College of Design IT News

As you may recall, one of the first things done by the IT staff a year ago, when the new college came into being, was to establish a telephone number (6-7760) to call for computer support. The IT Help Line worked very well during those first few months and continued to be available during the remainder of the year. The number of phone calls, however, gradually declined to the point where it no longer justified a full-time person manning the Help Line.

This summer, the IT staff has been discussing ways of continuing the Help Line service without dedicating an individual to the job. The result is a plan to make the Help Line a shared responsibility of all the IT staff. In order to move forward with our plans there are a couple of logistical challenges that we are working to solve. First, we need a way to route the Help Line calls as needed depending on who is “on call.” The second challenge is to have a system that lets us record call details and track them when the problem can't be solved over the phone. We believe there are good solutions for both of these challenges and we are working to implement them.

In the meantime, we want you to know that there is no longer anyone dedicated to answering the Help Line. It is now configured to go to voice mail so you can leave a message. This is a temporary change. Once the call routing and tracking systems are in place we will begin manning the phone line once again.

We are also announcing two new ways to contact us for support: e-mail and the web. A special e-mail address is monitored by IT staff during regular hours. A new web form is now on-line that prompts you for some basic information that will help us contact you and determine who is best able to handle the request. Please use either of these or leave a message on the Help Line. Regardless, we'll answer your call as quickly as possible.

Posted by John Grosen at 07:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Associate Vice President and Deputy CIO Ann Hill Duin led a discussion about IT and its future here at the university at the September Academic Technology Advisory Committee (ATAC). Professor Lee Anderson represents the college on that committee along with Theresa Tichich and me.

After the meeting Dr. Hill Duin sent out a summary of a new Educause study on the importance of IT to undergraduate students. I think it contains a number of interesting results that may be of interest to you.

Posted by John Grosen at 05:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The college has announced new lab hours for Rapson Hall.

Posted by John Grosen at 08:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dear Instructors and Designers,

We hope you are enjoying your summer!

In early August, we will upgrade all course web sites on the WebVista B server to WebVista Version 4. WebVista Version 4 contains many tool and navigation enhancements to WebVista Version 3 while retaining all current Version 3 functionality. The upgrade to Version 4 requires minimal cleanup of content and design, allowing for a relatively transparent transition for you and your students.

The University currently runs WebVista Version 3 and has two separate instances: WebVista A and WebVista B. If you use the MyU Portal, your classes have been listed under either WebVista A or WebVista B.

Because WebVista A contains many ongoing non-credit and Data Security training course web sites, WebVista A will remain at Version 3 for fall 2007. Our final goal is to have all Version 3 sites upgraded to a single cluster of Version 4 shortly after the end of spring semester 2008.

Whether you are on WebVista A or B, you may continue to develop your sites in Version 3. Colleges and departments on WebVista A who wish to upgrade to Version 4 may request batch upgrades, and all instructors may request Version 4 sites for fall 2007 after the initial upgrade.

While any software upgrade involves new issues and learning, we feel confident the upgrade to Version 4 is a positive step forward. Working with the Academic Technology Advisory Committee (ATAC) representatives, we have evaluated the features in Version 4 and discussed how we can best support you as you use Version 4. In addition to working with your collegiate or department support personnel, please explore the following links to:

* See a list of new features and issues resolved in Version 4 here.
* See the Version 4 Development roadmap
* See which colleges and groups are on WebVista A and which are on WebVista B.
* Sign up for WebVista Version 4 Training now available under the WebVista 4 options.
* Contact a DMC consultant to discuss the use of Version 4 here.

Please contact webvista@umn.edu with your questions, comments, and feedback. Thank you!

Posted by John Grosen at 03:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last week I attended a OIT briefing on a new networking project that they are planning to begin in January of '08. After several years of ad-hoc wireless networking growth, they have decided to put together a comprehensive design for the Twin Cities campuses including indoor and outdoor service. The regents will be approached in September with the final plan and they are expecting approval.

The planned improvements include:

- better coverage in all buildings and consistent levels of service
- outdoor signal coverage added after all buildings are complete
- support for the emerging 802.11n protocol which will feature speeds comparable to wired networks
- better security and authentication systems that will make it less cumbersome to use
- peering relationships with the city of Minneapolis and any other community wireless network

If the plan is approved, existing wireless access points will be replaced starting in January followed closely by a second phase that will do signal strength test and fill in any weak signal areas. I don't know, yet, when Rapson and McNeal will be done but I'll keep you posted as the project proceeds. The first big milestone is the regents meeting in September.

This is great news for our college and the campus. It will make us more competitive for attracting students and particularly for those who are required to purchase and use laptops as part of the curriculum. We are working to eliminate some of the barriers to accessing college resources (most notably printing) by the beginning of this fall semester so we will be ready for the improvements when they come.

For faculty, it means better and more ubiquitous network service in the classroom which could be a blessing or a curse depending on your perspective and needs. Regardless, it is something that could have significant pedagogical implications. My staff and I are happy to discuss your needs and concerns. I would also encourage faculty to take advantage of the free consulting services from the Digital Media Center which has staff on both the Minneapolis and St. Paul campus.

Posted by John Grosen at 03:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

With the start of the summer break, the CDes desktop support team has begun work on a variety of projects to prepare for next school year. Some of these projects require training and time away from our desks and offices. In addition, vacations are planned at various times during the summer which will also have staff out of the office.

To ensure that your request is handled quickly and completely please remember to call the CDES Help Line whenever computer support needed. By using the Help Line number (6-7760) you will reach someone at all times during business hours. Whoever answers will be able to help you directly in many cases or, if not, to assign the person who is most available to assist you. This will also ensure that your request does not end up in the mailbox or in a voice mail of some one who is not in the office.

Thank you for you help and understanding as we work to improve desktop computing in the College.

College of Design Desktop Support Team

Posted by John Grosen at 04:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Now that the end of the school year is here, I’m sure that you’re looking forward to the summer. As you have seen from other recent announcements, the college’s IT staff will be very busy making improvements for you and CDes students during the summer months.
If you will be teaching this summer and are planning on student access to computer labs, there will be some impact on availability as a result of the planned improvements along with the decision to not have studios during the summer. Computer labs in Rapson and McNeal will be closed at times for hardware upgrades, etc. In addition, the Rapson Hall labs will only have support staff on-duty during regular office hours (Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).
Before you leave for the summer, we’d like to remind you of some things that could make it easier to get back up-to-speed in the fall when you return:

• Make sure to request archival of WebCT courses that you’re planning to use again. More information about this is available on the WebCT support site.
• Unsubscribe to any e-mail lists if you’re not planning to regularly check your UMN e-mail over the summer. Alternatively, set up forwarding to where you will be checking your e-mail. While you’re at it, if you’re not planning to read your UMN e-mail, put in an “away” message to let people know. Instructions on how to do that are available on the dirtools web site under “Set e-mail forwarding and auto-reply.”
• Adjunct faculty may want to leave contact information with their department since e-mail and directory information typically are removed when you go off the payroll for the summer.
• If you have a laptop and are taking it with you during the summer, make sure that you regularly check for operating system updates so that you won’t be “behind” when you get back in the fall.
• Check the IT News blog occasionally during the summer for updates on our progress with projects.

Posted by John Grosen at 07:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Just in time for summer break, a great new service is now available to all CDes faculty, staff, and students: NetFiles. NetFiles is a file storage service supported by OIT that is accessed through a web browser. Every NetFiles user is given five gigabytes of space to store their files. Because you work with NetFiles through a web browser, it means you can access your files anywhere there’s a computer and a connection to the Internet!
You can also use NetFiles to share files, under your control, with anyone regardless of whether or not they have a NetFiles login. By default, files uploaded to NetFiles are not shared with anyone. However, if you want to share something, you can! That means faculty and researchers have a quick and easy way to share documents with colleagues around campus, at other institutions, or both. Students can create their own groups for class projects or share files with friends.
The NetFiles system is also a personal web server. A special folder (directory) named “www” is created automatically in your NetFiles storage space. Any files you put in that folder are accessible by the public as web content. Keep in mind that you need to respect copyright laws and the U’s acceptable use policies for anything you put in NetFiles, especially in a public web site.
To get the NetFiles service you need to sign up. Full details and information about how to get signed up are available at this web site.

Posted by John Grosen at 06:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

While students and faculty are enjoying the summer break, CDes IT and OIT/ADCS staff will be working hard making improvements in Rapson and McNeal Hall computer labs.
The “CALASTUDENT” login is going away in Rapson Hall. On both campuses, students will be logging into lab computers with their Internet (X.500) login and password. As part of this change, some of the “behind the scenes” infrastructure will be changing which will mean different ways to access network storage (class folders). For more details on the UMN Active Directory (UMNAD) service see the web site. More details about the college’s plans are available via the FAQ.
A new color plotter, identical to those in Rapson, will be installed in McNeal Hall. New computers, both Mac and PC, will be installed in many of the McNeal labs. The primary Rapson teaching lab, room 33, will have new computers installed as well (based on expected funding levels). The color laser printers will be replaced in Rapson.
Many popular application software packages will be updated including AutoCAD, ArcGIS, and the Creative Suite. There may be some new software titles added on both campuses (depending on funding) like ECOTECT in Rapson and OptiTEX in McNeal.
So, as you can see, there will be a lot of work going on over the summer months. There will be more information available next fall and, of course, lab staff in Rapson and McNeal will be available to answer questions and help out. Make sure to check the CDes Labs web site during the summer for progress updates.

Posted by John Grosen at 06:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In a continuing effort to improve the security of enterprise information, OIT has announced a new authentication system that will be protecting CAH-enabled applications:

• University Initiatives Tracking Tool (UITT)
• Enterprise Document Management System (EDMS)
• PeopleSoft HR/SA systems

At this time, the PeopleSoft Financials system is not included but likely will be in the future. In addition to the above services, anyone who accesses OIT's central servers or Oracle databases will also be required to use the new authentication system. The new system will be deployed beginning in July of this year.

The change is the introduction of a "two factor" authentication system. What this means is that, in addition to the enterprise password, you will also need to use a special device that randomly generates a code that will need to be input. The university will provide the device and training on how to use it.

More details about the two factor authentication system are available here. If you have questions or concerns please contact John Grosen

Posted by John Grosen at 04:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I'm pleased to announce that the CDes IT staff who are not working out of McNeal Hall will now have regular office hours there each week. Hopefully this will make it easier for faculty and staff in McNeal Hall to get to know your IT staff and to be able to stop by and visit about a service we provide. The following schedule will be effective April 2nd until further notice:

From time-to-time, something may come up that will conflict with this schedule. Times listed as "Open" will not be staffed for now. Please note that Tuesday mornings lists both Carl Leeper and Jenny Switala. They will alternate office hours each week.

To help you decide who you might want to stop by and visit, here are each person's area of expertise/responsibility:

Jeff Williams: Network and Server Administration
Chris Bucksa: Manager, Desktop Support
John Grosen: Director
Theresa Tichich: Manager, Web and Multimedia Services
Carl Leeper: Lab and Help Line Manager
Jenny Switala: Lab and Help Line

You don't need an appointment to see someone but it might save you time if someone else has stopped by before you. Contact information for all of the IT staff is in the college directory.

Office hours will be held in 32 McNeal in the cubicle adjacent to the hotel space and across from Pat Wright's cubicle.

We hope that this will make us more accessible and improves our service. If you have any comments or questions please contact John Grosen, IT Director at 6-3615 or jgrosen@umn.edu.

Posted by John Grosen at 04:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We've had several people express interest in subscribing to the RSS feed for this blog. Newer versions of Firefox and Internet Explorer (2.x and 7 respectively) know what to do when you click on the subscribe link in the blog. Older versions do not. Rather than using a web browser, the Thunderbird e-mail client can be used to subscribe and read RSS feeds just like reading e-mail. The instructions for doing this are here.

If you have any problems with the instructions please call the HelpLine (6-7760) and let us know.

Posted by John Grosen at 04:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Qualcomm, the company that markets and supports the Eudora e-mail client, has announced that they are discontinuing the product. We know that there are some in the college who use this e-mail client. Although we don't recommend or support Eudora (the university and we recommend Thunderbird), we certainly don't want to see anyone who does use it inconvenienced. Thus this announcement.

According to the Eudora web site versions 7.1 and 6.2.4, for Windows and MacOS respectively, will be the last releases. Many Eudora users have been using the "sponsored" version which is free but only if you agree to accept the advertising messages from their "sponsors." Sponsorship, obviously, is ending and the sponsored mode version will revert to "lite" mode (which is functionally limited) at the end of March. If the lite version won't meet your needs, an option is to purchase the full version for $20 which will be a perpetual license.

We do not recommend that you continue to use Eudora. Given that it will no longer be supported the future is uncertain, at best. If there were to be a security vulnerability discovered it may not be fixed. In addition, the current version may not run on Windows Vista or MacOS 10.5 (Leopard) when the college upgrades to those new operating systems in the future. Qualcomm is turning the source code over to the open source community and it's possible that it could continue to thrive as an open source project. There isn't any news on that front, however.

We do recommend that you let us help you convert to Thunderbird as your e-mail software. This kind of change can be very disruptive, we know. E-mail software, because it is used so frequently, becomes second nature after a while and changes are very hard to deal with. In this case, the disruption will be worthwhile in the long run. You'll not have to worry about problems with Eudora not getting fixed. You'll also have support from the university and the college if you run into problems. We've already helped several people (including the dean!) make the change and it seems to have worked out fine.

If you are a Eudora user and would like to make the change, please call the CDes Help Line at 6-7760 and let us know. We'd be glad to help you convert to Thunderbird so that this doesn't turn into a problem for you later on.

Posted by John Grosen at 02:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Rapson Hall computer labs will be closed during Spring Break, beginning Friday, March 9th, at 4:30 p.m. with regular hours resuming on Sunday, March 18th. Color laser printing will be disabled during this time but black and white laser printing will be available. Of course, students with card key access will continue to be able to use the labs. We are not planning any major changes or updates to the computers during the break but some computers or resources may be unavailable without advance notice during the break.

Thank you for your patience and understanding!

Posted by College of Design Information Technology at 04:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Daylight Savings Time (DST) will begin three weeks earlier this year and last one week longer. We “spring ahead” on March 11th and “fall back” on November 4th. The change is intended to save valuable energy. There is also the additional benefit of another four weeks of more daylight hours after work which is good news for us! Unfortunately, this change is potentially confusing for our computers.

Each computer has built-in rules for daylight savings time so that they can automatically update the time when necessary. The old rules need to be updated or the time won’t change correctly. Most computers in the college should have automatically updated and be ready for this change. However, there are some that may still be running old versions of operating systems or, for some other reason, haven’t been updating automatically. We’ve found many of these already but we want to make sure which is why we’re making this information available. We need your help.

One of our staff (Jeff Williams) has come up with a very easy way for you to test whether your computer is ready for the DST change. Simply start your web browser and go to this page. When your browser loads the page you see should have a bright green dot that means all is well. If you see a red (or yellow) dot then please call the CDes IT Help Line (6-7760) right away. By the way, although we can’t help with your home computer(s), you can use this web page to check them as well. There are links for Microsoft, MacOS, and Linux users at the bottom of the page.

Another thing that you’ve heard lately is that some calendar events in UMcal might be incorrect as a result of this change. Again, most of us won’t be affected. Just in case, why not take a minute to read the information from the UMcal folks here.

Enjoy the spring and summer!

Posted by College of Design Information Technology at 04:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)