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Archive: August 3, 2005

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Security and
Internet Services

Security home

SPIM IS THE NEW SPAM
Instant message (IM) users get SPIM (unsolicited offers like e-mail spam), and messages, links and files coming "from" friends as well as strangers. Beware: arrival is not authentication. Just because a message says it is from a friend doesn't mean it came from them or that their computer isn't hijacked and sending messages to infect your computer. Even an "away message" can be used to spread some virus infections.

"AIM" CAREFULLY
Never IM from a server or a machine with protected data (e.g., FERPA, HIPAA). Always make sure your department's policies allow use of IM tools. Use the security features on your IM tool to restrict messaging to people on your buddy list and to prevent downloads or uploads. Setting examples at http://www.smu.edu/help/resources/imconfig.asp .

Network and Telecommunication
Services

NTS home

GOPHER GIGANET CUTOVER COMPLETION
The campus cutover is done. All network connections are now on the new switches. Remaining few issues are off campus connections requiring new fiber. Additionally, NTS is creating a Data Center model and will convert the areas of campus declared as the good model for the new Data Center Design. Project news at https://www.umn.edu/nts/networkupgrade .

GGN PERFORMANCE WATCH
The Network is under watch for performance and connection stability. This is both to check all systems all the time prior to acceptance procedure of the contract and partly to utilize the network management tools available to us now.

NETWORK MANAGEMENT: EYE OF THE STORM
The Eye of the Storm from Entuity enables the NTS staff to watch all network connection activity more easily now. Any port or switch exhibiting instability will automatically be tracked by a troubleshooting process at the Technical Assistance Center.

CLEAN UP AFTER INSTALLATION AND CUTOVER
The post installation and cutover clean up process will continue for the next few months. All fiber links, switch room locations with building name, room number, key number, access information as well the switch serial numbers will be verified and entered in the NTS network database. This careful tracking makes troubleshooting and emergency response easier.

COMING SOON: UNIFIED MESSAGING
Unified Messaging is the replacement for the voice mail system being installed this August. IP Unity's Unified messaging is a total messaging system integrating voice mail and e-mail with the IP based network and connected to the telephone system. NTS engineers are working on the installation and beginning testing. Campus upgrades will be scheduled for later in the fall and winter.

MORE BUILDING UPGRADES
Some Telecommunications switch rooms and closets still have outdated wiring. In the coming months NTS will plan new upgrades for select buildings. Track these projects at http://www.umn.edu/nts/projects/building_infrastructure_upgrade/ .

GIGANET FEEDBACK STILL WANTED
The project team still wants to hear from all campus staff and faculty about how we have handled this upgrade so far. You can complete a different survey for different buildings. If you have not already completed a survey, please do so at https://wwws.nts.umn.edu/cgi-bin/nu/giganet_survey.cgi .

Academic and
Distributed
Computing
Services

ADCS home

NEW REQUIREMENT: SECURE TELNET AND FTP
As of August 1, 2005 you must use a secure Telnet or SSH program to connect to the UM central servers - and secure FTP will be required as of August 15. More information and lists of clients here: http://www.umn.edu/securecom .

REQUIRED: SECURE CONNECTION TO E-MAIL
Over 10,000 users still have not converted their e-mail clients and are still sending their passwords through clear text. Everyone must convert their e-mail settings. Internet accounts are gradually being moved to secure e-mail servers; everyone must be on a secure server before the end of November. More information and lists of clients here: http://www.umn.edu/securecom .

NEED HELP SETTING UP YOUR E-MAIL CLIENT OR SSL?
University Computing Service (UCS) will set up your e-mail client to use the secure (SSL) configuration for free. You must call and make an appointment to bring your computer to their shop on the Minneapolis campus. See http://www.umn.edu/ucs/.

NEW E-MAIL IMPLEMENTATION: AUTOFILING
Very large e-mail inboxes slow the e-mail system for everyone. To enable the University mail system to run more smoothly, accounts that have over 20MB in their e-mail inbox that is more than 100 days old now may have that e-mail moved to a folder called Archive.

AUTOFILING ARCHIVE FOLDERS
The Archive folder used for autofiling (see above) will have subfolders in it named for the year that the e-mail originated. Each week, if there is more than 20MB in your inbox, e-mail will be moved to the appropriate folder. More at http://www.umn.edu/adcs/news/2005/06/emailautofiling.html . Questions? Please call 1-HELP, http://www.umn.edu/adcs/help/ .

NEW COURSE: WEBCT VISTA GRADE BOOK AND REPORTS
University faculty and course designers, are you getting the most out of WebCT Vista's grade book? Learn how to use the grade book to manage access to your site; customize and work with data in the grade book; and display, graph, and export reports to track your students' progress. See http://uttc.umn.edu .

FALL COMPUTER TRAINING SCHEDULE ONLINE SOON
The fall 2005 short course schedule will be online soon. We have many new and revised courses. Looking for quick, task-based training to brush up on specific Microsoft Office skills? We've got it! Looking for a course on using WebCT Vista's assignments or communications features? We've added those to our WebCT Vista series. Find out about all our fall changes by checking "What's New," coming soon to http://uttc.umn.edu .

Digital
Media
Center

DMC home

FALL TEL SHORT COURSES
Learn how to improve your chances of winning a technology-enhanced learning (TEL) grant and enhance learning with Breeze, PowerPoint, Vista, and online communication/collaboration tools in fall TEL short courses. The fee is waived for eligible faculty members. To register, see http://uttc.umn.edu in mid-August.

FALL TA WEB TRAINING
This fall, the popular TA Web Certification Program is offered twice as a non-credit program. The first session begins SEPT 21. Students learn about web-based teaching and learning strategies and web design and development techniques. See http://dmc.umn.edu/ta-web/schedule.shtml .

FALL TEL SEMINARS
Panelists participating in the fall Technology-Enhanced Learning (TEL) Seminar Series will discuss Effecting Programmatic Change With Learning Technologies (OCT 5), Using Technology to Improve Educational Access (NOV 2), and Using Technology to Shape and Support Learning Communities (DEC 7). See http://dmc.umn.edu/series/fall05.shtml .

FALL EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGISTS FORUM MEETINGS
Campus developers of technology-enhanced learning (TEL) projects will discuss podcasting (OCT 10) and WebCT Vista best practices (DEC 8). See http://dmc.umn.edu/etf/schedule05.shtml .

TECH TALK SEASON 4 BEGINS NOV 6
Sixteen new episodes of the University of Minnesota television show about the technology we encounter in our everyday lives will be broadcast this fall on Twin Cities Public Television channel 17 beginning NOV 6. Topics include home networking, blogs, and robotics. See http://techtalk.umn.edu/schedule/ .

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