INSIDE
If you have questions or comments about this newsletter,
contact
Dr. David Schmidt at 4487.
Viv Zimmerman and Jane Rajewski, co-editors.
Using
the Web to display Student Info
Bill Gates talks about ambitious web sites (Gartner
Group Itxpo 98). He means that web sites are changing from traditional
static sites to transactional sites. Static sites typically have
a number of html pages and a search engine so that casual users can browse
through the pages or do a number of searches. Ambitious web sites,
in his sense of the term, are sites that do transactions. People
purchase cars, schedule flights, buy books, vote, indicate preferences,
and many other kinds of interactions.
Our “ambitious web site” is a site in which student data is made available to students using the web.
One of our top priorities is to make student data available to students on the web. We have looked for software tools and products for over two years to do this, but there have been none that fit our configuration. Daryl Carswell and Chad Dague have now located a product that should help us make data more accessible. For some time we have had the goal of having students track their financial aid, course registrations, transcripts (with proper security), and other information using web browsers. The biggest hurdle for us is this: our data is in DL/1 and VSAM non-relational formats and the web servers "expect" the data to be in relational format. Vendors have finally recognized that the legacy databases would not go away soon, and so they have begun to market software that will assist in web-enabling this legacy data.
The product, IPServer, a relatively inexpensive
tool resides on the mainframe, and enables it to act as a web server directly
(part of the familiar CICS system). This is not an all-in-one package
because we need to adapt existing COBOL programs to work with it, but this
product does not require our programming staff to acquire a totally new
skill-set. Rather, our programmers can use their existing CICS skills,
which should speed the process considerably. We are working with
a Web Task Force to prioritize the programming projects. After
we port student information to the web, we will port departmental information.
Browsers help those who need occasional access to information to find it
without getting out a manual of instructions.
[Back to Top]
Helping
Users Remotely
Personal computers are a wonderful thing - each
user has his or her copy of software, manages his or her files, and tailors
the environment to particular needs. These virtues, however, cause
support issues when something goes wrong. When the CTC technicians
receive a support call, they need to gather quite a bit of information
about the particular system and configuration of the hardware and software
before suggesting solutions to problems. Also, those in the CTC who
install software have a large task ahead of them when new software needs
to be installed on every University PC. For example, the Lotus Notes
client requires that someone, if not the user then someone from the CTC,
physically load the software on each PC. Virus protection software is another
recent example.
The ethernet network helps. Some software can now be loaded over the network instead of using the "sneakernet" system. There are still support questions when you take it upon yourself to load the Lotus Notes client from a network server. The installer software gets to a certain point and then asks you a question about your machine that you cannot answer. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to call microcomputer support for an answer and proceed with the installation? Sometimes the microcomputer technician can answer your question, but often there are several problems the technician faces. The technician may not know exactly what point you have reached in the installation process. The technician may not know what processor you have, amount of memory, available hard drive space, interrupts used, IP number, or other information unique to your machine.
We are targeting a solution (Action Plan item) that can greatly assist our staff in assisting users. Microsoft has developed the System Management Server (SMS). If the user permits (note the user controls this) a CTC technician to access his or her machine remotely, the system creates database entries for each machine on the network. So, when a technician answers a support call, he or she can look up the machine to determine its configuration. Also, the technician can view what the user is seeing. Because of this, some problems can be resolved remotely. At the very least the user support person can make more knowledgeable suggestions that may solve the problem or get the user past an immediate crisis. Those knowledgeable with SMS use it to load software remotely too, so rolling out a new version of Lotus Notes, for example, could be done much more quickly.
Because we will have virtually every PC on the
campus ethernet backbone in the very near future, the SMS solution would
greatly enhance our ability to support users "just in time." Various
companies have said for years that "the network is the computer," or the
future is networked computing. For whatever those views are worth,
the network is changing how we do business.
[Back to Top]
Lotus
Notes
We are pleased that many of you have shown interest
in using Lotus Notes (LN). We continue to believe that it is a robust
and user-friendly E-mail/calendaring solution. During this time of
transition from OfficeVision (OV) to LN, we are working to replace the
Request for Computing Services and other functions that currently reside
on the mainframe with Notes/Domino Services. As we acquire LN programming
skills, we anticipate providing additional services using Notes/Domino.
For example, the Print Shop would like to make
templates available over the network so departments can create brochures
and fliers using those templates. LN is a good delivery system because
departments could E-mail documents as attachments they want printed at
the Print Shop. There are undoubtedly ways to assist document revision;
so that after the Print Shop makes its "corrections," the Department could
sign off on those changes electronically.
[Back to Top]
Palm
Pilot
Some of us struggle to keep a calendar that is
handy and up to date. Many use Daytimers or other products.
Some of us try to use Daytimers but hate to carry a large book around.
Dr. Tony Fernandez, Dean of the College of Health and Life Sciences, has discovered a useful electronic solution that works with LN. Some years ago Apple made a splash (or rather a ripple) when it introduced their personal data assistant, a.k.a. PDA, the Newton. It was panned in the press because the handwriting recognition software was not infallible. Many continue to find it quite useful.
Another PDA called the Palm Pilot has proven to
be very popular with users. For LN users, there is a feature that
adds to its value. The company markets a "cradle" that attaches to
a PC and software (for an additional fee) that synchronizes the LN calendar
with the Palm Pilot calendar. This means that changes made on the
LN calendar updates the calendar on the Palm Pilot and vice versa.
The Palm Pilot is a pen-based, easy-to-carry system that contains a person's
calendar, to-do list, address data, E-mail messages, and a variety of other
applications. I find it interesting that a variety of third-party
vendors support LN.
[Back to Top]
Dial-Up
Many of us must have computers with modems because
many people access the Internet and campus servers from off-campus.
Over 1050 have established accounts, and over 500 access the system every
24 hours. If you are interested in more statistics, ready the HelpDesk
article about the dialup system. I continue to be amazed at
how popular these modems are. Because the rate of use increases so
rapidly, we continue to monitor it. We may need to purchase additional
new modems this spring to take care of the increased demand.
[Back to Top]
Congratulations
Congratulations to Cheryl Helget, CTC Network
Administrator who recently passed the Internet Working with Microsoft TCP/IP
on Microsoft Windows 4.0 test. Cheryl has taken and passed three
of six tests for certification in NT 4.0. We are proud of Cheryl
and her accomplishments and are pleased to have her as a member of the
CTC.
[Back to Top]
Lotus
Notes Update
by Mark
Griffin, Unix Sup/Network Adm
As of this writing, (November 3, 1998), there
are only 50 more days until OfficeVision (Profs) is gone. It appears
that we have approximately half of the faculty and staff on Lotus Notes
(450 or so users). We are still loading LN on several computers.
If we have your request, we will be getting to you soon. If you don’t
have LN and haven’t sent a Request for Computing Services, please do so.
Do not wait until the last week to sign up for the training. If you have LN already installed and you think you need training, please get signed up soon. If you don’t think you need training, but would like a little documentation, see your department secretary for a copy of the training manual. Or, you can get our Beginning Lotus Notes Handbook from our web site at: http://www.fhsu.edu/notes/begin_handbk.html
The next two months will go quickly, so begin
using LN as soon as possible. We are making every effort to have
everyone on the new system before the Christmas break.
[Back to Top]
LN
Short E-mail Address
And, the wait is finally over! You
can drop the tiger from your LN E-mail address if you wish. Thank
you for your patience on this. Your LN E-mail address can be given
out as YourID@fhsu.edu OR you may continue to use YourID@tiger.fhsu.edu;
feel free to use either.
If you have any problems with the shorter E-mail
address, contact Mark Griffin at mgriffin@tiger.fhsu.edu.
[Back to Top]
LN
Minimum System Requirements
Lotus Notes (LN) runs best if your computer is
a Pentium with at least 16mb of memory and 100mb free disk space; however,
it will also run on a 486 with 16mb of memory and 60mb free disk space.
LN will also run on Windows 3.1 or the most current version of Windows.
If your computer does not have these minimum specifications,
you might think about upgrading it so your transition to LN is smooth.
[Back to Top]
LN
Faculty/Staff Groups
by Viv
Zimmerman, User Services
We have completed setting up the LN faculty and staff groups. Some of you may have already noticed that LN uses different terminology than OV. LN refers to distribution lists as groups.
If you’d like to send a LN note using the faculty and staff groups, just put faculty, staff on the To: line in your note. LN will automatically suppress the long list of names from appearing in your note. You might also want to send the same note thru OV until December 23, 1998 so you don’t miss anyone who has not yet started using LN.
Some of you who are already using LN may have
noticed that you have started receiving a few faculty, staff notes.
[Back to Top]
Need
Assistance with Lotus Notes
If you encounter a problem when using Lotus Notes
in your office and you still need assistance after you have checked your
training manual, the Lotus Notes 4.5 for Dummies book, and the LN
on-line Help, call the CTC HelpDesk
at 5276. One of the staff will help you and if
they cannot take care of the problem, your call will be routed to the appropriate
CTC staff member.
[Back to Top]
LN
FHSU Address Book Info
All faculty and staff are responsible for entering
their own Work, Home, and Company Information into the LN FHSU Address
Book. There are still quite a few users who have not entered this
information into the address book.
The LN FHSU address book contains phone and office location information about each user on campus. It is used as a directory for looking up phone, office location, and other information. Please update your information as soon as possible. Refer to page 11 of the CTC Beginning Lotus Notes Handbook for assistance in completing this task.
If you need assistance with this task, contact
the CTC HelpDesk at 5276.
[Back to Top]
Information
Center News
by Jane
Rajewski, Manager
Keep in mind that your passwords are like a key to your house. If you give that key to any other user, they will have the same security access that has been entrusted to you.
Many of the systems contain confidential information that is not readily available to everyone and that is why security varies from user to user. In addition, some users have update capability but many only have inquiry capability. Much of the information contained on the various systems is protected by the Privacy Act.
Please do not give out your password(s) to anyone. If you have other employees or student workers in your office who need access to a particular system for which you have access, do not let them use your passwords.
Security can be requested by sending a Request for Computing Services (F5, F1 on OV Menu #1) and list the name, SSN, job title and department, and the systems for which this individual needs security; for example, Mary Jones, SSN, student employee in the Dept. of XXX needs access to the student system.
Security requests for each system are reviewed by the owner of the particular data base for which access is requested.
Security may be removed for any user who allows
others to use his/her ID -- each person must have his or her own security
to use the systems.
[Back to Top]
Tomanek
Hall Lab News
by Viv
Zimmerman, User Services
A lab monitor is present during open lab hours; however, labs may be unavailable to users at times so that we can perform routine maintenance.
No food, drinks or tobacco of any kind is allowed in any of the labs. Also, users may not bring and use their own zip drives in any of the CTC labs.
ALL students using the lab must display their
FHSU Student ID card while working in any of the CTC Tomanek Hall labs.
[Back to Top]
Reserving
CTC Labs
Faculty or staff must submit a Request
for Computing Services thru OfficeVision (F5,F1 on OV Menu #1)
to reserve a lab. Be sure to fill in your department name and number
or the request will not be sent. We are unable to schedule the labs
without this request.
Anyone who reserves the Tomanek Hall Computer Labs for workshops, classes, or seminars is asked to please keep in mind that each lab has a seating capacity of 30 workstations and one workstation at the front desk (for the instructor) and that no food, drinks, or tobacco of any kind is allowed in any of the labs. TH123 and TH125 are equipped with an overhead projector. See the lab monitor on duty to use the overhead.
Anyone caught bringing food or beverages into
the lab will be asked to remove it immediately. Repeat offenders
will not be able to reserve the labs in the future. Please
abide by this policy.
[Back to Top]
Holiday
Lab & HelpDesk Hours
Thanksgiving Hours for all the CTC Computer Labs
and the HelpDesk are:
| Tuesday, November 24th | 8 AM to 5 PM |
| Wednesday November 25th | 8 AM to 5 PM |
| Thursday-Saturday, November 26-28 | Closed |
| Sunday, November 29th | 6 PM to 11 PM |
OLR
Training Completed
Luci Williams, LuAnn Pfeifer and Viv Zimmerman
completed training for on-line registration from late October through November
2nd. Twenty faculty completed the training.
These sessions are for faculty ONLY. The training is mandatory for any advisor who wishes to register advisees. We will not be able to offer this training again until March, 1999.
If you are interested in registering your advisees,
contact Jane at 5819 or Viv at 4031. We will send you
the security form.
[Back to Top]
On-Line
Grade Entry
If you are new faculty or have never entered
grades before or if you haven't signed onto CICS recently, please sign
onto CICS and see if you can access the Course System (for example,
try function 81 Roster Inquiry or 71 Roster Grade Update).
This security must be set up before you will be
able to enter grades. If you do not have a CICS ID or if you have
questions, please contact Jane at 5819 or Viv at 4031.
[Back to Top]
CTC
HelpDesk News
by Nancy
Geier, HelpDesk Supervisor
Off-Campus Internet Access in Western Kansas
Fort Hays State University is proud of its efforts
to provide students with access to information technology. These
efforts include the creation of partnerships with western Kansas Internet
service providers. Together, these companies provide local Internet
dial-up access in nearly 100 communities.
Beginning October 1, 1998, FHSU Virtual College (off-campus) students enrolled in three or more credit hours are eligible for a substantial price discount on Internet service provided by RuralNet and Pioneer Internet.
Please share this news with any students who might
benefit from these programs. This includes those who are enrolled
in at least three hours, live outside of Hays, and are in a service area
covered by RuralNet or Pioneer Internet. For more information or
to apply for service through these companies, students should visit the
following web sites: http://www.ruraltel.net/
(for RuralNet) and http://www.pld.com/56kinformation/
(for Pioneer Internet).
[Back to Top]
The
iMac has landed!
What's bluish-green and looks like a digital
creature from another planet? The new iMac personal computer from
Macintosh. This electronic entity is indeed a horse of another color.
If you'd like to sneak a peek at our newest arrival, stop by the CTC HelpDesk
in TH113 for a short demonstration. For more information about the
iMac or other Macintosh products, visit http://www.fhsu.edu/ctc/apple/
or contact Jack Jackson at extension 5841 or jjackson@tiger.fhsu.edu.
[Back to Top]
Windows
98 Dial-Up
If you are upgrading to Windows 98 and would
like assistance setting up your dial-up connection, we now have a detailed
instruction sheet available for configuring Windows 98 for dial-up using
the Internet Connection Wizard. It is very similar to the process
used to configure Windows 95. Watch our web site for more information
on Windows 98 - we will be adding a new section for error messages dealing
specifically with Windows 98.
[Back to Top]
Upgrade
to 56K Modem Software
If you have a relatively new 56K modem or an
iMac and have been experiencing problems dialing in, give it another try.
We recently encountered some situations involving users with 56K V.90 modems
who were receiving "No carrier" or "The computer you are dialing into is
not answering, try again later" error messages. The Data Communications
staff recently upgraded the software in our 56K modem pool to correct this.
We believe most of these problems have now been resolved. If you
have a 56K modem and receive a message similar to those listed above, check
your configuration and try connecting again. If you continue to experience
problems, we would like to know about it and find a solution - give us
a call at (785) 628-5276.
[Back to Top]
Check
out our web site!
See our web site at http://www.fhsu.edu/ctc/helpdesk/
for detailed information about the services provided by the CTC HelpDesk.
We have a special section that includes all of our E-mail instruction sheets,
as well as a link to the Beginning Lotus Notes Handbook. If you have
an E-mail question, just click on our E-mail Info button to see what's
available. We are also in the process of updating our Frequently
Asked Questions section, so check it out!
[Back to Top]
How
are we doing?
How do the services of the CTC HelpDesk fit your
needs? What suggestions do you have? If you have ideas, comments,
concerns, or other feedback, please complete our survey. You can
either stop by the CTC HelpDesk (TH113) to pick one up or fill out
a survey online from our home page. We would greatly appreciate your
input!
[Back to Top]
Internet
Dial-Up Statistics
For those of you who are interested, here are
some statistics comparing use of the Dial-Up service now to one year ago:
|
|
|
|
|
| # Student Accounts |
|
|
|
| # Fac/Staff Acounts |
|
|
|
| Total # of Accounts |
|
|
|
| Avg # of Accts Used Per Day |
|
|
|
| # of Modems Available |
|
|
|
| Avgerage Total Connect Time (mins) Per Day |
|
|
|
| Average Connect time (mins) Peak Hour Per Day |
|
|
|
| Avg Modem Capacity Use - Peak Hour Per Day |
|
|
|
| Average Connect Time (mins) Per Login |
|
|
|
Internet Dial-Up access was introduced almost two years ago, in November 1996. As you can see, use of the dial-up system has increased at a very high rate. Although we have already come a long way through the initial growth and learning phase, we expect to see a continuation of this artificially high introduction trend at a somewhat slower rate. Averages were computed using a 15-day period from 9/23 to 10/7 of each year.
In March 1998, a feature was implemented to disconnect
idle connections after a set period of inactivity. This resulted
in more efficient use of total capacity by reducing the average connect
time per login. In April 1998, the 48 original modems were being
used at nearly full capacity. To meet the increased capacity needs,
an additional 46 modems were added (a total of 48 were added; however,
two of them are used for system communications and are therefore unavailable
for dial-up use). As the numbers suggest, use of the system continues
to grow, and further expansion will be needed once again in the not-to-distant
future. Therefore, an action plan has been submitted so that we can
be in a position to carry out plans for expansion when that time arrives.
[Back to Top]
| Mon - Thurs |
|
| Fridays |
|
| Saturdays |
|
| Sundays |
|
Office hours are subject to change and are consistent with Tomanek Hall computer lab hours. They are posted outside our office (TH113) and may be viewed from our home page.
For more information, visit our web site at http://www.fhsu.edu/ctc/helpdesk/.
You may also contact us by calling (785) 628-5276 or by sending
E-mail to helpdesk@fhsu.edu.
[Back to Top]
In
the Spotlight
In this issue of the CTC Newsletter, we’d like
to feature Jane Rajewski, CTC Information Center Manager.
While attending high school and college, Jane had various jobs including
washing dishes, waiting on tables, cleaning classrooms, and working at
Travenol. She began working at the CTC as a student employee her junior
year while attending FHSU. After receiving a B.S. in Business and
an MBA she was hired full-time as a Programmer II, later becoming the Programming
Manager and in 1988 she moved into her current position.
Jane grew up on a small farm near Vincent, a little community 7 miles southeast of Victoria. One of eight children, all graduates of FHSU, she enjoys returning to the farm to spend time with her parents, for family get-togethers, and to go fishing on Big Creek.
Jane and her husband Mike Frenzl live in Hays
and have two daughters, Amy, a freshman at TMP-Marian and Ashly, a 5th
grader at Roosevelt. The Frenzl family keeps busy with a drywall
and insulation business and all of the girls’ activities including Girl
Scouts, volleyball, dance, basketball, and softball. When time permits
Jane enjoys cooking (but hates to clean up the mess), gardening,
outdoor activities, and looking for a good bargain.
[Back to Top]
Voyager - The New
Library Catalog
by Rob Dolan, Forsyth
Library
On January 4, 1999 Forsyth Library will begin
using a new automated catalog. Instead of the current NOTIS program
users will see the Voyager system from Endeavor Information Systems, Inc.
The changes between the two systems will be considerable. The current
NOTIS system is accessed from dumb terminals or from computers running
the QWS3270 telnet program. It cannot be accessed via the Internet
or the Web and its search capabilities are limited. Voyager is accessed
from computers using either the OPAC module (in the library) or from any
computer with access to the Internet or the Web. It is a Windows-based
system with the ability to be accessed via a VT-100 terminal. It
has a wide variety of search methods including intelligent relevancy display.
Once the initial system is online, we will begin adding access to other
library catalogs via the OPAC as well as other electronic resources - both
local and remote.
The process for the change has already begun. In July a contract was signed with Endeavor Information Systems, Inc.; in August the system server went online in the Forsyth Library; in September the library staff began accessing a test database while Anne Dolan and I went for the second phase of systems training for the Voyager system. Migration is well underway thanks to Mike Lacy of the Computing and Telecommunication Center, and the library staff had four days of functional training during the last full week of October. In November the NOTIS catalog will be frozen and the data transferred to the Voyager system. The library staff will begin using Voyager by early December while the public will have access on January 4, 1999. This one-month period will allow the library staff to familiarize themselves with the new system and will prevent the public from having to learn a new library catalog just as they are finishing a semester. It will also give more time to place additional computers for public use in the library and for the Reference staff to prepare to teach the public how to use the new system. The current dumb terminals will be removed by January 4, 1999. The NOTIS system itself will not show any additions to the catalog, modifications, circulation, etc. after the November freeze date.
This move will greatly improve the library's ability to meet the need of the University and the community by broadening the electronic information available through the library catalog and by allowing the catalog to be accessed via the Internet and the Web. The library staff looks forward to helping the public use this new catalog and to maximizing its utility. Contact Rob at 4543 for more info.
© 1999
Computing and Telecommunication Center
Fort Hays State University