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TO: Mayor Thomas J. Weisner
FROM: Kenneth Nelson
DATE: October 31, 2014
SUBJECT:
Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of Cisco computing and networking equipment for the Police Department in the amount of $109,441.77 from Sentinel Technologies, Inc.
PURPOSE:
This purchase includes three separate projects. The first project involves the annual replacement of one third of the Police Department's oldest server equipment. This was an approved 2013 decision package. The server replacement portion of this purchase request amounts to $24,967.47 this includes a 5% contingency.
This new hardware will replace the current physical servers used to deploy a large number of virtualized servers for a variety of Police and Fire Department applications. These servers will specifically be located in the DR (Disaster Recovery) site. New faster more capable server equipment is needed both for increased overall performance of the existing virtual systems and for the addition of new virtual servers coming on-line. This purchase also continues the move to a more consolidated architecture. This consolidates and/or reduces the amount of infrastructure needed to support the virtual servers in use, increases reliability and redundancy and streamlines the server deployment cycle.
The second project included in this purchase relates to the replacement of Cisco network storage equipment used to connect the SAN (Storage Area Network) to the servers which use said storage. This will replace Cisco MDS switches which were installed in June of 2008 with Cisco Nexus 5Ks. The MDS switches are over 6 years old and have reached the end of their usable life. This replacement will also greatly improve the speed at which we can operate, and will be another step towards improving our overall DR strategy. The MDS Fabric switch replacement portion of this project amounts to $79,333.51 this includes a 5% contingency.
The third project is to purchase a switch for use at a core site. This portion amounts to $5,140.80 and includes no contingency.
By bundling the purchase of these projects we are able to realize deeper discounts than could be realized separately.
BACKGROUND:
The Police Technical Services Division (PTSD) has been successfully deploying virtualized servers for a number of years now (since 2005) in an effort to speed up system and application deployments and better leverage hardware costs. The use of virtual servers has led to a great deal of success over these eight years with over 60 virtual servers deployed to date running on traditional rack mounted servers.
Last year PTSD deployed the Cisco UCS platform for unified server computing, networking, management, virtualization, and storage access into a single integrated architecture. This unique combination of architectures enables end-to-end server visibility, management, and control in both bare metal (physical hardware) and virtual hardware environments.
The net result of this new server hardware platform has shown higher reliability with less management and greater flexibility. The benefits of Cisco UCS extend beyond traditional blade centers. Management of not only the CPU hardware but additionally the networking, and storage I/O is realized, which allows for an infrastructure design that ensures network failover end-to-end; providing faster failover and higher redundancy than what can be achieved otherwise.
Also realized is better consolidation and reduction of hardware infrastructure through use of Converged Network Adapters, Virtual Interface Cards, and the ability to migrate physical hardware profiles to other blades. These tools and capabilities allow for maximum use of the hardware on hand.
Given the success of the deployment last year, we are now comfortable expanding UCS to encompass our entire virtual platform and wish to extend our use to full Disaster Recovery.
DISCUSSION:
It is intended that these devices will be purchased from Cisco, through Sentinel Technologies, Inc. Cisco has extended a discount level not available through other means to the City. Cisco has named Sentinel Technologies, Inc. as the preferred reseller of these products at this discount level for the City of Aurora.
Sufficient funds are available for this purchase in the 2014 budget in the following General fund accounts, 101-1233-419.64-10, 101-1233-419.64-11, 101-1233.419.64-12, 101-1233.419.64-80, as well in the Shape fund under 255-1233-419.64-10, 255-1233-419.64-11, 255-1233.419.64-12, and 255-1233.419.64-80
IMPACT STATEMENT:
It is not anticipated that the approval of this professional service contract will have an impact on other City Departments.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Recommend the City purchase Cisco UCS and networking equipment from Sentinel Technologies, Inc. in the amount not to exceed $109,441.77.
cc: Alderman O'Connor, Chairman
Alderman Mervine
Alderman Bohman
Alderman Peters, Alternate
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
title
A Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of Cisco computing and networking equipment for the Police Department in the amount of $109,441.77 from Sentinel Technologies, Inc.
body
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora desires to replace the current physical servers used to deploy a large number of virtualized servers for a variety of Police and Fire Department applications and to acquire Cisco networking storage equipment to enhance the capabilities at the City's Disaster Recovery (DR) Site; and
WHEREAS, Sentinel Technologies, Inc., Downers Grove, Illinois has submitted a quote in the amount totaling $109,441.77, for the purchase of the desired Cisco computing and networking equipment; and
WHEREAS, Cisco has named Sentinel Technologies, Inc. as the preferred reseller of these products at this discount level which is not available from any other source providing substantial savings to the City; and
WHEREAS, sufficient funds are available for this project in the 2014 budget in the following General Fund accounts: 101-1233-419.64-10, 101-1233-419.64-11, 101-1233.419.64-12, 101-1233.419.64-80 as well in the Shape fund under 255-1233-419.64-10, 255-1233-419.64-11, 255-1233.419.64-12, and 255-1233.419.64-80; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Aurora Code Section 2-335(a)(3) the desired product is provided by only one source in this situation)
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: Authorizes the purchase of Cisco computing and networking equipment for the Police Department in the amount of $109,441.77 from Sentinel Technologies, Inc., and does hereby further authorize its Director of Purchasing to issue the necessary orders to implement purchase of same.
PASSED AND APPROVED on ______________.
AYES ____ NAYS ____ NOT VOTING ____ ABSENT ____
____________________________ __________________________
Alderman Bohman, Ward 1 Alderman Garza, Ward 2
____________________________ __________________________
Alderman Mesiacos, Ward 3 Alderman Donnell, Ward 4
____________________________ __________________________
Alderman Peters, Ward 5 Alderman Saville, Ward 6
____________________________ __________________________
Alderman Hart-Burns, Ward 7 Alderman Mervine, Ward 8
____________________________ __________________________
Alderman Bugg, Ward 9 Alderman Johnson, Ward 10
____________________________ __________________________
Alderman Irvin, At Large Alderman O'Connor, At Large
ATTEST:
____________________________ __________________________
City Clerk Mayor
Attachments:
Cisco Affidavit
CoA - N5K and UCS Solution