Virtual Dedicated Windows Servers (VDWS)

VDWS (Virtual Dedicated Windows Servers) is a hosted service offered through MIG (Microsoft Implementation Group), a child department of SETI (Secure Enterprise Technology Initiatives).

VDWS allows departments to utilize the Information Technology Organization's virtualization hosting services to help consolidate physical hardware into virtual software.  This allows your department to run necessary Microsoft Windows-based operating systems and applications without maintaining server hardware.  Virtualization can save time and money; MIG's experienced staff (30+ years of Windows security/administration) will host your virtual machine guests with your choice of hardware configuration, Windows operating system, and applications.

Benefits of VDWS

Because your guest is virtualized on hosting hardware, you gain the benefits of server class hardware and system support without associated additional costs.  Our server hardware is located within the AISB machine room at 1700 Pratt drive.  It is supported on redundant hardware, power, HVAC (climate control) and is secured 24x7 with an on-site security guard and camera monitoring. Specific benefits of VDWS also include:

• Efficiency - utilize the host server hardware to its maximum
• Scalability - bring up a new guest in 10-15 minutes, build baseline, patch
• Portability - easily move guests from host to host
• Recoverability - have the ability to undo and difference guests, each simply being a file
• Flexibility - quickly and easily add more RAM, more CPUs, more hard drive space to guests
• Security - preconfigured guests are fully patched, with firewalls enabled and security policies hardened
• Affordability - preconfigured guests start at only $200 per year
  

Virtualized Machine Guest Costs

For $200 per year, a preconfigured base guest consists of the following hardware specifications:

• One 3.66 Ghz x86 or x64 CPU
• 1 GB of RAM
• 30GB of RAID-5 hard drive storage
• 1 GB Ethernet connection
• Any version of Windows 2003, 2003 R2, or 2008 included

Any of the components (CPU, RAM, HD, NIC) can be upgraded at an additional charge.  See the VDWS order form for specifics.

Using the VDWS Service

For instructions on renting a virtual machine in the VDWS service, see Renting a Virtual Dedicated Windows Server (VDWS) Virtual Machine Guest.

For answers to frequently asked questions, see VDWS FAQ.