ASX ITS Co-location Hosting Solution

ASX ITS Co-location Hosting Solution

Introduction The Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) is proposing to offer a Co-location hosting service to its Market Participants that will facilitate DMA and Algorithmic trading strategies as well as minimise overall latency. Co-location hosting will allow Participants of the ASX to place their trading equipment and assigned ITS Gateway machines within the same physical data centre as the ASX ITS primary matching engine. This will enable high speed market data and trade execution with network latency at globally competitive levels. The ASX proposes to initially offer hosting services to Participants only on a limited, first come first serve basis. The rights offered to Participants will be non-transferable. The purpose of this document is to outline the key components of the ITS co-location service model for those Participants looking to significantly reduce network latency. Topics include; Rack offering for co-location ASX Participants Data centre security and access Carrier connectivity ASX support Time Frame Fees & charges. Connectivity in Scope for Co-location The current co-location solution is designed specifically for the ITS primary Trading matching engine although this may be extended in the future to include the SYCOM trading platform. Key Benefits Close to zero network latency Remote hands support Quality data centre environment Secured access to Participant infrastructure. Page 2

Achieving Close to Zero Network Latency Presently, ITS customers locate their Order Management System (OMS) and assigned ITS infrastructure devices (i.e. ITS Gateways, switches and routers) within their own sites. Transactions generated by the Participant s OMS are first routed through the ITS gateways/switches/routers, which then direct the transactions to the ITS Primary matching engine. One of the primary causes for network latency in this design is the network propagation delay that occurs due to the distance orders need to travel from the Participant gateway at the Participant site to the ITS primary trading engine at the ASX data centre. By physically co-locating Participant order management systems (including Participant customer OMS) and ITS infrastructure along side the ASX ITS Primary Trade matching engine in the ASX data centre this solution is able to effectively reduce this network latency close to zero. Page 3

Participant Dedicated Racks To facilitate this co-location offering in the shortest possible time period ASX proposes to limit the initial number of racks per Participant. Service Offering Elements Details Rack availability First come, first served basis Term of contract 24 months Rack Specifications Full 23 46RU x900mm deep rack Key lock configuration 24 port patch panel Redundant power supply based on separate GPOs and PDUs Rack Configuration Initial indications are that each rack will have a maximum capacity for 16 x 2RU sized devices including ASX gateways and switches). This is to ensure that adequate air flow exists between devices. In addition, power usage per rack will be limited to a maximum of 2 kilowatts Page 4

Data Centre Design The ASX data centre has a fully redundant environment that is monitored and controlled in a central location by both automated systems and on site support staff. Co-location facility features include: Service Offering Elements Details Cabling to racks All cabling to racks will be ASX provided. Fire Protection ASX s data centre Fire control system includes a Dry Pipe Sprinkler System to protect the computer room in the case of a fire. All fire systems are tested monthly. Power Systems Un-interruptible Power System (UPS) supply to the data centre allows for a total failure of any one UPS unit without effecting the load equipment attached to it. To further protect equipment, a power reticulation system employs numerous localised sub distribution boards to segregate the computer room into manageable areas. The UPS systems are tested twice a year The Data Centre has a dedicated Diesel Generator which will take up load in case of mains power failure. Generator testing is conducted on a monthly basis. Air Conditioning ASX s data centre employs redundant configurations of process cooling units placed around the computer room perimeter. This ensures that units may be maintained or repaired without impacting the environment. All air conditioning systems are tested on a monthly basis. Cooling Process cooling units distribute cool air through the floor of each rack. Floor grilles are also used to direct cool air for specific requirements. Under Floor Water Detection Tracetek 1000 is an under floor monitoring system that detects water leaks, Tracetek consists of two systems, the first is a measuring device that displays in metres where the fault is, the second is the Oztech system which graphically displays exactly where the water is. ASX water detection systems consists of spot detectors located under each process cooling unit and an additional set of wet string detectors along the sub floor. The sub floor has four large drains fitted to remove any water from a sprinkler dump. Environmental Controls All aspects of the ASX computer room environment including temperature, humidity, air conditioning, fire systems, water under floor, power systems are all monitored by a central system. Any alarms from these devices are passed to the monitoring system for action by ASX operations staff. Page 5

Data Centre Security ASX provides extensive data centre security. The core features of this include: Service Offering Elements Details Pre-approved and ASX certified access Those Participants wishing to access the data centre (or individuals representing the Participant) must have pre approved access and must be certified by ASX. If access is required for Works 1 or General Access 2, the following information needs to be provided: when you need access; why you need access; what work you will undertake; the persons nominated to undertake the work; Confirm your request to perform Works or General Access by e-mail to facilities.access@asx.com.au (or as notified by ASXO); If access is required for Works a Work Method Statement needs to be attached. Security Monitoring Data centre security is controlled by a security token system. All doors are monitored for forced entry and door open too long alarms. Exchange Centre Security controls and monitors the site security system 24 hours a day, 7 days a week including cameras located in all access points and regular roving tours. Prohibited access to under floor co-location Participant cables Co-location Participants will be prohibited from accessing any cabling that resides under floor within the ASX data centre. Individually lockable racks All Participants will have key lockable racks to safely secure devices within their racks. 1 Works means supplying, affixing, erecting, installing, connecting, maintaining (other than low level), moving, repairing or replacing Equipment (including telecommunications equipment), or removing any Equipment and all matters incidental thereto, including, without limitation alterations to the infrastructure of the Data Centre or Building in which the Data Centre is located, installation of cabling and racks. 2 General Access means inspecting the state of repair of the Equipment installed within the Data Centre, low level maintaining, backing up and monitoring of the Equipment. Page 6

Data Centre Access For approved entry (see above) ASX provides the following access to the data centre: Service Offering Elements Details Access 24 x 5 (weekdays) 12 x 2 (weekends) subject to the below constraints Participant access to the data centre is restricted between 09:00 and 16:30 Monday to Friday except under exceptional circumstances. If an exception is required then contact must be made to the Data Centre Manager or their representative. Access is usually only granted where there is a break/fix situation affecting production trading systems being unavailable for the Participant to carry out business functions. Access to work on Participant telecommunication infrastructure is restricted to hours outside of 09:00 and 16:30 Monday to Friday, unless there is a fault rectification for a major service outage for the Participant required. During trading hours carrier technicians are not permitted to work on any telecommunications equipment (on behalf of the Participant) within the data centre unless it is fault rectification for a major service outage (for the Participant). Carrier Connectivity Currently, ASX provisions all incoming carrier connections from (non co-located) Participant sites to the ASX data centre. ASX also provisions carrier connection infrastructure to allow the termination of carrier connections within the ASX data centre. Going forward, ASX will continue to be responsible for provisioning carrier connection termination infrastructure for Participants connecting into the ITS Primary environment however co-location Participants will now have responsibility for provision and management of incoming carrier connectivity from their Participant sites. Participants will not be restricted to a specific carrier. Note: Carrier access to ASX data centre will still remain subject to ASX authorisation. Page 7

Operational Support ASX Support will provide Remote hands support for co-location Participant equipment 3 (e.g. order management systems). Features provided: Power cycling of hardware devices Provision of remote eyes for onsite client equipment (LED status). Back Up Site Connectivity The ASX Co-location facility will be provided for the Primary ASX trading engine only. Co location of participant infrastructure (e.g. gateways and OMS) with the DR ITS trading engine will not be offered at this point in time. Note: The following will be the responsibility of the co-location Participant: Testing of co-location Participant latency. System resets Installation and removal of client equipment (excluding ASX provisioned devices such as gateways and routers) Insurance and Legal Considerations Participants will need to provision insurance and workers compensation coverage for their equipment and for their personnel who may be attending the co-location data centre for any reason at any time. ASX will not be liable for any loss caused by ASX or otherwise (including loss of or damage to equipment or trading losses) that occurs as a result of Participant equipment being hosted at the co-location data centre. Time Frame The ASX co-location facility is scheduled for Go live in the fourth quarter of 2008. Those participants wishing to take up the offer are required to confirm participation in writing by Friday May 23, 2008. 3 Participants will be required to meet ASX s support request standards including work authorization and machine identification. Page 8

Fees & Charges The following fees and charges apply to those Participants participating in co-location: Description New Fees applicable to co-location Cost (GST Exc) Cost (GST Inc) Basis Frequency Existing Fees applicable to co-location Co-location Rack Fee $5,000 $5,500 Per Rack ITS Gateway Fee This fee is applicable to each ITS Gateway ITS Workstation Fee This fee is applicable to each Workstation connected to ITS ITS Open Interface Session Fee This fee is applicable to each Open Interface Session connected to ITS ITS Continuous Enquiry Fee The fee is payable for every unique (non workstation) End User that is capable of making continuous enquiries in respect of Real-time Information Router Fees Two types of routers are available for ASX Participants with the choice dependent upon the Participant s desired level of contingency $250 $275 Per Gateway $500 $550 Per Terminal $450 $495 Per Trading Session $45 $49.50 Per Unique End User Switch / Single Router Fee $350 $385 Per Router Redundant (Stack) Router Fee $1400 $1540 Per Router Stack Trading Network Fee For co-location Participants this fee ($1,700/mnth) is included in the service offering n/a n/a Bandwidth Page 9

Contact Information For more information on the ASX ITS Co-location Hosting Solution, please contact: General Enquiries: Will Wilson General Manager, Domestic Customer Management & Sales Tel: +61 2 9227 0540 Mob: +61 414 922 572 Email: will.wilson@asx.com.au Ryan Dinsdale Manager, Domestic Customer Management Tel: +61 2 9227 127 Mob: +61 415 428 814 Email: ryan.dinsdale@asx.com.au Technical Enquiries: Fraser Marsh General Manager, Technology Infrastructure Tel: +61 2 9227 0333 Mob: +61 408 291 867 Email: fraser.marsh@asx.com.au Disclaimer This document is for the purpose of seeking feedback and expressions of interest in relation to the proposed co-location hosting service. The proposals discussed may be subject to change as a result of the consultation process or other factors. ASX makes no representation or warranty with respect to the accuracy, completeness or currency of the content. The content does not constitute financial advice. Independent advice should be obtained from an Australian financial services licensee before making investment decisions. To the extent permitted by law, ASX excludes all liability for any loss or damage arising in any way including by way of negligence. Copyright 2008 ASX Limited ABN 98 008 624 691. All rights reserved 2008. Page 10