ICC Meeting:

IFAS COMPUTER COORDINATORS
(ICC)

NOTES FROM December 12th 2014 REGULAR MEETING

A meeting of the ICC was held on Friday, December 12th, 2014 in the UF/IFAS Communications Building. The meeting was chaired and called to order by Jimmy Anuszewski at about 10:00 am. We are going to try and keep this meeting short due to some departments and groups that have a Christmas lunch planned for today. (I'm envious).

PRESENT: At least 11 members participated.

Remote participants: Russell Hunter, John Macias, Luis Coll, Donna McCraw, Tom Barnash, Marion Douglas, Jonathan Potts, Javier Ramirez, Wei Cao, Daniel Preston, Joel Parlin, Ron Thomas, David Bauldree, Marvin Newman, Luis Rivera, Scott Owens, Guillermo Black, Wayne Hyde, Angelo Daniels, Dan Christophy and Dewayne Hyatt.

On-site participants: Jimmy Anuszewski, Steve Lasley, Dennis Brown, Francis Ferguson, Karen Porter, Bill Black, Al Ibanez, Winnie Lante, Brian Hurt, Santos Soler, Tennille Hennon.

STREAMING AUDIO: Might be available here.

Recorded Video: Here. (You can record a video conference at any time by dialing 7850000@video.ufl.edu)

NOTES:

Agendas are going to be replaced with the meeting notes in rough draft. This saves time and paper and allows everyone to see the notes in an agenda type format.

Dennis Brown should be commended for his food/drink accomodations. Thank you, Dennis.

Report from the chairman

Member news:

No reports of any movement.

Recap since last meeting:

As per his usual procedure, Jimmy pointed folks to the notes of the last meeting, without going into any details.

Details about this meeting:

(previous discussion on OWA)

Josh Davis, from EIO Exchange Support, was scheduled to meet with us, but unfortunately did not make it. Some topics that have been discussed on the ICC list include known issues involving lack of public folder syncing with Exchange 2013 OWA and Mac 2010 Outlook users, which should be rectified when the full migration is complete.

Security:

New draft security Standards and Policies (previous discussion)

Updates as available...

Implementing the Mobile Computing Security policy (previous discussion)

Updates as available...

Patching updates... (previous discussion)

Microsoft

The November Microsoft patches and December Microsoft patches included numerous bulletins of varying importance, covering several unique CVEs in the usual suspects. Risk assessments can be found here. Look out for 3024777. Always nice to get a second patch install causing a reboot.

Standalone versions of Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint were announced on Nov. 6th for the iPhone. Information can be found here.

Yes, Microsoft has "leaked" previews of Windows 10. You can see it here.

Adobe

There were some Adobe Acrobat updates here.

Adobe Flash offered an update on December 9th. Link can be found here.

Java

Several different Java updates were made available, including Java 8v25 and Java 7v71/72.

Apple

There have been several Apple updates, including OS X 10.10.1, 10.9 and iOS updates..

Microsoft is planning a second half of 2015 launch of Office for Macs. Let's hope they get it right this time.

Other

Sigmaplot version 13 was released in November. Check with software.ufl.edu.

IFAS IT has now taken over the license for JMP Stats Software. The SIDS can be found at \\ad.ufl.edu\IFAS\Software\SAS-JMP . This includes version 9, 10 and 11 (and the SAS Depot for 11).

Updates as available...

Videoconferencing and WAN discussion

[In order to make meeting participation more efficient for Abraham Turell and James Moore, these two topics have been moved to reside at the top of our agendas.]

Videoconferencing topics (previous discussion)

Patrick Pettus recently sent an email in regards to IP dialing.

"The days of IP dialing are coming to an end (probably should have already) and will be replaced by URI dialing. A standard URI format like building(or REC/Ext site).room@domain would mean no longer having to lookup addresses. That format is already used for the many endpoints like McCarty.G001 or Ft.Laud.T103

Now would be a good time to formalize a naming convention and bring in any outliers."

Dan had commented that most should be moving to an end-point calling the conference rather than the opposite.

Dennis Brown also had some advice to share with the list in regards to using a browser to positively identify IP addresses. The reason for entering the ip number into web browser is to find the name. The name can then be used in the Smart Scheduler.

Dan Cromer had posted that Acano is slowly coming along and Abraham Turrell also stated the same. Both are concerned that with the new incoming UF President, that there may be a change in what is desired, in regards to a video conference tool. Right now, all feel that Acano is a good choice as long as some bugs are worked out and several key features are added.

Updates as available...

Endpoint security concerns (previous discussion)

IBM Endpoint discussion with Tricia and Andrew. UF chose Endpoint Manager from IBM and the team was put together in May, 2013. It is currently at a point where the Agent is ready to be deployed and IFAS has been invited to start using the replacement for KACE. There are different solutions being worked on every month, with 9 total solutions being rolled out in the end. This month, the project team has been working on the core protection module, which has Trend Micro A/V replacing McAfee. The month of November involves encryption and will have everything going back to native and removing PGP. December will involve Power Management and then spring will follow with O/S Imaging and other solutions.

Agent deployment is not AD dependent and is multi-OS compatible (SCCM on Win and misc. tools on OS X and Linux). You can listen to the complete details starting around the 16 minute mark of the audio recording.

Training classes will be required and will take place at the East Campus. Those dates and times will be forwarded by Dan Cromer after he receives them from Tricia.

Updates as available...

Replacing Polycom endpoints with some Lync-based solution (previous discussion)

Maybe Dan can give us an Acano update?

Possible end-point refresh in the works (previous discussion)

Updates as available...

Movi/Jabber Updates (previous discussion)

Updates as available...

End-user Scheduling (previous discussion)

Updates as available...

Lync updates (previous discussion)

Microsoft announced that the next version of Lync will be labeled Skype for Business. Expect the change in the first half of 2015.

Updates as available...

WAN (previous discussion)

Updates from James Moore (previous discussion)

Updates as available...

Wireless printers (previous discussion)

Updates as available

VoIP at RECs

Updates as available...

Phone bills to be paid for centrally? (previous discussion)

Updates as available...

Policy

Cloud Services (previous discussion)

If you still haven't checked out UF Gator Cloud, I suggest you do soon. Students have until have until January 29th, 2015 to opt in to Gator Cloud email.

Updates as available...

Notes from last month's SIAC meeting

Updates as available...

Last month's IT Directors Meeting Notes

December's Director's Meeting was cancelled.

Updates as available...

PrintSmart initiative (previous discussion)

Updates as available...

New IT Service Management Initiative (previous discussion)

Updates as available...

Content Management System (CMS) for UF: Entering preparation phase (previous discussion)

Terminal 4 migration has run into a roadblock that has to do with the lack of Microsoft Server testing and the requirement of FTP software, like Filezilla. More news to come.

Updates as available...

Authentication Management policy draft (previous discussion)

Updates as available...

New 'Trouble-Ticket' Entry Page for CNS (previous discussion)

New information about the ITSM Ticket system can be found on our....WIKI!

Updates as available...

KACE (previous discussion)

November's KACE report is available here, while December's can be found here.

Updates as available...

CNS working to implement NAC for UF wireless (previous discussion)

Updates as available...

UF Exchange updates (previous discussion)

See reports further up the page :)

Updates as available...

Canvas Selected as the Centrally Supported Course Management System (previous discussion)

Updates as available...

Alternate IFAS domains in e-mail (previous discussion)

Updates as available...

Split DNS solution for UFAD problems (previous discussion)

Updates as available...

Projects

New web cluster (previous discussion)

Not new clusters this time, but the demise of old clusters!

Updates as available...

Windows 8 Deployment? (previous discussion)

Updates as available...

SCCM for IFAS - Dewayne Hyatt?

Updates as available...

Exit processes, NMB and permission removal (previous discussion)

Updates as available...

Services Documentation: Is a Wiki the way? (previous discussion)

Would be really nice if more people could contribute to this.

Operations

IFAS IT Updates (previous discussion)

Chris Leopold addressed updates that involved new switches (Animal Science), then turned it over to DeWayne Hyatt.

DeWayne spoke about multipurpose server being replaced with new hardware. (50 minute mark of audio recording).

Wayne Hyde has been busy working on computer status reports that can prove to be really helpful. The reports list the computer's ID, status, created date, last logon, OS, Service Pack and description. All of this is important when information is needed on active or inactive computers and can assist in cleaning up your Active Directory.

Santos will be sending an announcement soon about retiring the srv-web server and notifiying those with domains on that server. This is an old server that he has slowly migrated most of the active sites off of.

DeWayne Hyatt will also be sending out an email regarding SCCM requests.

Also, again Jimmy is stressing that everyone please pay attention to the server drives. Santos has been working, to correct the OU problems that still persists within the folders of our drives. Reports are generated that show drives with incorrect users. Please pay close attention and clean up as needed.

Moving from McAfee VirusScan to Microsoft Endpoint Protection? (previous discussion)

IBM Endpoint discussion.

Updates as available...

Print server (previous discussion)

Printer audits are still going on for different departments and most reports are coming back positive.

Updates as available...

Recording lectures for Distance Education (previous discussion)

Updates as available...

New DHCP reservation site created (previous discussion)

You are reminded that Santos Soler has created a new DHCP reservation site which you may use to request reservations.

Restoration of back-ups on the file server

Wayne Hyde intends to document and announce proper usage as time permits.

Membership of ". IFAS-ICC" e-mail distribution group to be narrowed to ICC members only (previous discussion)

Jimmy will keep this as a standing item on our agendas for now as a reminder. The ICC distribution list is more targeted and restricted to IFAS IT support folks only.

Creating guest GatorLink accounts: singly or in bulk (previous discussion)

Steve had left this on the agenda in case further discussion was deemed warranted. So Jimmy will leave it here.

DirectAccess pilot (previous discussion)

Updates as available...

VDI desktops as admin workstations (previous discussion)

Updates as available...

Wayne's Power Tools (previous discussion)

Updates as available...

Computer compliance tool update (previous discussion)

Updates as available...

Disabling/deleting computer accounts based on computer password age (previous discussion)

Updates as available...

Core Services status (previous discussion)

Updates as available...

ePO updates (previous discussion)

Updates as available...

Status of SharePoint services (previous discussion)

IFAS migrating to centralized MOSS

Updates as available...

Public folder file deletion policies and procedures status (previous discussion)

Updates as available...

MS Office News update (previous discussion)

Discussed way up top.

Updates as available...

Job Matrix Update status (previous discussion)

Updates as available...

Other Topics

Permissions on file server: Home folders (previous discussion)

See IFAS IT Section.

Updates as available...

SAS depot updated

The SAS 9.4 installation depot (\\ad.ufl.edu\ifas\SOFTWARE\SAS\SAS9.4_32bit ) has been updated to permit installation on Windows 8.1 AND to allow installation on 32 bit Windows installs.

FAQs for new hires (should use http://my.ifas.ufl.edu/wiki/icc/)

Updates as available...

Adobe licensing (previous discussion)

Updates as available...

Getting rid of Windows XP (previous discussion)

Do it....now. Wayne stated that XP machines are down to 27 boxes. Steve mentioned that Microsoft stated IE support is going to be limited, leaving people to wonder if Windows 7 will be losing some sort. Hopefully we hear more. Windows 10 is expected to be out in April, 2015.

Misc.

Macintosh Group Seminar? (from last meeting)

There was discussion in the meeting about having some type of Mac guidance. Jimmy agreed and said he wouldn't mind having group meetings where Mac use can be discussed and things such as Active Directory, Office, Network Binding, mapping drives and other things can be discussed and taught. He also noted that UF does officially support Macs and the help desk provides support, as well as an official Apple repair shop in the Reitz Union. He offered his help if people want to email him questions. He urged people to NOT discourage users from buying Macs if they are needed. Also, Macs are in the surplus area and can be used for learning purposes.

GatorBox (leaving this here)
Research Computing has launched GatorBox, an enhanced storage option for research. GatorBox features a dropbox-like interface provided by ownCloud software. The new interface offers a convenient and familiar interface as well as desktop and mobile clients, with simple file sync and share functionality. Please contact Research Computing for more information about GatorBox: info@hpc.ufl.edu.

Peer2Peer: Thursday, October 16

Peer2Peer can be viewed at this link.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:25 and the next meeting will take place February 13th (yes, Friday the 13th!!). January's meeting was voted by the group to be skipped due to the date of the meeting being scheduled at the end of the first week of Spring Semester and everyone felt that it would be too soon after two weeks of Holiday Break.