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Setting-up the Cloud Platform

Fleet Size

The first step is for your organisation to inform Wood of the required fleet size. A fleet is defined as a group of identical instances which will be used to serve your company’s requirements. The term ‘instance’ refers to an active user session on the cloud. The number of active instances in a fleet is automatically scaled up or down depending on active demand, so that there is never any unused capacity. Put simply, the maximum number of instances in a fleet determines how many user sessions can be running concurrently.

Nominated Users

Your organisation will need to provide Wood with a list of nominated software users who are authorised to use the cloud platform. Each user is identified by their name and email address. Once Wood have established the cloud platform, all designated users within your organisation will receive an introductory e-mail from ‘AWS AppStream’ (Amazon Web Services) with instructions on how to log on to the cloud portal. A ‘designated user’ in this context is defined in terms of a unique email address, although it is possible for several engineers to use the same log-on credentials.

Office Locations

It is also important to inform Wood of the geographical locations around the world where your nominated users are located. To ensure optimal performance of the cloud platform and avoid latency issues, the virtual machines will need to be spun-up on servers which are physically located in the same region as the software user.

Machine Types

The following machines types will be provided as standard on the cloud platform. If you require an alternative configuration, you should discuss this with Wood's technical staff in advance.

•4 x CPU

•8 x CPU

•16 x CPU

•32 x CPU

Data Storage Types

The following types of data storage are available on the cloud platform. It is important that you understand the role and operation of each storage type.

•‘Temporary/Transient’ - this is effectively the local hard drive on an active cloud machine. Also known as ephemeral storage, it reverts to its initial state once the user session has finished. In other words, any data stored here is deleted once the user session ends. It has a maximum storage capacity of 150 GB, and a maximum lifespan of 96 hours (equal to the maximum session duration). There is no cost associated with temporary storage, as the costs are built into the hourly rates for computational time on the cloud platform. It is important to note that any data contained in temporary storage must be transferred to another storage area before the active user session is terminated - otherwise it is lost permanently and cannot be recovered. If the user is transferring large amounts of data, sufficient time should be allowed for the file transfer process to fully complete before the active session duration approaches the maximum timeout (96 hours). For efficiency, the use of automated file transfer scripts is recommended to periodically transfer data while a Flexcom batch run is in progress, rather than performing one large file transfer manually following the final completion of the Flexcom batch run.

•'Permanent/Cold' - this is everlasting storage which is associated with each user account. Any data saved here persists after the user has logged off from the cloud portal. The size of the storage area, and its lifespan, are both unlimited. This is the most economical means of data storage as the storage costs (which are charged per GB per hour) are very low. It is important to note that active Flexcom simulations cannot be hosted within the cold storage area - these must be performed in another storage area with the data transferred into cold storage afterwards. Data stored in permanent storage is private to the user, and cannot be viewed by other users.

•'Persistent/Hot' - this is an active storage area which also persists once after the user has logged off from the cloud portal. It is effectively a hybrid version which combines the best features from temporary and cold storage into a single offering. The size of the storage area is finite (1TB is a popular option), although its lifespan is unlimited. It is a more expensive means of storage than cold storage (there is a fixed charge per month, which depends on the storage capacity) but it alleviates any concerns regarding potential data loss from temporary storage. It also has the advantage that data stored in hot storage is visible to all nominated users of the cloud platform (i.e. it is effectively a shared drive). The storage capacity should be carefully chosen by IT personnel in consultation with the engineering manager.

Data Storage Types

Although it is optional, we recommend including 1TB of hot storage, based on experience with existing customers. Once you have decided on the amount of hot storage you require, you should inform Wood, who in turn will advise you about the associated monthly cost.

Flexcom

You should also inform Wood of the versions of Flexcom which you wish to use on the cloud platform. Strictly speaking, Wood is only obliged to provide technical support on the most recent version, but engineering teams sometimes need to use an older version. For example when a previous engineering project is extended or reactivated, and where the end client is insisting on software version consistency throughout the entire project lifecycle.

Given that web hosted licensing was first introduced in Flexcom 8.10.1, this is the earliest version of Flexcom which is available for use on the cloud platform. The range of available versions will naturally grow over time.

Software Applications

In addition to Flexcom, the following applications will be made available as standard:

•Windows Explorer

•7-Zip (free and open-source file archiver)

These applications are essential to the software user for uploading and downloading files and organising online storage. Refer to the step-by-step guide on using the cloud platform for further information on these topics.

You should also inform Wood of any other software applications which you wish to use on the cloud. Responsibility for licensing of these applications resides with your organisation, and Wood may request confirmation of appropriate licenses before adding further applications. Sample applications of interest might include…

•Microsoft Excel

•Notepad++ (free text editing software)

•Adobe Acrobat Reader

•Command Prompt

Costs

The cloud platform is costed as follows:

•Basic Subscription Fee: in order to cover initial set-up costs, account management, and cloud standby readiness, there is a (small) fixed subscription fee per month.

•Usage Fees: Hourly usage fees are computed based on (i) whether you are running a generic machine or one which includes Flexcom and (ii) the number of processors on that machine. These charges take effect once the machine has been spun-up on the cloud, and then cease whenever the session is terminated by the user. Flexcom machines naturally cost more than generic machines, as the hourly rate includes a license fee for using Flexcom itself, plus a fee for using the computational power provided by Amazon Web Services. Generic machines allow users to perform a variety of non-Flexcom related tasks (e.g. uploading, downloading, zipping, custom pre- and post-processing etc.) at a much lower hourly charge rate.

•Storage Fees: Permanent/Cold storage is charged per GB per hour, and is relatively low cost. Persistent/Hot storage comes at a fixed charge per month which depends on the storage capacity.

For up-to-date information on monetary costs, please contact Wood.

Checklist for IT Personnel

Please assemble the following information before contacting Wood:

✓Fleet size - maximum number of user sessions which can be running concurrently

✓Nominated users - list of nominated software users who are authorised to use the cloud platform, along with their email addresses

✓Office locations - list of cities where your nominated software users are physically located

✓Machine types - list of machine types available to the software user to provide different levels of processing power

✓Storage required - amount of hot storage required to support your engineering projects

✓Flexcom - list of Flexcom versions required by the engineering team

✓Software Applications - list of any other software applications which are also required

✓Costs - IT personnel should have a good understanding of all associated costs, and discuss these with the engineering manager