Distributed Computing Support
Management Team

Meeting Minutes

January 20, 2005

Members
Joe Adamo (Computing and IT Center), Troy Bacon (AVP Finance and Business Affairs and Controller), Philip Baczewski (DCSMT Chair, Director of Academic Computing, Computing and IT Center), Craig Berry (School of Visual Arts), Ben Bigby (College of Music), Ginger Boone (University Union), Richard Sanzone (Computing and IT Center), Tim Christian (College of Arts and Sciences), Chu Chuah (College of Public Administration and Community Service), Wil Clark (UNT System Center @ Dallas), Jim Curry (Microcomputer Maintenance/ Classroom Support Services), Cyndie Harris (UNT Facilities), Mike Hatch (College of Business Administration), Paul Hons (College of Education), Scott Jackson (Libraries), Abraham John (VP Student Development), Scott Joyce (Housing), Brenda Kirk (Computing and IT Center), Gary Mathews (School of Library and Information Science), Dallas Newell (Enrollment Management), Bruce Pollock (ABN LAN Mgmt), Uwe Rossbach (College of Engineering), Chris Strauss (Computing and IT Center), Roy Zumwalt (Texas Academy of Math and Science)

Members Present
Joe Adamo (Computing and IT Center), Philip Baczewski (DCSMT Chair, Director of Academic Computing, Computing and IT Center), Troy Bacon (AVP Finance and Business Affairs and Controller), Craig Berry (School of Visual Arts), Ginger Boone (University Union), Tim Christian (College of Arts and Sciences), Ramu Muthiah for Chu Chuah (College of Public Administration and Community Service), Wil Clark (UNT System Center @ Dallas), Mike Hatch (College of Business Administration), Paul Hons (College of Education), Scott Jackson (Libraries), Scott Joyce (UNT Business Services), Brenda Kirk (Computing and IT Center), Bruce Pollock (ABN LAN Mgmt), Uwe Rossbach (College of Engineering), Richard Sanzone (Computing and IT Center), Chris Strauss (Computing and IT Center), Roy Zumwalt (Texas Academy of Math and Science)

Guests
Rich Anderson (Computing and IT Center), Jim Byford (ABN LAN Mgmt), Tom Delozier (HSC IT Support), Daren Dugan (Computing and IT Center), Mac Edwards (CITC Helpdesk), Jason Gutierrez (CITC Network Computing Services), Tracy Hanson (CITC LAN Support), Elizabeth Hinkle-Turner (CITC Student Computing), Judy Hunter (UNT Libraries), Krysta Kaye (CITC Datacomm), Matt Kernan (Housing), Don McClure (CITC Remedy Support), Jason Myre (CITC Network Computing Services), Bahram Paiani (Computing and IT Center), Graham Pocta (CITC LAN Support), Charlotte Russell (Computing and IT Center), Mike Sanders (Dallas Center), Curry Searle (College of Arts & Sciences), James Strawn (College of Arts and Sciences GAL Lab Manager), Scott Windham (CITC Datacomm), David Wright (College of Education), Mike Wright (CITC), Yancey Yeargan (CITC Network Computing Services)

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Minutes from December 16, 2005, were approved with corrections.

ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE ISSUES

Richard Anderson related that the McAfee license will expire at the end of May, 2006 (May 31, 2006) and pricing will increase. UNT currently pays for McAfee products within a 2-year software lease contract. McAfee has announced that they are moving to a fixed permanent license model with annual software maintenance. The new annual cost will represent a 60% increase in cost for the initial purchase and annual maintenance. Pricing was requested from Symantec and Sophos for a similar level of virus protecion software and neither offered a significant advantage in cost. After discussion of various funding and cost management issues, it was decided to form a group to examine the technical, operational, and cost issues of various virus protection software products to make a recommendation DCSMT. The following people or their designees will help Richard evaluate alternative software packages: Mike Hatch (COBA), Curry Searle (CAS), Paul Hons (COE), Scott Jackson (Libraries), and Tom Delozier (HSC).

OLD BUSINESS

No old business was discussed.

NEW BUSINESS

Mike Wright reminded the group that Microsoft Office 2003's service pack 2 needs to be applied to new installations in order to accomodate a legal action taken against Microsoft. There is no legal requirement to apply this to existing installations of Office. Also, he has been told that Adobe Macromedia pricing will be out the first of February.

Jason Myre announced that techniques are available to identify unused Groupwise accounts. There is an audit option in GWCheck that does such identification. Unused Groupwise e-mail accounts should be closed for security reasons and to maintain an accurate directory. Those needing more information can contact Jason.

Roy Zumwalt brought up the topic of imaging systems on campus and whether or not there was a campus strategy or standard. This issue is being investigated by Tom McElwee, CITC Director of Enterprise Technical Systems, and any inquiries or expression of interest should be directed to him.

AREA REPORTS

Chris Strauss reported that work has begun on bringing up and testing Remedy Beta version 7.

Joe Adamo related that the UPS and generator in the ISB for the core network is in the process of being installed.

James Strawn noted that the General Access Labs are posting signs encouraging students to replace their old ID cards.

Richard Sanzone, the new CITC Helpdesk Manager, introduced Mac Edwards, the new CITC Helpdesk assistant manager.

Brenda Kirk introduced her new part-time assistant, Graham Pocta.

Mike Hatch announced that COBA was giving away 7 older model Dell notebooks for University use.

Elizabeth Hinkle-Turner noted that questions about stat software licensing should be directed to Patrick McLeod. She also mentioned that she was configuring a new stat applications server which will be named markov and replace the gauss server. She asked that requests for new CBT titles be sent to her so that she can prepare for renewal of the CBT contracts.

Judy Hunter reported that she was seeing no cost savings from using Dell printers because their toner capacity is smaller. She believes that HP printers are much better to work on and cheaper to operate (for their needs). She has been testing Okidata printers in the Willis lab and found that they are not viable for Willis lab volume. She also noted that Okidata printers cannot be self serviced. She stated that Dell service was not reliably provided within 24 hrs, since it often took additional time for the local service organization to respond. Tim Christian reported good experience with Dell servers under Dell gold support.

Philp Baczewski reported that the SAS license renewal was finally complete and that the updated license key could be found on the gauss server.

Mike Wright reminded everyone of the Adobe training classes scheduled in the morning and afternoon of February 5.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:35 a.m. The next meeting is scheduled for February 3, 2006.

Return to Distributed Computing Support Management Team Home Page.

Page last modified on December 19, 2005. Send comments to Philip Baczewski