Bill's Blog http://www.wou.edu/~kernanb/blogs/ en 2009-09-17T21:06:52-08:00 Mail Upgrade http://www.wou.edu/~kernanb/blogs/archives/2009/09/mail-upgrade.html The mail system will be upgraded. (date yet to be determined). During the transition from old to new, the old system will be shut down. It will take from 5:00pm Friday until 5:00pm Sunday to copy the mail from the old mail store to the new mail store. During the copy process, the new mail system will be available to you at http://www.wou.edu/webmail New incoming mail will be delivered only to the new mail system after Friday at 5:00pm. When the copy is completed, your old mail will be available in the old system and the new system.

If you use a non-web based mail application to access your e-mail, such as Microsoft Outlook, verify that your incoming mail is set to incoming.wou.edu On Friday at 5:00 we will move the pointer for incoming.wou.edu from the old mail system to the new.

Your calendar will also be copied in the migration process. If you have created any mail filters, they will need to be manually re-entered in the new mail system.

We will leave the old mail system up for several weeks. It can be accessed at http://www.wou.edu/oldmail

If you are not using the web-based mail system, give the new system a try. It has some nice Web 2.0 features. In addition, it includes IM.

Please direct support request to the Service Request Desk at 88925

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Informational kernanb 2009-09-17T21:06:52-08:00
Fall Update http://www.wou.edu/~kernanb/blogs/archives/2009/08/fall-update.html Lab computers will be upgraded to Office 2007 by the start off Fall term 2009. Faculty are given the opportunity to upgrade when their computer is replaced. Faculty with older computers will be done on request. Staff computers are done at the discretion of the departmental manager. Those that wish to upgrade and do not have a new computer, will need to purchase a new copy if there is not a valid upgrade license in place for their computer. Tricia Flaherty (flahert@wou.edu) will be able to help you with licensing.

Over the summer we have been testing a much needed upgrade to our e-mail / calendar system. The current system is about 2 years out of date. As migration strategies are finalized, I will post updates to this blog entry.

The Student Technology Committee voted to fund four digital signage packages on campus. You will see them begin to appear during the early weeks of Fall term. They will be located in APSC Admissions level, Administration Building first floor, WUC Monmouth avenue entrance and Hamersly Library first floor. In addition there will be one each in Natural Science lobby and UCS service request desk. Public Safety is identifying additional locations. Staff in each of these locations will provide the content for their area, through a web-based interface. A video overview of digital signage can be found here.

The e-mail store had grown to 2 terabyte of disk space. The e-mail system was running low on available space. After an analysis of how the disk space was being utilized, it was determined that 500 megabyte of space was used by data within the Trash folders. There is now a utility that continuously runs and automatically purges mail from the Trash folders that is greater than 60 days old. Purging your trash on a regular basis will free up additional disk resources.

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Informational kernanb 2009-08-27T11:52:30-08:00
Personal Update http://www.wou.edu/~kernanb/blogs/archives/2009/03/personal-update.html Teresa Hutchinson has taken on additional duties, including supervision of the Service Request Desk and the Student Computer Labs. Please direct any computer lab software or hardware request to Teresa. She will continue to manage Telecommunications. Joan Guralnick's position will not be replaced.

Nathan Sauer and Paul Lambert are currently in the low voltage electrical apprenticeship program. They have taken on Telecommunications duties in addition to their current duties. Ken Sauer's position will not be replaced.

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Informational kernanb 2009-03-25T09:38:24-08:00
Technology Update http://www.wou.edu/~kernanb/blogs/archives/2009/03/technology-upda.html Additional network border security implemented 2008/2009

  • Intrusion Prevention System

  • MARS -- Monitoring, Analysis, and Response System

  • Firewalls

  • NAC (Network Access Control)

  • Wireless LAN Controllers


Increased storage capacity
Implemented distributed file sharing
Replaced 150 2003 desktop computers



Data Warehouse Project

OSU will be developing a Student Information System data warehouse for WOU over the next several months.

Phase I will focus on SIS data and include some Institutional Resource data. Phase I production will be available by Fall 2009. Phase II will include data from sources other than Banner, including Financial Aid, COE database, Housing, etc. Throughout each phase, the data brought into the new model development will be able to be integrated with existing FIS and HRIS model data using the BI Query software. Additional support in integrating data is available throughout the process from the WIT team.

The 5th-site team will provide development and on-going training opportunities at no additional cost to WOU.

Joy Bautz will meet with small groups of WOU staff. Members include:
Mike Huber, Nancy France, Linda Stonecipher, Michael Soukup, Josh Lind, Stan Little, Michael Ellis, Darin Silbernagel, Rob Findtner, Faye Whitenack, Judy Vanderburg, Eric Snow, Michele VanDeusen, Eric Borst, Ryan West, Dorothy Hendrickson, David McDonald, Chris Kampton, Bruce Vickers, Kathy Hill, Tamie Saffell, Ella Taylor, Tiffany Smith, Hilda Rosselli, Peggy Pedersen, JoNan LeRoy


  • Carla Simonson, the WIT (Warehouse Integration and Training) team manager, will lead the warehouse design. Joy Bautz on the WIT team is the primary model developer.

  • Connie Atchley, the 5th-site programming manager, will lead the programming effort.
    Jeremy Hickerson and Issam Rifai will be the programmers.


Web-based SIR application will be available for interested faculty beginning spring 2009

  • Paper SIR process continues to be available


67 smart classrooms available by the end of 2008/2009


Smart-classrooms available by the end of 2008/2009

  • Smith Hall 121 - remodeled

  • HL 107

  • HSS 108

  • TODD 347

  • NS 123

  • ED 240

  • MH 109, 114, 115

  • MOD 102, 103, 107

  • OMA 101, 102, 103

  • NS 006


Smart-classrooms scheduled for 2009/2010

  • APSC 212 (1)

  • NS 101 -- remodel -- Steve Taylor (3)

  • NS 017 -- Jeff Templeton (2)

  • WUC Columbia Room -- Jon Tucker (5b)

  • HL 108 (5)

  • HSS 112 (after building remodel completion)

  • TODD 349 (4)

  • NS 115 -- Arlene Courtney (7)

  • NS 004 -- Mike Lemaster (6)

  • ED 116 (during room remodel)

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Informational kernanb 2009-03-17T20:54:13-08:00
Spam / Virus Filter http://www.wou.edu/~kernanb/blogs/archives/2008/12/spam-virus-filt.html Sophos e-mail gateway is currently in an upgrade state. Full functionality is estimated to be completed by December 5, 2008.

This is the same vendor we have used in the past, but with a complete re-write.

Functionality includes:
--blocking e-mail from known spam / virus providers
--blocking e-mail to unknown recipients
--assigning probability scales to possible spam content, then taking appropriate action
--blocking viruses
--provides links to information on viruses that have been blocked
--provides inbound / outbound protection
--the rule-set database will be updated within 5-20 minutes of outbreaks

Users will be able to release their own quarantined messages when we are finished with the installation. They will also be able to manage their own black-list / white-list

More information to follow.

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Informational kernanb 2008-12-02T14:12:27-08:00
Network Fees http://www.wou.edu/~kernanb/blogs/archives/2008/12/network-fees.html Faculty / Staff Network Fees
Wired only connection $12 / month
Wireless only connection $17 / month
Wired and Wireless connection $17 / month

Student Wireless Fees
Wireless $5 / term


Notes
incremental cost of wireless over wired is $5 / month
STFC pay for all but $5 / term of the students wireless fee
wireless is currently not secure (1-Dec-2008)
WPA2 security will be available by January 2, 2009
-- data will be encrypted from the client, through the access point, to the wireless lan controller
no capacity issues starting January 2, 2009

SSID's available by January 2, 2009
-- wou-secure --- WPA2 security
-- wou-guest --- free one day pass available from SRD and WUC
-- wou-phone --- hand-held ip-telephony devices

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Informational kernanb 2008-12-02T13:59:50-08:00
test title http://www.wou.edu/~kernanb/blogs/archives/2008/10/test-title.html test body

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Other kernanb 2008-10-23T20:49:09-08:00
Draft Security Manual http://www.wou.edu/~kernanb/blogs/archives/2008/10/draft-security.html Please provide comment for the draft IT Security Policy.

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Policy kernanb 2008-10-06T11:08:55-08:00
3n -- National Notification Network http://www.wou.edu/~kernanb/blogs/archives/2008/04/3n-national-not.html WOU recently purchased 3n InstaCom Campus Alert system. PSU purchased this product several months ago and has successfully implemented the product. They have willingly shared implementation documentation with us. Thanks PSU!

During an emergency broadcast, the system tries to contact individuals until either the individual confirms receipt of the message or until the number of broadcast cycles has been met or the broadcast duration is over. When a user confirms delivery, the system suspends sending further notification to that individual.

Delivery order is randomized as a result of each of you defining your delivery method order. Within the next several weeks, training and system configuration will be completed. At that point you will receive an e-mail sent out by the 3n system asking you to register your preferences. The e-mail will have Jay Carey's name in the from field of the e-mail. At any time, you will be able to modify your contact information and priority.

Additional information will be available soon here.

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Informational kernanb 2008-04-30T22:35:56-08:00
Infrastructure Replacement http://www.wou.edu/~kernanb/blogs/archives/2008/04/infrastructure.html Over the next year, UCS will be replacing a number of aging server farm components. The new equipment will reduce the cost of maintenance (if we did nothing, maintenance cost would sky-rocket), allows for a more secure architecture, is eco-friendly, lower-cost scaleability and reliability. Additional disk storage will also be a portion of these captial equipment expenditures ($68,000).

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Infrastructure kernanb 2008-04-23T13:25:20-08:00
Green Computing http://www.wou.edu/~kernanb/blogs/archives/2008/04/green-computing.html The three thin-client labs on campus reduces energy costs. They are located in ITC001, ITC310 and WUC.

Green is good, and ultra-low power consumption is really good

The typical power consumption of a Sun Ray 2 client is an astonishing 4 watts. Compare this to PCs, which operate on 80 watts or more. Even most other thin clients suck down 20 watts or more. By installing a thousand desktops with Sun Ray clients instead of PCs, you go from 80kW to 4kW in the green savings direction. A quick look at your hourly cost per kilowatt (kWh) can give you an idea of just how much Sun Ray clients can save you over PCs.
Run silent, run cheap

At just 4 watts of typical power consumption, the Sun Ray 2 client doesn't produce as much heat or require the noisy fan of a PC. It's silent. And, it runs cooler, which improves reliability.

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Informational kernanb 2008-04-15T23:15:32-08:00
Adobe Creative Suite 3 -- Web Design http://www.wou.edu/~kernanb/blogs/archives/2008/04/adobe-creative.html Creative Arts has requested an upgrade to CS3 on Creative Arts faculty workstations during the middle of spring term. A CS3 user will be able to import CS2 projects. I propose the student labs be upgraded from CS2 to CS3 over the summer. CS3 Web Design does not include In-Design. This will be a seperate upgrade performed concurrently.

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Software -- Workstation kernanb 2008-04-15T10:02:03-08:00
Smart Classrooms / Labs http://www.wou.edu/~kernanb/blogs/archives/2008/03/smart-classroom-3.html Summer 2008, UCS will be installing equipment into 7 labs / smart-classrooms in the new Math Nursing Building. Other smart-classrooms will follow starting winter / spring breaks 2008/2009. They include HL107, ED116-117, HSS108, TODD347 and NS123.

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Informational kernanb 2008-03-31T15:08:18-08:00
Banner Update http://www.wou.edu/~kernanb/blogs/archives/2008/02/banner-update.html Banner Users

We are scheduled to upgrade to Banner SIS release 7.4 and FIS
7.3 the first weekend of March. HRIS will remain at the
current release 7.2.

All Banner applications will be down from 11:00 P.M. Friday,
February 29 through 10:00 A.M.
Monday, March 3rd.

We will also be upgrading the database to Oracle 10g on the
weekend of March 8-9. All Banner applications will be down
during this time.

The majority of this work is being performed by the OSU computing center in cooperation with the WOU Banner Team.

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Maintenance kernanb 2008-02-18T19:04:28-08:00
February 2008 http://www.wou.edu/~kernanb/blogs/archives/2008/02/february-2008.html Hitachi 9980 drives were added to the oradg disk group in preparation for the Oracle9i to Oracle10g migration. Veritas 4.0 File System and Volume Manager was upgraded to Veritas 5.0 Foundation Suite. After installation, Veritas was patched to the latest point release.

Lights out management was setup on TS1, TS8, TS10, TS11, TS12, wou_updater and 112.64.

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Maintenance kernanb 2008-02-08T09:32:02-08:00