INSIDE
Computing and Telecommunication
Center
Fort Hays State University
If you have questions or comments about this newsletter,
contact
Dr. David Schmidt at 4487.
Viv Zimmerman and Jane Rajewski, co-editors.
The New York Times purports to print "All the News that's Fit to Print." We do not aspire to do that. We hope to print fairly targeted news that you might find interesting or useful (or both).
As noted in an earlier Newsletter, we are changing the student E-mail names to be more recognizable. As students enroll in summer school classes and pay their fees, they are given new E-mail names/addresses.
The address is based on the first initial, middle initial, and (up to) twelve letters of their last name followed by @scatcat.fhsu.edu. Most students who have used the new ID have indicated it is much easier to remember than the old letter and three number system previously used. In an effort to keep things simpler for students, CTELT has started using these new IDs for the new BlackBoard system.
We hope that students will like our new web-based E-mail system called VisualMail. It has most of the features of the commercial products like Lycos MailCity, Microsoft's Hotmail, and others. Students who need to send attachments to their professors should find it quite easy to use.
Do not be surprised if a micro technician from the CTC knocks on your door and requests to start up your PC. Typically, he or she will want to change the IP address of your PC and install some client software on your machine.
We are changing network IP addresses to make them easier to manage and for other technical benefits. As you may or may not know, IP stands for Internet Protocol; each device on the Internet requires a unique address. This number is used to identify individual devices. In the future, every toaster, toilet, and light pole may have one if the manufacturer thinks it important to make it identifiable over a network.
Making the Network More Efficient
Our network is currently split up into a number of subnetworks because we did not have a large set of contiguous ID numbers when they were originally set up. Having a lot of subnetworks causes some delays in communicating from one subnetwork to another. As long as a device communicates with a device in the same subnetwork, the packets flow directly between the devices. However, when a device on one subnet needs "talk to" someone on a different subnet, each packet has to be examined and sent to the destination address by a router (and that takes some time). Cisco makes a lot of money selling upgraded routers to speed communications.
We have asked for and gotten a large block of contiguous numbers which eliminates the need to use subnetworks; the network is being re-organized differently.
In the new scheme, IP addresses will be assigned by building. Further, the new hubs that are being installed in all of the academic buildings will keep Ethernet traffic localized when there is no need to communicate with devices in other buildings. Bridges used to segregate this type of traffic and handled traffic between LANS. Now traffic between buildings (as opposed to subnets which could occur within a building) is done using a router.
Furthermore, because the new hubs have switched ports (as opposed to shared ports), each of you will have a dedicated 10 MG connection. Prior to the hub upgrade, each computer had to share the 10 MG bandwidth with many other devices. Now, each computer has its own 10 MG pipe. The backbone speed has also been increased. The result is more speed to each desktop. Nota bene, this does not mean the Internet will be faster; the world wide web has its own speed challenges. Your connection to campus servers and other devices will be faster.
Our new hubs and backbone switch also make it easier to manage chatty network devices and protocols. Microsoft's NetBEUI is a chatty protocol; it puts a lot of broadcast traffic on the network.
Apple's AppleTalk is also chatty. We are in the process of getting rid of NetBEUI wherever we can and using IP instead. If all works well, we may someday set up a virtual LAN dedicated to AppleTalk. That too should make the network more efficient and increase speed between AppleTalk users.
Network Neighborhood Changing
Instead of each department having its own domain, there will be one large domain for the University. Because of this, all of the devices will show up at once on the network. To make using this easier, your PC name will change.
Perhaps it is easiest to illustrate this new naming convention by use of an example from the Philosophy Department: PHIL-pfaber-1. As you can see, the new computer name will have the department first (up to four letters), a hyphen, the Lotus Notes ID, and a number (as needed if there are duplicate names within your department). So, locating a PC using Network Neighborhood should be manageable with this new scheme.
During the transition, mapping drives (sharing your hard drive with others or accessing it from other computers) will be unreliable. Once the update of all PCs across campus is completed, we trust that mapping drives will be easy, reliable, and efficient. The Fall Newsletter will explain more about this.
Creating one large domain is one step towards the goal of single ID, single password. In the FHSU domain, user IDs are consistent with Lotus Notes IDs.
As microcomputer technicians work with your PC, they are also installing Systems Management Server (SMS) clients. Note that the current version does not have a Mac client, so this client does not affect Macs.
The SMS system builds a database that inventories some of the main features of each machine (processor, hard drive, version of operating system, etc.) on a relational database.
This information is useful in several ways. We plan to use it to push out software upgrades over the network. For example, we hope to be able to move to Lotus Notes R5 soon, and install R5 clients over the network. It helps to be able to know what version of LN you are currently using before doing that.
Also, SMS will enable the micro technicians, User Services, and the HelpDesk staff here at the CTC to help users remotely. If you have a problem with your PC or have a software question, the staff member will be able to take control of your PC (if you give your verbal permission and click the Yes button when a dialog box appears on your PC "Will you allow techname to remote control your machine?") in an attempt to solve the technical issue or to illustrate a point by showing what happens screen by screen.
If you click the Yes button in the dialog box to allow the tech remote control of your computer, an SMS remote control icon will appear in your system tray indicating that the tech has taken remote control of your computer. At this time, both the tech and you will have control of your computer. When the problem is resolved and the remote control access is released, the SMS remote control icon in your system tray disappears and the tech no longer has access to your computer.
At any rate, if the dialog box pops up randomly to grant access for a tech to control your PC and you have not been contacted by the tech or are not working with a tech on a problem resolution, click the NO button immediately so that no remote control access is granted.
Getting SMS to work properly requires that vendors release SMS-compatible software, and we have had some problems with some versions of McAfee virus protection software. The Micro group has found a work-around, so we will continue installing the SMS client.
New Mediated Classroom Control Panel
Jack Jackson and Odus Trober, both of Intermedia Classroom Suport, are programming a new touchscreen control panel for the Mediated Classrooms. As these are installed in the mediated rooms, you will be able to activate the systems by touching a series of icons on the panel. The goal is to make using them as intuitive as possible. These new screens have the potential to make life a bit simpler for users of these rooms. Odus and Jack have had to overcome some communications issues between the touch screen and the other devices. In a number of cases, the interface did not work as advertised.
Congratulations
In March, Gary Hoffman, Microcomputer System Support Technician, passed the Administering Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 Test. He is now a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer.
Attended CHECK Conference
On May 20 and 21, Dave Schmidt, Daryl Carswell, Larry Rupp, Jackie Leikam, Jane Rajewski, Mike Lacy, Mike Nease, Gary Hoffman, Mark Orth, Mark Griffin, Andrew Fleming, Tom Webb, Dan Pfeifer, Nancy Geier, Chad Dague, and Al Leiker attended the annual CHECK (Conference on Higher Educational Computing in Kansas) Conference at Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS.
Farewell
We would like to say farewell and thanks for all your hard work to James Letzig of Media Check Out. James has accepted a job in Minnesota.
Newcomer to CTC
We are pleased that Leonard Allen has accepted the part-time Media Check Out position at the CTC formerly held by James Letzig. Leonard is an FHSU graduate. He holds both a B.A. and M.S. in Communication and is also the current Reveille Advisor.
The Media Equipment Checkout service can be contacted at (785) 628-5521. It is located in Tomanek Hall 113. We will have student help available to deliver and pickup equipment on campus during regular office hours. If scheduled in advance, equipment can also be picked up during the hours that the CTC HelpDesk is open. Summer hours are 8am to 8pm Monday through Thursday and 8am to noon on Friday. During the fall and spring semesters, additional hours will be available and will be announced later.
Attend Microtech Showcase Wksp
Mark Griffin, Mike Nease, Gary Hoffman, and Mark Orth attended a Microtech Showcase Workshop in Topeka, KS on June 6. At the workshop, an MS representative talked about the Windows 2000 Server. Three Acer representatives were on hand and talked about new products, laptops, monitors, and Acer peripherals.
by Nancy Geier, CTC HelpDesk Supervisor
Attention New Faculty
and Staff...
How to request a Dial-Up Account
FHSU provides Internet service to faculty, staff, and students through "Internet Dial-Up" accounts. "Dial-up" is a process that enables you to use your computer's modem to connect to the Internet by >dialing into FHSU's remote access server. By using telnet software, the connection also enables you to access the IBM mainframe and UNIX servers. There are some minimum system requirements a computer must meet in order to do dial-up.
It you are interested in applying for an account, just stop by the CTC HelpDesk (Tomanek Hall, Room 113) to complete an application. A photo ID is required. There is no service fee for faculty or staff accounts.
For more information about Internet Dial-Up accounts or other services provided by the CTC HelpDesk, view our web site at http:www.fhsu.edu/ctc/helpdesk/ , call us at (785) 628-5276, E-mail helpdesk@fhsu.edu, or visit our office in Tomanek Hall, Room 113.
Summer 99 Internet Dial-Up Stats
To keep you updated on use of the dial-up system,
here are some statistics comparing current dial-up statistics with those
of one year ago. Data used to compute the average number of accounts in
use was taken from June 10 through June 15 of 1999 and 2000.
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| Stu Accts - end of S/00 | 884 | 1263 | +42.9% |
| Fac/Stf Accts | 395 | 482 | +22.0% |
| Stu Accts | 309 | 353 | +14.2% |
| Total # Accts | 704 | 835 | +18.6% |
| Avg # of accts in use each day | 344 | 397 | +15.4% |
| % total accts in use each day | 48.9% | 47.5 | - 2.8% |
Once again, we are expecting a busy summer for the dial-up system. Overall, we have been continuing to see annual increases in the number of customers, with explosive growth during our first 2 2 years (December 1996 to May 1999) and more stable growth during the last year.
To give you some idea of our experience at the end of the Summer 1999 semester, here are a few numbers comparing 7/31/98 to 7/31/99: Total accounts increased 52.4% (from 511 to 779), with the largest increase resulting from a significant jump in the number of student accounts, which increased 79.2% (from 202 to 362). This year, we are once again expecting a significant increase in the total number of student accounts, with 353 students signed up as of June 15.
Summer semester system capacity use has been in the 40% to 50% range during the peak hours of operation, which occurs in the evening from about 6pm or 7pm until midnight. Additional modems were installed in February 2000, bringing the total now available to 189. This allowed us sufficient capacity to meet our peak demand when we reached a high of 1795 accounts.
Dial-Up Server Usage statistics are updated hourly and are conveniently available on a web page. To view them, just go to our home page at www.fhsu.edu/ctc/helpdesk/ , then click on the Troubleshooting and Statistics drop-down menu, and choose Dial-Up Server Usage Statistics.
As always, we continue to monitor capacity availability in the dial-up system to plan for future expansion. Inefficient use of the system can lead to unnecessary expansion costs. Responsible use by our dial-up customers can significantly reduce inefficient system use, helping us keep our costs down. The most important thing you can do is to remember to disconnect when you are not actively using your connection. To find out more about how you can help FHSU maintain efficient system use, view our Responsible Use of Your Internet Dial-Up Account document. It can be located by clicking on Office Policies and Other Information from our home page.
Thank you...for doing your part to assist us in providing efficient and affordable Internet service!
Summer Dispatch Window Hours
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User
Services News
by Viv Zimmerman, User Services
CTC Computer Lab Summer Hours
| Mon - Thurs | 8am - 8pm |
| Friday | 8am - 12noon |
| Weekends | CLOSED |
| Mon - Thurs | 8am - 5pm |
| Friday through 8/11 | 8am - Noon |
| Friday, 8/18 | 8am - 5pm |
Weekends CLOSED until after Labor Day
As always, if you have questions, feedback, comments or suggestions regarding our labs, please let us know. For more information about our services or hours, visit our web site at http:www.fhsu.edu/ctc/labs/ or stop by TH127 (Next to the elevator).
It would be helpful if the departmental secretaries would send a Lotus Notes Request for Computing Services as soon as possible to request user IDs for Lotus Notes, CICS, Bigcat, or any other systems that are needed for any new faculty, staff, or student employees hired.
Please include the following information: name of employee, SSN, department, title, indicate whether the new employee is faculty, staff, or student employee, office location, office phone number, and start date.
On this request, also include the location of the computer that needs to have LN installed and any special instructions -- such as -- is this computer shared by several users? Computers shared by more than one user affect the way LN is set up and installed.
This would help us tremendously in processing your requests more efficiently. Since our work load significantly increases with the beginning of the fall semester, please do not wait until the last minute to send your request.
IMPORTANT Lotus Note Calendar HINT
To make scheduling meetings less difficult for the secretarial staff and others who frequently schedule meetings through the Lotus Notes system, please check your LN Delegation Profile and make sure that you have it set up so that everyone can read your calendar. Follow these directions to check or set this up:
In this issue of the CTC Newsletter, we'd like to feature Doug Storer, CTC Applications Programmer/Analyst.
Doug has worked at FHSU for the past 12 years. Prior to becoming a CTC Applications Programmer/Analyst, he worked as a student employee at the CTC while attending FHSU.
Doug earned both a B.B.A. degree in Data Processing and an M.B.A. from FHSU.
Doug grew up in Brownell, Kansas. He and his wife Erin live in Hays with their 5-year old twins, Hunter and Courtney.
In his spare time, Doug enjoys hunting, fishing, and "doing stuff with my kids". He enjoys sports and some of his favorite web sites are:
For your convenience, we included the handout,
FHSU Students Issued NEW Scatcat E-mail Account. Please feel free to
make copies of it for any of your students who need the instructions for
using the new E-mail system. Contact the CTC HelpDesk at 5276 for
assistance using the new system.
FHSU Students Issued NEW Scatcat E-mail Accounts
All currently enrolled FHSU students are now being issued a new Scatcat account in a new format (as of June 1, 2000). The new format of the Scatcat e-mail address is ID@scatcat.fhsu.edu, where ID is the student’s first initial, middle initial, and first 12 letters of the last name. (For example: abjones) To avoid duplicate IDs, a number may be added to the end of the ID. (For example: abjones2) Before a new account can receive e-mail, the student must activate it.
To find a Scatcat e-mail address, go to: http://scatcat.fhsu.edu/email/
To activate a Scatcat account and set the password, students should go to: http://scatcat.fhsu.edu/activate/
To log in & use Scatcat e-mail, students can go to: http://scatcat.fhsu.edu/visualmail/
NOTE: Mail cannot be received by the new accounts until they are activated!
If a student had a Scatcat account using the old format (i.e., z999), it will continue to be available until the end of the Fall 2000 semester. All old Scatcat accounts will be discontinued at the end of the Fall 2000 semester. More information about this change will be sent to all old student e-mail accounts.
For assistance or for more information about this change, view the
CTC HelpDesk web site at http://www.fhsu.edu/ctc/helpdesk/,
stop by our office in Tomanek Hall, Room 113, or call us at (785) 628-5276.
CTC HelpDesk Summer Hours
| Monday – Thursday | 8am – 8pm |
| Fridays | 8am – Noon |
| Weekends | CLOSED |
Semester Interim Hours
| Monday – Thursday | 8am – 5pm |
| Fridays through 8/11 | 8am – Noon |
| Fridays, 8/18 | 8am – 5pm |
| Weekends | CLOSED |
For more information about our hours, Internet Dial-Up accounts,
or other services provided by the CTC HelpDesk, view our web site at http://www.fhsu.edu/ctc/helpdesk/
, call us at (785) 628-5276, send e-mail to helpdesk@fhsu.edu,
or visit our office in Tomanek Hall, Room 113.