Exeter On-Line
Student
Dorm Room Connectivity
Student dorm room connections have been wired and are being programmed so students will be able to connect after spring break, provided they have upgraded their computers with ethernet and requested an IP address from Telecommunications. All students and their parents have been sent a letter from the Dean's Office describing the process and project of dorm connectivity. Included in the mailing to boarding students are the Academy network minimum hardware requirements, details about how students may purchase ethernet cards and have them installed, and a reminder of the potential for network problems if users leave modem connections active while also connecting directly via ethernet.
In order to assist students in configuring the software on their personal machines for the Academy network, a volunteer student group called TECH (Technology Ethernet Crisis Helpers) has been formed and is being trained and certified by Telecommunications staff. All students requesting a dorm connection will be provided documentation to set up their machine. Should they require assistance, students may call ext. 3310 in Telecommunications to verify operation of the dorm connection and/or to request help from a TECH volunteer. The TECH volunteer will make an appointment to meet with the student in his/her dorm and assist the student in configuring the software on the computer to connect to the network. Student volunteers will not install or repair hardware, as the machines are the personal property of the owner and not Academy equipment. Students will be referred to outside vendors for problems that neither Telecommunications nor the TECHs can resolve.
The dorm connectivity project is experimental in nature and will be a learning experience for the entire community, particularly for the TECH volunteers and the students they "teach" while helping them to configure their machines for the network. Connecting some students to ethernet (rather than having them use modems on their phone lines) should help to alleviate the busy signal problem some callers have experienced when trying to dial into an Academy phone evenings and weekends. The Dorm Heads have also decided to prohibit internet access between 11pm and 6 am for students.
Status
of the Network Implementation
by Shelley Nason
We are in the middle of the 1997-1998 school year and it is not surprising to find ourselves in the middle of networking our campus. When I write of networking, I am referring to ubiquitous connectivity. We are working to connect classrooms, offices and personal faculty machines from home. Additionally, Telecommunications staff have been preparing the network for student dorm room connectivity slated for Spring Term.
As of January 1998 we have completed our scheduled work in the Math, Science and Religion classrooms and are working on Classics, English, History and Modern Language classrooms. This project consists of upgrading desktop operating systems, defining and installing department standard software, and configuring and testing the machines for connectivity. We began this work assuming all classrooms would be connected but heard from the community that not all faculty wanted their classroom computers networked. Networking is not required. Next year we anticipate receiving additional requests to network classroom computers as faculty become more familiar with resources found on the network.
In addition to Academic departments, administrative offices that are now directly connected to the academy network include AA&D, a majority of the Accounting office, Admissions, College Office, Communications, Dean of Faculty Office, the Deans in the Dean of Students Office, the Director of Studies, MIS, Purchasing, and Word Processing. We are in the process of working on connecting Facilities, Human Resources, and the Treasurer's Office. Dining Services, Health Services, and Student Activities are located in buildings that are not wired and have connectivity to the network through modems.
Part of the process of connecting some office computers to the network involves modifying the way the MIS (Colleague/Benefactor) system is accessed. Rather than using separate terminals or dial-up connection lines, networked computers use software, called a terminal emulator, to make the desktop computer act like a terminal. In this way, the same computer accesses the network and the mainframe at MIS via its network connection. As a result of transitioning users from dialup and terminal access to Colleague/Benefactor to networked access, we find our two departments (MIS and Telecommunications) working more closely together than in the past.
Finally, Telecommunications is coordinating work on personal faculty machines that allows faculty to connect to the network from their homes. The Academy is providing the network card or modem, browsing software and an anti-virus program. The Academy has also contracted and paid for out-sourced labor to configure and test these machines. To date we have completed approximately 60 requests.
Unless you are familiar with this field, it may be hard to realize what it takes to accomplish the goals we have set for this year. In addition to supporting existing programs and computers, we have undertaken a very ambitious implementation schedule. Much of our department's work is done behind the scenes and may be transparent to the user. It is very exciting to be able to share what we have been "building" with our colleagues and to see your excitement. Your pleasure with, and increasing use of, the network are the impetus that keeps us energized. Someone recently asked if we (Telecommunications) wanted to sit back and pat ourselves on the back for what we've been able to accomplish this year. The response was, "Not yet, we still have the second half of the year to get through."
Network
File Management
Many network users are taking advantage of the ease of storing files on the network. However, please be mindful that the server storage capacity is finite when considering your file saving needs. The server, named Canvas, which serves administrative departments, is experiencing heavy use already. Please plan appropriately which documents/files should be stored locally and which should be placed on the server. A move to allocate specific storage areas on the network servers to specific academic and administrative departments is currently underway. Some time this summer, Telecommunications hopes to put into place a server to be used specifically for archival purposes. This server will be transparent to the user community, but will actually relocate files which have not been accessed in a specific period of time to another server until they are reactivated by user. Network design is constantly enhanced and modified according to the needs and increasing skills of the Academy user community.
Remove
Access Connections to Network
Directories from the Mac and Windows95
Individuals using Windows 95 on their home (personally owned) computers are able to connect to their network home directory after configuring their machine to "see" the network. Although somewhat complex, setting your personal machine up for the Academy network makes the home directory server, departmental shared files, the mail server (and mail stored in the home directory), and the Academic server accessible from off campus. Documentation for connecting your computer to the network remotely is being prepared by Telecommunications. Please call extension 3693 if you wish to receive a copy when the documentation is complete.
Macintosh users will also be able to connect to network resources in the future. This capability is currently being explored by Telecommunications. Currently, Mac owners may receive email via the mail server when connected remotely.
Access to home directories is being configured currently and should be available soon.
F
A L L 1 9 9 7
Lottery Winners of Refurbished Computers
Thomas
Mills, Rory Early, Louis Limberis, Lisa Allen
Biblion
Accessible From Off Campus
Biblion,
the Library's card catalog system, is now available via the worldwide
web at:
http://www.exeter.edu/library/biblion.html
Using
Your Telephone
by Tracey Lulek
Voice Mail Tips
Logging
into voice mail from on campus:
1.
Dial 2900, enter the voice mailbox number followed by # sign
2. Enter the password followed by # sign
Logging
into voice mail from off campus:
1. Dial your telephone number (For example: For extension 7777 dial 777-7777)
2. When voice mail answers dial 81#
3. Enter the voice mailbox number (7777) followed by # sign
4. Enter the password followed by #
Common Features of Academy Phones
Call
Forward:
This allows all calls coming into a telephone to be forwarded to another
extension on campus or to voice mail. The phone will not ring when forwarded
to voice mail.
Using
the Call Forward Key on a digital telephone:
1. Press the Forward key then enter the number where the phone calls are
to be forwarded (another on campus extension or 2900 for voice mail)
2. To cancel call forward and have the phone ring again press the Forward
key once
Using
Call Forward on an analog/single line telephone without a Forward Key:
1. Pick up the handset press #1 then enter the number where calls are
to be forwarded (another on campus extension or 2900 for voice mail)
2. To cancel pick up the handset press #1 and hang up Call Transfer: This
allows a call that comes into one academy extension to be transferred
to another academy extension.
Using
the Transfer Key on a digital telephone:
1. Press the transfer key
2. Enter the extension to where the call is to be transferred
3. Press the transfer key again and the call will be transferred
Using
Transfer on an analog/single line telephone without a Transfer Key:
1. If there isn't a transfer key press the switch hook, there will be
a special dial tone
2. Enter the extension to where the call is to be transferred
3. Hang up and the call will be transferred
Ring
Again:
This allows an extension that is busy to be dialed automatically when
no longer busy.
Using
the Ring Again Key on a digital telephone:
1. After dialing an extension and reaching a busy signal Press the Ring
Again key
2. The phone will beep when the extension is no longer busy
3. Press the Ring Again key when the phone beeps and the extension will
be dialed automatically
Using
Ring Again on an analog/single line telephone without a Ring Again Key:
1. After dialing an extension and reaching a busy signal Press the Switch
hook
2. There will be a special dial tone, Press 11and hang up
3. When the extension is free the phone will ring in short bursts
4. Lift the handset when the phone rings in short bursts and the extension
will be dialed automatically
Phone
FAQ's
Question/Problem: I have just moved my telephone from one jack in the office to another jack and it doesn't work but my voice mail still works, why?
Answer: Users cannot move their own telephones without technical intervention. Each telephone on campus is programmed by Telecommunications to work in a specific jack in the room. If the phone is moved to another jack it will not work or it will be programmed for another extension. Call Telecommunications at ext. 3693 before the phone needs to be moved to have it programmed and moved properly.
Voice mail messages are not stored on a particular phone. Voice mail messages are sent, received and stored by a computer on campus. This allows voice mail to be accessed from any phone, whether on campus or off. Dialing 2900 allows access to the voice mail system and your private voice mailbox on this system.
Question/Problem: Where can I get a longer tailcord for my telephone or a device to prevent the handset cord from tangling?
Answer: The bookstore stocks longer phone cords and tangle free adapters for handset cords.
New
Issues for Those Working on
Networked Computers
- When you have completed your working session on a networked machine, or need to be away from the ma-chine for a period of time, you will need to log out of the computer. On a Windows95/WindowsNT machine, simply click on the Start button, click on Shut Down, and choose the option which reads "close all programs and log on as a different user." The machine will remain running but will not be operable until you or another user logs back into the computer. When you log in, the network assigns certain privileges and gives you access to predefined resources on the network (such as your home directory, mail directory, academic or department servers, etc.). Logging in and out at the beginning and end of sessions ensures that your work remains secure from those who do not have access. Logging out and leaving a com-puter on, rather than shutting it down, is an efficient way to use the machine, particularly for department machines which may be used by more than one individual. Today's electronics go into sleep mode when they are not in use, so monitors won't burn in and systems won't use excess electricity. When you, or another user, want to use the machine again, log back in to refresh all network connections - this is faster than waiting for the machine to restart from scratch.
- If you are attempting to log onto the network and receive the following message: "Roaming profile not available, do you wish to use local?" please click on "NO" and call the HelpDesk at ext. 3693 for assistance in troubleshooting your logon problem.
- Do you have a White Screen on your desktop when you login on a PC/Wintel? This symptom may represent a problem with your network account. Please report White Screens to the HelpDesk at ext. 3693.
- Can't open files on diskette or save to your home directory? This is another symptom of a potentially damaged user account. Please call the HelpDesk to have this problem corrected.
- Have you received email from the Postmaster, saying "your user quota has been exceeded"? This message means that the amount of space allocated to you by the mail server (the electronic equivalent of a post office box) is full. Until the INBOX is cleaned out, no new mail may be delivered to you. Users may have been deleting messages all along, but until they empty the trash folder, those messages remain on the server. In Communicator, click on the File menu and slide down to Empty Trash Folder. From Eudora, click on Special, Empty Trash. From Maildrop, purge deleted messages from the Mail menu.
HelpDesk
Hours (Ext. 3693)
During the regular school year when classes are in session:
Monday,
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8am-6pm
Wednesday, 8am-5pm
Saturdays, 8am-12 noon when classes are in regular session
Outside of the regular school year: Monday through Friday, 8am-5pm
(Saturday support is limited to troubleshooting over the phone and
logging problem/service calls for when technicians are available.)
After hours, Telecommunications Department voicemail will record your call and a staff member will respond as soon as possible after returning to the office. Only emergencies (such as a network outage) should be recorded with option 2. A Telecommunications staff member will be paged by the telephone system. Please be prepared to leave your name and a phone number where you may be reached for the next 30 minutes so that you may be contacted by return phone call.
PEA
Usernames Directory
Need to look up a username for a user on campus? Call Telecommunications (ext. 3693) to request documentation to connect Netscape Communicator to the mail server's directory listing of all accounts.
How
Current is My Anti-Virus Software?
You can update your virus definitions yourself and get the latest and greatest from Symantec. From the Start menu, on an Academy Wintel computer, choose Programs, Norton Anti-Virus, Norton Anti-Virus. This will run the program and you should see a button titled "Live Update." Click the live update button. You may be prompted to 'find device automatically', or it may say 'via internet.' Either way, just click Next and it will do it all for you. Click Finish when it is done. Close the Norton Anti-Virus Window. If you have any problems with this procedure, call the HelpDesk at ext. 3693.
Passwords
& Network Security
In order to ensure a secure network, it is necessary for users to change their passwords from time to time. This function is automated by our servers. As more and more users come onto the Academy network, changing passwords will need to occur more frequently. Occasionally, users may receive a message that their password has expired and they will be prompted to enter a new password. Please remember that passwords will work on all Academy equipment if they are constrained to between six and eight characters. The most secure passwords contain both letters and numbers and are not easily guessed.
Email
Filtering
Receive a lot of mail from listserves that is cluttering or filling your email in box? Set a mail filter to recognize a particular sender, subject, or text string. Once filtered, email may be filed into a file folder of your choice in Communicator. Call the HelpDesk at ext. 3693 for help in setting up folders and filters in Netscape Communicator.
SlipCom
Online Arrives!
Fall term, three versions of SlipCom were available to faculty from Telecommunications: SlipCom for the Macintosh, SlipCom for Windows 95 (standalone and also on the network), and the newest member of the family, SlipCom Online. The online version was used by a test group of faculty who accessed the program by going on the internet with a web browser, like Netscape or Microsoft Internet Explorer, and then navigating to the SlipCom Online site on the Academy Intranet. Since the site is secure, users needed to log into the site in order to see the data for their students' comment slips. Once logged in, faculty wrote the text of the comment and added the grade for each student and "submitted" or saved the text to a database on a server on the Academy network.
Using SlipCom Online has the advantage of portability. Faculty were able to enter a few slips at a time, log out, and return to enter more later at the same machine or another machine on the network. For faculty who had remote access and could log into the network from their homes, SlipCom Online was available to them as well.
Most users were able to operate in SlipCom Online easily. The advantage of having an online version is that it will allow all users on Wintel/PC or Macintosh to learn and use a single version, also enabling Telecommunications to support just one software version. In addition, for faculty entering grades and comments electronically online, slips could be generated in report form, rather than individually, sorted by student. Parents and advisors would receive one report for each student, listing all comments from teachers using the on-line program.
Another feature of SlipCom Online is a tracking option that allows administrators to verify that a particular faculty member's slips are complete. As more users switch over to the Online version, the tracking feature and report printing option will become particularly useful.
SlipCom Online will be available again for Winter Term grades.
Telecommunications
Rat Race?
One of the hardest parts of staffing Telecommunications positions is finding an individual with the specific mix of skills which fit our current needs. A recent article in a Telecommunications industry newsletter sums this point up by spotlighting a particularly talented individual:
"Dr. Judy Reavis' pet rat, Rattie, has a special job: She helps wire schools. Reavis got the idea to train Rattie to carry cable through crawl-spaces on tough wiring jobs from a colleague who had tried unsuccessfully with his own rat. ...How does Rattie do it? Reavis ties a string to the end of a Cat 5 [network] cable and puts the string in Rattie's mouth. Rattie then runs through mazes of dark tunnels, finding the quickest way possible from beginning to end. Reavis then takes the string and pulls the cable through. ..Rattie answers questions via e-mail at judyrat@earthlink.net." (ACUTA News, Newsletter of the Association of College and University Telecommunications Administrators, November 1997, p. 5)