IFAS Computer Coordinators

IFASDOM Migration Recommendations – Executive Summary

Situation – Retiring Windows NT 4.0

IFASDOM currently operates under Microsoft Windows NT4, which was discontinued in October 2001, and has an official retirement date of Dec. 31, 2003. Mission-critical services, including e-mail, web, and resource sharing are based upon this old technology. Microsoft Windows 2000 is the incremental upgrade to NT4, and is built around a centralized directory service called Active Directory (AD) which offers many advantages and improvements over the existing NT4 domain structure.

Situation – UF Active Directory Project

The UF OIT is actively pursuing a campus-wide Active Directory project and expects to have a working system in the next few months. The UF AD will provide key interoperability with the upcoming ERP and UF Directory systems. An outside consulting team is currently in the process of designing the architecture, with input from key participants including IFAS. They have already committed to significant concessions in the design in order to accommodate participation by IFAS – in particular our remote sites across the state.

Reasons for Active Directory (AD):

• AD fixes what’s broken in Windows NT – especially critical domain security issues through delegation of administrative control at the unit level.
• AD provides justification and means for consolidating all IFAS units under a single unified directory and functional IT group, improving communication, collaboration, and reducing redundant hardware and support costs.
• AD brings IFAS users one step closer to a single sign-on computing environment (Gatorlink).
• AD reduces administration costs via centrally managed software installs, updates, repairs, and removal. Admins can track licensing, and deploy security updates without having to visit each desktop.
• AD provides means for improved support of the user environment (i.e. drives, printers, desktop, apps) for users and/or computers based on physical site, domain, or organizational unit. Units have full control.
• AD reduces costs for travel to remote sites through secure remote control and administration of servers and workstations.
• AD reduces costs and increases efficiency by virtue of significantly improved operating system stability.
• AD improves Internet availability for remote sites through optimized replication and logon traffic.

• AD deployment requires adequate funding and increased IFAS-ITNS staffing in order to ensure a successful migration and to properly support ongoing maintenance and management of the AD.