SYSTEMS STAFF MONTHLY UPDATE - SEPTEMBER 2005

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. 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.

Announcement
There will be a hands-on presentation on the use of Blackboard on Friday, September 9 from 2:15 - 3:45 in room 2129. This presentation is required for new TAs and recommended for returning TAs or anybody
else who is interested. Blackboard is a centralized course management package maintained by the University which allows you to handle grading, assignments, handins, discussion groups, and anything else you can think of through a central web interface. It will be pre-loaded with your class rosters and will make managing your course easier in a multitude of ways.

New/Upgraded Software for Solaris
The GCC compiler suite has been upgraded to version 3.4.4. Please see the man page for information on usage. Also, we have several FAQs which address common questions regarding gcc. If you have
problems or questions which are not answered in the FAQs please submit a WREQ job with the details.

The binutils collection of binary tools has been upgraded to version 2.16.1. The main tools are ld, the GNU linker and as, the GNU assembler. Also included are:

  • addr2line - Converts addresses into filenames and line numbers.
  • ar - A utility for creating, modifying and extracting from archives.
  • c++filt - Filter to demangle encoded C++ symbols.
  • gprof - Displays profiling information.
  • nlmconv - Converts object code into an NLM.
  • nm - Lists symbols from object files.
  • objcopy - Copys and translates object files.
  • objdump - Displays information from object files.
  • ranlib - Generates an index to the contents of an archive.
  • readelf - Displays information from any ELF format object file.
  • size - Lists the section sizes of an object or archive file.
  • strings - Lists printable strings from files.
  • strip - Discards symbols.
  • windres - A compiler for Windows resource files.

There are manpages for each of these tools.

Vmware
If you need a VM for coursework or project work this semester, please fill out a WREQ at cs dot sunysb dot edu request as soon as possible so we can best allocate resources.

New/Upgraded Software on MS Windows

Translabs
The student accounts are now available for use in the translabs. All faculty members received mail listing the courses which are scheduled to use the lab. If your class is not on the list please submit a WREQ at cs dot sunysb dot edu job requesting course accounts for your students.
Room 2114 is in the process of being upgraded. It should reopen for use this month. All machines in the room will have flat panel monitors at completion of the upgrade.
The JDK has been upgraded to version 1.5.04 in the translabs. NetBeans 4.1 has also been installed.

Graduate PC Lab
Please keep in mind that food and drink is not permitted in the grad lab at any time, for the protection of the equipment. You should shortly receive an email inviting you to join the graduate lounge. For a small fee you will have a pleasant place in the building to have your meals and snacks that includes a refrigerator
for storage, fresh coffee, and other amenities.

The following issues have been resolved in the Graduate Windows Lab
- Blue screens
- Slow and sometimes unresponsive access to your home directory
- Adobe Acrobat
If you notice any additional issues, please let us know. Also, the compaq workstations in Room 1204 are being upgraded to Dell GX150's.

When there is a problem with one of the printers in the Grad lab, please do not attempt to repair them yourselves. This frequently leads to more damage and a delay in getting the printer back online.
You may replace paper as needed, but you should send mail to wreq for paper jams or any other problems. Please be aware the usage of the printer is monitored and quotas will be enforced if the need arises.

Databases
Undergraduate Database Server
The Undergraduate Database server has been upgraded. The server has been named SBCSTLDB and its fully qualified domain name is SBCSTLDB.TRANSLAB.CS.SUNYSB.EDU.
The operating system on the server is Windows 2003.
Both Sybase ASE 12.5.2 Small Business Edition and Oracle 9i R2 Enterprise Edition has been installed and made available to the students for use.
The server has been integrated into the translab domain and configured to authenticate users at the O/S level such that every undergraduate student who has an active network/translab login will automatically be able to connect to the database and use Sybase/Oracle.
Due to the availability of a large vol. of disk space students will now be entitled to 16 MB of space for data and 8 MB for log from the previous 4 MB for data and 3 MB for log respectively.

On the Web
Notes from the Systems staff talk at the Start of Semester meeting are posted on the website at
http://www.cs.sunysb.edu/facilities/sos_meeting.html.
Please ask any alumni you know to register with our alumni database. Alumni registration is reached through the People section of our website. Alumni also have the option of participating in our alumni
email forwarding service.

PCs and Laptops
In the month of August the campus had an infestation of the W32.Spybot.NLX, Zotob.b, and Trojan. Cachecachekit viruses. Please see the department FAQ at : http://www.cs.sunysb.edu/~faq/VirusesAndSpyware.html for complete information about securing your PC or laptop.

Upgrades
Student quotas have been upgraded to 1 Gigabyte. The 4 compservs will be upgraded to faster machines in the month of September.

Previous Newsletters


Campus Events