Overview:

The Department of Networks and Infrastructure comprises four sections that operate integrally to implement the missions assigned to the Department in coordination with the rest of the Vice-Deanship’s departments. This is in order to achieve the objectives of the Vice-Deanship’s operational plan. The Department is concerned with the management, control and policy development of processes related to UQU network. It also builds, develops and manages all communication and installation services at all UQU headquarters. In addition, the Department secures the requirements for the work of its sections, and seeks constant follow-up of work and evaluation of its employees’ performance. The Department is divided into the following four sections:

Networks Section:

The section provides the following services:

• Determining the requirements, policies, uses and structures of wired and wireless network.
• Monitoring Core Switches.
• Managing and specifying the various protocols’ settings of various routers.
• Managing and specifying the various protocols’ settings of Swithes.
• Coordinating with different companies to provide support for what is available or propose development for the future.
• Supervising and cooperating with suppliers in connection with network projects.
• Following up and monitoring the network in various systems (SolarWinds).
• Managing the wireless network of UQU.
• Updating network control systems periodically.
• Providing periodic reports on the section’s performance or any difficulties and problems that need urgent intervention.

Communications Section:

The section provides the following services:

• Coordinating with communications and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) in relation to electronic circuits to connect to the World Wide Web, and increase the capacity of external data.
• Coordinating with and supervising the Unified UQU Network at all branches.
• Coordinating with the various UQU branches to provide its own electronic circuits to connect them to UQU network.
• Supervising the F5 Load Balancer.
• Working to enhance the efficiency and performance of data flow among the different UQU branches and within its internal network.
• Developing future project proposals for network communications (eg, digital telephone, cellular network).
• Providing periodic reports on the section’s performance or any difficulties and problems that need urgent intervention.

Extension Section:

The section provides the following services:

• Studying the needs of the various UQU sites of tools to build the local network.
• Installation and creation of local network outlets for the sites needed by UQU.
• Submitting the necessary tools needed by the section to build the network periodically.
• Supervising the different extension teams in the morning and evening shifts.
• Installing wireless access points.
• Providing technical support to repair any failures related to network points or extensions.
• Following up contracting companies regarding network extension.
• Coordinating with UQU Projects Department to ensure that the foundations of network building are in the new locations in the University.
• Providing periodic reports on the section’s performance or any difficulties and problems that need urgent intervention.

Information Center General Services Section:

The section provides the following services:

• Receiving network failures or services and transferring them to the concerned department.
• Providing solutions for network failures at all branches by telephone.
• Supervising the components and safety systems of the current information center, and ensuring that they work effectively.
• Communicating with suppliers of emergency center technologies.
• Monitoring the Data Center on a regular basis to ensure safe and proper work.
• Developing and studying proposals for building a data center in the new UQU site in Abediyah.