Servers - Requesting a New Server, Monitoring, Upgrades, and Decommission

1. A server in the KU IT environment which you will be or are the owner, or you are the technical representative of the server's owner.

1. New Server Request Form

   • Used to request the creation or implementation of a new server resource.

2.  Server Monitoring Request Form

   • Used to request health and status monitoring on a server with KU IT environment.

KU faculty and staff can request the creation of a new server within the KU IT environment in order to assist with their work and research.

• Note: if an existing system or server resource exists that performs the same function as one that you are requesting, your request may be rerouted to connect with that existing system or service.

• If a server was requested by an Information Technology staff member, then this section does not need to be completed as a complete monitoring task has already been assigned to them.

1. To start your request for a new server, navigate to the: New Server Request Form.

2. Ensure that the following mandatory fields are filled out accurately:

   1. Select a Requester - this will autofill with your name.

      • If you are submitting the request on behalf of someone else, enter their name into the Requestor Search box above, click: Search, then select their name from the Select a Requestor dropdown menu.

   2. Department - this will autofill with the department of the requester.

   3. Please identify the Service Offering the system will run - select the application or service that your server will run.

      • Example: Microsoft 365 applications

      • If you do not see or are unsure of the application or service your server will run, check the I don't see the Service Offering I need check box.

3. Based on your selection in step 2c above, additional fields will be added to the form. Fill out the fields to the best of your ability.

4. Additional Server Details fields will be added to the form.

   • Note that all are required fields. If you don't know the answer to any of these fields, contact your support representative.

   1. Specify if the server will be a new physical hardware server (less common) or a virtual server running on existing hardware (most common).

   2. Select the location that is closest to you or its use case.

   3. Select an operating system, such as: Linux, MacOS, or Windows that will run the server.

   4. Select a server operating system version (Windows Server 2025 is the most common).

   5. Select how many central processing units are needed (CPU) for proper functioning of the needing application(s) or services the server will run..

   6. Select how many CPU cores are needed per socket for processing requirements.

   7. Select how much memory (RAM) is required for proper functioning of the needing application(s) or services the server will run.

   8. Select how many hard drive (HD) storage discs are needed and at what size in gigabytes (GB) for each.

5. Once all your selections are made, an annual cost in USD ($) will be displayed in the Total Cost field. Add any additional comments you may have, then click: Submit Request.

A service request ticket will be opened and the IT Enterprise Systems Team will either contact you with follow-up questions to assist in evaluating your request or fulfill your request.

If you are not a KU IT staff member, you will receive an email seven days after your new server request is fulfilled instructing you to request server monitoring per the steps below in the "Requesting Server Monitoring" section. Server monitoring can be requested at any time after your server is ready, however, it is recommended that monitoring be implemented as soon as your server is ready for day-to-day regular use.

Once your server is ready for day-to-day operation, monitoring should be requested so that issues that impact its use and health can be reported to you and the IT Network Operations Center.

1. To start your request for monitoring, click the following link: Server Monitoring Request Form.

2. Ensure that the following mandatory fields are filled out accurately, then click: Submit.

   1. Requester - if you are requesting monitoring for someone else's server, ensure that their name is listed here.

   2. Acct/Dept - this will autofill based upon who is listed as the requester, but can be manually set by you.

   3. Server - you must enter the name of the server that will receive monitoring.

      • Server names are typically "department code-number identifiers" (example: KUIT-abc123).

      • If you don't know your server's name, contact your technical representative or reference your server creation ticket.

Unless an issue is encountered, such as the wrong server being selected above in step 2c or any technical issues with your server, you will receive a response that your server has received monitoring, typically within 24 hours after your request is submitted.

If you server requires a change to its current disk storage, processing cores, and/or RAM (memory), contact your IT support team to submit your request.

If you are unsure who your IT Support team is, see the Technical Service Center (TSC) lookup or contact the IT Help Desk 785-864-8080.

If you want to upgrade your server's operating system (OS), contact your IT support team to submit your request.

If you are unsure who your IT Support team is, see the Technical Service Center (TSC) lookup or contact the IT Help Desk 785-864-8080.

If you want to decommission and retire a server you own, contact your IT support team to submit your request.

If you are unsure who your IT Support team is, see the Technical Service Center (TSC) lookup or contact the IT Help Desk 785-864-8080.

Once received by our server team, server decommission requests are processed in no more than 7 business days. If a decommission should be canceled, contact your IT support as soon as possible with your request to cancel.