Therefore your university account has to be linked to the "GEONETCAST\geonetcast" group. Afterwards you can mount "\\GNC-DATA\Geonetcast" as a network drive using your university account "uni-muenster\wwu_username".
  

In order to get access, pelase ask the Infrastructure Administrator:

• ifgi web team

Infrastructure Administrator

Use-case scenario:
The infrastructure administrator has to restart the server because of:

• necessary system (securtiy) updates
• network/system crash

After rebooting, the system will automatically remount the incoming folder of the GroundStation and restart the geonetcast data manager. However, the data manager has to be activated manually (by loading the configuration-IFIG.txt file and pressing the "start" button). This should be done by using the virtual user account "gncuser".

Note:Pay attention, that there is no instance of the DataManager already running on the machine.

Product Administrator

Use-case scenario:
The product administrator has to determinate:

• which products have to be processed
• where & by which naming convention the products have to be stored and
• how long they have to be stored on the data server.

All this configurations has to be done on the DataManager. The configuration can be done from any user account linked to the DataServer. However, the DataManager instance should only be started&working using the virtual user account "gncuser", which is linked with specific security rights to the DataServer. Please asked the Infrastruce Administrator for more details.

Service Administrator

There is no need for service administrators maintain any services on the DataServer.
However, service administrators need reading access to the file system. Therefore it is possible to mount "\\GNC-DATA\Geonetcast" as a network drive (see how to get access section).

Security

The DataServer blocks all connections from outside the university network. All ports are blocked via firewall (the networkshare excepted). Furthermore antivirus software is installed. Regular system updates are done automatically. Sometimes it is necessary to restart the system after updates - this has to be done manually.

-- JohannesTrame - 2010-09-23