University of Minnesota

Institute of Technology

Minutes of ITICC Meeting

March 16, 2000

3:30 p.m., 133 Physics

Present: Bance (ADCS), Belik (Math), Chase (ME), Garrett (Math),

Hudleston (IT Stud Aff), Kachelmyer (ADCS), LeMay (ADCS), MacDonald (CSE&ITlabs), MacEwan (Chem), Runzel (CE), Shield (AEM), Victoria (CCE, BIN)

1) Report from ADCS and CSci

MacDonald and Kachelmyer reported that the labs were running smoothly. Bance noted that the new Dell computers are here and are being installed in ME 308.

We have recently learned that CalComp is out of business, so the CalComp plotter in ME 308 can no longer be serviced.

2) Discussion of Plans for Lab Improvements for 00-01

Hudleston reminded the committee that the meeting today provided an opportunity for initial discussion of plans for lab improvements for 2000-01, with final discussion and voting to follow at the next meting (April 13). He also reminded the committee that reports from departments on their use of funds this year were due April 7, along with plans for the proposed use next year. He said he would send out a reminder about this.

Hudleston said that he has received only one at large proposal for lab improvements - from Tom Chase, for replacement of the CalComp plotter in ME 308 by something equivalent (with a ProE driver). He noted that there is still up to $150,000 for use this year, in addition to whatever improvements are made next year.

MacDonald handed out a sheet showing the Tech Committee's initial proposal for purchases for next year (see below or attached). The principal elements are replacements for 64 computers (including 44 SGI Indys) and network improvements. In regard to replacing the SGIs, he said that it seems Linux has no plans for providing a ProEngineer port. He said that the Tech Commitee would follow the recommendations of ME and AEM for replacement of the SGIs in ME 308. Chase said his impression was that NT use was up and that of UNIX was down, but this could be a function of the age of the machines. MacDonald noted that working with C and C++ was easier on the UNIX machines. You can use NT for this, but you need to use VisualStudio to do so (and this has a steep learning curve). All this seemed to argue for a 50:50 mix of NT and UNIX machines. He also noted that OS2 was used for running Alias Wavefront.

Shield asked about the remote use of ME 308, which is not known. It should not, however, be a limiting factor in planning lab access and improvements.

There is a case for keeping some Macs (maybe 8) in EE/CS, where they are accessible at late hours (unlike those in Physics 130).

MacDonald said that the plan was to begin to install Windows 2000 next fall. This will go quickly for the desk top machines, somewhat more slowly for the servers.

3) Other Business

LeMay reminded Hudleston about the proposal for replacement of the projection system in ME 302, which Hudleston had planned to bring to ITICC for approval. The Tech Committee recommends replacement with an overhead Sanyo LCD projector, costing $21,000, including the ceiling mount. The committee voted unanimously in favor of this, and also in favor of adding an NT machine for ME 302, proposed by Shield, to increase flexibility of use of the facility.