# Managing Parallels Business Automation - Standard Services and Data Center

The tools for your Data Center management are collected under the Service Director.

In spite of the fact that Parallels Business Automation - Standard operates the virtual-server farm, a Data Center should be understood in common sense, i.e., as a centralized storage facility to retain database information related to decision-making processes.

In general, Parallels Business Automation - Standard Data Center activity includes the following:

- Servers (Nodes) management;
- DNS and IP addresses management;
- Service level management.

The hardware configuration to run Parallels Business Automation - Standard includes one computer for Management Node and two or more computers for Hardware Nodes.

A Management Node is a computer (or a specially configured Virtuozzo Container) used for management. It runs services for web-based management interface and the database containing information about customers and services. The Management Node also establishes connection with domain registrars and payment gates.

A Hardware Node is a computer that runs the software (Virtuozzo, Plesk, etc.) that provides services for customers or a third-party software (server lease, collocation or dedicated hosting).

Dedicated third-party servers can be grouped into racks. A rack in Parallels Business Automation - Standard is a logical container, it is just a record in the Parallels Business Automation - Standard database. Logical racks can follow the actual servers grouping at your Data Center.

The Parallels Business Automation - Standard Data Center management tools allow managing the following servers:

- Servers that run Parallels Virtuozzo Containers that can be used for Virtuozzo Containers provisioning for customers and sold as dedicated servers.
- Servers that run Parallels Plesk Control Panel that can be used for Plesk Domains or Clients provisioning for customers and sold as dedicated servers. Plesk servers can also be installed inside Virtuozzo Containers.
- Servers that run Parallels Plesk Sitebuilder allowing a HSP to sell Sitebuilder services.
- Third-party servers (server lease, collocation, dedicated servers). These servers cannot be managed directly from the Parallels Business Automation - Standard web-based interface, but in this case, the Parallels Business Automation - Standard takes care of all the billing matters including creation of dedicated subscription, charging a customer, issuing the renewal order, sending notifications, etc.

In Parallels Business Automation - Standard, the Virtuozzo, Plesk, or Sitebuilder servers are called Nodes. And third-party servers are called Servers.

Nodes and third-party servers can be registered and managed using the Service Director and, depending on a server designation, using the Plesk Manager, Virtuozzo Manager, Sitebuilder Manager, or Servers Manager for Plesk, Virtuozzo, Sitebuilder, or third-party servers respectively.

Virtual Plesk Nodes (Parallels Plesk Control Panel installed inside a Virtuozzo Container) are registered automatically as the Plesk nodes, after the Plesk Virtual Node subscription is activated.

In This Chapter Registering Virtuozzo or Plesk Nodes Plesk Nodes Specific Settings Virtuozzo Nodes Specific Settings Sitebuilder Management Managing Dedicated Servers Managing Nodes by Groups Selling Licenses Allocating IP Addresses Supervising Service Level Configuring Traffic Classes

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