Improving Service, Avoiding Costs, Improving Service, Avoiding Costs, and Increasing Reliability and and Increasing Reliability and Security of Network Clients Via Security of Network Clients Via Distribution of a Computing Distribution of a Computing Services Orientation CDServices Orientation CD

Chuck Elliott

Associate Director, Customer Services

Marshall University Computing Services

This presentation is online at http://users.marshall.edu/~celliott/OrientationCD.ppt

August 4, 2004 Marshall University Computing Services Slide 2

Overview• Background/History• Driving Forces• Goals• Project Timeline• Demo• Technology Used• Costs• Next Steps• Challenges Ahead• Q & A

August 4, 2004 Marshall University Computing Services Slide 3

Background/History

• 70-80% of student residents bring PC to campus• Fall semester startups ALWAYS painful• University Computing Services (UCS) traditional efforts

to communicate availability of services, and procedures, to new students and faculty– Orientation sessions and display table (some, but few, visitors)– Student “Guide to Computing at Marshall” Brochures– Presentations to UNI-101 and HON-101 classes– Presentations at residence halls– Other printed materials

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Driving Forces

• Student and faculty orientation – Low ROI– Lots of paper, too much paper– Little or no time for UCS to inform participants

• Residence Hall “Move-In” (2500 students)– Costly to print instructions– Most computers need anti-virus– Most computers need OS updates

• Vista 2.0 implementation– Broad implementation (all courses) – Strict requirements for browsers and plug-ins

• Computer viruses, worms, and other malware

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Driving Forces

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Driving Forces

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Driving Forces

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Driving Forces

August 4, 2004 Marshall University Computing Services Slide 9

Driving Forces

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August 4, 2004 Marshall University Computing Services Slide 10

Goals

• Improve and maintain a healthy IT environment– Improve the security and reliability of client computers on the

network• Antivirus

• Windows updates

• Improve the IT “experience” for students and faculty– Prepare computers for the Vista learning environment

• Browser tune-up

• Java client

– Assist student residents with connecting to MUNet– Educate and inform IT users

• Reduce calls to the Help Desk !!!!

August 4, 2004 Marshall University Computing Services Slide 11

Project Timeline

• Early Feb 2004, first development meeting• Feb – May 2004, feature and function development• May 2004, testing begins (all operating systems)• May 15, 2004 Super Saturday at MUGC (first CD

distribution – to graduate students and faculty) • Early June, 2004, finalize version 1.0 and end testing• June 10, 2004, begin duplication (2000 CDs)• June 15, 2004, begin distribution to Orientation classes• September 2004, broad distribution to faculty/staff

August 4, 2004 Marshall University Computing Services Slide 12

Demo

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Technology Used

• HTML (cross-browser and platform compatibility)– Designed for Internet Explorer and Safari web browsers

• Microsoft’s Security Update CD of Feb, 2004– Supports Windows 98 and later– HTML Application (HTA)

• Javascript• Symantec Antivirus Corporate Edition 8.1• MUNet (Cisco) VPN Client• Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0• Macromedia Flash Plug-in• MUOnline’s Browser Tuneup uses ASP via Live

connection

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Costs

• Staff time– Stakeholder meetings/discussion (120 hours)– Development (180 hours)

• Kudos to Mr. Ken Lester, student, College of Fine Arts

– Testing (30 hours)– Distribution and Orientation Classes (45 hours)

• Fixed Costs– Elite 2 CD/DVD Duplicator ($4990) (today = $4390)

• http://www.discmakers.com

– Pentium 4 (3 GHz) Computer with Win XP Pro ($2300)– Advanced Replacement Service ($1199 per year)

• Variable Costs– Printable CD-R media ($0.41 each)– Ink costs ($0.11 each)– CD Protective Sleeves ($0.01 each)

August 4, 2004 Marshall University Computing Services Slide 15

Next Steps

• Next version of antivirus software• More interactive• Windows XP Service Pack 2• Distribution to faculty and staff (Fall ’04)

August 4, 2004 Marshall University Computing Services Slide 16

Challenges Ahead

• Incorporating feedback – (all positive thus far)

• Fixing bugs– Report all bugs to ucs@marshall.edu

• Root Certificate issue for SAV 9.0• Windows XP Service Pack 2 (available August 24)

– Space available on the CD?– Security Center– Will “complain” if Automatic Updates disabled– Firewall is on by default– IE pop-up blocker– SP2 WILL create problems

August 4, 2004 Marshall University Computing Services Slide 17

Q & A

• How are other schools and colleges dealing with the problem?

August 4, 2004 Marshall University Computing Services Slide 18

Thank You

• For more information send e-mail to: celliott@marshall.edu

• This presentation is online athttp://users.marshall.edu/~celliott/OrientationCD.ppt

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