Academic Support Computer Rep General Meeting

Wednesday January 28th, 2009,

10 am - 12 noon, MC 2009

Minutes

Agenda:

• Desktop Rollover (Bob Hicks)
• Next steps for Email (Bob Hicks)
• Future of Bookit (Bob Hicks)
• IST Software Delivery Request website (Tim Farrell)
• GreenIT (Tim Farrell)
• Using TrueCrypt to keep data secure on laptops and memory sticks (Bob Hicks)
• Web Content Management System Project Update (Pat Lafranier)
• WatIAM (Peggy Day)

Desktop Rollover

The first 4-year phase of the desktop rollover program ends in August 2010. Most of the workstations in academic support areas that are eligible for the rollover program have been replaced. Computing support reps in rolllover departments are asked to check if they have FTE staff using workstations that are older than 4 years (e.g. Vault computers), and let Bob Hicks know. Additional Note added to these minutes: With the exception of those who have already submitted requests, we have now used up our rollover funds until May 1, 2009.

Departments not eligible for rollover can order Lenovo computers using the new web based page located here.

The M57 Lenovo workstation is available, and is in stock. The new M58 Lenovo will be available soon. Information about the M58, including it's green specificiations can be found here.

The 2nd 4-year phase of the rollover program will be delayed by a year. Rollover computers are being purchased for the International Olympiad for Informatics 2010. This means that the 4 year old Dell computers will be used for an extra year. The rollover program will resume in September 2010.

Next Steps for Email

The pilot for testing Exchange is finishing. Hardware has been ordered, and steps are being planned to move our admmail users to Exchange. This will done on a department by department basis. There will be more information about this soon.

Future of Bookit

Oracle is not going to enchange Oracle Calendar (Bookit). We need to find a new electronic calendaring program for UW faculty and staff. There is a project underway to investigate whether or not Exhange Calendar would be a suitable solution. Please note that the keyword is "investigation". A survey will be distributed to computing support reps soon to obtain feedback regarding electronic calendaring needs.

Software Delivery Website

Tim Farrell talked about the following software delivery website:

https://hickory.ads.uwaterloo.ca/Admin/Runas_Tools/reqsw.asp

There are currently four packages available for download.

GreenIT

Tim Farrell encouraged people to turn off their computers, monitors and printers before going home at night.

If you leave your workstation on at night and on weekends just to process email using remote desktop, you should consider using a web based email system. More information about GreenIT can be found at

http://ist.uwaterloo.ca/~tim

Using TrueCrypt to Keep Data Secure on Laptops and Memory Sticks

Truecrypt is a free utility for encrypting your sensitive data. If you lose your laptop or your memory stick, data kept in a TrueCrypt container can't be opened without a password or keyfile. IST is presenting courses about TrueCrypt. More information can be found at

http://ist.uwaterloo.ca/cs/Truecrypt.html

Web Content Managment System Update

Pat Lafranier summarized the work being done in the Web Content Management System project. The project team is down to 3 products.

WatIAM

Peggy Day gave a demonstration of WatIAM. Documentation can be found at

http://sharepoint.uwaterloo.ca/ist/cs

The cutover from UWdir to WatIAM will occur on Feb 20th thru Feb 22nd, and the go live date for WatIAM is Feb 23.

Next Meeting

Our next meeting will be scheduled for May 2009.