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HelpUCSF Campus Report February 2005
UC Information Technology Leadership Council
February 15-16, 2005
Administrative Systems Advisory Committee (ASAC) Project: UCSF Link
Work continues on this campus-wide initiative that includes research administration, distributed processing of selected financial functions, and asset management. Since our last ITLC update, efforts have been focused on:
- Online Payroll Time Reporting System: In October 2004, we went live with OPTRS, automating an annual volume of about 285,000 positive time reporting entries associated with the time roster and one time adjustment transactions. With the OPTRS roll-out, multiple steps have been cut out of the process, spreadsheet forms have been eliminated and departments now have more time to enter and correct payroll actions, directly in the system.
- Research Administration: Currently live in pilot form since mid January 2005, our "Proposal Express" full campus go-live is scheduled for February 14. About 400 users will take advantage of the custom-built module (PeopleSoft Database application) that captures key proposal data and generates an on-line Office of Sponsored Research (OSR) Approval Form. Proposal Express will enable OSR, Department Managers and Research Administrators to run reports on proposal activity from one integrated system. The full go-live of research administration’s set up and manage award functions (five PeopleSoft modules) is scheduled for late fall 2005. This will include negotiations tracking, integrated award set up, automated invoicing and accounts receivable, budget status reporting, and streamlined award close-out.
For more information on the Link project, please visit the Link website at http://ucsflink.ucsf.edu or contact Mara Fellouris, Project Leader, at mara.fellouris@ucsf.edu. or Zoanne Nelson, Deputy Project Leader, at zoanne.nelson@ucsf.edu.
Data Center Consolidation
Studies regarding the proposal to co-locate the Campus and Medical Center Data Centers have been completed. After a space inventory of current and projected use was completed, space was identified for the Campus Data Center on the third floor of UCSF’s Mission Center Building, directly below the Medical Center Data Center. A survey of environmentals (ventilation, cooling, electricity) shows that there is adequate capacity in the building. The new proposal allows for sharing infrastructure (electrical, mechanical, fire protection, and security) with the Medical Center’s Data Center, but avoids the ~$1 million in expenses associated with the earlier plan for consolidation that would have necessitated relocation of non-data center personnel. The current plan also includes space to house servers for campus departments - particularly research units.
Environmental Monitoring System:
One of the fundamental jobs of the Network Operations Center (NOC) is networking monitoring. Networking monitoring is the process of checking the computers, systems, and services that comprise the UCSF network. This examination allows ITS-Enterprise Network Servoces (ENS) to maintain a robust network and even to improve upon the network. ENS-OPS are installing Network Environmental Monitoring devices in the wire-rooms to provide critical information on the status of each room. Each device features the capability of plugging in any of the intelligent sensors from the manufacturer into any of the 2-port or 8-port devices. This includes temperature, humidity, airflow, water detector, voltage, security and dry contact. The monitoring device connects directly to a standard 10 BaseT network via a built in RJ45 socket. It comes with an enhanced web interface for easy navigation. Using SNMP protocol, each device sends data to the NOC when certain thresholds are reached. These devices are especially useful for locations such as remote where it is unlikely anyone will be around to notice a rise in temperature. Larger wire-rooms are installed with intelligent 8 port sensor devices while the smaller rooms have 2-port sensor devices. Each device currently has probes that read the following:
- Temperature – The Network Operations group can monitor the temperature for the wire rooms. They are especially useful for locations such as server closets where it is unlikely anyone will be around to notice a rise in temperature.
- Humidity - If the humidity is too high, it leads to damage and corrosion of data equipment, which also causes excess static electricity.
- Water - Water on the floor, whether from a broken pipe or a leaky roof, can cause electrical shorts and permanent damage to network equipment.
Over time, more probes will be added to make the network more resilient and secure.
Information Security
-
Confidentially Speaking Day – An enterprise-wide program
was held on October 28, 2004 to increase awareness of information security and
communicate the importance of protecting information assets.
http://isecurity-stage.ucsf.edu/main.jsp?content=confspeakday
- Information Security and Confidentiality Policy – This important policy is the foundation for all enterprise security policies and procedures. It was reviewed through the IT Governance structure’s RFC process, endorsed by the IT Governance Committee, and approved by the Chancellor’s Office for inclusion in the Administrative Policy web site, effective January 2005.
- Sygate Personal Firewall – Approximately 3000 clients have been deployed to date.
- Spyware Defense – ITS is currently piloting the SpySweeper (Webroot) anti-spyware product for potential enterprise-wide deployment
Joint Services RFP
In July 2004, the Campus and Medical Center awarded the paging services contract to a new vendor, ARCH Wireless. The build out of the new infrastructure is underway for all major sites and is expected to be completed by May 2005. The Medical Center will then begin converting to the new pagers. When they have completed this transition, campus departments may convert if they choose to.
Mission Bay Campus
Progress on the construction of the Mission Bay campus continues:
- QB3 (a research facility connected to Genentech Hall): The RFP for network equipment was awarded and the equipment is installed. Faculty and staff will begin to move into this building in early March 2005.
- Construction on the Mixed Residence Housing facility (which consists of 750 apartments) is currently underway. An RFP for network equipment is in process. The planned date for occupancy is August 2005.
- The construction of the Community Center is in the final stages. This building includes a fitness center, conference facilities, a swimming pool, and the second Network Operation Center for the campus. The planned date for occupancy is September 2005. An RFP for network equipment is in process.
- A 900-space parking structure is under construction with an anticipated completion date of October 2005.
- The Helen Diller Family Cancer Research facility is in the design phase with an anticipated completion date of late 2007.
- Building 19A (a research facility) is in the early planning stages.
- A second MPOE for the Mission Bay campus is in the early planning stages and will be incorporated into the design of either 17A or B.
Netscout – Enhanced Network Monitoring and Management Systems:
ITS Enterprise Network Services has deployed several new systems, and upgraded existing systems, in order to more closely monitor the quantity and flow of data across UCSF's local, metropolitan, and wide area networking infrastructure. This has empowered the Network Operations Center to quickly isolate, troubleshoot, and resolve interruptions before they can adversely impact overall network speed and performance.
NGMAN: Next Generation Metropolitan Area Network
Work on the NGMAN project continues. We are in the RFP process for layer 2 and 3 network equipment. A decision for the fiber and DWDM equipment is pending approval. We are determining the state of our building distribution facilities (BDF's) for the implementation. An implementation/installation team is being formed.
The UCSF NGMAN Committee is composed of technical personnel from across the UCSF Campus and UCSFMedical Center who have volunteered to serve on the committee. The single protocol (IP only) NGMAN will be DWDM with Gigabit Ethernet-based solution at the core. It will replace the UCSF SONET-based ATM MAN that currently interconnects several main UCSF Campus and UCSF Medical Center locations, i.e., Parnassus, Mission Bay, Mission Center Building, Laurel Heights, San Francisco General Hospital, Mt. Zion Hospital, and Veteran’s Administration Hospital Medical Center. Migration to the new network is expected to begin in spring 2005.
Parnassus Heights Renovations
- Approximately 12 major renovation projects are in various stages of construction to improve space vacated by faculty and staff who have relocated to the Mission Bay campus and includes building new voice and data infrastructure within some of the older the buildings on the Parnassus campus.
- The MSB/Moffitt Seismic Cut project is underway. This project will physically separate these two buildings on Parnassus Heights to meet state earthquake standards. The cut will be done on all 15 floors and is planned to go through all wire rooms. Work is in progress to determine if the existing wire rooms will be retrofitted or new wire rooms will be built. The cut is planned to be completed in January 2006.
Voice Communications Consulting Services
UCSF exercised our option for a two-year renewal of the Centrex contract. Currently, we are gathering information that will assist us in considering options for future voice systems.