RITG designs and supports computer systems that fall outside of the HMS IT Client Services Group's support. In general, this means RITG is best suited to help you with server-based computing (systems designed for high reliability and use by many users) or specialized research applications.

Examples of typical applications for which you might work with RITG are high-end databases, computing clusters, research file servers, specialized web servers, or computers attached to research equipment.

Whether you are a department administrator, principal investigator, or researcher, the Research Information Technology Group is available to help you plan, implement, and maintain computer systems architecture to support your work.

It's never too early to get us involved. In fact, you should talk to us even if you don't yet have funding for the project you have in mind, and even if you won't be purchasing immediately. Planning well in advance will help us alert you of any potential pitfalls, and we'll know your project is coming.

Here are some examples of how we can help you:

• Specifying anything from a single system to a complete computing cluster for a grant application.
• Evaluating your existing research computing usage and needs, and recommending improvements to your infrastructure to simplify usage and support, and to present a clear growth path.
• Working with researchers to develop a computing infrastructure that will support a complete research project.
• Evaluating options for research equipment to best fit in to existing IT infrastructure. Research equipment vendors often offer you a choice of computer hardware and operating system. We can help you decide which is most appropriate for you.

Involving RITG early in your planning process has many advantages. Your plans will be evaluated by computer experts with diverse experience, in a variety of areas:

• Appropriateness for your research goals. We will work to understand your goals and help you determine an appropriate computing solution.
• Supportability.  The solution we propose to you will be one that is designed to be supported through its complete lifespan.  Your   expectations and our responsibilities will be enumerated up-front   to ensure smooth operations.
• Scalability.  We will work to understand your plans for growth and expansion, and do our best to present a clear growth path for your computing infrastructure, along with associated costs.

In the unlikely event that your needs fall beyond the expertise of RITG staff, we can help you engage the services of an outside consultant with suitable knowledge.