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Systems Support Users
Group Minutes |
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Systems Support Users
Group Minutes |
recorded by Kriss Davis
Present: Dave Bentlin, Linda
Thomas, Kriss Davis, Tom Fowles, Dudley Roach, Ballard McCleskey, Eric Hodges,
Carmen Plummer, Amanda Parker, Julie Goodlick, Shirley Murphy, Tina Wright,
Luanne VanMeter, Rachel Calhoun
Absent: Bob Aaron, Shannon Covey, Pam Beach, Kathy Beal
Eric asked the group to introduce themselves and the areas they represent. There
are new members to the group (replacing former representatives) and new
representatives from areas on campus that had not had representation before. (We
are going to need a bigger room). One suggestion was the Spotlight room in Bone.
Eric announced that system support is taking over desktop and some other support
items for the Athletics area. This is a pretty large increase in number of
desktops to support. Also, this area has a lot of folks that travel and need
support for mobile connectivity. Eric asked for and received authorization to
add two new staff members and 2 new student workers. One big project will be to
get this area converted to the standard "desktop build" and standardize their
hardware and software purchases. Multiple new buildings in this area are
involved in the support. Eric assured the group that service to his current
support areas will not suffer.
The next item for discussion was the recent Windows Updates that kicked off at
the wrong time of day. The process as it had worked in the past was, when
Microsoft released updates to WINDOWS, they were first held by system support
and reviewed. Once reviewed, the updates were released by system support. The
release is a "scheduled event" that is supposed to happen during off work hours.
For some reason, the updates started to be distributed immediately, not waiting
for the automated/timed release at night this week. There was a mandatory reboot
in this update process and some users lost there sessions and some data as they
were not at their desktops to delay the reboot request. This happened rather
selectively and system support is still doing some investigation on why this is
happening. Until it is resolved, anytime WINDOWS updates are going to be
released, a warning to all users will be made to watch for a possible reboot
request the next day.
The planning for the deployment of the Windows XP operating system is moving
forward. Athletics may be the first to receive this update as their machines
will require rebuilding anyway to move them to the standard system support build
(see above item).
One question for the group (and their constituency) is what the default look and
feel ought to be for XP. XP can be made to look more like the current windows
environment by default. Or it can be delivered initially with the "new" XP look
and feel. Eric asked each representative to discuss it with their folks. It was
brought up that it will be hard to solicit input from people that do not know
what XP looks like (and therefore would not have anyway to make a valid
comparison). Eric mentioned that many people know what XP looks like as they use
it on their home computers. Another idea was that it may be good to deliver XP
with the "old" interface. That anyone that would really like the new interface
is probably savvy enough to follow the simple directions to turn the new
interface on. The opposite would not necessarily be true. Eric would still like
the representatives to ask their groups and have this decision driven by the
system support users group as a whole.
Eric stated his group is looking at some possible training items for athletics.
How to use folders wisely, etc. etc. Also, some training on RightFAX is being
planned. He asked the group to think about whether people in their respective
area might want to particpate in this training or have other training needs they
want to see addressed.
Eric announced that TNSS stated dial-up connectivity to the University is
scheduled to terminate during winter break. This means that everyone who
connects from off campus will need to make other arrangements (than dial-up) to
connect to ISU by then.
The future of Outlook and Exchange on campus was the next topic. As part of a 38
point security plan developed by various campus groups, a compromise has been
reached on OUTLOOK/EXCHANGE connectivity directly to the Internet. All Exchange
servers will connect to a network appliance that will provide standardized SPAM
and VIRUS filtering. Exchange and OUTLOOK will not be forcibly phased out as of
now. Two other items on this security plan were discussed. First, if a person
brings a computer/laptop on campus and wants to connect either through a public
port or wirelessly, they will not need a ulid to do so. HOWEVER, they will be
allocated a special "guest" level of access privilege that will most likely
include only web browsing. Second, Scott Genung has set up a "conditions of
access" policy for all computers connecting to the network. All computers
connecting MUST be running an up-to-date VIRUS scanner and have WINDOWS AUTO
UPDATES turned on and/or be up to date on WINDOWS updates. It is not clear how
this will be policed, but it appears that when a computer connects, it will
first be checked to see if it meets all conditions of access. If it does not, it
will be restricted to sites where problems with the computer's status can be
addressed (websites with the virus software available on it, etc.)
Microsoft Windows Messenger ( MWM, instant messaging application, kind of like
AOL instant messenger, but for on-campus, Exchange users only) will be deployed
once Eric communicates this intent to the Vice Presidents. Technical issues have
been resolved and the user group feels there is generally many positives to
having this software on desktops in their areas. The deployment may be a
voluntary installation of the software on the current Windows 2000 platform and
make MWM a part of the standard build when Windows XP is deployed.
A lengthy discussion occurred regarding the current challenges of caledaring
meeting across all campus areas. Also, the related issue of using using IPAQs
and other PDA's (Personal Digital Assistants) with OUTLOOK to synchronize
meeting times with Meeting maker. Various meeting participants are going to
think about the issues relating to calendaring and Meeting Maker and what seems
like a reasonable approach to pursue with management.
Finally, Carmen Plumber has volunteered to take over the note taking for this
group from Kriss Davis (editor's note: THANKS CARMEN!)