SYSTEMS STAFF MONTHLY UPDATE - FEBRUARY 2006

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.

Before reporting a problem visit www.cs.sunysb.edu/~faq and see if there's an faq addressing your question/problem. If not, then a wreq request is your next step.

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.
5. Do NOT send attachments or mime mail. Wreq will reject such email. Text only.

Please report problems promptly as they occur so they can be investigated under the same set of conditions as far as possible.

WREQ Problem Reporting Tool for Administrative Requests
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 (heat/cooling/lights/leaking roof). 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.

Announcements
New Students are asked to sign in to the PC in Edwina's area in order to request a department account. All new students should review the information at http://www.cs.sunysb.edu/facilities/sos_meeting.html. These notes from the Fall Start of Semester meeting will answer nearly any question you may have about use of department facilities.

Graduate PC Lab
A mailing has gone out to all professors listing the software installed in the Graduate Windows Lab and updates are being prepared as requested. If you require any new software for this semester please submit a WREQ AT cs dot sunysb dot edu job immediately if you have not already done so.

The five workstations in the Graduate PC Lab which failed in January have been repaired.

Translabs
A mailing has gone out to all professors listing the software installed in the Translabs (Advanced Programming Labs I and II) and updates are being prepared as requested. If you require any new software for this semester please submit a WREQ AT cs dot sunysb dot edu job immediately if you have not already done so.

All undergraduate students enrolled in a CS or ISE course have been assigned accounts by username. It is no longer necessary for faculty to request or distribute accounts on a per course basis. Students have received an email which tells them their username and also the combination to the translab doors. Passwords are either the SBID for new users or last semester's password for continuing students. These accounts will remain active until the end of the semester, and will be re-activated as needed for students enrolled in Summer courses.

These undergraduate accounts will also each have an accompanying database account with the same username/password combination. It is no longer necessary for faculty to request or distribute database accounts on a per course basis.

Six machines failed in room 2129 during the power outage in January. These machines have been repaired and are back on line.

Databases
As mentioned above, all undergraduate students presently enrolled in CS or ISE courses have received a translab account, and the username/password combination will also provide access to the database machine.

Solaris
 A new installation of latex has been built based on pdfeTeX 3.141592-1.21a-2.2. Volunteers are needed to test the new installation before public distribution. If you are able to participate in testing please send an email to root and we will give you further instructions.

Maple has been upgraded to version 10. Maple is an advanced mathematics and computer algebra software package including symbolic and numeric computations and web connectivity. /usr/local/bin/maple brings up the standard command line version and /usr/local/bin/xmaple brings up the GUI interface.

Vmware
Please be reminded that if you intend to use the VMware facilities in the Spring semester you should submit a WREQ job immediately detailing your needs (number of students, group or individual
accounts, special networking projects, etc.).

WWW
The "Application for Acceptance into CS Major" a web-based application system has now been added to the undergraduate section of the main website for greater visibilty to students seeking to apply for the program. Check the link http://www.cs.sunysb.edu/undergrad/index.html.

The graduate section of the CS website has been updated with latest copies of the Spring 2006 Graduate Handbook the proficiency requirements document.Significant changes have also made in the graduate policy document which can all be viewed at http://www.cs.sunysb.edu/graduate/policyDocs.html.

There are constant updates to the Faculty Intranet in both web content and design changes to the stylesheet which can be viewed at http://www.cs.sunysb.edu/~survey/faculty/faculty_only/index.php.

PCs and Laptops
Visual Studio .Net Professional has been added to the list of softwares available from MSNDAA. You can check it out from the library.

SBFAX (for faculty only) has updated instructions for scanning and burning CD's or DVD's. Please submit a WREQ job if you have any problems using this system.

Microsoft released an official patch for the WMF vulnerability on January 5th, 2006. Due to the nature of this vulnerability, we strongly recommend that you install this patch as soon as possible if you haven't already done so.

Step 1: Login with a user account who has admin privileges
Step 2: Go to Windows Update by going to Tools->Windows Update in Internet Explorer
Step 3: Install the patch KB912919
Step 4: Reboot your computer

Please send email to wreq AT cs dot sunysb dot edu if you have any questions. Also refer to our faq "What steps can I take to protect my computer from viruses and spyware?" at http://www.cs.sunysb.edu/facilities/FAQ/VirusesAndSpyware.html.

Comments or Concerns?
When in doubt, send all systems requests to http://www.cs.sunysb.edu/~wreq and all building maintenance or administrative support issues to http://www.cs.sunysb.edu/~secwreq.

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