Servers and storage

Our options for servers and storage. Order forms for each service can be found at the bottom of this page.

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Virtual Server – Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

IaaS Virtual Server is a service for those in need of a server. Among the advantages of a virtual server are that you can decide how the server should be configured and you only pay for the capacity you require.

The service is available to order in two versions: IaaS Virtual Server and IaaS Virtual Server Plus.

In the basic service, IaaS Virtual Server, the IT Office provides server hardware and will assist in installing the operating system.

In IaaS Virtual Server Plus, the IT Office also manages updates of the operating system and installs and updates antivirus software and local firewalls. The Plus service also links the server to KI’s Active Directory, allowing you to log in using your KI ID.

Basic or Plus?

The basic IaaS Virtual Server is suited to research groups, departments or core facilities that require a server and have the capability to operate it themselves.

IaaS Virtual Server Plus is intended for research groups, departments or core facilities that require a server and would like a little more help in administering the service and a connection to KI’s Active Directory (AD).

Included in IaaS Virtual Server

  • Renting of server capacity in the form of vCPUs, RAM and storage. The party placing the order defines the configuration themselves as needed.
  • Both SSD and SATA storage are available for the server. SSD is the fastest possible option and it is recommended to choose SSD for the operating system and the applications running on the server. If you need a lot of storage you can complement with SATA storage. It will be mounted on the server as a separate disc.
  • The party placing the order has administrator/root privileges for the server.
  • The server can be installed with the following operating systems:
    - Windows Server 2022
    - Windows Server 2019
    - CentOS
    - Ubuntu server
    - Other operating system: you might need to provide the installation media for this choice.
  • The virtual server service includes snapshot backup. A snapshot backup is created once a day and saved for 30 days.
  • The server is equipped with failover, meaning that in the event of hardware component failure the server will restart in another data centre. Services running on the server may be switched to standby mode if this does occur. The client will then need to verify that the services are working once the server has restarted at the secondary data centre.

Important to know about the service

  • The party placing the order is responsible for the operation of the server and security. This means ensuring that the operating system is up to date and that virus protection with updates of definition files and antivirus software must be installed.
  • The local firewall must be activated. Changes to the local firewall are handled by the party placing the order.
  • The party placing the order’s responsibility includes complying with KI’s and the IT Office’s policies/rules/guidelines for IT security.
  • Application installation, operation or support is not handled by the IT Office.
  • The party placing the order is responsible for all services and applications installed on the server.
  • The server must have VMware Tools installed.
  • If you connect other storage solutions (such as central storage) to the server, data is backed up according to the procedures for that service.
  • The IT Office reserves the right to isolate the server from the rest of the network if a security risk is identified.

Environment and security

  • The storage servers are located in a professional data centre, which means
  • Physical protection, as well as cooling, uninterrupted power with UPS units and diesel.
  • Energy efficiency compared with servers located in other environments such as offices.

Support

  • For fault reporting and support, contact Helpdesk.
  • The IT Office may take down the service according to the procedures for service and maintenance.

Prices

Set-up cost: SEK 1,000 (one-time set-up charge).

Prices IaaS Basic
Component Price/year
vCPU SEK 480/pc/year
RAM SEK 90/GB/year
Storage SSD SEK 9.96/GB/year
Storage SAN SEK 1,29/GB/year
Windows Server license SEK 120/year/2 vCPU's
GPU SEK 640/GB/year

The agreement remains in effect until further notice, with a notice of termination period of three (3) months.

Price example of servers -  2024 price list

Example Server 1:
2 vCPUs, 4 GB RAM and 100 GB of SSD storage cost about SEK 189,6 month. With Windows Server, an additional fee of SEK 10/month.

Example Server 2:
4 vCPUs, 8 GB of RAM and 100 GB of SSD storage cost about SEK 311,3/month. With Windows Server, an additional fee of SEK 20/month.

Order IaaS

  • Order a virtual server by sending the completed order form for IaaS by creating a new helpdesk ticket on KI Self Service.
  • State the name you would like the server to have. Your server will be assigned that name provided it is available, works with other infrastructure and the service the server will be used for.
  • The delivery time for the service is about five working days. Longer delivery times might occur due to hardware delivery times in case you order a stronger configuration.
  • When ordering the server, you must also order an opening in KI’s firewall (in the same order form as IaaS)

IaaS Virtual Server Plus

Included in the service

  • Leased server capacity in the form of vCPUs, RAM and storage space. The client defines their own configuration based on existing needs.
  • The client has administrator rights/root access to the server.
  • The server can be installed as the latest release for the following operating systems:
    - Windows Server 2022
    - Windows Server 2019
    - CentOS
    - Ubuntu
  • The virtual server service includes snapshot backup. A snapshot backup is created once a day and saved for 30 days.
  • The server is equipped with failover, meaning that in the event of hardware component failure the server will restart in another data centre. Services running on the server may be switched to standby mode if this does occur. The client will then need to verify that the services are working once the server has restarted at the secondary data centre.
  • Updating of the operating system is included.
  • Installation and updates of antivirus software with updates of definition files are included.
  • The server’s local firewall is configured by the IT Office.
  • Connection to KI’s AD.
  • Administration of the server must be conducted via the KI network or a VPN. External parties that need administrator rights to the server will need to order a support consultant account.

Important to know about the service

  • Departments that are not part of Coordinated IT Operations will need to sign a storage agreement with the IT Office.
  • The configuration of the server’s local firewall is dealt with by the IT Office. Contact IT support to order changes.
  • When ordering the server you will also need to order a port in KI’s firewall.
  • The client’s undertaking includes compliance with all of KI’s and the IT Office’s policies/regulations/guidelines for IT security.
  • The IT Office does not provide application installation, operation or support services. The client is responsible for all services and applications installed on the server, including updates to these.
  • VMware Tools must be installed on the server.
  • The local firewall must not be disabled.
  • The service can only be ordered with the latest release of the previously specified operating systems.
  • If other storage solutions are connected to the server, data backup shall be handled according to the procedures for these services.
  • The IT Office retains the right to isolate the server from the rest of the network in the event that any threat to security is identified.

Environment and security

  • The storage servers are located in a professional data centre, which means
  • Physical protection, as well as cooling, uninterrupted power with UPS units and diesel.
  • Energy efficiency compared with servers located in other environments such as offices.

Support

  • For fault reporting and support, contact Helpdesk.
  • The IT Office may take down the service according to the procedures for service and maintenance.

Prices

  • Set-up cost: SEK 1,000 (one-time set-up charge)
  •  Yearly fee: SEK 6,000/year
Prices IaaS Plus
Component Price/year
vCPU SEK 480/pc/year
RAM SEK 90/GB/year
Storage SSD SEK 9.96/GB/year
Storage SAN SEK 1,29/GB/year
Windows Server license SEK 120/year/2 vCPU's
GPU SEK 640/GB/year

The agreement remains in effect until further notice, with a notice of termination period of three (3) months. 

The price examples of servers presented for Iaas are the same for Iaas Plus - with an additional monthly cost of SEK 500.

Order IaaS Plus

  • Order a virtual server by sending the completed order form for IaaS Plus to KI Self Service.
  • State the name you would like the server to have. Your server will be assigned that name provided it is available, works with other infrastructure and the service the server will be used for.
  • The delivery time for the service is about five working days. Longer delivery times might occur due to hardware delivery times in case you order a stronger configuration.
  • When ordering the server, you must also order an opening in KI’s firewall.

Central storage

Central storage involves the storage of data and files at Karolinska Institutet’s storage server. There are four different options for where to store files and data, depending upon who is to access the information: the users’ home directory (H:), the groups’ shared folders (G:), project folders (P:), and lab folders (L:).

Who is the service suitable for?

The service is suitable for departments, groups and users at Karolinska Institutet. The user must be employed or affiliated with KI and have a KI ID, as well as have access rights to the respective storage area.

Included in the service

  • The Users’ Home Directories (H:): The user’s personal storage area which only the individual user can access.
  • The groups’ shared directory (G:): Access to the folder is controlled by those who are employed or affiliated with the group. When a new person joins the group, they automatically gain access to the folder and automatically lose access when they withdraw.
  • The project folders (P:): The party placing the order can choose who is to have access to the storage area. It is not locked to groups or Departments. Project folders are suitable for collaborations and projects between groups or Departments.
  • The folder's owner can set the rights for the subfolders that are created. In this case, the owner themselves is responsible for who has access rights to the folder and its subfolders.
  • Lab Folders (L:): Storage area with access from the lab networks. If you do not already have a folder on L: you can order a folder from IT Support, either for yourself or as a collaboration folder between several users.

Important to know about the service

  • In order to use the storage areas, the user needs to have a KI ID and be authorised (have access rights) for the various types of storage area.
  • To access the storage servers, one must be connected to an internal KI network or use the VPN.
  • In order to use the service, the Department needs to have a storage agreement with the IT Office, if the Department is not part of Coordinated IT.

Environment and security

The storage servers are located in a professional data centre, which means:

  • Redundancy via servers in both Solna and Flemingsberg.
  • Physical protection, as well as cooling, uninterrupted power with UPS units and diesel.
  • Energy efficiency compared with servers located in other environments such as offices.
  • Protection of servers with antivirus software.

Support

  • For fault reporting and support, contact Helpdesk.
  • The IT Office may take down the service according to the service and maintenance procedures.

Prices

  • SEK 1.29/GB/year.
  • Storage more than 70 TB per department (including S3 and KI Cloud) will be quarterly charged to the department via Companion.
  • Price and any changes in the terms and conditions are communicated at least three (3) months prior to when they become effective.

Order Central Storage

  • Karolinska Institutet’s storage servers are available to all departments within Coordinated IT.
  • Other Departments can access the storage by signing a storage agreement with the IT Office.
  • Order central storage by emailing the order form (in the bottom of this site) by creating a new helpdesk ticket on KI Self Service.

S3 object storage

S3 storage is a service for those who need to store large quantities of data and who can use the S3 protocol or have an instrument that uses the S3 protocol.

You will need to assign user rights to anyone who requires access to data stored in S3, whether they work at KI or externally.

Who is the service suitable for?

The service is suited to the needs of research groups, departments and core facilities at Karolinska Institutet.

What does the service include? 

  • A tenant account in KI’s S3 environment for managing S3 storage. An administrator account for one tenant for the creation of user accounts and assigning storage rights. The administrator account also creates the buckets in which objects are stored.
  • The ability to create buckets in S3 storage. In S3, a bucket is a container in which data (objects) and metadata are stored, much like a folder for files.
  • The administrator can create accounts/users for its tenant and use these to assign storage rights.
  • Accounts can be created for users within and outside KI.
  • Access to data in S3 from KI’s and other networks.

Important to know about the service

  • You can activate version management. A copy of the file is created for each version. You then pay for the storage space taken up by the copies.
  • S3 storage is geographically redundant through mirroring between two data centres.
  • No KI ID is required to access S3 storage. The user account in the S3 tenant account is used for verification.
  • The Information Technology Office does not provide assistance in setting up S3 storage from the customer’s side.

Environment and security

The storage servers are located in a professional data centre, which means:

  • Redundancy via servers in both Solna and Flemingsberg.
  • Physical protection, as well as cooling, uninterrupted power with UPS units and diesel.
  • Energy efficiency compared with servers located in other environments such as offices.

Prices

  • SEK 1.29/GB/year.
  • Storage more than 70 TB per department (including S3 and KI Cloud) will be quarterly charged to the department via Companion.
  • Price and any changes in the terms and conditions are communicated at least three (3) months prior to when they become effective.

Order S3 Storage

  • Complete the order form and send it by creating a new helpdesk ticket on KI Self Service. 
  • Lead time for lower volumes is five working days.
  • Lead time for higher volumes may be longer as the IT Office will then need to expand the system.

Managed File Transfer (MFT)

  • Managed FIle Transfer (MFT) is a service for sharing and receiving data both with KI people and people outside KI in a secure and controlled way.
  • Data added to the service will be active for 30 days, after the 30 days thImportant to know about the servicee data will be deleted.

For whom is the service suitable?

  • MFT is a service that suits research groups, institutions, core facilities and other users at KI who need to securely share data with others.

This is included in the service

  • The ability to securely distribute data to people at KI or outside KI.
  • The ability to securely receive data from people at KI or outside KI.
  • MFT is accessible via HTTPS (browser) and SFTP (application).

Important to know about the service

  • The service is not for storage but only for sharing and receiving data.
  • Data on the MFT service will be active for 30 days, after which it will be deleted.
  • Login to the service takes place with email address, password and MFA.

Environment and safety

The storage servers are located in a professional data hall, which means:

  • Redundancy including services in both Solna and Flemingsberg
  • Physical protection, as well as cooling, uninterruptible power with UPS and diesel
  • Energy efficiency compared to having servers in other environments such as offices

Support

For error reporting and support, contact IT support via the KI Self Service portal.

Prices

The service is included in the IT fee. No order is needed to start using MFT - read more about how to get started with MFT here.

Order forms: Servers and storage