SYSTEMS STAFF MONTHLY UPDATE - JANUARY 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.

Solaris
 Acroread has been upgraded to version 7.0 on the faculty workstations. Please submit a WREQ AT cs dot sunysb dot edu job if you have any difficulties while using it.

The Firefox web browser has been installed on a trial basis on the faculty workstations as /usr/shareware/bin/ffox. Please submit a WREQ AT cs dot sunysb dot edu job if you have any difficulties while using it.

The following libraries and supporting packages were added or upgraded on the faculty Solaris systems this month:

  1. libiconv-1.8 GNU implementation of iconv()
  2. libintl-3.4.0 library used by gettext
  3. glib-2.6.2 low-level core library that forms the basis of GTK+ and GNOME
  4. atk-1.9.0 GNOME accessibility toolkit
  5. gtk+-1.2.10 multi-platform toolkit for creating graphical UIs
  6. gtk-2.2.4 multi-platform toolkit for creating graphical UIs
  7. freetype-2.1.9 software font engine
  8. expat-1.95.5 a fast, non-validating, stream-oriented XML parsing library
  9. fontconfig-2.2.98 a library for configuring and customizing font access
  10. zlib-1.2.3 compression libraries
  11. pango-1.8.0 a framework and libraries for the layout and rendering of internationalized text

Please submit a WREQ AT cs dot sunysb dot edu job immediately if you have any problems with any Solaris packages on the faculty systems.

VMware

The Vmware class accounts are now closed. Please submit a WREQ request if you need a VM account for work that is not course related.

Faculty members who plan to use VMware for Spring 2006 course work should submit a WREQ AT cs dot sunysb dot edu request immediately detailing the number of accounts needed and type (i.e. group or individual, root access required or not, console access required or not).

All VMware accounts will be temporarily unavailable for several days in January so that system maintenance can be performed. A general mailing will announce the exact days in advance.

PCs and Laptops
The faculty PC connected to the fax machine in room 1435 has been upgraded. Use your department username and password to log in. Instructions for scanning and for burning a CD/DVD are posted on the wall. Files saved on the Desktop or in the "My Documents" folder are automatically deleted when you log off. Please save your file to a disk or use sftp to save it in your home directory


Infrastructure
The projector in the new conference room can now be operated wire-free from your laptop. Please see http://www.cs.sunysb.edu/~faq/Projector1310.html for operational instructions.

A 5.5dBi-gain antenna has been added to the wireless access point in room 2311 to improve the signal in room 1310. Testing shows the signal to now be 40% stronger than before.

Please keep in mind that the department mail gateway virus scanning software at present drops messages that include attachments of the following types: .scr, .bat, .cmd, .exe and .pif. In the event of a massive virus outbreak such as the one experienced in the past with the"MyDoom" virus we may also temporarily configure the virus scanning software to drop attachments of type .zip.

WWW
The newly redesigned faculty only intranet can be previewed at http://www.cs.sunysb.edu/~survey/faculty/faculty_only/index.php.
Use the "Course Objectives Survey" username and password for access at this time.

The Committees page and the Web Policy page have both been revised and updated when you access them via the new intranet.

Campus Computing
The campus now has centralized authentication for various computing services such as blackboard, the library proxy, and others. (Please note that email services are not included in the list). Your Stony Brook NetID will be used for these services and you can set and change your password via SOLAR. Please see http://clientsupport.stonybrook.edu/public/netid/index.shtml for complete information.

The campus has sent out the following warning about false email reported to be circulating on campus. Remember never to give out personal information in response to an unsolicited email. Contact the Systems Staff if you have received an email and are uncertain as to its authenticity.

"TO ALL FACULTY, STAFF & STUDENTS"

UPDATED 12/22/2005:
There have been reports of email circulating recently that seem to be coming from Teachers Federal Credit Union asking that personal information be input on a web form to "verify" identity.

There have been other reports of other email circulating recently that ask you to go to a Web site to confirm your user name and password. Some common wording of such attempts are listed below:

"We suspect an unauthorized transaction on your account. To ensure that your account is not compromised, please click on the link below to confirm your identity."

"During our regular verification of accounts, we couldn't verify your information. Please click here to update and verify your information."

Please do not divulge sensitive personal information (passwords, credit card information, Social Security number, date of birth, Solar PIN etc.) on Web sites that you go to by simply clicking on Web links from emails. Other common phishing attempts purport to be from other trusted sources (banks, credit unions, etc.). Passwords and other sensitive information can be used to steal your identity. In addition to identity theft, sensitive personal information can be used to compromise University systems. It is more than likely that emails with such links are forged and are fraudulent attempts to steal your account and personal information.

There have recently been a large number of such attempts.

Never reply to these emails, simply delete the phishing email, or if you use Lotus Notes you can report any phishing email to our spam filter provider by doing an "Actions - Other, This is Spam"
from the menu bar.
If you believe your personal information has been scammed file a complaint at http://www.ftc.gov and then visit the government's ID theft Web site at http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft

If you feel a university account has been compromised please contact University Police."

Future Plans
Wireless access on the first floor of the building near the graduate offices and including room 1203 will be upgraded during the month of January.

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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