UNIVERSITY
TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE MINUTES
September 10, 1998
Members in attendance: Jeff
Vernooy, Peter Cheng, George Frey, Bonnie Mathies, Paul
Hernandez, Barbara Denison, Vicki Montavon, Donna Hamilton, Paul
Simmons, Dan DeStephen, David Grossie, Perry Moore
Discussion
by Larry Fox (CaTS)
Larry gave a brief update on CaTS role on operating systems for
Windows `95, `98, NT, 3.1, Mac OS 7.1 - 7.5, Mac OS 7.6 and 8.x,
client virus protection and mail client direction.
A) Windows `95 is the most
common operating system in labs, residence halls, faculty &
staff. This application is a stable system with much technical
support available through the vendors as well as CaTS and works
very well with the campus network. CaTS recommends the university
stay with this system for the immediate future. Windows `95 has
one small feature that is not year 2000 compliant; however, a
patch is available and will be deployed.
B) Windows `98 was
designed to fix approximately 5,000 problems which occurred in
the `95 system; however, there are numerous problems with the `98
release and, therefore, CaTS is recommending not deploying it
yet. It will also be the last release of the Windows operating
system.
C) Windows NT workstation
is the preferred operating system for web servers and Internet
database programs. Has much higher hardware requirements and DOS
compatibility problems. Limited hardware and software support.
CaTS does not recommend deployment for another 6 - 8 months,
unless specific software requirements warrant its use.
D) Windows 3.1 - Still
have approximately 150 machines on campus with this system. Since
it has been off market since 1993, it is very difficult to
support, as well as many significant Year 2000 issues. CaTS will
no longer do installation of 3.1 on new computers and no further
development will be done on the platform. CaTS recommends all 3.1
users upgrade to Windows `95 if at all possible.
E) Mac OS 7.1 - 7.5 - At
this time, CaTS is receiving minimal support from Apple and
software developers, along with limited Novell support. Have
application problems with regard to Y2K. CaTS recommends a phase
out for non-power PC processors on Macintosh system.
F) Mac OS 7.6 - 8.x - This
is a widely supported software system. Integrates very well with
university's current environment. No Y2K problems on operating
system or hardware. The next release of Mac OS 8.5 will be
released in October. CaTS recommendation is the Mac OS 8.1 for
the majority of users and Office `98.
CaTS is recommending that the University
Technology Committee assist in disseminating this information to
the campus community.
Client
Virus Protection
Many of the machines on campus are not deploying virus
protection. Therefore, CaTS is recommending that all PCs be
scanned every 72 hours. This will be done through the network and
users will be notified of any viruses found. Any users not on the
network may also request the installation of the virus scan. This
will save a significant amount of resources University-wide. Paul
Simmons will check the affects of automatic virus scanning on the
PCs that Media Services delivers to the classrooms. If approved
by the UTC members, this information will be published in
Quickbits and installation will be implemented in October.
Mail
Client Direction
The Mail Client Committee chose the Netscape Communicator
(Netscape 4) as the new standard package. It will replace Pegasus
Mail and will enable the user to read mail from any computer.
However, users with Windows 3.1 and older will not be capable of
running this software. If approved by UTC, this system will be
deployed campus-wide beginning in January and training will be
available at that time. The new e-mail user names will be
implemented during this same period, also.
A motion to vote was made on all of the
above recommendations and were passed with a unanimous vote of
approval.
Microsoft
Licensing Agreement - Paul Hernandez
CaTS has been discussing with Microsoft the possibility of
purchasing a campus-wide licensing agreement. in which the
University would pay an annual fee of $100,000 and, in return,
would receive all updates, a series of products including the
entire Microsoft Office suite, Front Page (web development
software), Virtual Studio Language suite, and all Microsoft
operating systems (Windows `95, `98, NT workstation). There is
also a licensing agreement with MacIntosh at a cost of $20,000,
bringing the total annual cost for the two agreements to
$120,000. At the present time, the University spends $135,000
each year on Microsoft and MacIntosh products. A licensing
agreement would also eliminate other overhead throughout the
University, such as budget transfers, tracking software licenses,
etc. The license is based on the number of FTE's, not the number
of machines on campus. CaTS, therefore, proposes subscribing to
the campus licensing agreement by using the student technology
fee as the source of revenue to pay for the agreement. This suite
of software products would also be available to all students
using Wright State equipment. The committee unanimously voted to
accept the recommendation and the Provost approved the use of
technology fee funds for the purchase.
Technology
Plan Update - Perry Moore
A draft of a technology plan was submitted to the Council of
Deans for review. This draft made suggestions as to the
distribution of the 1% student technology fee. After reviewing
and discussing the draft with the Deans, the Provost appointed an
Ad hoc committee with members from the Dean's Council to submit a
revised, detailed plan by the end of October in order to answer
some of the questions presented by the Deans.
Year 2000
Task Force/Responsible Use Policy - Vicki Montavon
The members should have received the updates from the Y2K Task
Force. The first undertaking of the committee was to produce an
inventory of all non-centrally supported hardware/software, data
systems and electronic equipment. Nineteen coordinators will have
this information submitted by the 15th of October. The Task Force
will then do an assessment and, by early January, should have a
better understanding of what actions need to be taken by the
University in order to be ready for the year 2000.
The Responsible Use Policy
has been sent to students and faculty by electronic mail. It is
also included in the Student Handbook and on Wright State's web
page.
Faculty
Computer Initiative - Barbara Denison
The number of computers being used by faculty which are less than
Pentiums is approximately 120. To add to this, CaTS has 50 lab
machines which have had memory upgrades that will be made
available to replace faculty computers. The Provost requested a
formal proposal from the committee specifying first priority for
faculty, replacement priority and cost-sharing by the Colleges.
By a unanimous vote, the UTC recommended to the Provost
proceeding with replacing identified faculty computers that are
less than the minimal configuration to meet the OhioLink access
purposes and proceed with the replacement as soon as possible.
The survey taken shows approximately 120 machines are needed to
be replaced. The committee also recommended that faculty with
multiple machines only upgrade one machine.
Internet
Service Provider (ISP) Status Report - Paul Hernandez
A committee of CaTS staff, School of Medicine, College of
Computer Science & Engineering and the Library was formed to
review responses to an RFP for an internet service provider. IBM
and Cincinnati Bell were the only two companies that responded.
Based on their responses, the committee concluded:
- There was no cost advantage.
- OhioLink access was an important
factor and both IBM and CB could provide the service,
however, OhioLink is working on a solution to access
which is non-IP focused. That solution should be
available within a year.
- When the campus community was
surveyed, there was not a high demand for OhioLink access
from their dial-in ISP.
- Finally, CaTS has finished expanding
the modem pool for students from 67 to 184 which will
offset much of the student demands. Based on these
conclusions, the committee recommended not proceeding
with an ISP.
There will not be a University
Technology Committee Meeting in October. The next scheduled
meeting will be November 12 from 3:00 - 5:00 PM.
|