SYSTEMS STAFF MONTHLY UPDATE - MARCH 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.

Please note that there is a 10K upper limit on the size of a message submitted to WREQ. If you need to include more information than that you can include a pointer to a file, or mail the information separately to root. Also, WREQ accepts mail only from department email addresses at this time, and does not accept MIME attachments. There is an FAQ on the use of WREQ at: http://www/FAQ/MiscReportProblems.html.

Reserve room question

Question: Is it possible to move this to a normal web site so that people would be able to use this service conveniently?
Many people browse the web from outside of the sbcs network and going to http://intrawww/~sso is a serious hassle.

Answer:

Reserve room will be moving to www.

It is not currently on www because, unlike wreq, sso requires a password to be entered which would travel in clear text across the internet. An https server and encrypted cookies are being setup for the sso (and reserveroom) applications.

Wreq users are assigned yet another password and we are trying to end the practice of each new web app giving birth to a new password. We would like to limit memorized passwords to dept login, and editwww login. SSO will be one authentication and access to multiple applications based upon the users id.

New/Upgraded Software for Solaris

The StarOffice suite of desktop applications has been upgraded to version 6. StarOffice is a Unix application which allows you to read, write and edit Microsoft Office documents. For information on setting up and running StarOffice please see the FAQ at: http://www/FAQ/MiscWindowsApplicationsOnUnix.html

JavaCC, the Java Compiler Compiler has been installed on the Unix network in /usr/local/pkg. JavaCC is a parser generator for use with Java. See https://javacc.dev.java.net for mor information. Set your path to $path:/usr/local/pkg/javacc-3.2/bin to use this package.

The perl modules Mail-Audit-2.1 and libnet-1.17 have been installed on the Unix network.

New/Upgraded Software on MS Windows

The R-project statistical computing package has been upgraded to verion 1.8.1 on the multi-user linux system and on the graduate citrix server. See http://www.r-project.org/ for more information on this package.

Web

The SSH client for PCs available for free download from our website has been upgraded to version 3.2.9.

The Norton Anti-Virus client for PCs available for free download from our website has been upgraded to version 8.1.1.

Infrastructure Changes and Upgrades

New Services - POP
A new POP server with SSL encryption will be brought on-line in the middle of March. An announcement will be made several days prior to the switchover, along with pertinent instructions. Please be aware that the new server will retain mail messages for 30 days only, after that it will force a download to your local host.

Printing
As of March 17 students will be required to do their printing on the printer in the Graduate NT lab, room 1239. Printer accounting has been enabled, and if there appears to be excessive printing, or printing of non-CS related course or research related materials, printer quotas will be enforced. Please help contribute to the success of the department by eliminating waste of resources.

Xeroxing
The copier on the first floor has access control and usage accounting enabled. There is no "quota", just accounting. Information about obtaining a PIN number or swipe card, along with some common questions, is available in the FAQ at: http://www/FAQ/CopierAccess.html.

Upgrades

The multi-user linux system should be available next week. Preparation of the VMs for course work is continuing and should also be complete around the same time.

The graphics cards in the Dell GX150s in the Graduate NT Lab (room 1239) have been upgraded to the Nvidia FX5200 AGP.

Virus Scanning
The department mail gateway virus scanning software at present drops attachments of the following types on incoming email: .scr, .bat, .cmd, .exe and .pif. In the event of another massive virus outbreak such as the one experienced with the "MyDoom" virus several weeks ago we may also temporarily configure the virus scanning software to drop attachments of type .zip.

Due to the rapid spread of the W32.Netsky.D@mm virus beginning Wednesday March 3 we will temporarily block mail coming into the department with the following subject lines:

  • Re: Approved
  • Re: Details
  • Re: Document
  • Re: Excel file
  • Re: Hello
  • Re: Here
  • Re: Here is the document
  • Re: Hi
  • Re: My details
  • Re: Re: Document
  • Re: Re: Message
  • Re: Re: Re: Your document
  • Re: Re: Thanks!
  • Re: Thanks!
  • Re: Word file
  • Re: Your archive
  • Re: Your bill
  • Re: Your details
  • Re: Your document
  • Re: Your letter
  • Re: Your music
  • Re: Your picture
  • Re: Your product
  • Re: Your software
  • Re: Your text
  • Re: Your website
  • Re: Details

Mail with any of these suspect subject lines will be bounced back to the sender with a warning that it may possibly contain a virus. This restriction on incoming mail will be lifted as soon as possible.

Please be aware that email viruses search through files on the infected PCs and pick out addresses at random to use as both (forged) senders and recipients. If you receive a bounced message for mail you never sent it does not mean that your machine has a virus, it means that a machine somewhere which has your address in the address book or web cache has an email virus. Of course you should always take care that your own machine has up to date virus scanning software (see below).

PCs and Laptops

We experienced a network outage earlier in February which was ultimately traced to PCs in one of the private labs which were infected with the MyDoom virus. Please make sure that your PCs and laptops have up to date Anti-virus software and that they are configured to update their virus definitions on a regular basis. For detailed information on protecting your PC or laptop please see the new FAQ at: http://www/FAQ/VirusesAndSpyware.html.

PC Backup

The backup system for faculty desktops and laptops is in operation. In order to be included in the backup system your desktop or laptop must be a part of the secured backup domain. You can schedule for your PC to be part of this domain at www.cs.sunysb.edu/~faculty/pcbackup.html. Please select either Tuesday, Wednesday or a Thursday for this task. Please note that it will take at best 4 hours to setup your PC for backup. This is because the PC has to be updated for any windows patches and scanned for viruses before it can be added to the backup domain. Please allow extra time depending on your PC. Labs wishing to setup their own PC backup systems should contact Ashwin. Ashwin will help you order the required items to setup a similar system and provide help configuring the 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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