Tribhuvan University

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

A PROJECT REPORT ON GIDC FIELD VISIT

Submitted to:

Department of Computer Application

Jana Bhawna Campus

In partial fulfillment of the requirement for the Bachelors in Computer

Application

Submitted by

Anju Mahat [Roll no.: 02]

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We would like to express a deep sense of thank & gratitude to my subject teacher MR
Sushant Gautam Sir for guiding me immensely through the course of cloud computing
He always evinced keen interest in our work. His constructive advice & constant
motivation has been responsible for the successful completion of this field visit.

Our sincere thank goes MR. SIVA RAJ SANJEL, our principal sir his co-ordination in
extending every support for this field visit. And also, big thanks go to the Jana Bhawana
campus for making environment and doing co-ordination with GIDC for this field visit.
the We also thank MR. NIROJ AACHARY sir for making easy on every step this field
visit.

We also thanks to my parents for this motivation & support. We must thanks to my
classmate for their timely & support for compilation of this field visit. And also, thanks to
our Jana Bhawana campus to providing me such an opportunity.

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List of Figures

Figure 1: Computer Room Air Conditioning used in GIDC….7

Figure 2: The relation between e-governance and GIDC…….10

Figure 3: Topology Architecture of GIDC …………………....11

Figure 4: Current architecture of GIDC……………………….12

Figure 5: Proposed system for GIDC………………………….14

Figure 6 :Group photo of Jana Bhawana Campus (BCA) Infront of GIDC Nepal..19

Figure 7: Server room……………………………………………….19

Figure 8: GIDC management team explaining about the facilities and services provided
by the GIDC Nepal……………………………………………………………20

List of Table:
Table 1: Services and Activities by GIDC……………………12

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List of abbreviations:

GIDC Government integrated data center

SAN Storage Area Network

EDC Enterprise data center

IDC Internet Datacenter

VPN Virtual private Network

DAS Direct-Attached Storage

NAS Network Attached Storage

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Table of Contents
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT............................................................................................................2
List of Figures.................................................................................................................................i
List of Table:..................................................................................................................................i
List of abbreviations:....................................................................................................................ii
Chapter 1: Introduction...............................................................................................................1
1.1 Introduction to GIDC:........................................................................................................1
1.2 Objectives of field visit:.......................................................................................................2
1.3 Background of GIDC of Nepal:..........................................................................................2
Chapter 2: Overview of GIDC operations and facilities............................................................4
2.2 Description of GIDC’s services and system.......................................................................5
Chapter 3. Findings and observations.........................................................................................6
3.1 Key findings from the field visit:........................................................................................6
3.2 Observations on GIDC operations and facilities:.............................................................6
3. 3 Observations on GIDC contributions to the government’s data management and IT
needs:.........................................................................................................................................9
3.4 Current system of GIDC:.................................................................................................10
3.5 GIDC Measures to provide Scalability and Availability................................................12
3.6 Proposed system................................................................................................................14
4.1 Summary of key findings and observations:...................................................................16
4.2 Conclusions on GIDC operations and capabilities:........................................................16
4.3 Recommendations.............................................................................................................17
Appendices...................................................................................................................................19
References....................................................................................................................................21

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 Chapter 1: Introduction
1.1 Introduction to GIDC:
GIDC is constructed as high-grade data center at a national level to be used by all entities of
the government. Its role is to provide services like data storage, sharing computing resources,
email/internet and website hosting, which are general function of any data center, to all the
government ministries and departments. It is expected that all ministries and departments are
connected with the data center by the high-speed network so that they can manage their
applications from their own premises in a secured manner.

GIDC is initially planned to provide data and Internet services for other government agencies
in the first phase and later it is planned to act as Storage Area Network (SAN) data center,
where network of interconnected storage devices and data servers located within data center
offering leased storage space. Here are some points about the GIDC:A data center is a
centralized location for the storage, management, processing, and exchange of data that
exists within a specific enterprise or a specialized facility. In general, data centers can be
broken down into three types - Internet Datacenter (IDC), Storage area network (SAN), and
Enterprise data center (EDC).

The Government Integrated Data Center (GIDC) of Nepal is a central repository for
government data and information. It aims to improve the availability, accessibility, and
quality of government data by providing a single point of access for various government
agencies, departments, and institutions. The GIDC also aims to facilitate the sharing of data
and information among government agencies, as well as with the general public, in order to
support informed decision-making and better serve the needs of the citizens of Nepal. In
addition to storing and managing data, the GIDC may also provide data analysis and
visualization tools, training and support for data users, and other related services.

GIDC is constructed as high-grade data center at a national level to be used by all entities of
the government. Its role is to provide services like data storage, sharing computing resources,
email/internet and website hosting, which are general function of any data center, to all the

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government ministries and departments. It is expected that all ministries and departments are
connected with the data center by the high-speed network so that they can manage their
applications from their own premises in a secured manner. GIDC is initially planned to
provide data and Internet services for other government agencies in the first phase and later it
is planned to act as Storage Area Network (SAN) data center, where network of
interconnected storage devices and data servers located within data center offering leased
storage space.

1.2 Objectives of field visit:

 To know the architecture of GIDC
 To know the roles and responsibilities of GIDC
 To know the facilities provided by the GIDC to Nepal
 To know the latest condition, implementation of cloud computing in Nepal

1.3 Background of GIDC of Nepal:

An integrated data center is a type of government facility that is used to store and manage the
organization's data and information technology (IT) infrastructure. These centers are
typically designed to support the processing, storage, and distribution of data and IT
resources for a variety of government agencies and departments. The concept of an integrated
data center originated in the early days of computing, when organizations began to centralize
their IT operations in order to streamline the management of their data and resources. With
the proliferation of digital information and the increasing reliance on IT systems, the demand
for integrated data centers has grown significantly in recent years.

Government integrated data centers are designed to meet the specific needs of government
organizations, and are often built to higher standards than commercial data centers in order to
ensure the security and reliability of the data they store. They may be operated by the
government itself or by a third-party contractor, and may be used to support a wide range of
government functions, including administrative tasks, research and development, and public
services.
Core objective of GIDC are as follows:

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 Make information technology accessible to the general public and increase.

 Employment through this means.

 Build a knowledge-based society.

 Minimize immediate damage and losses.

 Establish knowledge-based industries.

 Implementation of E-governance in Nepal.

The core mission of GIDC are as follows:

 Common Infrastructure for Seamless Network Backbone up to village level.

 Providing seem less ICT consultation service.

 Ensure the smooth integration of new technologies into social & economic development.

 Improve information knowledge capacity.

 Determine the likely impact of ICT on economy & society through payment gateway, e-
licensing.

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 Chapter 2: Overview of GIDC operations and facilities

2.1 Description of GIDC data center and other facilities:

Government data center are typically responsible for storing, processing and managing
government data as well as providing computing resources and services to government
agencies. These services may include hosting websites and web applications, storing and
backup data, providing access to database and others information resources, and supporting
the operation of government system and application. It’s also possible that the Government
Integrated Data Center O Nepal provided additional services beyond this basic function:

 Data center management and maintenance: GIDC provides 24/7 monitoring and
maintenance of the data center infrastructure to ensure its reliability and availability.

 Data center connectivity: GIDC is connected to multiple high-speed broadband

networks and internet service providers, ensuring reliable connectivity for
government agencies and citizens accessing government services.

 Data center security: GIDC has robust security measures in place to protect the data
center and the IT systems it hosts, including physical security, network security, and
cyber security measures.

 Disaster recovery: GIDC has a comprehensive disaster recovery plan in place to

ensure the continuity of government services in the event of a disaster or other
unforeseen event.

 Training and support: GIDC provide training and support to government agencies and
other stakeholders to ensure the effective use and maintenance of the data center and
IT systems.

GIDC focus for critical components and their special security requirements.

 Physical Security of DC

 Restricting Access

 Securing your Data

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 Network security

 Server security

2.2 Description of GIDC’s services and system

A government integrated data center (GIDC) is a centralized facility that provides a wide
range of services and systems for the Nepal government to manage, store, and process large
amounts of data. These services and systems may include:

 Data storage: GIDCs typically provide large-scale storage solutions for storing and
archiving government data, including both structured and unstructured data.
 Data processing: GIDCs may also offer powerful computing resources and services
for processing large amounts of data, including high-performance computing, data
analytics, and machine learning.
 Data security: GIDCs typically implement robust security measures to protect
government data from unauthorized access, including firewalls, intrusion detection
systems, and encryption technologies.
 Data backup and disaster recovery: GIDCs typically have backup and disaster
recovery systems in place to ensure that government data is protected in case of a
disaster or other unexpected event.
 Cloud services: Some GIDCs may also provide cloud computing services, such as
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a
Service (SaaS) to support remote access to government data and applications.
 Networking: GIDCs may also provide networking infrastructure and services, such as
wide-area networks (WANs), local-area networks (LANs), and virtual private
networks (VPNs), to connect government agencies and employees to the data center
and to each other.
 Application hosting: The GIDC provides hosting services for government
applications, including web-based applications and databases.

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 Chapter 3. Findings and observations

3.1 Key findings from the field visit:

In our field visit of GIDC we are able to meet the management team of the cloud computing,
management team. They grant us visit server room to. We were able to look after the
different governmental server, their management, data storage, including demographic
information, economic data, and government records.
We found that the there is high level of security for the system, they use different type of the
layers for the cyber security purpose. We also learned about the efforts that GIDC is making
to ensure the reliability and accessibility of the data, including the use of redundant systems
and regular backups. Here are some points about the key findings from the field visit:
 The physical infrastructure of the data center, including the layout and design of the
facility, the type and condition of the equipment being used, and the overall level of
maintenance and upkeep.
 Different type of government services like Loksewa, Meroshre has been maintain their
server by GIDC Nepal.
 The GIDC Nepal has the backup server in the Hetauda office.
 The security measures in place to protect the data center and the data it holds, including
physical security measures such as access controls and surveillance systems, as well as
cyber security measures such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems.
 The overall performance and reliability of the data center, including any issues or
challenges that have been encountered and the steps taken to address them.
 The level of integration and interoperability between the various systems and applications
being used within the data center, and the extent to which data can be shared and
accessed by different organizations and individuals.

3.2 Observations on GIDC operations and facilities:

1. The data center is well-maintained and clean: Physical condition of the data center, such
as the appearance of the servers and networking equipment, as well as the overall
cleanliness of the facility is maintained well.

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2. The data center has robust security measures in place: Physical security looks like less
secure, seem easy to access controls and a smaller number of surveillance cameras. GIDC
has been used firewalls and VPN cybersecurity.
3. The data center is organized and efficiently designed: The placement of servers and
networking equipment, as well as the overall efficiency of the facility is well maintained.
4. The data center has a high level of redundancy and backup systems: Found that the
GIDC has backup in the Hetauda-Nepal. And the that is only one backup for the whole
server of Nepal government. They use mirroring for every data. as well as power and
they have well maintained cooling systems for the whole server.
5. The data center is well-staffed and has a high level of technical support: Found a number
of staff members on site, as well as the level of technical expertise and support provided
to users are stand by on site.
6. The data center is energy efficient and has measures in place to optimize performance:
Found that GIDC use of energy-efficient servers and cooling systems.

Figure 1: Computer Room Air Conditioning used in GIDC

The Computer Room Air Conditioning (CRAC) unit is a system that is used to regulate the
temperature and humidity in a server computer room. It is designed to keep the server

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computer room at an optimal temperature and humidity level, which is important for
maintaining the performance and reliability of the servers and other IT equipment.

In the context of the Government Integrated Data Center (GIDC) in Nepal, the CRAC unit is
likely to be a critical component of the GIDC's data center facility. It is responsible for
maintaining the optimal environment for the GIDC's servers and other IT equipment, and
ensuring that they are protected from temperature and humidity fluctuations that could cause
damage or performance issues. The CRAC unit works by using a combination of fans, filters,
and cooling systems to circulate and condition the air in the server computer room. It is
typically controlled by a thermostat or other temperature sensing device, which helps it
maintain the desired temperature and humidity levels. The CRAC unit is also connected to
the servers and other IT equipment through a network of ducts and vents, which helps it
distribute the conditioned air evenly throughout the room.

Overall, the CRAC unit plays a critical role in maintaining the servers and other IT
equipment in the GIDC's data center facility. It helps to ensure that the servers are protected
from temperature and humidity fluctuations, and that they are able to operate at peak
performance.

Infrastructure System

 Air-Circulation System: HVAC (Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning)

 Security: Biometric Access Control System, Card Reader Access Control System, CCTV
 Facility Management System: Water Leakage Sensing
 Disaster Prevention System: Firefighting

Electrical System

 200 KVA transformers (3 nos.)

 Main Power Switchboard
 Emergency Generator: 400 KW
 UPS-Redundant 100 KVA, 120 KVA; Batteries: 620.

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Facilities of GIDC

 Information Technology System

 Routers, Backbone Switches, etc. System
 Integrated Network Management
 Integrated Server Management System
 Integrated Storage - 158 TB IPS, Web Application Firewall

3. 3 Observations on GIDC contributions to the government’s data

management and IT needs:

A government integrated data center contributes to the government's data management and
IT needs in several ways. Centralized data storage and management: It is providing a
centralized location for data storage and management, the government integrated data center
has help ensure that data is organized, secure, and easily accessible to authorized users.
Found the some of the contribution to the government by GIDC in Nepal.

Improved security: By implementing robust security measures, such as physical security

controls and cybersecurity measures, the government integrated data center can help protect
sensitive data from unauthorized access and breaches.

Enhanced operational efficiency: By optimizing the performance and reliability of the data
center, the government integrated data center ensuring that government systems and
processes run smoothly and efficiently.

Scalability: By providing the ability to scale up or down as needed, the government

integrated data center can help meet the changing IT needs of the government.

Data backup and disaster recovery: By implementing backup systems and disaster
recovery protocols, the government integrated data center can help prevent data loss in the
event of a disaster or technical issue.

Technical support: By providing technical support to users, the government integrated data
center can help ensure that government employees and agencies have the resources they need
to effectively use and manage data and IT systems.

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 Figure 2: The relation between e-governance and GIDC

3.4 Current system of GIDC:

Servers: Servers are the main computing systems that run applications and store data in a
data center. They can be physical servers or virtual servers, which are software-based
instances of servers that can be created and managed using virtualization technologies.
Network infrastructure: A data center's network infrastructure consists of the hardware and
software systems that enable communication between servers and other devices in the data
center. This can include switches, routers, firewalls, and other networking equipment.
Storage systems: Data centers typically include storage systems to store data, such as hard
drives, solid-state drives (SSDs), and storage area networks (SANs). These systems can be
configured in different ways to provide different levels of performance and capacity.
Power systems: A data center's power systems include the electrical systems, backup
generators, and uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs) that provide power to the servers and
other equipment in the data center. These systems are designed to ensure that the data center
can operate continuously, even in the event of a power outage.
Cooling systems: Data centers generate a lot of heat, which needs to be cooled to prevent
overheating and equipment failure. Cooling systems, such as air conditioning units and
computer room air conditioners (CRACs), are used to regulate the temperature and humidity
in a data center.

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Physical security: Data centers typically have measures in place to protect against physical
security threats, such as intrusion detection systems, security cameras, and access control
systems.

Figure 3: Topology Architecture of GIDC [1]

The current GIDC server system architecture has been identified. The current network
systems have redundancy such as WAN failover, redundant switches, redundant routers, etc.
The server architecture of current GIDC system has client-server architecture with
Presentation, Application and Data Management in each individual server. Data is backed up
in NAS (Network Attached Storage) automatically. Keeping Presentation, Application and
Data Management in a single server reduces performance of the server as the server has to do
more processing. The current GIDC server system does not have server configured in parallel
so that if one server is unavailable, the other continues to serve the requests. The current
server configuration does not provide failover to another server if one server goes down. In
the current server system, if a server goes down, the clients cannot get service. So, the current
server system should be changed in order to enhance availability of the system.

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 Figure 4: Current architecture of GIDC

Table 1: Services and Activities by GIDC [2]

3.5 GIDC Measures to provide Scalability and Availability

The Government Integrated Data Center (GIDC) Nepal is responsible for maintaining the
availability and scalability of various government services by ensuring the smooth operation
and uptime of its data center. To maintain availability, the GIDC Nepal uses a number of

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measures such as redundancy and backup systems, maintenance and repair, security
measures, and disaster recovery plans.

As well as, to maintain scalability, the GIDC Nepal uses strategies such as load balancing,
capacity planning, modular design, and automation. This may involve regularly reviewing
usage patterns and resource utilization, and adding or removing resources as needed to ensure
that the data center has the necessary capacity to handle an increasing workload without
experiencing a decrease in performance.

But, it is important to consider that both availability and scalability require ongoing effort
and monitoring, as well as the ability to adapt and make changes as needed. So, the GIDC
Nepal is have a team of technicians and other personnel responsible for maintaining and
managing the data center, as well as implementing strategies to ensure the availability and
scalability of its services.

So, there are a number of measures that the Government Integrated Data Center (GIDC)
Nepal could adopt to increase availability in the event of problems with its current servers.
Some possible strategies include:

i. Redundant servers: The GIDC Nepal data center have multiple servers in place, with
each server serving as a backup for the others. If one server experiences a problem,
the others can take over to ensure that services continue to operate.

ii. Load balancing: By distributing workloads across multiple servers or other resources,
the GIDC Nepal ensures that its systems are able to handle an increasing number of
requests without experiencing a decrease in performance. This can help to prevent a
single server from becoming overloaded and failing.

iii. Maintenance and repair: The GIDC Nepal data center is likely to have a team of
technicians responsible for maintaining and repairing the various systems and
components within the data center. This can involve regular inspections and

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 preventative maintenance to identify and address potential problems before they
cause disruptions
iv. Disaster recovery plans: The GIDC Nepal data center have a comprehensive disaster
recovery plan in place to ensure that services can continue to operate in the event of a
natural disaster or other catastrophic event. This can involve measures such as backup
facilities and redundant communication systems to ensure that services can continue
to operate even in the event of a disruption.

v. Cloud backup: The GIDC Nepal data center also use cloud backup to store copies of
its data and applications, which can be accessed in the event of a server failure or
other disruption.

3.6 Proposed system

Figure 5: Proposed system for GIDC

The primary and secondary server within the same data center helps to solve scalability
issues, as more requests grows another secondary server starts serving. When the Kathmandu
data center is down due to technical issues or natural disaster then, the Hetauda server gets to

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transmit the request by main load-balancer/DNS which solves the availability issue
somehow.
We can add n number of servers in each data center based on the number of requests as
primary/secondary server. So, this can be one of my minimal proposed designs which can
solve the scalability and availability issue.

Above figure is about the proposed system for the GIDC. It will help for following points:

 Help in load balance in the server

 It has clearly mention about the active workflow and the failover workflow.
 Continuous Replication data help to backup each and every data and information.
 Maintain the high scalability for the server.

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 Chapter 4: Conclusion and Recommendation
4.1 Summary of key findings and observations:
 The Government Integrated Data Center is under the National Information
Technology Center (NITC).
 The NITC is under the Ministry of Science and Technology. It is presently a building
fir for hosting servers, a large server with control room.
 The data center facility is well-maintained and organized, with clear signage and easy
access to all areas.
 There are cooling fire and cabling facilities. There was ample physical free capacity it
seems.
 The personnel seemed reasonably competent on physical hardware and network.
 The physical infrastructure of the data center, including the layout and design of the
facility, the type and condition of the equipment being used, and the overall level of
maintenance and upkeep.
 Different type of government services like Loksewa, Meroshre has been maintain
their server by GIDC Nepal. The GIDC Nepal has the backup server in the Hetauda
office.
 Operational processes and procedures, including security protocols and incident
response plans, seem to be well-defined and followed consistently.

 Multiple layers of security are used for the cyber security.

 Recommendation for the upgrade the level of scalability, data backup, Physical
security.

4.2 Conclusions on GIDC operations and capabilities:

The Government Integrated Data Center (GIDC) of Nepal is responsible for providing a
range of IT support and technical assistance services to government agencies in Nepal. These
services may include. GIDC operates a data center that provides secure hosting, storage, and
backup services for government agencies. GIDC provides networking infrastructure and
support for government agencies, including internet connectivity, virtual private networks
(VPNs), and other networking services. GIDC provides technical support and assistance to

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government agencies to help them troubleshoot and resolve IT issues. GIDC develops and
maintains software applications for government agencies, including custom applications and
off-the-shelf software. GIDC provides training and capacity building services to government
agencies to help them improve their IT skills.

The Infrastructure System of GIDC like Air-Circulation System is HVAC (Heating, Ventilating,
and Air Conditioning) Security is Biometric Access Control System, Card Reader Access
Control System, CCTV Facility Management System is Water Leakage Sensing Disaster
Prevention System is Firefighting. GIDC has Electrical System like 200 KVA transformers (3
nos.) Main Power Switch Board Emergency Generator: 400 KWUPS-Redundant 100 KVA,
120 KVA; Batteries: 620.

Overall, the services provided by GIDC are intended to help government agencies in Nepal
to effectively use IT to improve the delivery of public services and support the work of
government employees.

4.3 Recommendations
Here are some recommendations for improving GIDC operations or supporting its future
development:
 Implement a scalable architecture: This involves designing the data center's
infrastructure in a way that allows it to easily expand and adapt to changing
workloads. This can include using modular components, such as servers and storage
devices, that can be easily added or removed as needed.
 Implement effective resource management: Properly managing resources, such as
CPU, memory, and storage, can help ensure that the data center is able to scale
effectively. This can involve using tools to monitor resource usage and identifying
opportunities to optimize resource allocation.
 Redundant components: Using redundant components, such as redundant servers,
networking equipment, and storage systems, can help to ensure that the data center
can continue to operate even if one of these components fails.
 Failover mechanisms: Implementing failover mechanisms, such as clustering and
load balancing, can help to ensure that the data center can continue to operate even if
one of its components fails. For example, a load balancer can distribute traffic across

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 multiple servers to ensure that the data center can continue to handle requests even if
one server fails.
 Monitoring and alerting systems: Implementing monitoring and alerting systems
can help to identify and address potential issues before they become problems. For
example, a monitoring system might alert administrators if a server's CPU usage or
temperature exceeds a certain threshold.
 Physical security: Ensuring the physical security of a data center can help to prevent
disruptions caused by unauthorized access or natural disasters. This can include
measures such as security cameras, access control systems, and backup power
generators.

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 Appendices

Figure 6: Group photo of Jana Bhawana Campus (BCA) Infront of GIDC Nepal

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 Figure 7: Server room

Figure 8: GIDC management team explaining about the facilities and services provided by the
GIDC Nepal

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 References

[1] B. Dangol, "Enhancing Availability of Government Data Center System (Gidc Nepal),"
International jornal of computer science and mobile computing, vol. 6, p. 105, 2017.

[2] D. M. P. B.Dangol, "ENHANCING AVALABILITY OF GOVERNMETN DATA CENTER SYSTEM(GIDC

NEPAL)," SEMANTIC SCHOLAR, 2017. [Online]. Available:
https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/ENHANCING-AVAILABILITY-OF-GOVERNMENT-DATA-
CENTER-Dongol-Pokharel/250522c7bae2eeda6917463e7d04ac9c30082c50. [Accessed 2017].

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