Desktop Computing Team Meeting

3/2/98

Last department meeting: 2/17/98            Next meeting: 3/11/98

 

AGENDA:

1. Review progress on:

• web editing/publishing (Bob) - team is working on this and getting close to recommending a strategy.
• Documentation for restarting servers; that is, Shiva dial-in/TopClass (Paula and Justin) - no progress.
• Oswego visit (Justin, et al) - scheduled for 3/6/98
• Cross-platform calendar/scheduling project (see FMPro item)
  • There is a 3/31/98 deadline for Eucora Planner. If there is no progress with that option, we will begin looking at other products in earnest.
• TCP/IP-based conferencing service project (see FMPro item)
  • Discussed concept briefly. The need is for synchronous and asynchronous conferencing. Everyone will begin to look at possibilities on the web.
• Faculty-oriented facilty project (see FMPro item)
  • This facility should not be in the Helpdesk area because of support demands. Doug suggested that this might be addressed as part of the IT Education Project he is leading.

2. Timeline/strategies for Life-cycle project

• Purchasing/Installation issues, etc.:
  • Need to look at the deadline for spending $
  • Need to look at delivery of computers
  • Need to look at the IT Education Project proposal that will try to provide some training along with these installations.
  • Need to consider the trickle-down installs left from the new installs (they may take more than 4 hrs in some case)
• Back-up strategy:
  • Consider using the writable CD-ROM to store images
  • Consider using the new centralized back-up system
• New computer installations:
  • ... should take 4 hrs to do a new computer install, assuming a knowledgeable installer; however, experience will increase the overall speed of installation.
  • ... should be a dedicated process (that is, over the summer, not during the Fall or Spring semester.
  • ...include setup of the computer, backup and copying of user files to the new computer.
  • ...should take (for NEW installs):
    • 1 person x 20 weeks x 40hrs/week
    • 5 people x 4 weeks x 40hrs/week
    • 10 people x 2 weeks x 40 hrs/week
  • A faster install period will require:
    • more installers. Where could we get them? Perhaps public school teachers, students.
    • more overhead (transportation, carts, etc.)
    • more coordination and management because of the faster pace of activity
    • ...but, this would also give us the most flexibility of WHEN to purchase.
  • ...will be done by others outside the department (outsourced to "installers")
  • ...should NOT occur during the week prior to Fall '98 and the 1st week of classes (that is, 8/24 -9/4/98)
  • ...should be finished by 8/7 which would give us a 2 week cusion to deal with any unforeseen problems, delays, etc. before 8/24.
• There are going to be 70 trickle-down installs of older, but capapable, computers
  • Need to budget time to get these done.

3. Software to be included in lifecycle budget

• Review "budget" created in 2/17/98 meeting
• Complete the "budgeting" of $100,000 for this part of the lifecycle project
  • memory upgrades for older computers still being used

    There are approximately 70 older machines to be redeployed that may need RAM upgrades (50 Macs; 20 PCs). Assuming $100 per machine, this cost would be approximately $7,000. However, we will wait on purchasing any RAM until the 1998-99 budget year when we actually know what RAM requirements there are after all of the old units are brought into DCTM for redeployment. It will also be easier to install the RAM that way.

  • special software (PageMaker, web authoring/publishing, PhotoShop, curricular, etc.)

    Software .. Concurrent Users ...... Price ....... Total

  PageMaker................20......................200........... 4,000

  FileMaker.................20......................100........... 2,000

  PhotoShop................10......................250........... 2,500

  Translation software.....20......................100........... 2,000

  Web editing/publishing..50.......................50........... 2,500

  ....................................................................13,000

4. What to do with "old" computers

• Feedback from Peter Brouwer
• Alternative proposals to trade-in:
  • why are we proposing an alternative to trade-in?
  • what will it take to implement the alternative(s)

Around the table

Next meeting: Monday 3/16/98

References:

• Our Department mission 
• Departmental priorities
• Departmental policies/processes/procedures
• 97-98 Planning (interview reports, etc)

Contact: R. Jewett (Email: jewettrj@potsdam.edu)