=========================================================================== Stony Brook University Computer Science SYSTEMS STAFF MONTHLY NEWSLETTER July 2009 In this issue we have 3 general announcements, 3 ongoing-work items, 4 future work items, and 6 reminders. *** MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENTS 1. New CS website is ready for expected launch in this summer. We have migrated the SSO and the Faculty only area to the new CS web site. Please review the new site, especially the content for which you are personally responsible (e.g., course pages for course coordinators, major areas for program directors, etc.). The new website is available for testing on http://www2.cs.sunysb.edu/. For any queries contact the Webmaster @ x2-1637 or email webadmin AT cs DOT sunysb DOT edu. 2. The staff is in the process of upgrading our aging compute servers (compserv1, 2, 3, and 4) to more modern, newer machines. The staff has configured the first such new compute server, named: compute1.cs.sunysb.edu This machine is a newer HP server, with multiple 64-bit CPUs, lots more RAM, faster disks and I/O, and more. This server was installed with Linux: the CentOS 5.3 distribution which is very similar to the Red Hat Enterprise Linux. The staff installed and configured every possible pre-built software package we can think of that users may need, and configured the system as closely as possible to the compserv's (text editors, mail clients, printing, latex, etc.). The configuration of this new server represents improved performance, newer services/software, increased user convenience, and better security -- as described below. (Balancing these often-conflicting dimensions is difficult.) When this machine's configuration stabilizes, the staff will duplicate it over several identical servers, to make a small "cluster" of such compute servers. It is our hope to finalize the configuration of these newer servers this summer, put them into production before the beginning of classes, and then begin to phase out the older compserv's. 3. Hardware upgrades. All client desktops have been upgraded to Lenovo quad-core workstations with Nvidia 9500 Geforce video cards and 4GB of memory in the Undergraduate labs. More than half the workstations in the Graduate lab have been upgraded with similar Lenovo desktops. Network switches have been upgraded to Gigabit in the Undergraduate labs. We hope to upgrade the Graduate labs to gigabit by end of July. The Windows IT infrastructure servers have also been upgraded to quad-xeons running 8GB of memory, Hyper-V servers and 3+ TB of storage. These server upgrades will provide significant improvements to our current Windows IT infrastructure servers. *** ONGOING WORK 1. Work is progressing on the newest CS department teaching classroom located in the former CS department Library (CS-2120). The new classroom will seat over 80 students. Some features of this room are: 100% wireless networking, Desks from Smartdesks.com with the FlipIt laptop safe. Each desk's laptop is stored internally and deployed when the desktop "safe" is opened. No more glass inserts and black hoods on each desk. The room will have a new podium similar to those in the Javits Lecture Center. The podium will have a large touch screen display (Sympodium system). Lighting, sound and projection screen controls on the tabletop of the podium. 2. Work is in progress to replace our WREQ system, with the RT (Request Tracker) system. This is a open source application used by many organizations. It uses MySQL for its backend database, a perl-based main engine, and front-end web and mail interfaces. Beside recording requests that come in via email or the web, this system is being configured with the following additional features: - Defining of various queues within the system, each with a responsible person. - Sorting related tickets into queues. - Allowing ticket to be assigned (even automatically) to a given staff member. - Sending copies of changes via email to the staff and to the original requester. - Allowing IT managers to watch over queues. - Providing periodic reports of open/closed/stale/etc. tickets. - Allowing ticket history to be updated via responding back to the ticket. - Reporting on resolved, unresolved and unassigned tickets. - Send reminder to the system staff members, if a given ticket is not addressed within a defined time period. 3. Windows Domain integration. Work continues on the integration of Windows Active Directory (AD) domains within the department. As part of the integration, usernames will be migrated to match with the users "netID" usernames. Integration will also benefit with sharing of IT resources such as printers/storage, proactive monitoring of IT systems/service health and consistent user environment. We are also migrating our Windows virtual servers to Hyper-V to centralize management and disaster recovery. *** FUTURE PLANS 1. The Wireless network will migrate from WEP key to WPA/WPA2 and eventually to an authentication-based user login id/password. 2. We continue to investigate options for the use of LDAP servers in our department for Unified LDAP-based logins. This would help to consolidate the many user-ID domains we have into one; currently there are different user-ID domains being managed on the Unix systems, undergrad and grad teaching labs, database servers, and more. With LDAP, we hope to be able to manage all user IDs more efficiently and centrally. 3. We are slowly moving infrastructure from the older machine room into a newer one, room 1313. The new room has better/cleaner power, and better cooling, but moving to it will take time (pulling cables and such). We are in the process of repairing one of the A/Cs in that room, and adding additional power sockets. 4. Reconfigure the Cisco to eliminate performance issues with other vendors network switches. This will improve performance of the compute servers and mail systems. *** REMINDERS 1. Web site Announcement of activities and events (e.g., DLS, invited guest speakers, dissertations, ongoing research presentations, etc.) should go to "allfaculty" or even to "all", which includes everyone in the department (allfaculty, sec, staff, grads, postdocs, visitors). Please also note that the webadmin will list activities and events prominently on the main page of our website, so you are encouraged to send such information also to the webadmin. 2. Security There have been a number of security vulnerabilities reported in various Operating Systems (Windows, Linux, Mac) and applications (MS-Office, Firefox, etc.). Please make sure you update your system regularly with patches provided by the manufacturer or your software vendor, run a firewall software and the latest anti-malware software where applicable. You can download Symantec Endpoint protection for Mac or Windows from the SSO website. If you have any questions, please send email to WREQ. 3. User Accounts and Graduate Lab Printing We want to remind users that they are responsible for having a secure password and any activity related to their account (No account sharing). Please review the department policies under the facilities section for more information. We log printer usage in the Graduate Lab on an individual user basis. We request that the Graduate Lab printers be used for homework and research only and not for personal use. Even if you are using it for homework/research, use it wisely and try to reduce the pages printed. Printing large books is not acceptable and you should use the library resources instead (including Safari books online). If you continue to consume lots of paper, your printing privileges will be curtailed. 4. WREQ Problem Reporting Tool Work requests and problem reports should be submitted to WREQ and not to ntadmin/root or individual staff members. This helps us track the progress of work requests better. We suggest using the Web interface to submit wreq requests at the URL: . You can also email wreq AT cs DOT sunysb DOT edu but the Web interface is preferred. If you send email, please send plain text (without MIME attachments) and send from your CS department account. 5. SECWREQ Problem Reporting Tool You are encouraged to use SECWREQ for requests such as requisitions, course room changes, office supplies, grade changes, room reservations, payroll issues, tuition issues, reimbursements and building management issues (heat/cooling/, lights, leaking roof). The SECWREQ tool is located at: . You can send mail to secwreq AT cs DOT sunysb DOT edu; please do not send MIME mail or attachments there. Send email from your CS department account. 6. Staff hot-line x2-2772 (CSSB). It will ring all staff office phones and has voicemail. Business hours are 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon-Fri except State and Federal holidays.