SYSTEMS STAFF MONTHLY UPDATE - FEBRUARY 2004

WREQ Problem Reporting Tool
Email work requests and problem reports are now being entered into the WREQ problem reporting tool. You should submit all requests directly to WREQ and not to ntadmin or individual staff members. You can do this by posting a request through the web interface at: http://www.cs.sunysb.edu/~wreq or simply by sending your email request to WREQ AT cs dot sunysb dot edu.

There is now a WREQ Problem Reporting Tool for work requests directed to the department secretarial and administrative staff. You should use secwreq for requests such as requisitions, course room changes, office supplies, grade changes, room reservations, payroll issues, tuition issues, reimbursements and building management needs. This tool can be found at http://www.cs.sunysb.edu/~secwreq or you can send mail to SECWREQ AT cs dot sunysb dot edu.

New/Upgraded Software for Solaris

Both latex and latex2html have been upgraded on the Solaris systems. To use them run your commands in the same way you have been, and please report any problems or errors immediately using the wreq reporting tool.

Also upgraded are some graphics packages,

  • libtiff v. 3.6.0 for tiff file manipulation
  • zlib 1.2.1 for graphics compression
  • netpbm 9.15 for conversion of graphics between formats.

The mtools package has been upgraded to version 3.9.7. Mtools Mtools is a collection of utilities for manipulating PC files and diskettes from the Unix command line using the Sun floppy drive. Many of these tasks can also be performed using the CDE GUI File Manager but mtools is there if you need it.

VMware

The VMware cluster has been shut down for hardware and software upgrades. Look for an announcement next week as to availability of the multi-user Linux host and the individual student VMs.

Web

Our FAQ section contains answers to many of your questions, check there first to get immediate help with many common problems. Two in particular have been expanded this month:

  • http://www/FAQ/BouncedEmail.html explains why you receive bounced mail in your inbox for mail that you never sent in the first place
  • http://www/FAQ/WebAvoidMailto.html gives pointers on how to avoid having your email address appear in plain text on a web page, where it can be harvested by spammers or used by viruses when it appears in someone's web cache.

Infrastructure Changes and Upgrades

Reserveroom

The "reserveroom" application is on-line and should be used for all your room reservations. In order to use it you must set your browser to accept cookies, then go to http://intrawww.cs.sunysb.edu/~sso.

  1. login using your CS department (faculty) login and password
  2. select reserveroom
  3. You will get a weekly view of all available rooms to reserve and which days/times are reserved/available.
    1. established reservations are displayed in red with the letters RSV for the day at the start time of the entry.
    2. at the top and bottom of the page are buttons allowing you to advance or roll back the week being viewed
    3. At the top and bottom of the page is a link you can click on to get a summary of rooms, their seating capacity and special equipment in the room.
  4. select a room for a given day
    1. You'll get the popup which allows you to specify the start/finish times and repeat frequency of the reservation
    2. You must enter your login name for the reservation.
    3. It's a good idea to include your intended use of the room in case someone thinks their reservation is a higher priority.
  5. Select "reserve" and you're done.
  6. To modify a reservation select the "RSV" for your day/start time/room in the weekly view.
    1. Only the owner of the reservation can edit the reservation in the GUI.

The system data from the old system is being transferred to the new one. The new reserveroom will be available for use on Monday 02/09/2004 8am. New features are being added and the system will eventually move to www. reserveroom is accessable by faculty and the secretaries.

New labs

The new lab space in room 2314 and 2315 is close to completion. On Monday 2/9/04 the WINGS Lab under the direction of Professor Samir Das and the MNL Lab under the direction of Professor Alex Mohr will move into this space pending the campus completing door trimming.

PCs and Laptops

Microsoft has released a Critical Security Patch for Internet Explorer under all versions of the operating system. Please make sure you have applied this patch to your laptop or desktop PC. There is a link to more information on the front page of our department website. If you need assistance or are uncertain about applying this patch to a departmental PC or laptop please send mail to ntadmin.

New Facilities

Overhead projectors have been installed in the downstairs conference room 1441 and the upstairs conference room 2313A. These two rooms can be reserved for meetings or classes using the new reserveroom software.

HOW TO REPORT A PROBLEM or MAKE A WORK REQUEST

First you should check the FAQ pages at:

http://www.cs.sunysb.edu/FAQ/index.html

There is also a link to an index of FAQs.

If the answer to your question is not in the faq's you should use wreq to report the problem or make a work request.

There is a short blurb on wreq in the faq area (search by index).

Wreq lives at: http://www.cs.sunysb .edu/~wreq/

You can also send email to:WREQ AT cs dot sunysb dot edu from your dept account, or campus account. The subject line should cover what is wrong or what you need. The body of the email can supply any details.

Your problem report must include the following information for us to be able to help you promptly:

  1. The room you are working in, either room number or lab name.
  2. The name of the host you are working on (hostname command in Unix, machine number in 1239, the number written on the bookshelf by your desk in the student offices).
  3. The sequence of things you did just prior to having the problem as best you recollect.
  4. The exact text of any error message you see on the screen, or a complete description of the problem that occured. 
        Please report problems promptly as they occur so they can be
        investigated under the same set of conditions as far as possible.

When in doubt, feel free to send email to: 

        Unix and network problems:ROOT AT cs dot sunysb dot edu
        PC problems:NTADMIN AT cs dot sunysb dot edu


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