No dedicated operations team after launch
Without a dedicated owner for monitoring, alerts, and RMAs, existing IT staff must handle the work alongside their normal duties.
Compute Data Center Operations
24/7 compute operations without building an in-house team
Daily operations for data centers and GPU clusters after launch: proactive monitoring and alerts, fault diagnosis, vendor RMA coordination, UFM cluster network operations, and emergency onsite support. Response targets are one hour for power or network outages and four hours for equipment repairs, with a monthly operations report. KONST can operate both its own sites and facilities built by other vendors.
PROBLEM｜ Customer challenges
Equipment delivery does not include day-to-day operations
Transferring ownership does not assign anyone to daily operations. Alerts need continuous coverage, hardware failures need an RMA followed through to replacement, and cluster networks need staff who can isolate failed nodes. This work begins after launch.
Cluster networking skills gap
GPU cluster networks differ substantially from conventional data center networks. Without relevant experience, teams may struggle to locate faults quickly.
A gap between vendor warranty and onsite work
A warranty may cover the hardware, but someone still has to remove and replace it onsite, send it for repair, and restore service.
No agreed response time for faults
Without agreed response and arrival times, teams can only wait after a fault occurs.
SOLUTION｜ The KONST approach
Six core tasks in daily operations
On-duty staff monitor alerts in real time, classify each event, and resolve most issues remotely for the fastest response. After confirming a hardware failure, they open an RMA and follow it until the replacement part arrives and installation is complete. Events requiring onsite work are dispatched immediately and billed per visit, with rates based on the day and time.
Proactive monitoring and alert intake
On-duty staff monitor equipment and alerts 24/7, then diagnose, classify, and begin troubleshooting remotely.
Troubleshooting and vendor RMA coordination
After confirming a hardware failure, the team opens an RMA with the vendor and tracks it through replacement-part delivery and installation.
NVIDIA UFM cluster network operations
Continuously monitor the high-speed network, detect link faults, and isolate failed nodes.
AIOps operations platform
Day-2 remote operations run on this platform. It produces dashboards and reports, and applies security updates on schedule.
Emergency onsite support
Engineers handle incidents that require onsite work. Visits are billed individually, with rates based on weekday, holiday, and time of day.
Technical staff training
The owner's technical staff can join training and take over first-line diagnosis and routine checks.
FEATURE｜ Service details and specifications
Two service-level models based on responsibility
When one provider is responsible for both equipment and the facility, the contract can guarantee overall availability and define service-fee adjustments if the target is missed. When responsibility spans several parties, the contract guarantees response times for alerts and fault resolution instead. Power, MEP, and equipment quality all affect availability, so the model and responsibility boundaries are agreed before signing.
Availability guarantee
The contract sets an overall availability target and specifies the rate and cap for service-fee adjustments if the target is missed.
Response-time guarantee
The contract sets time limits for alert response and fault handling. Availability is assessed separately based on site conditions.
FEATURE｜ Service details and specifications
Define the full operations scope in the contract
The contract states which routine work is included in the monthly fee, which parts and engineering work are billed separately, and who handles compatibility issues after driver or framework upgrades.
Included in the operations fee
The monthly fee covers staff and routine operations, with no additional charge based on incident count.
Not included in the operations fee
Parts, new engineering work, and items within the owner's environment are quoted separately.
EVIDENCE｜ Results and data
24/7 coverage with response times measured in hours
After launch, the on-duty team remotely handles equipment monitoring, alert assessment, and hardware repair requests. The system retains the status, actions, and timeline for every event, creating a clear, auditable responsibility record.
- 24/7
- Remote technical support
- Immediate
- Standard equipment repair response
- Monthly
- Operations report
FEATURE｜ Service details and specifications
Operations across the full compute path
Cluster failures do not occur only in GPU servers. A switch-link fault, management-node scheduler failure, or interrupted storage mount can stop training. Operations must cover the entire path, with pricing based on equipment count and category.
| Equipment category | Operations scope |
|---|---|
| GPU servers | Monitor hardware alerts, diagnose faults, and open and track vendor RMAs |
| Switches | Monitor link status, isolate failed ports, and manage firmware versions |
| Management and storage nodes | Monitor scheduler availability, mount status, and capacity levels |
| Load balancers | Monitor topology health and detect degraded cross-node bandwidth |
Frequently asked questions
How quickly will someone respond to a GPU cluster problem?
It depends on the event category and service-level model. Power and network outages affect the entire project and take priority over routine equipment repairs. The contract sets the actual response time for the site.
Which equipment does an operations contract cover?
In addition to GPU servers, it should cover switches, management nodes, storage, load balancers, and firewalls. A substantial share of cluster outages begins in the network rather than compute nodes, so GPU-only coverage leaves a gap. The equipment list is agreed before signing, and later additions are priced per unit.
How is the operations fee calculated?
It is based on the number and type of devices. Before signing, the client provides an itemized equipment list as the pricing basis. Equipment added later is charged per unit.
Can a short project sign a contract for only a few months?
Contracts are annual, with monthly fees invoiced each month. The agreement can define transition terms for the period between construction completion and takeover by the owner's team.
What reports are provided during operations?
The team produces weekly service records and a monthly operations report with alert statistics, fault-handling records, RMA status, and power and temperature trends.
Can our internal IT team share operations responsibility?
Yes. The owner's technical staff can join training and take over first-line diagnosis and routine checks. This model is common for academic and research institutions and companies with internal IT teams.
Which information security standards do KONST data centers meet?
Data centers operated directly or on behalf of clients by KONST are certified to ISO 27001:2022. They include round-the-clock operations support, ticket-based incident tracking, and service levels defined by an SLA.
Is your operations team ready for launch?
Send us the equipment list and we will define the operations scope and service level.