MISSION

Computing & Network Services' (CNS) mission is to support the academic, research and administrative missions of the University of California, San Francisco at San Francisco General Hospital. We do this by providing technical planning, data network design, maintenance, and computer support services to UCSF staff and faculty at SFGH. CNS also assists UCSF staff and faculty in computer related issues with the San Francisco Department of Public Health (DPH). The CNS Unit bridges the gap between the University's academic, research and administrative computer and network needs and those of the DPH at SFGH.

HISTORY

The UCSF data network at San Francisco General Hospital began initially with the connection of a T-1 line from the Parnassus campus to terminals in the UCSF Barnett Briggs Library at SFGH. Since those initial connections in 1994, with the joint effort of the DPH and SFGH Dean's Office, the network has grown to over 3000 network connections at SFGH. Initially, a network manager was hired which served both the UCSF and SFGH personnel. This position coordinated much of the wiring and original placement of hubs as they were installed throughout the hospital. As the network grew in complexity and size, the SFGH Dean's Office had to hire a Network Manager to step in and support the network infrastructure as it relates to UCSF activities at SFGH. This was done in close consultation with Enterprise Network Services (ENS) and SFGH MIS. The network services DPH provided were never intended to meet the needs of our faculty and staff here at SFGH as they relate to administrative and research activities. Rather, their focus has always been the Hospital Clinical Enterprise Information Systems. In March 1996, an interim Connectivity Policy was issued in conjunction with the hospital Administrator. This specified all networking service requests, changes and questions were to be directed to the UCSF Network Manager for UCSF activities at SFGH. In 2000, the Department of Medicine computer support group merged with CNS to better serve the needs of UCSF staff and faculty at SFGH. In addition to network services, CNS now provides computer support services to many departments throughout SFGH.

UCSF- SFGH NETWORK DEFINED

The "UCSF Network" at SFGH is defined as the Routers, Switches and data ports that exclusively serve UCSF personnel. In most cases, wiring center closets are shared with the Hospital. The wiring closets are either split between UCSF and SFGH or two or more switches are installed each serving either UCSF or SFGH. The determination as to which outlets are to be wired to the UCSF or SFGH network is made by the UCSF and SFGH network managers. This decision is made by reviewing the intended use of the device in the following order:

1. Will the network port be used by a UCSF employee? (If not, wire to SFGH network.)
2. Will the UCSF employee need access only to the UCSF network Services? (Email, Administrative, Intranet, File & Print Services). If yes, wire to UCSF network.
3. Many UCSF employees work under the affiliation agreement supporting the hospital; these employees typically need access to secure DPH systems and are wired to a certain part off the SFGH network used for UCSF staff only.

GOALS

The following goals are to ensure that we establish and maintain credibility with our customers:

• Design, implement and maintain data network infrastructure to ensure reliable fast communication and movement of data between and within UCSF and SFGH/DPH.
• Offer reliable standardized secure email services to UCSF staff at SFGH. Standardize electronic mail configurations, and facilitate smooth reliable transfer of email between UCSF and DPH.
• Implement tools for improving security and performance monitoring of networks and servers.
• Consolidate, standardize and support remote access to SFGH resources. RAS, DSL, VPN, etc.
• Enforce network standards on the SFGH network. Protocols, DHCP, MAC address registration, etc.
• Coordinate dynamic (DHCP Server) and static assignment of IP addresses for the school at SFGH.
• Coordinate updates to Domain Name Services in UCSF Domain, and maintain Secondary Domain Services for seamless interaction with DPH hosts.
• Provide premium computer support to the SFGH Dean's Office, Department of Medicine, GCRC, and other units at SFGH. These services include: File, Print, Email, Group Scheduling, Web Servers, Server setup and support, Desktop support.
• Facilitate communications between SFGH and UCSF Systems infrastructure by: maintaining contact listing of departmental Computer Support Coordinators, conducting monthly Connectivity Council meetings, providing email updates to UCSF and SFGH on computer related issues.
• Build and support a shared departmental server room. The "server room" hosts both UCSF and DPH key servers.
• Evaluate Emergent Technologies Wireless, Security, PDA, etc.
• Evaluate and recommend virus and security software products. Host central virus software server.
• Maintain software libraries
• Provide Ad-hoc computer support to UCSF Depts. at SFGH