Benchmarks - April, 2013

Campus Computing News

Dropbox

Dropbox.com installation now supported for limited use

 

By Dr. Philip Baczewski, Senior Director of Academic Computing and User Services and Deputy Chief Information Officer for University Information Technology

Over the past several months, there has been much discussion around the use of Dropbox.com and other similar cloud services for various types of external collaboration in support of research and scholarship at UNT. Specifically, the requirement to accept an End User License Agreement (EULA) from Dropbox.com prevented IT support staff from installing the Dropbox.com client on University-owned computers.

Email Phishing Attacks Continue

ITSS Logo

 

From The Office of the Chief Information Officer, UNT System 

The Issue

Recently, we have received a number of phishing (fishing) attempts targeted at our community.  The phishing attempts have been hosted on a provider called webs.com.  A number of these attacks have been successful.  As a result, we have had the attacker send tens of thousands of spam messages from our system to other internet addresses.  We cannot let that continue because it will lead to blocks on messages from our address by the spam filters at other organizations.  In order to minimize the threat to you, we are, as of today, quarantining all email messages with links to webs.com.

Faculty Evaluation Processing Tips

Data Management

By JoAnn Luksich, Data Manager, Academic Computing and User Services

It's getting to be that time of the semester again. This is an edited version of an article that appeared this time last year. - Ed.

Make sure you have the latest information when you prepare departmental evaluations for processing by Data Management. Following are some tips that will help to ensure your evaluations are processed in a timely manner.

New Blackboard Learn Features Coming in May 2013

Blackboard Logo

By Jane Himmel, Associate Director, CLEAR

During regularly scheduled maintenance on May 11, 2013, Blackboard Learn server administrators in IT Shared Services (ITSS) will update our system to the most recent service pack Blackboard has released. This service pack includes bug fixes and introduces a few new tool enhancements (see below).

University Information Technology Expands

UIT Logo

By John Hooper, UNT CIO and Vice Provost for Information Technology

On April 22, two new employees will join UIT. These two employees will be providing services to UIT that were formerly provided to UIT by ITSS.

Information Technology Gathering Student Input on Services

Questions

By Dr. Elizabeth Hinkle-Turner, Director - Academic Computing Technical Services

Members of University Information Technology (UIT), Academic Computing and User Services (ACUS), and Information Technology System Services (ITSS) have been recently seeking student input about computing services through surveys and focus groups.

Summer Hours

summer sun

By Claudia Lynch, Benchmarks Online Editor

Summer is almost here! Summer 2013 consists of six sessions and not all campus facilities are open during all the sessions.*

ITSS Quarterly Newsletter

ITSS Quarterly Newsletter

By Claudia Lynch, Benchmarks Online Editor

Issue 3 (April 2013) of the ITSS Quarterly Newsletter is now available. It is comprised of IT-related news relevant to anyone who uses or has an interest in shared services and applications throughout the UNT System and its member institutions.

Today's Cartoon

Click on the link above for an information age laugh.

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By the Numbers

Down the Corridor of Years

  • 1988 ‑‑ Project Eagle begun,  the NTSU and GTE voice response project, which allowed NTSU to be one of the first Texas universities to implement teleregistration.  
  • North Texas State University became the University of North Texas.
  • Eight 2400/1200/300 BPS modems installed on the metro lines. UNT became an ARPANET node. UNT BBS implemented on the VAXcluster.
  • 1989 ‑‑ Six IBM AT compatible PCs and six Macintosh SEs linked to a file server on a Novell Local Area Network installed in ISB 110 to create the first general purpose, general access microcomputer lab.  HP ScanJet installed in the Graphics Lab.  Desktop laser printing available from ISB 110 to an Apple Laserwriter  II and an HP LaserJet II.
  • The last keypunch machine available for public use was removed from the area near the ISB  RJE.
  • ANUNEWS and Netware VMS installed on the VAXcluster.  VAXcluster connected to USENET.
  • Twenty-four file servers across campus linked via the broadband to create, at the time, one of the largest university Novell microcomputer networks in the nation.  By 1990 over 40 servers linked over 1,000 micro.  Sixteen 2400 baud modems installed on local dial‑up lines.
  • 1990 ‑‑ An additional NAS/8083 mainframe installed to support academic computing. Administrative computing done on the NAS/8083 already in place.  NAS, bought out by Hitachi, changed the names of the mainframes to Hitachi Data Systems (HDS) 8083's.  VAX 6310 replaced 11/785s.  Installation of VM/XA on the Academic HDS.
  • Willis Library microcomputer lab opened.
  • Phase I of the fiber-optic communications backbone installation completed.

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