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CaTS News for Spring Quarter 2011

Friday, March 11, 2011

Below you'll find information on some of the upcoming changes CaTS is making to ensure the university's computing environment stays secure and accessible. If you have questions about any of these projects, feel free to contact the Help Desk at (937) 775-4827 or 1-888-775-4827.

1) Transition from McAfee Anti-virus to Microsoft Forefront


In April 2011, CaTS will begin phasing out the use of the McAfee Anti-virus software currently in use on all university Windows-based computers, and will be making a transition to Microsoft Forefront Security software. During this transition, all university-owned Windows-based computers will automatically receive the Microsoft Forefront software over the campus network, while the McAfee Anti-virus software will be automatically removed. This process runs in the background of your computer; you will not need to do anything to complete this process. Also note that this change will not occur on Macintosh computers; CaTS is currently evaluating an alternative for that platform.

For faculty and staff with home computers and for currently enrolled students, CaTS will offer the Windows version of Microsoft Security Essentials software free of charge, which includes anti-virus protection. This software can be downloaded on the CaTS Anti-virus website, located at Anti-virus Software.

Please note: You MUST uninstall any anti-virus software (such as McAfee) that is currently installed on your home computer in order to successfully install the Microsoft Security Essentials software. If you would like assistance with uninstalling anti-virus software from your computer, please contact the CaTS Help Desk at (937) 775-4827, or toll free at 1-888-775-4827.

2) Upcoming Changes to Mute Option on Classroom Video Projector


Beginning in spring quarter, instructors who use the video projectors in the classrooms will see a change to how the MUTE function operates. Currently, pressing the MUTE button for the projector hides the instructor station’s screen from the classroom’s view. However, if the MUTE button is not turned off after the class is over, the lamps in the video projector continue to burn, building up harmful levels of heat. This can cause the lamps to burn out earlier than they should.

To remedy this, CaTS will begin setting the MUTE button to timeout after 24 minutes. Once an instructor presses the MUTE button, the screen image will disappear, but after 24 minutes, the MUTE button will turn itself off and the screen image will reappear.

Further instructions on using the MUTE button will be placed in a prominent location in all classrooms with a video projector. If you have questions concerning this change, please contact the CaTS Help Desk at (937) 775-4827 or 1-888-775-4827.

3) New Requirement for Accessing the unixapps1 Server From Off Campus


On March 22, 2011, CaTS will begin requiring all users who connect to the unixapps1 server from an off campus connection to use the university’s VPN connection (see more information below). The unixapps1 server is used by students to access applications such as MySQL, Oracle databases, SAS for statistics, source code compilers such as GNU C, and their personal university website. Faculty and staff also use the unixapps1 server to access their personal websites.

The university’s VPN connection allows authorized users to securely connect to the WSU data network, and prevents unauthorized use of the network. To connect to the unixapps1 server from off campus, you will be required to install the VPN software on your computer and use it to connect to the university’s network. To learn more about the university’s VPN connection, including download, installation, and usage instructions, please visit The VPN Website.

4) Peer to Peer File Sharing Now Blocked on WSU Wireless Network


On March 22, 2011, CaTS will begin blocking all peer-to-peer file sharing on the campus authenticated wireless network (the “WSU Wireless” signal). For our purposes, peer-to-peer file sharing is defined as using software or other methods to illegally download music, movies, and software using the university wireless network. This change is being made to reduce the amount of this illegal downloading. If you use the wireless signal for normal web browsing, this change will not limit your ability to download legitimate software or use the Internet. If you have questions concerning this change, please contact the CaTS Help Desk at (937) 775-4827 or 1-888-775-4827.
 

CaTS Classroom News for Faculty

Thursday, November 18, 2010

 

Below are some of the upcoming projects CaTS is working on to enhance the classroom environment. If you have questions about any of these projects, feel free to contact the Help Desk at (937) 775-4827 or 1-888-775-4827.

1) Office 2010 for Windows & Adobe Creative Suite CS5 for Windows & Mac


As previously announced, all CaTS-managed classrooms and labs will be upgraded to Office 2010 for Windows in time for winter quarter. Microsoft Office 2010 Pro Plus features Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Publisher and OneNote and replaces Office 2007. File formats have not changed, so documents can easily be shared between the two versions. Faculty and staff that wish to upgrade their departmental PC to Office 2010 can request a free upgrade through the Help Desk.

The Adobe Creative Suite used in CaTS-managed facilities will also be upgraded in December. Creative Suite CS5 Design Premium includes Photoshop Extended, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat Pro, Flash Professional and Dreamweaver. Design Premium CS5 replaces the older CS3 suite in the Windows PC labs. The 058L Macintosh lab that formerly ran Master Suite CS3 will also move to Design Premium CS5.

2) Virus Protection


Earlier this summer, McAfee virus and spyware protection software was installed in computer classrooms and labs. As always, when any of these computers are restarted, they are returned to a standard, clean configuration. By adding the anti-virus software, the computers will be further protected while they are in use.

The most common viruses we find in the public labs are spread through the use of USB thumb drives and portable hard disks. We strongly urge you to scan your flash/thumb drives regularly. Whenever you open a file from a USB drive, the computer will automatically scan the document and warn you if it finds a virus infection. Do not ignore these messages. If you need assistance in removing a virus, please contact the Help Desk.

One last tip – please allow the Windows PC or Mac enough time to fully boot and start up before inserting your USB drive. This gives the anti-virus software time to load. Once the icons appear on the desktop it is safe to insert your USB device.

3) Patches and Updates


CaTS will apply several patches and updates to all managed workstations in preparation for winter quarter 2011. These patches typically include relevant Microsoft updates to core applications such as media players, productivity applications, commonly used utilities and some department/discipline specific applications. Some of the items that will be patched or updated are as follows (this is not a complete list, but it represents some of the most commonly used items):

- Microsoft Windows (system updates and patches will be installed)
- Statistical Applications (SAS, PASW, STATA and R)
- Media Players (Real Player, QuickTime, Windows Media Player)
- Adobe Applications and Plug-Ins (Flash, Adobe Reader and Shockwave)

4) Reporting Issues in Electronic and Computer Classrooms


All CaTS-managed teaching facilities are equipped with a telephone which can be used to contact the Help Desk at x4827. All calls from these locations receive priority status and handling to minimize the impact on instruction. If you prefer to report a problem online, go to the Report Classroom Problems link under Labs and Classrooms on the CaTS homepage.

5) Requesting New Software


All classroom PCs are set up with a wide variety of software. Applications can also be installed on an as-needed basis by the user, as long as the installation does not require a reboot of the computer. In the event that an application needed for instruction is too complicated or too large to install on an as-needed basis, instructors can request that the application be made available throughout the quarter. For more information on software request procedures, please review the document located at https://www.wright.edu/cats/policy/labs/cats_procedures.pdf . A list of currently available software is published on the CaTS website under the Labs & Classrooms link.

6) Windows 7 Testing


CaTS is evaluating the deployment of Windows 7 and Internet Explorer 8 in campus computing facilities. Two labs are now available for testing software running under Windows 7. CaTS asks that instructors test their applications in either the 026 or 016 Library Annex labs and let the Help Desk know of any problems or software compatibility issues. Based on current plans, Windows 7 will be deployed to all Windows systems in labs and classrooms for fall quarter 2011.

7) Projector Tip: Display Mute


Projection equipment located in the electronic classrooms and computer classrooms (teaching labs) has the ability to have the screen blanked, allowing the instructor to temporarily block display of their screen to the class. The projector is still powered on, but nothing is displayed. Screen blanking can be quickly activated and DE-activated by pressing the Display MUTE button on the video-switching panel located in the classrooms. Please remember to UN-mute the display and power off the projection equipment when you are finished using an electronic or computer classroom. The projector and lamp are still powered on and running when in display mute mode, and if run for extended periods will shorten the life of the equipment.

Questions or Comments?
If you have questions or concerns about any of the topics presented here, please contact the CaTS Help Desk through email at helpdesk@wright.edu or by phone at (937) 775.4827.

 

 

News & Updates from CaTS

Friday, October 29, 2010

Below are some of the upcoming projects CaTS is working on for the fall and winter quarters. If you have questions about any of these projects, feel free to contact the Help Desk at (937) 775-4827 or 1-888-775-4827.

1) Office 2010 and Adobe CS5 Upgrades for CaTS Labs/Classrooms


By the beginning of winter quarter, all CaTS-managed electronic classrooms and computer labs will receive two major software upgrades: Office 2010 (Windows-only) and Adobe CS5. Microsoft Office 2010 features Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Publisher and OneNote and replaces the older Office 2007. File formats have not changed, so documents can easily be shared between the two versions. Faculty and staff that wish to upgrade their departmental PC to Office 2010 can request a free upgrade through the Help Desk.

The Adobe Creative Suite used in CaTS-managed facilities will also be upgraded in time for winter quarter. Adobe Creative Suite Design Premium CS5 includes Photoshop Extended, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat Pro, Flash Professional and Dreamweaver. Design Premium CS5 replaces the older CS3 suite. The 058 Library Macintosh classroom formerly ran the Master Suite CS3 and will also move to the Design Premium Suite CS5.

2) Windows 7 Testing for CaTS Labs/Classrooms


Currently, CaTS is evaluating Windows 7 for future use in our computer classrooms, open labs and electronic classrooms. At this time, two labs (016 and 026 Library Annex) have Windows 7 installed and are available if you want to test software for compatibility. We ask that instructors test their applications in either of these labs and let the Help Desk know of any problems or software compatibility issues.

3) Active Directory Transition


In the summer of 2010, CaTS began transitioning our file storage and printing network infrastructure from Novell Directory Services to Microsoft Active Directory. Novell is the system on campus that is used to facilitate access to network drives such as your H:\ and K:\ (also called users and shared on a Mac), as well as access to network printers.

This new infrastructure will give CaTS the ability to meet future needs and expectations of our users by providing them with better system functionality and tools to conduct their daily operations.

If you would like to learn more about this transition, please visit our Active Directory Transition website, located at https://www.wright.edu/cats/ad/ . You’ll find answers to frequently asked questions concerning this change.

4) Atomic Learning for Wright State University


Recently, CaTS acquired a license for a product called Atomic Learning. Atomic Learning offers video tutorials on current and popular software titles, including Microsoft Office and products from Adobe. All university faculty, staff, and students now have access to the full library of videos included in Atomic Learning. If you'd like to get started using this resource, follow these steps:

1) Log in to WINGS (http://wings.wright.edu)
2) Click on the “Resources” tab.
3) Under the “Training & Workshops” channel, look for the “Computing and Telecommunications Services (CaTS)” area.
4) Click the “Atomic Learning for Wright State University” link.
5) Login with your campus username and password.

If you have questions concerning Atomic Learning, feel free to contact the CaTS Help Desk at (937) 775-4827, or toll free at 1-888-775-4827.

5) New Email Service for Students


This winter, Wright State University is launching RaiderMail, a brand new student e-mail system with lots of features that students have been asking for. RaiderMail uses the Microsoft Live@edu service, and it provides incredible amounts of inbox storage (10 GB), the ability to collaborate on class and club projects, remote access to documents, and a wright.edu email address. More details about RaiderMail, its benefits and features, and the procedures for signing up will be discussed further in an upcoming email. Faculty and staff should note that RaiderMail is only for students; it will not affect your email inbox or change how you communicate via email with your students.

Questions or Comments?
If you have questions or concerns about any of the topics presented here, please contact the CaTS Help Desk through email at helpdesk@wright.edu or by phone at (937) 775.4827.

News from CaTS for August 2010

Wednesday, August 18, 2010
1. Wireless Network Authentication Coming August 23


The Wright State University wireless network was established to give WSU students, faculty, and staff convenient access to the internet and WSU computer systems. Currently, the wireless network allows free and open access to everyone, including those who have no affiliation with WSU.

On August 23, 2010, CaTS will establish authentication requirements on all campus wireless networks and the wired networks in the residence halls. This is being done to ensure WSU’s network is not being used by non-affiliated individuals.

CaTS would also like to make you aware that beginning on August 23 when this change takes effect, you will need to install a small software program that allows wireless authentication to work. You will only need to install this software once. To see more information about this process, including authentication directions and how to install the above-mentioned software, see the following website: https://www.wright.edu/cats/wireless/authentication.html .

2. Power Upgrade on August 29


CaTS will be performing a power upgrade on Sunday, August 29, 2010, from 5:30am - 4:30pm. Access to all systems on the network will be unavailable during this time.

3. Removal of Modem Banks on August 31


CaTS would like to remind the university that on August 31, 2010, we will be removing all dial-up modem banks on campus. These modems are currently being used by faculty, staff, and students to obtain free dial-up internet access on their home computer. After August 31, those who currently use this service will need to seek other means of internet access such as an ISP (Internet Service Provider) or cable provider. If you have questions concerning removal of the modem banks or how this will affect your at-home internet access, please contact the CaTS Help Desk at 775-4827.

Below are examples of companies that provide comparable dial-up services.

AOL Basic Dial-up:
http://free.aol.com/tryaolfree/index3.adp?promo=804300&service=aol&sem=1...

NetZero: http://www.netzero.net

Coming Soon: Wireless Network Authentication

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

The Wright State University wireless network was established to give WSU students, faculty, and staff convenient access to the internet and WSU computer systems. Currently, the wireless network allows free and open access to everyone, including those who have no affiliation with WSU.

On August 23, 2010, CaTS will establish authentication requirements on all campus wireless networks and the wired networks in the residence halls. This is being done to ensure WSU’s network is not being used by non-affiliated individuals.

CaTS would also like to make you aware that beginning on August 23 when this change takes effect, you will need to install a small software program that allows wireless authentication to work. You will only need to install this software once. To see more information about this process, including authentication directions and how to install the above-mentioned software, see the following website: https://www.wright.edu/cats/wireless/authentication.html.

If you have any questions or concerns about wireless network authentication, please contact the CaTS Help Desk at 775-4827.

Reminder: Removal of Modem Banks

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

CaTS would like to remind the university that on August 31, 2010, we will be removing all dial-up modem banks on campus. These modems are currently being used by faculty, staff, and students to obtain free dial-up internet access on their home computer. After August 31, those who currently use this service will need to seek other means of internet access such as an ISP (Internet Service Provider) or cable provider. If you have questions concerning removal of the modem banks or how this will affect your at-home internet access, please contact the CaTS Help Desk at 775-4827.

Below are examples of companies that provide comparable dial-up services.

AOL Basic Dial-up:
http://free.aol.com/tryaolfree/index3.adp?promo=804300&service=aol&sem=1...

NetZero: http://www.netzero.net

Final Reminder: Important Information About Using VPN

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Please note: If you have requested Virtual Private Network (VPN) access from CaTS within the last 4 months (through The VPN Website) you can disregard this message.

As someone who has previously used the Wright State University Virtual Private Network (VPN) connection, CaTS would like to make you aware of the following information regarding VPN.

Earlier this year, CaTS implemented a new VPN software client, and along with that a new process for requesting and using the software. If you have not requested access to VPN within the last 4 months, please be aware that the VPN software you currently use will no longer work after June 30, 2010, due to discontinued support from the software manufacturer.

If you are using the old software client and would still like to use the VPN connection, you will need to request this access through the following website: The VPN Website. You will be guided through each step of the process, from download to installation.

If you have any questions about this change, please contact the Help Desk at 775-4827, 1-888-775-4827, or send an email to helpdesk@wright.edu.

Reminder: Important Information About Using VPN

Monday, June 21, 2010

Please note: If you have requested Virtual Private Network (VPN) access from CaTS within the last 4 months (through The VPN Website) you can disregard this message.

As someone who has previously used the Wright State University Virtual Private Network (VPN) connection, CaTS would like to make you aware of the following information regarding VPN.

Earlier this year, CaTS implemented a new VPN software client, and along with that a new process for requesting and using the software. If you have not requested access to VPN within the last 4 months, please be aware that the VPN software you currently use will no longer work after June 30, 2010, due to discontinued support from the software manufacturer.

If you are using the old software client and would still like to use the VPN connection, you will need to request this access through the following website: The VPN Website. You will be guided through each step of the process, from download to installation.

If you have any questions about this change, please contact the Help Desk at 775-4827, 1-888-775-4827, or send an email to helpdesk@wright.edu.

CaTS News: WINGS Express PIN Policy

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

CaTS would like to inform the university about two important security changes regarding the WINGS Express system. Beginning May 27, 2010, all users logging in to WINGS Express will be required to do the following:

1) Enter a new, 8-14 character PIN for your account.
2) Select two security questions and provide an answer to those questions.

CaTS has made this change to increase the security of your account. We recommend that you login to WINGS Express, change your PIN, and pick your security questions as soon as possible after the May 27 transition. By doing so, you will ensure that your account is ready to use before you need to complete time sensitive tasks such as entering grades, registering for classes, or entering time sheets.

For detailed information and answers to common questions concerning this new policy, please see the following website: https://www.wright.edu/cats/general/pin_faq.html.

Important Information About Using VPN

Monday, May 10, 2010

Please note: If you have requested Virtual Private Network (VPN) access from CaTS within the last 4 months (through The VPN Website) you can disregard this message.

As someone who has previously used the Wright State University Virtual Private Network (VPN) connection, CaTS would like to make you aware of the following information regarding VPN.

Earlier this year, CaTS implemented a new VPN software client, and along with that a new process for requesting and using the software. If you have not requested access to VPN within the last 4 months, please be aware that the VPN software you currently use will no longer work after June 30, 2010, due to discontinued support from the software manufacturer.

If you are using the old software client and would still like to use the VPN connection, you will need to request this access through the following website: The VPN Website. You will be guided through each step of the process, from download to installation.

If you have any questions about this change, please contact the Help Desk at 775-4827, 1-888-775-4827, or send an email to helpdesk@wright.edu.

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Computing and Telecommunications Services (CaTS)

Location: 
025 Library Annex
Phone: 
937-775-4827
Toll-free Number: 
1-888-775-4827
Email: 

helpdesk@wright.edu

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