SHSU Information Resources Update

Upgrade or Replace

A recent scan of campus machines revealed a number of nodes that are not as robust as would be advisable. Review the list of machines to see if yours is listed. If you are responsible for your departmental purchases, please look at the list for your co-workers too.

Check to see if your machine is considered marginal for RAM, CPU, or hard drive space. If your node is listed, work with your department chair to prepare a work order through SamWeb's Computer Services WO Purchase/Quote option to upgrade or replace your PC.

Hang On---Help is On the Way

Files: Have you had a time lag opening files saved on the T: drive? A new file system cluster is planned for late April. This will alleviate some of the space shortages on the T: drive. Still it's spring---so it's time for cleaning. Please look at your T: drive files and delete any that are no longer needed.

E-mail:

Twice this past week one of the mail servers crashed. This caused the other servers to back up with 24-hour delays. The mail servers have now been moved to larger machines and new scanners are in place.

With the high volume, the server started attempting desperately to catch up; it began processing the smallest e-mails first to try to decrease the load. This caused you to receive follow-up mail prior to the initial mail. A new setting has been implemented to ensure backlogs are processed first-in, first-out.

New monitoring procedures are in place to help detect backlogs before they reach the critical mass point.

The implementation of Microsoft Office Exchange 2007 is scheduled for the end of this month. Substantial testing will occur in these next few weeks. Then the initial phase will be to move the Exchange 2003 e-mail users to 2007. The next phase will be to move the remaining campus users to this robust, reliable system.

If you are still experiencing problems with e-mail, please call the Helpdesk at 294.1950.

SamMenu/SamWeb/Nell: Over the next several months (approximately six), we will be testing and converting from our existing database to Oracle. It is anticipated that you will see better performance during heavy use times such as registration and grade entry. Rather than a single server, the new system will be a four-node cluster.

Don't Wait to Talk to Us

We know you are frustrated. We perhaps do not fully know specifically and completely what your individual concerns are. Please call the Helpdesk at 41950. One of our student assistants or fulltime supervisors will put your problem in the Call Logs and/or the Work Order system. This will ensure our analysts and directors have the details available to know what/where/how to proceed.

We appreciate your giving us the chance to get things back on track.

Blackboard

The Blackboard consultants came to campus during spring break. With their expertise, we have now learned of additional enhancments that can be made.

During the week of May 18-25, our systems administrators will perform server maintenance and upgrade Bb to version 8. Bb will be unavailable for a portion of this week. If you are teaching a mini-mester course that meets during this time, please ensure you visit with the Blackboard team. They will work to accommodate your class if at all possible.

Training

Training is being offered for Indesign, PDF, and Contribute.

Check the Calendar for class times and sign up now to reserve your seat. You may also request one-on-one training or training for your department. Just e-mail the Helpdesk.

Don't Ask; Don't Tell

Please ensure if you have student or fulltime employees taking checks or looking at ID's that they know to NOT ask for the person's social security number. Although the campus created the SamID number many years ago, instances are still occurring of people being asked to provide ss#'s verbally or in writing. Please take a moment at your new employee orientation and/or at your staff meetings to reiterate this security rule.

Ask Early

If you are responsible for mass mailings (250 or more recipients), please submit those requests in SamWeb at least three days prior to the event.

More New Staff!

Steven Frey has rejoined the UCS-Systems department as the System Analyst Coordinator. Steven is a 2006 graduate of the SHSU Digital Forensics master's program and we are delighted to have his experience and institutional knowledge back on campus.

Michael Burns is the newest programmer analyst for the UCS-Administrative Applications department. Michael is completing his bachelor of science degree in computing science. We are very pleased to have Michael move from our student employee ranks to a fulltime career with UCS.

What's Good, What's Not, and What's Happening When?

The Helpdesk provides support for university equipment and software on the local area network. Each month's update will include the versions of software and minimum requirements for hardware with the new or changed information highlighted and bolded.

Memory Sticks: Purchase (and encourage your students to buy) flash drives that are USB Mass Storage Compliant.

Operating Systems: The supported version of Macintosh machines will be OS X, version 5 after the Leopard conversion which started in March 2008. The supported version of Microsoft's operating system is Windows XP. We are still evaluating the timeline for the move from XP to Windows Vista.

Software Packages: The supported versions of office suites are Microsoft's Office 2007 and WordPerfect 12 for PC's. The new version of an office suite for Macintoshes is Microsoft Office 2008 and is currently being packaged for installation on campus machines.

Hardware Configurations: The minimum requirements for SHSU local area network support for a PC are a 1Ghz processor, 512MB RAM, and a 40GB disk. With next summer's Vista roll-out, the minimum configuration will be a 2GHz processor, 1GB memory, and 80GB hard drive. The minimum requirements for a Macintosh on the LAN are a 733 Mhz processor, 512MB RAM, and a 40GB disk.

Computer Services may schedule significant periods of downtime for major system upgrades and maintenance. For your planning purposes, the weekend following each graduation will be set aside for scheduled outages. Additionally, certain systems may be unavailable on Friday nights after 6 p.m.

All offers, training, and software above pertain to faculty and staff at SHSU only. If you have any questions, compliments, comments, or concerns, please let us know.