Minutes for Admin Computer Support Meeting - October 9, 2002
Location and Time:
NH 3001; 1:30pm
Attendees:
Donna Schell (Bookings), Lynn Snider (Athletics), Victor Lufer (AV), Lorraine
Nesbitt (Counselling); Ildiko Denes (Disabled Students), Sean Warren (DCE),
Catherine Fry (Ethical Behaviour), Linda Howe (I&PA), Pat Moore (Faculty
Assoc), Michele Sguigna (Food Services), Betty Toews (FSO), Lynn Judge (GSO),
Chris Strome (HS), Alice Pelkman (HR), Rick Digby (Housing), Sheila Hurley (Safety
Office), Sam Schmidt (IAP), Koorus Bookan (LT3), Lauri MacLeod (Retail Services),
Terry Taylor (Purchasing), Donna McCracken and Monica Wielonda (Plant Ops),
Angus Rogerson (Retail Services), Barb Yantha (Staff Assoc), Cathy Hale (Office
of Research - 3rd floor), Brigid Wells (Secretariat), Peter Carette (UW Theatre
Centre), Verna Keller (TRACE), Ian Turner (ODAA), Ann Simpson (Turnkey Desk).
IST Attendees:
Bob Hicks (Presenter), Marj Kohli (Presenter), Pat Lafranier (Chair), Lisa
Tomalty (Presenter), Carol Vogt (Presenter), Sandy Laughlin.
Agenda:
- Welcome (Pat Lafranier)
- Bits and Bytes of Info (Pat)
- Astra Schedule deployment status (Pat)
- New Request System (Lisa Tomalty)
- Calendar and Scheduling Software (Carol Vogt)
- Dreamweaver MX (Carol)
- Virus Protection and hoaxes (Marj Kohli)
- Windows 2000 Update (Bob Hicks)
- Wrap-Up (Pat)
Minutes:
- Pat welcomed everyone.
- Keep email checking to a minimum of 15 minutes. Also keep your IN, OUT and
Trash mailboxes to a minimum.
- No web-based training available at this time. Still searching for a product.
- Windows 95 and 98 workstations (and ME although we probably don't have ME
on campus) should have a security patch installed. Pat described the process
for the individual to follow. Email will be sent sometime soon describing
these steps.
- Pat mentioned that if your primary or backup computer support person changes,
please let her know.
- Support is still handled via request@ist, calling the IST CHIP HelpDesk
at ext 4357, or by using the request system on the web at: https://ist.uwaterloo.ca/request.
IST contact for Financial Services and Office of Research- 2nd floor will
be Sandy Laughlin. Peggy Day continues with the rest of NH. Lisa Tomalty
handles the departments outside of NH (except FSO) and she will be replaced
by Phil Knipe when she goes on maternity leave. (Post meeting info: Reg Leland
continues with Macintosh support in all areas.)
- Astra Schedule deployment is delayed. Testing of the web-version may occur
this fall. A web-version would make it much easier than having someone visit
each PC to install the client software. A question was asked as to the time-frame
of when Astra will be available. The answer was maybe in early 2003. In the
meantime continue contacting Nancy Costa for academic-related room bookings,
and Donna Schell for non-academic room bookings. Any questions can be referred
to Charlene Schumm at ext. 2711.
- Lisa gave a demo of the new request system, which will be on a new server
called mona. Same method can be used to access - request@ist or the web although
the web version is the preferred method. Slightly modified appearance. Tentative
live date is October 29th although an announcement will be made ahead of time.
There was a question regarding the many messages that would be sent to the
requester but Lisa said the requester should only get "comment"-type
emails and an email when the request is resolved.
- Carol Vogt spoke about the Calendar
project that began in the spring 2002. Representatives from across campus
met to the determine requirements for a possible replacement to Synchronize.
Obtained software to determine if it contained required features. Determined
one product called "Corporate Time" from Steltor. However on July
3rd, Oracle purchased Steltor and the product's future was unclear. The decision
was made to put the project on hold to see what would happen with the future
of Corporate Time. In the meantime, Crosswind, the company that produced Synchronize
was looking more promising. They intend to enhance its product to be able
to send emails (including non-Synchronize users) about meetings and to attach
documents to a meeting. In addition, perhaps using a Blackberry would be possible
in the future.
- Carol also spoke about the new version of Dreamweaver MX, which has a different
interface. Has the ability to create pop-up menus or to modify pop-up menus
created in Fireworks. For people not handling pop-ups, not many new features
and perhaps you could stay with Dreamweaver 4.
- Virus Protection
and Hoaxes - Marj Kohli spoke about recent viruses. Check her web site for
more information. Also, not to send chain letters, and to check hoax pages
before acting.
- Windows 2000 Update
- Bob Hicks gave a summary of the deployement of Windows 2000 project. Thanked
testers and computer support people for their assistance. He mentioned that
shared local printers will not be supported. Virus scanning is done at night
and if a virus is found the user receives an email that the virus was either
deleted or quarantined. IST is looking at SUS (Software Update Service) to
push out critical patches quickly. Also mentioned that the next new image
will have Eudora set up to delete attachments when its email message is deleted.
Originally thought the deployment would end on Feb 14th but will be extended
to the end of the winter term perhaps. All departments have been contacted
regarding deployment except no response from Graphic Services.
- Wrap-Up - Pat thanked participants and attendees for coming. Have an enjoyable
Thanksgiving weekend.
Minutes by Pat Lafranier and Sandy Laughlin.
Last updated by Pat Lafranier, October 11, 2002.
Keywords: (none)
