Organizations utilizing the CU*Answers data processing system CU*BASE GOLD will have communications-related management fees from CU*Answers Network Services (CNS) on their monthly recurring charges.

What is needed for CU*BASE GOLD communications?

There are at least two components needed for CU*BASE GOLD communications: a Cisco router to route CU*BASE GOLD traffic and a machine that an organization’s devices can pull updates to the CU*BASE GOLD graphical interface. Requirements will shift with the adoption of CBX.

What role does CU*Answers Network Services play in CU*BASE GOLD communications?

CNS configures, monitors, and manages all CU*BASE GOLD machines, Cisco routers, and connections relating to CU*BASE GOLD communications, responding when these malfunction or need reconfiguration.

How does this impact my monthly charges from Network Services?

Different monthly recurring fees will be applied depending on what CU*BASE GOLD machines, Cisco routers, and connection types are in use by the organization. (See previous Knowledge Base article on usage-based billing.)

How does my organization's data connect to CU*BASE GOLD?

Connection with CU*BASE GOLD requires a Virtual Private Network (VPN) be constructed between an organization & CU*Answers for secure transmission of CU*BASE GOLD traffic.
Typical setup for each location CU*BASE GOLD traffic flows through will have three VPN connections:

• Primary - A VPN to CU*Answers data center in Kentwood, Michigan.

• Backup - A high availability (HA) VPN to CU*Answers data center in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

• Site-Four – A VPN to Site-Four data center in Yankton, South Dakota for core server HA and rollover scenarios.

CNS only charges for management of one VPN per traffic location each month since only one VPN should be handling traffic for that location at any given time.

How is CU*BASE GOLD traffic routing checked?

CU*Answers requires at least one Cisco router per organization for routing CU*BASE GOLD traffic, whether physical or virtual. Each location with a CU*BASE GOLD Cisco router has an independent flow of CU*BASE GOLD while locations that share a CU*BASE GOLD Cisco router will all be inoperative if that router fails.
CNS charges monthly for each Network Address Translation (NAT) loopback activity check set up for an organization showing live within the last thirty days; the number of activity checks set up almost always corresponds one-to-one with an organization’s CU*BASE GOLD Cisco routers.

Which machines support updates to CU*BASE GOLD?

A GOLD Update Appliance, also called a GUAPPLE, is a machine that an organization’s devices pull CU*BASE GOLD updates from. Each location is required to have a GUAPPLE when using physical update machines so that updates can be pulled from another location’s GUAPPLE should one machine fail.
A virtual GUAPPLE server is a virtual machine that all locations within an organization’s network can pull CU*BASE GOLD updates from, so only one virtual machine is needed regardless of the location total.
Some organizations have machines called Gweeps, which are GUAPPLEs with the additional iSweep functionality for imaging purposes.
CNS charges monthly for each active GOLD Update Appliance at the standard monthly rate for the machine type in use by an organization. View rates in the CU*Answers Store.

When does billing start for CU*BASE GOLD communications?

CNS invoices monthly recurring charges the following month for services rendered (see previous Knowledge Base article on arrears billing), so CU*BASE GOLD communications-related management fees will start appearing on the monthly invoice the month after an organization’s conversion to CU*BASE GOLD.

When does billing end for CU*BASE GOLD communications?

If an organization converts to another data processing system, the final invoice with CU*BASE GOLD communications-related management fees will be received the month after an organization’s disconnect date. Many organizations need view-only access to their CU*BASE GOLD data after the de-conversion date, and CU*BASE GOLD communications machines, Cisco routers, and connections must remain active until final disconnection.

What if I still need help understanding my monthly charges from Network Services?

Contact the CNS Procurement & Fulfillment (P&F) billing team by emailing orders@cuanswers.com, including invoice number(s) where possible.