Campus Technology Services

TechNews - September 2011

This is a summary of the activities supporting faculty, staff and student technology services at SUNY Oswego that occurred during August 2011.

Reminders

1. Routine Service Outage
   As part of Campus Technology Services' efforts to keep servers running at optimum levels, a regular maintenance period has been designated. From 6AM to 10AM on the second Sunday of each month, several services such as E-mail, editing of both departmental and personal web pageswill not be available. The next scheduled outage is Sunday, October 9th, 2011.
2. NYALERT
   For information on NYAlert: http://www.oswego.edu/administration/public_affairs/emergency/nyalert.html or 
   visit http://www.suny.edu/SUNYALERTsec to sign up.
3. RAVE Guardian
   For information on Rave Guardian http://oswego.edu/student/blogs/?cat=11 or to sign up: https://www.getrave.com/login/oswego
4. CTS Newsletter
   The CTS Newsletter for the beginning of the semester is available at http://www.oswego.edu/blogs/ctsnewsletter/.   You'll notice a new look to our newsletter, as it is now in a blog format.  As you read each article, feel free to add a comment about it at the bottom of the article.   
   Articles available in this newsletter include new features available in LakerApps, updates to ANGEL and myOswego, the campus MS Office 2010/2011 upgrade, new Advanced Technology Classrooms, network and cable infrastructure upgrades, Fall semester pilot projects and more.  
5. CTS Workshops
   The Fall lineup of CTS workshops is now available for registration from the link below.  We have a variety of workshops covering LakerApps, Microsoft Office, multimedia creation and editing, using an Advanced Technology Classroom (ATC), online community groups and mailing lists.  We also have previews of the Microsoft Windows 7 and Apple's new Lion operating systems as well as the Elluminate web-conferencing software, currently in a pilot phase.  Lastly, come join CTS for lunch during our "CTS Projects Lunch Break" workshops as we discuss current and future technology projects.
   
   The complete schedule of workshops along with their full descriptions is available from http://www.oswego.edu/cts/training/ws_registration.html.

Patch Wednesdays

CTS now has the capability of updating your campus owned computers for security fixes as well as functionality on a regularly scheduled basis. This may include software updates to programs such as Adobe Reader or Microsoft Word or to change Windows settings to better support your computers. In order to streamline this process we will only perform these updates on Wednesdays.  These changes will be implemented only after thorough internal CTS testing. You may possibly notice a slight slowdown in computer performance at that time however it will go away shortly. Updates will be added to a CTS calendar so you may see what changes have occurred to your computer on any given day. The calendar is still being revised at this time but will be up and running shortly.

CTO's Corner

Fall is just around the corner... and so is the tech plan
Although there may still be a few precious weeks of summer left before we officially enter the Fall season, our fall semester is fully upon us and with it a host of new technological challenges. As expected, our wireless network is being relied upon more heavily than ever. Students are bringing a host of new devices on campus with explicit expectations that our environment will support their connectivity. This trend will clearly continue as the cost of many new mobile devices drops rapidly. Just recently a long list of manufacturers announced new devices with price tags less than $300 and some less than $200. These devices are projected to be on the market prior to the 2011 holiday season. Subsequently, the computing environment on campus will likely be substantially more diverse in the spring than it is this fall. The implications for the impact on teaching and learning are profound, and we are just beginning to get a handle on it. Along with this technology and the advances it enables come a number of considerations for which we need to plan more thoroughly - network capacity, application support, training and professional development, and device and information security.

Given the arrival of a truly mobile generation of students (and faculty and staff for that matter) it is more critical than ever for us to develop a technology plan to help us stay focused on these critical issues, effectively prioritize our technology objectives consistent with the College's strategic plan, and assure that essential resources are available to meet our technology objectives. CTAB has made substantial progress in the development of a technology plan for the College. A planning framework has been established (http://www.oswego.edu/cts/techboard/projects/ctabtechplanframework.html) and the CTAB technology planning committee has nearly completed the outline for the structure of the plan. One of the most important tasks for CTAB and CTS for this academic year will be to complete the inaugural technology plan and establish a technology planning process in support of the overall budget and strategic planning processes of the College. This is particularly important in light of our Middle States Accreditation visit in April of 2012. As CTAB begins its work at its first meeting of the year on September 9th, the work to complete the technology plan will also commence. Please stay tuned from announcements from CTAB regarding opportunities for you and all your colleagues to participate in this important process.

Joseph Moreau
Chief Technology Officer

Technology Support Center

The training of eight new students working for the TSC was completed.  This is a week long training that encompasses CTS policies and procedures, using our HEAT ticketing system, technical troubleshooting and customer service.

ResNet Room service was conducted on Monday August 29 and Tuesday August 30.  Approximately 40 students were serviced.  We are looking at alternatives to room service for next semester to make this service more efficient for both students and CTS staff.

The TSC handled approximately 1812 phone calls during the month of August and serviced 140 student machines for in-house repair. 

 You can reach us by phone at 312.3456 or at 26 Lanigan Hall or our website.

 Are you on Facebook? Want to receive updates from CTS on new services, updates, system outages, and more? We recently created a "SUNY Oswego - Campus Technology Services" Facebook group. Become a fan and start receiving updates!

Learning Management System

An ANGEL patch was recently installed that makes it now compatible with Firefox 4 and IE 9. 

Please check the ANGEL website for dates and times for upcoming workshops.

The Elluminate software used for synchronous online teaching and meetings is being piloted on campus this fall semester.  Approximately ten faculty and staff will be using it to teach courses, conduct workshops and hold online meetings.  Workshops have been offered for these users and we look forward to their feedback on their usage of it.  Elluminate is currently being hosted by SUNY ITEC with additional user support of the product through SLN.

If you are interested in setting up a community group, please visit the ANGEL web site at www.oswego.edu/academics/angel. Community groups are limited to academic and/or university related activities only.

Professional Development
The Fall lineup of CTS workshops is now available for registration from the link below.  We have a variety of workshops covering LakerApps, Microsoft Office, multimedia creation and editing, using an Advanced Technology Classroom (ATC), online community groups and mailing lists.  We also have previews of the Microsoft Windows 7 and Apple's new Lion operating systems as well as the Elluminate web-conferencing software, currently in a pilot phase.  Lastly, come join CTS for lunch during our "CTS Projects Lunch Break" workshops as we discuss current and future technology projects.

The complete schedule of workshops along with their full descriptions is available from http://www.oswego.edu/cts/training/ws_registration.html.

Self-paced, on-demand tutorials are also available from our iTunes U site.  Tutorials covering Microsoft Word 2010, Excel 2010, PowerPoint 2010 and LakerApps Sites are currently available.  ANGEL workshops are available from the main ANGEL website.

Updating your department web site with Ingeniux workshops are available at the Ingeniux Training site.

The Skillport e-learning software is available to all faculty, staff and students.  Skillport includes business and technology-related courses (including Office 2010) as well as courses and test preps needed to prepare you for many business and technical certifications.   Get started at the Skillport home page.

Software News

Office 2010/2011 is now available for install on all campus-owned computers.  The programs are also available for install on faculty and staff personal machines.  Please consult the CTS MS Office site for more details.

We are advising people to refrain from upgrading to Windows 7 as, currently, not all campus applications are compatible with it.

Microsoft is offering students a significantly reduced price on its Microsoft Office Ultimate 2010 software. The "Office Ultimate Steal" entitles eligible students to the Microsoft Office Ultimate 2010 software at a price of only $79.95. Microsoft's store price for the same software is $679.95! The Ultimate edition is packaged with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Groove, Publisher, Access, InfoPath, and Accounting Express. To determine if students qualify for the special price and to buy online visit www.theultimatesteal.com.

UBMicro has a great new site for purchasing various software products for your home machine. Visit their site at http://www.ubmicrosuny.com/

 Web Update
We are working on testing our many applications with the newly released Windows Internet Explorer 9 and Mozilla Firefox 4, Campus Technology Services (CTS) would like to inform everyone that these browsers are not yet fully compatible with some of the campus services that you need to access.

The use of an unsupported browser can result in inconsistent or unpredictable behavior when working in applications. You should refrain from updating at this time.

As soon as vendors update these applications for compatibility with these services, we will post notices.

Ingeniux trainings continue to be held.  Please check the Ingeniux training site for dates and times and online registration.

Desktop Support

Campus Technology Services technicians have continued to aid faculty, staff and students in resolving hardware, software, and account related issues. Technicians have assisted in the resolution of 64 hardware, 124 software, and 24 account related support requests.

Equipment Deployments

Our desktop support technicians continue to prepare and deploy new equipment as it arrives. New equipment has been configured and installed within: Athletics Department, Campus Recreation Department, Campus Technology Services, Curriculum & Instruction Department, Earth Science Department, First Year Program, History Department, Mathematics Department, Modern Languages Department, Office of Business and Community Relations, Theater Department, and WRVO. Over the month of August Campus Technology Services technicians have installed, replaced, or re-imaged 51 machines.

TUTORTRAC

Over the course of the summer, Campus Technology Services has been working closely with the Office of Learning Services to configure an online management system for for their tutoring operations. Beginning with the fall 2011 semester, the writing center within OLS will manage their tutoring operation utilizing the TutorTrac system. If this trial proves successful, other tutoring centers
and functions will migrate to the TutorTrac system over the course of the academic year.

Departmental moves and equipment relocations

Desktop support technicians assisted with relocation's of equipment in the following departments: Completed work in new Tech Ed labs in Bldg 20, Wilber B5  and Wilber Hall 253 . 

Banner/myOswego

 Other Administrative Support

• With assist from Vender, moved Sage DB to SQLSERVER-01
• Moved 13 VMs to new Host (vm-srv-esxi-10). Old host needs to be upgraded.
• Configure consolidated backup for VMware VMs and test.
•  Replace UPS batteries in Culkin 104 UPS, have EHS dispose of old batteries.
• Remove trust relationship between ACC_SERVER and CTS-DOMAIN domains in preparation of removing ACC_SERVER domain.
• Install Boomi Atom and configure on AT-FS1 server
• Shutdown ACC_SERVER domain controllers and removed them from rack.
• Configure 3 Argos reports for TMA Open Work Orders.
• Setup Global-Viewer VM for Extron control and test with vendor.
• Work with Vendor on T2 Parking and Cashnet configuration.
• Updated Add Computers to CTS-DOMAIN applications.
• Updated Lmhost files on servers to remove ACC_SERVER domain entries.
• Updated iServicedesk website with Request modifications to wording and function
• Setup VM for Tracer application
•  Setup 3 VM OS templates for Windows server 2008
•  Attended test of T2 and Cashnet integration.
• Setup Pharos server VM

• Set up the Fusion Middleware (FMW)
• Implementation of new TAP Tuition Credit and TAP awarding processes from SICAS
• Functional User Banner Job Submission Process

• Torchlight Welcoming Ceremony
• President's Breakfast 
•  Vocal Effect and Blue Jupiter Performance 
•  Provost's All Faculty Retreat 
•  New Faculty Orientation 
• Budget Advisory Meeting
• Distance Learning/CTS presentation
•  Auxiliary Services Fall Retreat 
• IAGT Video Conference
• Residential Life Staff training

• Completed A/V installations in seven new ATC Mahar classrooms
• Completed A/V installations in four new Wilber Hall classroom
•  Completed A/V installation in Buiding 20 new classroom
•  Installed presentation A/V carts in Laker Hall 207 and 216
•  Updated photos of various setups in ATC's and meeting rooms in the Campus Center
•  Installed computer monitor in Campus Center 114
•  Provided contractor support for campus Emergency Broadcast System installation
•  Provided ongoing consultations for Science and School of Education construction planning

• Installed flat panel display in Honors conference room to facilitate presentations
• Provided faculty A/V training: Psychology, Curriculum and Instruction, Technology Education
• Arranged SmartBoard interactive whiteboard training for School of Education

•  Finished preventative maintenance across Campus
• Upgraded firmware and provided needed maintenance for all Wolfvision document cameras on campus, at the Metro Center and at Phoenix
•  Panopto lecture capture support
• Provided routine maintenance for and modifications to programming for WNYO equipment

• Res Hall common floor phone installations
• Cayuga VoIP installations
• SOE Relocations
•  Lanigan ATC VoIP installations

• 20 Adds
•  2 Swaps 
•  4 Changes
•  28 Disconnects
•  27 Moves
•  Generate Monthly Bills.
•  Updating VOIP phones in Pinnacle

• Disabled Fame and NYSSSA wireless access and NAC credentials
•  Installed VOIP phones in Mahar
• Enabled the ra-reslife account on CCA for RA's to use for logins.
•  Reserved address ranges for wireless in Cayuga and configured existing controllers for temporary use
•  Created new VLAN for segmented wireless for students
•  Created test configuration on smaller WLC controller for testing wireless segmentation
•  Installed the WISM2 into a 6500 chassis but the firmware needed to be upgraded for the new WISM to work. 
• Upgraded firmware in 2 of the 3 6500 chassis. 
•  Installed UPS units in all 9 data closets in Cayuga
•  Updated Cayuga wireless maps in WCS
•  Configured Cayuga switches to allow VOIP hallway phones and student ATA adapters
•  Updated WCS licenses to add 900 Plus APs.
• Judicial Affairs hearing for student with DMCA notification
•  Racked and patched the networking equipment on floors 1-4 and basement in Cayuga
•  Patched 36 ports for the new ATC's in Mahar.
•  Repaired several data jacks in Cayuga that contractor did not terminate properly
•  Installed new switches in Hewitt closet for additional SOE moves
•  Provided Mackin with ~27 hubs for new doubles in Moreland
•  Looked at WRVO Allegiance pledge server issue -verified connectivity with telnet, working now
•  Moved equipment from data rack in Lanigan into new 4 post rack
•  Installed evaluation Intrusion Prevention System for entire campus
•  Replaced SSL certificates for all wireless, wired data connections, Clean Access servers, guest wireless access, etc
• Worked on metro center issue accessing campus web server, finally determined all other campus web services were working from there just not www.oswego.edu /80 or /443, got Andy G and Rick B involved. Ended up a complete power down cycle of equipment in Syracuse restored proper connectivity for some reason.
• Upgrade all CAM/CAS servers to Lion compatible system
•  Upgraded XpressConnect for Lion compatibility
•  Created a test wired configuration in XPC for Windows 7
•  Fixed log rotate issue on nic-new
•  ResNet Room Service out of Oneida, Hart and Scales labs
•  XBOX/PS3/Wii/other registrations: 10
• OSX Lion filters: 14
•  DMCA take down notifications: 0
• Abuse Notifications: 5

• Matt Perez - Attended "SUNY Geneseo Cabling Updates Session" Discussed new types of fiber and cooper cables.
• Faronics webinar on best practices - David Kahn
• Deep Freeze webinar - Tim Yager
• Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist - Tim Yager

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