ICC Meeting:

IFAS COMPUTER COORDINATORS
(ICC)

NOTES FROM October 10th 2014 REGULAR MEETING

A meeting of the ICC was held on Friday, October 10th, 2014 in the UF/IFAS Communications Building. The meeting was chaired and called to order by Jimmy Anuszewski at about 10:02 am.

We're going green! No paper at this meeting :)

PRESENT: At least 26 members participated.

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

On-site participants: Jimmy Anuszewski, Steve Lasley, Dan Cromer, Tennille Herron, Wendy Williams,Tricia Cook, Andrew Carey, Francis Ferguson.

STREAMING AUDIO: Might be available here.

Recorded Video:Should be here.

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:

Helena Niblack, from Agricultural Biological and Engineering, retired on 8/14.

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:

We had special guests from UF Enterprise Systems: Tricia Cook and Andrew Carey. They discussed the incoming IBM Endpoint Manager. Lon Vance was also visiting from UF Video to see how the new video camera was working.

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 October Microsoft patches included 9 bulletins of varying importance, covering 19 unique CVEs in the usual suspects. Risk assessments can be found here.

Adobe

There were some Adobe Creative Cloud updates of varying degrees. All can be viewed here.

Java

The scheduled quarterly updates are expected on Tuesday, October 14th.

Apple

Apple is holding a conference on October 16th to introduce updated products. Recent software updates can be found here. This includes the Bash update for those of you that didn't want to go into Terminal and enter the code.

Microsoft updated Office 2011 for Macintosh computers. Latest version released is 14.4.4, on August 26, 2014. The link can be found here.

Other

On October 12th, UF will update the Outlook Web Access (OWA) screen from Exchange version 2010 to Exchange 2013. Everything should work as before; don’t be surprised or concerned when you see something different. OWA, allows you to work with your UF Exchange email using a Web browser.

Outlook Web App (OWA) Login Screen:

The login screen for Outlook Web App (OWA) will be updated as part of the upgrade. On October 12th, users accessing OWA will receive a 2013 themed login screen.

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)

Hopefully this meeting is going smoothly with only Acano being used. Here's to success :)

Abraham recently sent out an email to the ICC requesting sites test a Polycom-mode videoconference across the state for participation in interviews for the coming final selection for UF President. Possible dates are Monday, October 13th (7:30am-5:00pm), Tuesday, October 14th (8:00am - 2:00pm) and Wednesday, October 15 (8:00am - 5:00pm). For now, the test will be available until 9pm tonight (October 10th). The Video ID is 7832040. If you need to see the list of sites, please check your ICC email from 10/7, 10/9 and 10/13.

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 dependment 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)

See the Acano update above.

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

Updates as available...

Movi/Jabber Updates (previous discussion)

October 8th saw a new Jabber update for both Windows and Mac platforms. You can download the new version here.

Updates as available...

End-user Scheduling (previous discussion)

Updates as available...

Lync updates (previous discussion)

Discussion about camera control through Lync was discussed and Steve emailed Jimmy was he found.
Logitech has a Far End Control Application for Microsoft Lync: http://www.logitech.com/assets/51926/far-end-control-guide.pdf

Polycom/Lync Far Side Camera Control (except I can't find where to actually get it):
http://windowspbx.blogspot.com/2012/06/microsoft-lync-far-side-camera-control.html

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)

Updates as available...

Notes from last month's SIAC meeting

Updates as available...

Last month's IT Directors Meeting Notes

Wendy Williams or Dan Cromer with possible updates?

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)

UF IFAS Web Services is about 80% completed with onboarding. After meeting with UF Web Services, they have decided to modify the process again. As soon as that is completed, Tennille said she would send an email out about the change in processes again.

Jimmy made sure to ask about role submission. Tennille asked that everyone wait to submit their role requests until UF Web asks to wait until the new process is presented.

Updates as available...

Authentication Management policy draft (previous discussion)

Updates as available...

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

Updates as available...

KACE (previous discussion)

October's KACE report is available here.

Updates as available...

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

Updates as available...

UF Exchange updates (previous discussion)

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)

Updates as available...

Windows 8 Deployment? (previous discussion)

Updates as available...

SCCM for IFAS

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 several issues that have recently been encountered by IFAS IT. The full report can be downloaded here.

Issue: Remote MPSv3 server deployment

Issue: Building 120 Air Handler

Issue: Trend Micro Blacklisting the IFAS Listserv

Issue: Net-services is now monitoring the CPU load of building switches

Issue: Re-issuing new SSL certs within IFAS

Project: UFAD concluded an ADRAP engagement with Microsoft

Project: MPSv2.5 Deployment

Santos Soler put together an instruction guide for setting up the PrintSmart devices that will soon be occupying all departments throughout UF. The link is based in the Wiki, which means that yes, you will have to go to the Wiki and read it.

Also, again Jimmy is stressing that everyone please pay attention to the server drives. Santos has been working, even through his vacation, to correct the OU problems that still persists within the folders of our drives.

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

IBM Endpoint discussion.

Updates as available...

Print server (previous discussion)

See two sections above in regards to PrintSmart devices.

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)

Updates as available...

Job Matrix Update status (previous discussion)

Updates as available...

Other Topics

Event updates from Wendy Williams

Wendy did mention a couple of items that were brought up during the IT Director's meeting. Windows Server 2003 is reaching end of life, July 2015. They will all be blocked. UF Net2 has its first research testing. Peer to Peer traffic on wireless is being blocked. Also, UF Wireless issues are being looked at in general. Sakai will reach end of life at the end of 2015. UF Exchange issues are also being discussed (no-forwarding, Exchange problems, Office 365, etc).

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

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?

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.

Student Tech Day

Student Tech Fair – Friday, October 10 (right now!)
The UF Student Tech Fair will be held on Friday, October 10 in Tech Plaza -- the area in and around Marston Science Library and CSE. For year one, Tech Fair has been kept to 15 participants (nine distributed IT services, six core IT services) to manage the expectations and scale of the event. Going forward, we hope to expand Tech Fair and include more of the distributed IT services available for students. Please encourage students from your area to stop by: a lot of great information will be available.

Update: ITSM Initiative
The ITSM initiative is making progress! For a sneak peek of the new platform, branded “myIT,” click here. Most UFIT units will be utilizing myIT by the end of the fall semester.
For information ranging from security roles to training and more, please visit the Resources section of the ITSM website.

GatorBox
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. Research Computing is hosting a GatorBox training session this Thursday, September 25, beginning at 12:50 p.m. in NPB-Room 2205. If you are unable to attend in person, the session will be broadcast via Adobe Connect. Click here to connect starting at 12:40 p.m. Please contact Research Computing for more information about GatorBox or the training: info@hpc.ufl.edu.

Peer2Peer: Thursday, October 16
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Time: 8:30am-12pm
Location: 180 Holland Hall in the Levin College of Law

Technically Speaking: Tuesday and Wednesday, November 5-6
Day 1 - University Websites: Utilizing principles of user-centered design and strategic communication.
Day 2 - Mobile User Experience: Essential UX design principles for small-screen websites and apps.
Registration and more details for the two-day 2014 Technically Speaking event will be posted on UFIT News.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:20 and the next meeting will take place November 14th, the weekend of the Gamecock game!