Minutes of ITICC Meetings
1999-2000 through Feb. 3
University of Minnesota
Institute of Technology
Minutes of ITICC Meeting
September 23, 1999
3:30 p.m., 133 Physics
Present: Bance (ADCS), Belik (Math), Garrett (Math), Hudleston (IT Stud Aff), Kachelmyer (ADCS), Larson (ADCS), LeMay (ADCS), Li (ECE), MacDonald (CSE&ITlabs), MacEwan (Chem), Miller (Chem), Martyr-Wagner (CLA), Rusack (Phys), Shield (AEM), Skillman (Astro), Sondag (CE), Swanson (ECE), Wentzcovitch (CEMS), Winkler (ME)
1) Report from CSci and ADCS
MacDonald reported on improvements made since the spring. The network connection to Phys 130 has been upgraded from 10 Mb/s to 100 Mb/s, and improvements also have been made in ME 308. There is an NTS charge of $140/month associated with a 100 Mb/s line.
There are 15 new Suns in EE/CS 4-204, and they are getting preferential use. Also 21 new PCs. The servers Dilbert and Dogbert have been replaced (Dilbert being sent back, as a trade-in, Dogbert retained temporarily), and two new web servers added.
Shield asked about the disk space situation. Macdonald explained that there had been a problem with the old RAID system, when Compaq bought DEC, service was lost. We have purchased a new RAID system from Hitachi which works well. MacDonald said we were not in danger of exceeding the demand for disk space, the percentage of total space used is about the same as before. All classes have the space that they need. The student allocation is currently 10 Mb. Hudleston recalled that Chase last spring had volunteered to review the disk space allocation and provide the committee with a recommendation about modifying policy on this. He said he would remind him.
Bance said ADCS has installed new PCs and replaced Macs in Physics. The streaming video used by UNITE has been switched to Real Player, which operates in Internet Explorer.
Larson said there is a problem with evening access to ME 308 now that the link to Lind is closed while the ME reconstruction is going on. There will need to be an outside door in ME open to allow access. He will look into this. He also said that LeMay would be working on installing an ID card-swipe system for payment for printing in the labs.
Larson reported that the facilities work has been completed in Lind 24. There had been a problem with the air conditioning, the single unit planned for being too large for the window well. Furniture has been ordered, and will be here in a week or so. MacDonald said that he and Winckelman would work together to order the computers (we will get what math wants). Winckelman has suggested combining the order with another by Math for replacing the machines in Lind 1. MacDonald said that there could be some delay in linking Lind to the backbone, because NTS needs to replace the Cisco router that serves Lind Hall. It is currently full (no room to add Lind 24) and is not Y2K compliant.
2) Retired computers
The issue of retired computer was raised. We have had two rounds of this so far: the first of workstations, and the second of PCs. Both were offered to student organizations. Hudleston said he would repeat the offer of PCs made early in the summer. Many student organizations were not around to respond. Bance said he has about 15 more machines left to dispose of.
The question was raised about the policy of use of retired computers. We can anticipate a steady production of used machines now as we enter a steady state mode of replacement of about 25-30% of the computer stock per year. Two ways of handling this were suggested: one is to dispatch them on a first-come first-served basis continuously throughout the year, as they are retired, to avoid a pile-up of machines in offices. The other is to distribute them once or twice a year, preceded by a general announcement each time. It was agreed that it would make sense to make two announcements a year and then to retire the machines as they become available to those who place requests. As before, the offer goes first to student organizations, and subsequently to departments. The policy has been to keep title to the machines, and let them out on indefinite loan.
MacDonald said he questioned the wisdom of the mode of disposal we have followed for the workstations. He thought this was not working too well. It is not easy for student groups to make efficient use of these machines, and keep up maintenance and licenses. He suggested that the title of the machines should be transferred to the home departments of student groups, and that students would then work with the departments to arrange for licensing and service. This would be cleaner and simpler from the ITICC perspective.
Wentzcovitch asked whether we could just sell the used machines. Selling to the student group is not desirable, because the students have already paid for them. Selling should be the last resort, after student organizations and departments have used them or declined them. Larson mentioned that selling computers can be done through Computer Repair Services, and this seems to be the way to go if ITICC disposes of machines not otherwise wanted. The paperwork is handled in a routine way.
3) Plans for 1999-00
Hudleston reported that he estimated that we have about $500,000 available still for use in FY00 for purchase of equipment. This is based on the year-end balance, projection of income for the year, and transfer of $100,000 from lower division funds - as originally planned - to account for the contribution to the use and financial support of upper division labs by lower division students before the lower division fee was initiated. The $500,000 is over and above the $375,000 worth of improvements approved by ITICC last spring, and the approved management contracts with CSci and ADCS.
Two budgetary concerns are the somewhat uncertain amount of NTS charges, which will be much larger next year (and which we were given some relief from in FY99 by central funds). The other is to maintain a reasonable reserve.
A motion was made that the ITICTech Committee should be asked to develop a proposal for use of the additional funds during FY00, and to return to ITICC at the next meeting to present it to ITICC. The motion was unanimously approved.
4) Future Plans for Labs
Are there plans to extend the IT computer labs? Hudleston said that there were no current plans for this. Present labs are able to meet demand except at certain times of the term and day. There is a growing need for computer classrooms, but finding the space is very hard. It may make sense to leaving the responsibility (including generating funds) for getting classrooms adapted for computers with central administration. Larson noted that when the renovation is completed, ADCS will have a 100 seat computer lab in Walter and another in Coffman Union. IT will gain lab seats when Lind 24 is completed and when ADCS opens the new lab in Walter and relinquishes Lind 26. In both cases, the rooms will be given first priority for use as classrooms, by Math in Lind 24 and by CSciE in Lind 26.