Server and Desktop Virtualization

The DSS team operates virtual servers that can be configured to meet the needs of disparate groups or research teams upon request, and supports Remote Desktop protocols for individual network users.  All virtual/remote computing offerings operate entirely behind multiple, secure firewalls, and can be securely accessed without VPN (Junos Pulse).  Current solution and software offerings include:

Solutions (Skills):

  • Full Desktop virtualization Windows and Linux (VDI desktop replacement solution))
  • Able to virtualize a range of applications per user specifications
  • Extensive computation resources available to normal users supporting needs far above the capacity of desktop computers and small clusters
  • High performance computing cluster for needs beyond our regular computation rersources
  • Advanced Hypervisor solutions available to users: MS Hypervisor & OpenStack
  • Long term archive cold storage solution
  • Secure external collaboration via eXo Platform

Hosted Software and Hardware Resources

Resources available to Network Recharge subscribers are:
Access to the following software packages (all software is hosted on our servers):

  • Adobe Acrobat Pro & Phantom Shadow PDF
  • ArcGIS
  • Endnote
  • eXo Platform
  • Google Chrome
  • Internet Explorer
  • Microsoft Office Professional
  • Microsoft Visio
  • Mozilla Firefox
  • MySQL
  • MongoDB
  • ElasticSearch
  • NVivo
  • PASS
  • PostgreSQL
  • R (32-bit and 64-bit)
  • SAS
  • SPSS
  • SQL Server database
  • Stat Transfer
  • Stata MP
  • Tableau (full desktop)
  • Visual Studio 2015
  • 7zip, WinZip
  • Dedicated Linux VM

Individual Storage Space (hosted on our servers) up to 100 GB/user.

Shared Storage space for files that are shared among teams, up to 100GB/team; we manage permissions and access for you.

Backups:  All servers are backed up at least once per day, and copies of backups are retained for three months. SQL server databases are backed up four times daily, with two copies being sent offsite. Critical databases are backed up hourly.

Email Services:  We run Microsoft Exchange servers using a departmental domain (epi.ucsf.edu) and can provide users with email addresses and storage space for saved email.  We can also connect those who prefer to use @ucsf.edu email servers to those mailboxes using our instances of Microsoft Outlook.  We also support secure email.

Professional Security:  All of the work that users perform on our network is considered private and secure.  Our personnel manage redundant firewalls, secure file transfer protocol channels, a SSL-VPN server, secure email, all software updates and patches, virus and malware protection, as well as monitor all updates to security standards, regulations and protocols.  We are considered a high-security zone within the UCSF network and are currently compliant with FSMA/NIST security protocol 800-53 (low).