Campus Network Servers Standardized

By Allen Bradley, Manager, Campus Wide Networks Computing Team

The Microcomputer Maintenance Shop (MMS) and the Campus Wide Networks Computing Team of the Computing Center have worked together for many years in deploying NetWare and NT servers -- MMS on the hardware side and Network and Microcomputer Services on the software side. These dual roles have often meant sending a service person from each of our two support groups when only one was needed. In addition, recent changes by Intel in its hardware configurations have meant that MMS would incur a much higher cost to continue developing, selling, and supporting server hardware. As a result, both departments agree that it would benefit the University to provide both hardware and software services from the same department.

With this in mind, the Campus Wide Networks Computing Team [CWN (CT)] will now handle the sales and service of network servers, as well as the installation and support of their operating systems. Crucial to our efforts will be the standardization on a single, industry leading make and model of server, the Compaq Proline 3000. My team has made a commitment to Compaq servers and has brought up quite a few as GroupWise, NT and NDS servers, each with outstanding results.

Microcomputer Maintenance and the CWN (CT) will be working closely together to make the transition to the new service as smooth for the network managers as possible. MMS has developed a statement about server sales and support at http://www.mms.unt.edu/server.htm. Details about the new server offerings are available on our site at http://www.unt.edu/cwn.

We look forward to a long and mutually satisfying relationship with the network server owners, managers and users. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.n