Campus Wi-Fi Wireless Changes
Information Technology has been working on gradually upgrading
and expanding the campus wireless data network. Wi-Fi, IEEE
802.11b/g, wireless connections will soon be available in most
campus locations (see the
Wireless
Location Map for currently covered locations). IEEE 802.11a
service will also be offered in areas with high usage or
interference in the 802.11b/g frequency range.
Wireless Access Methods
Until January 1, 2008
Four UW wireless networks (SSIDs) are available:
-
UWyo (www.uwyo.edu/askit/displaydoc.asp?askitdocid=1769&parentid=1) – The new recommended wireless network
for UW students, faculty, and staff
- UWguest – The new recommended network for
UW guests
-
uwpeap (www.uwyo.edu/askit/displaydoc.asp?askitdocid=1769&parentid=1) – The older network for UW
students, faculty, and staff
- uwyo – The older network for
UW guests
After January 1, 2008
-
UWyo (www.uwyo.edu/askit/displaydoc.asp?askitdocid=1769&parentid=1)
- UWguest
After January 1, 2008 uwyo and uwpeap
will be discontinued. UWyo, like uwpeap, offers
secure and encrypted access; however UWyo offers better security and
stronger encryption. UWguest, like uwyo, is
intended for guest access and will be easier to use since it only
requires users to enter their email address in order to gain access.
UWguest will not allow access to the UW internal network but it does
offer access to public Internet resources.
Faculty, staff and students should switch to the new UWyo
access as soon as conveniently possible. Once your computer
is configured to use UWyo it will automatically connect to the UW
network.
Abbreviated instructions for configuring a Windows laptop
to use UWyo are:
- Download and unzip
www.uwyo.edu/itsecuredocs/wireless/UWyo-wireless.zip.
- Double click UWyo-add.bat. This will run a
small program on your computer to configure your wireless
access.
Complete instructions, including essential information needed for
non-Windows laptops can be found at
www.uwyo.edu/InfoTech/wireless.
Campus wireless access will be expanded based on the following
priorities and available funding:
- Departments who have earlier requested wireless access in
their areas
- Public areas in UW buildings with no current wireless access
- Student apartments
- Remaining UW buildings with no current wireless access
- Outdoor areas such as Prexy's Pasture
2007 Technology Survey
The Division of Information Technology recently
asked students, faculty and staff to respond to an on-line survey to
help us improve our offerings and services. There were 1,293
responses from students and 1,143 responses from faculty and staff.
Respondents who completed the questionnaire were entered to win
their choice of a Nintendo Wii, an Apple 30GB iPod video (5.5
generation), or a Canon PowerShot SD600 6MP digital ELPH camera. The
winning student, selected at random, was Anthropology major Cheryll
Jensen (at right). The faculty/staff winner, also selected at random, was Randy
Lewis, Professor of Molecular Biology in the Animal Sciences
Department.
The 2007 responses indicate that a majority of
respondents own laptops – 64% of students and 57% of faculty and
staff. An additional 16% of students and 20% of faculty and staff
report having PDA devices. A result of the growing number of
wireless devices is increased use of UW’s wireless network – 40% of
students and 29% of faculty and staff reported routinely using the
wireless network.
To help meet the increasing demand IT is
currently in the process of substantially upgrading the campus
wireless network. IT’s Remote Student Computing Lab Initiative is
well underway and, when fully implemented, will provide remote
access to the UW Student Computing Lab System from anywhere that
Internet access is available. Both the new Wireless Access Network
and the Remote Lab Initiative are projects specifically funded by
the Wyoming Legislature.
Thanks to
all who responded to the survey and made suggestions to help
identify how to improve technology offerings and services at UW.
A New Windows Operating System
Takes Flight –
Vista’s Controlled Release at UW
New Computers: The new Windows Vista operating
system will soon be fully supported by Information Technology for
university owned computers. Users who need to purchase new computers
with Vista Business or Vista Ultimate pre-installed may do so now
but please be aware of the considerations noted below.
IT Desktop Imaging with the Vista Enterprise
operating system is not available at this time but will be soon. Information Technology continues to work with our imaging
vendor’s technical support to make this service available in the
near future. Once UW
Vista images are available, users will be able to order new
computers with the least expensive operating system (Vista Home
editions) and then IT User Consultants will install the more
powerful and network compatible UW Vista Enterprise image. If you need to order a new computer today, order it with
Vista Business or Vista Ultimate. If you can, wait to order your computer until 2008 then order
it with Vista Home.
Upgrades:
Information Technology will provide upgrade support on university
owned computers after a few remaining details are resolved with
licensing support. We expect to announce full Vista support by the
end of December, after which Vista Business, Vista Enterprise, and
Vista Ultimate will be supported by Information Technology. Vista
Enterprise is the operating system that the majority of users should
ultimately use.
The Vista Enterprise Upgrade through the
Microsoft Campus Agreement will be available at no cost for
university owned computers and will be available through Information
Technology. Vista Business
and Ultimate editions are only available through a manufacturer or
reseller purchase. Vista Home
Basic and Home Premium cannot join the UW Windows domain and
therefore cannot be supported on university owned computers.
Considerations: As
with any major upgrade, there are several things to consider before
deciding to purchase a computer with Vista preinstalled or when
upgrading your computer to Vista Enterprise through Information
Technology’s Microsoft Campus Agreement.
Does your computer have the horsepower it needs to run Vista?
If you want to prepare for a
Vista Enterprise upgrade in 2008, Microsoft provides a tool to help
determine if your current system can run Vista. The
Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/buyorupgrade/upgradeadvisor.mspx) will analyze your system and
provide a report that summarizes the readiness of the system, its
devices, and software programs, including a task list of things to
be done before and after a Vista upgrade. Using this tool, along with talking to your IT user
consultant, will give you a good idea on whether you could run
Vista, whether you should upgrade, or what you would need to do to
get ready to run Vista on your computer. Remember, meeting minimum
system requirements doesn’t always mean that your computer will run
satisfactorily – it could be really slow if you don’t have
sufficient system resources like memory, hard drive space, and
graphics capability.
Which software applications do you use?
If you are an everyday user
of Microsoft Office and Adobe applications, email, and Internet
browsing – without any special software needs – you can probably run
Vista. If you use
administrative applications such as PeopleSoft Financials and HRMS,
please be aware that the current versions of these administrative
applications are not certified for Vista compatibility.
Your business duties may
drive the decision on whether you should use Vista or not. Review
the current status of Vista software compatibility at
www.uwyo.edu/InfoTech/vista by clicking on the "Software
Compatibility" heading. Don’t feel rushed to upgrade to Windows
Vista Enterprise. IT will
continue to support Windows XP Professional at least through 2009.
For current information on Vista, visit
www.uwyo.edu/InfoTech/vista. The
website will be updated as more information is available. A new Frequently Asked Questions page is available for review
by going to the AskIT site.
It’s under the Hot Topics
section. If there are any questions or concerns, please contact
766-4357 (HELP), option 1, email
userhelp@uwyo.edu or contact your IT user consultant for more
information.
Vista Ultimate may be available through the Microsoft Work at Home program
for installation on personal computers beginning January 2008. Please see the IT
Work at Home Program page (www.uwyo.edu/infotech/services/sales/software/wah.htm)
for details and updated announcements.
*The latest version of UW antivirus software, Trend OfficeScan,
is certified for Vista compatibility and is available today. Instructions are available at
www.uwyo.edu/antivirus under the UW Faculty and Staff section by clicking on "
How to install OfficeScan antivirus software on
institutionally-owned computers (www.uwyo.edu/AskIT/displaydoc.asp?askitdocid=542&parentid=1)."
HELP is just a phone call or email away!
UW IT Client Support Services Help Desk
Information Technology’s Help Desk hours are: 7:30 am to 7:30 pm
Monday – Thursday; 7:30 am – 5 pm on Friday; Sunday 1 pm – 5 pm
(extended hours on Saturday are offered during the first month of
each semester). Help Desk hours are listed on the
WyoWeb login page (https://shermanpass.uwyo.edu/cp/home/displaylogin)
under the "Get Your Username and initial Password" channel or at
www.uwyo.edu/InfoTech/Support/helpdesk.htm.
Call: Dial 766-HELP (4357), option 1. IT’s Help
Desk is structured to provide first- and second-level support for
most technology-related inquiries. Help Desk staff are normally able
to resolve 80% of the problems during the first call. The staff is
proficient with many popular software packages as well as PC’s, Macs
(on some shifts), and many peripherals. They can resolve most
network connectivity problems. Most account and password related
problems can also be resolved on the first call. If the Help Desk
staff cannot resolve the problem, the call is escalated to a
departmental user consultant or other IT experts for further
investigation and resolution.
Email: Emailing userhelp@uwyo.edu is a good way
to submit a problem when the Help Desk is closed, or when a problem
doesn’t require an immediate answer. (Password changes cannot be
resolved through email.) All email inquiries should be responded to
within 4 business hours. If the problem cannot be initially
resolved, you will be emailed a tracking ticket number and
information about where the problem has been referred to. In your
email, in addition to a description of the problem please provide a
phone number and times available for contact so that the Help Desk
can reach you in case additional information is needed.
Remote: The IT Help Desk also has the capability
to troubleshoot computer problems remotely using our Remote Support
software. With your permission, the Help Desk staff can use their
computers to take control of your PC to troubleshoot and hopefully
resolve the problem. If the problem cannot be resolved via remote
support, it will be escalated to a departmental user consultant for
on-site diagnosis.
While the average Help Desk call wait time was 41 seconds, from
time-to-time, heavy call volume may cause you to experience a longer
wait. We know that being on hold can be frustrating when you have a
problem, but please do not hang up. If you can’t
wait, press * and you will be directed to the Help Desk voice
mailbox. Leave a voicemail and your call will be returned as soon
possible, usually within the hour.
Next time you have a computer related problem, please give us a
try. Remember, HELP is just a phone call or email away!
Help in the Classroom –
Instructional Technology Manager, Gary Boulware, Joins IT
UW recently hired Gary Boulware as an instructional
technology manager. Gary’s role is to support UW’s growing classroom
technology needs. Gary brings 30 years of experience in media
services, audio visual technologies, smart classrooms, project
management, learning space design, faculty training, and
administrative consulting.
Gary has already been a contributor from the moment he arrived
this past summer; helping prepare the newly remodeled Classroom
Building and helping train faculty to use all its new technology.
If you need immediate help with classroom technology, call the IT
Help Desk at 766-4357 (HELP), option 1. The Help Desk will dispatch
Gary or one of his crew in a matter of minutes. If your department
is planning a new teaching space and you need some design help,
contact Gary directly. For general needs, Gary and his staff may be
reached directly using any of these options:
- IT Help Desk: 766-4357, option 1 – For Immediate Classroom
Needs
- Classroom Technology Group’s Joint Email:
clrmtech@uwyo.edu
- Classroom Tech Support line: 766-2872
- Gary’s e-mail:
gboulwar@uwyo.edu
- Gary’s office phone: 766-2974
Gary works closely with the Ellbogen Center for Teaching and
Learning (ECTL) staff to provide faculty with instructional
technology support. Gary will also be leading UW’s new Classroom
Technology Advisory Council (CTAC). The council is an
institution-wide group that will be reviewing and recommending
classroom technology standards for UW’s classrooms.
IT Training Program Under New Leadership
Information Technology’s new IT Trainer and
Program Manager is Doug Roehrkasse. Doug’s
background includes Microsoft Certified Training in Excel and Access
and teaching at the Laramie High School and LCCC. Doug comes to IT from the UW Foundation Office where he
worked extensively with one of UW’s main administrative systems, BSR
Advance. His background
with the system lends itself well to understanding some of the
unique computing needs of UW’s staff and faculty.
IT is fortunate to have Doug heading up our
training program. You
will find that no question is too simple to ask; no project is too
small or too large for Doug to help with. The training program offers hands-on instructor led
workshops, one-on-one open lab hours, and self paced training. If
you have special individual or departmental training needs Doug can
customize workshops to fit your goals.
Complete information about the IT Training
Program and course offerings can be found at
www.uwyo.edu/infotech/training. If
you have any questions, please call Information Technology at
766-3686.
PeopleSoft Upgrades
The PeopleSoft Human Resources system, HRMS,
was upgraded from version 8.3 to version 8.9 from October 5th to
October 8th, 2007. Software upgrades are a necessary part of running
large administrative software systems like PeopleSoft. While they
are time-intensive and can cause some disruption, upgrades allow for
continued vendor support, the availability of updates to ensure
adherence to tax codes and other regulations and the introduction of
new features that support better business processes.
You likely noticed some differences in the menu
structure and general look of HRMS after the upgrade. In most
respects, HRMS functions as it did before the upgrade, but in
addition to some improvements in the area of time entry, the upgrade
opened many possibilities that are currently being explored for
enhancing HR business processes.
Work has recently begun on an upgrade to
PeopleSoft Financials. The upgrade will take the software from
version 8.4 to version 9.0. It is expected that this upgrade will be
completed in April 2008. More details will be available soon.
After seven years of service, Chad Marley, the
former manager for the PeopleSoft applications, left UW in May 2007.
We are pleased to announce that in September 2007 Jen Chavez
accepted the position of IT Project Manager responsible for the
PeopleSoft Finance, PeopleSoft HRMS and SunGard Advance software
applications. If you have any questions concerning the PeopleSoft
Financials or HRMS applications, please contact Jen at 766-4874 or
jchavez@uwyo.edu.
Gigabit Ethernet – Does it make a difference?
Information Technology often receives questions from
departments asking if they should upgrade building wiring and
install computers that operate at Gigabit Ethernet networking
speeds.
Gigabit Ethernet (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gigabit_Ethernet) is in theory 10 times faster than a more
typical 100 Mbps Ethernet connection, but in most cases and for
most computer software applications the speed increase doesn’t
make a noticeable difference.
Gigabit Ethernet requires
Category 6 twisted pair cabling (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category_6_cable) (or higher) or optical fiber.
Many UW campus buildings have only Category 5 or Category 3 cabling.
A data network, like a chain, is only as strong as the weakest link.
Even when building wiring is Category 6 there are numerous other
potential limitations which prevent Gigabit Ethernet from operating
at gigabit speeds. For example, if any network segment between a
source computer and a destination computer does not support Gigabit
Ethernet, performance will be reduced to the speed of the slowest
link.
Most computers are also not designed to perform at gigabit speeds
for sustained periods. Even though a computer Ethernet card might
provide a Gigabit Ethernet connection, limitations within the
computer, including bus speeds, memory buffers, and disk
input/output speeds often limit a computer to process only a small
burst of data at gigabit speeds before being able to accept
additional data.
Additionally, having Gigabit Ethernet capability will normally
not produce increased results when communicating with computers
outside of the UW network, and may not produce increased results on
campus depending on the capabilities of the local and destination
computer systems as well as the intervening network segments.
IIf your department is interested in Gigabit Ethernet for unique
computing needs please contact Robert Morrison, IT Director,
morrison@uwyo.edu, 766-4860.
What’s New in the UWStudent Lab System?
Microsoft Expression Web, the replacement for
FrontPage, was installed in the student lab system and ready for use
for the fall 2007 semester. Expression Web is the new Microsoft
choice for the professional Web designer, used to create
standards-based Web sites. It is available for general use in the
lab. Expression Web is compatible with FrontPage extended sites and
can be used to manage and upgrade those web pages.
Free online tutorials, quick start guides, videos, and virtual
labs are available at
www.microsoft.com/expression/kc/product.aspx?key=web
Nvu is another alternative to creating and
managing Web sites. This open-source product was requested by some
UW departments as an easy-to-use Web authoring package that doesn’t
require technical expertise or knowledge of HTML.
GIMP is a free graphics package used for
creating and manipulating graphic images. It offers photo
retouching, resizing and cropping, image composition, image
authoring, and creating basic animated images. Student
representatives from the Central Student Technology Committee
requested this package. For help or information on GIMP, use your
Internet browser and search for “GIMP”. This is an open source
application.
R is a free open source environment that allows
for statistical computing and graphics, thought of by some as a
combination of a statistical package and programming language. It
uses the same language as S-PLUS. The following Web sites may be
useful:
Open source products above are provided “as is” and are not
supported by any department of the University of Wyoming.
iTunes – After a successful pilot period, the
University of Wyoming is pleased to announce that it is an active
member of iTunes U. Faculty in the Ellbogen Center for Teaching and
Learning (ECTL) have been working with academic units on campus to
capture supplemental material for classes. The materials are placed
on an iTunes U storage area where students can retrieve and replay
the content on their iPods or listen to it in a lab or other
computer running iTunes. If you need assistance with placing
materials on iTunes U, contact ECTL’s Andy Bryson, at 6-2035,
natej@uwyo.edu.
Google Earth and Firefox were
added at the request of the Central Student Technology Committee.
These new applications are available on the UWStudent lab system,
including the UWStudent Remote Lab system, which is accessed with an
internet browser at
http://microlab.uwyo.edu/uwsremote.
Remote Access to UW Network Using VPN – Download
There are basically two types of computer servers on the UW
network: public servers and private servers. Public servers are
accessible by the general public from either the Internet or the UW
network, an example is www.uwyo.edu.
Private servers, including users’ desktop systems, are accessible
only from the UW network or from the Internet by way of a secure
Virtual Private Network (VPN) connection to the university network.
A VPN connection, which requires a username and password, allows a
VPN user at a remote location (e.g., home, hotel or airport) to
appear to be connected directly to the university network. VPN
allows secure access to various UW computing resources as if the
user is on campus.
Users needing VPN network access are encouraged to install the
latest version of UW’s VPN client software at
www.uwyo.edu/vpn. When
launched, the VPN software displays two options to connect to the UW
network: 1) UW VPN and 2) UW VPN (for slow or problematic networks).
The second choice should be selected only if the first option fails.
Unlike past versions of the UW VPN client, users can now launch a
VPN session from any network location (on-campus or off-campus).
However in most cases, use of VPN is not necessary for on-campus
(wired or wireless) users.
The groundbreaking itself was assisted by special guest, Daisy.
Daisy is the State of Wyoming’s Office of Homeland Security’s
robot. She was operated by Gavin Donnelly, Operations Chief (at
right, with Robert Aylward and Daisy). To
initiate the groundbreaking Daisy presented the gold shovel to
Richard Davis, President of the UW Board of Trustees.