I.T. Times
Volume 2. No 1 Information Technology News of the University of California, Davis October 1993

Inside I.T.: October 1993
New Login Security System for Fall 1993


Information Technology has been examining ways to improve password security on IT-managed computer systems at UC Davis. It has settled on Kerberos as a means to achieve this goal. The Kerberos login authentication system offers two essential ingredients for password security at UC Davis:

Both features are designed to protect networked systems from password "crackers."

The newly-established IT Distributed Computing Analysis & Support unit has already begun installing Kerberos on IT-managed systems. The first implementation of Kerberos will provide login security for access to records of the Student Information System. It will also be used to provide security on academic systems.

IT staff hope to make the changes to the password security environment as transparent as possible for administrative and academic users. Please direct any questions about Kerberos to Dan Dorough of Distributed Computing Analysis & Support; phone: 752-3420; email: dadorough@ucdavis.edu.

Apple Service Provided On-Site

Along with the UCD Bookstore Computer Shop, Technology Advancement & Resources (TR) has become an Authorized Apple Service Provider Plus. Not only does TR continue to provide warranty and non-warranty repair and installation of Apple products, TR personnel now provide on-site service anywhere on the main campus, at select off-campus departmental sites (e.g., Research Park), and at the UCD Medical Center.

On-site warranty service covers many Apple products purchased on or after February 1, 1993 (excluding PowerBooks and some other equipment). On-site service for out-of-warranty equipment is available to departments only for an additional charge. If your equipment needs service or to obtain information concerning warranty coverage of your equipment, call Technology Advancement & Resources 752-7762.

MBL Service Less Costly to Davis Customers

In the past, Communications Resources (CR) worked with Pacific Bell to process and pay PacBell's Measured Business Line (MBL) service orders. These orders incurred charges to a department's monthly Telecommunications Billing Statement -- including a 25 percent administrative fee on monthly charges and a 9.5 percent administrative fee on toll charges.

CR will no longer coordinate MBL service requests. Departments, in turn, will no longer have to pay administrative fees in addition to the Pacific Bell charges. Instead, the Pacific Bell bill will be sent directly to the department. MBL adds, moves, and changes will be handled directly between the department and Pacific Bell. The Pacific Bell contact for service is Sharon Greathouse, 811-6279.

Another Billing Change

Develnet charges are moving to the telephone bill. Departments no longer will be getting that charge on the Computing Services Budget Charge Notice.

Online Timesheets

The payroll timesheet system will provide departments with the ability to electronically edit and generate timesheet data for input to the payroll system. This new process, developed by the School of Veterinary Medicine and Information Resources, will replace the paper-based method of processing timesheet data. Technical contact is Ray Reveles, 757-8794, rreveles@ucdavis.edu. Start-up contact is Tim Ortez, 757-8542, tjortez@ucdavis.edu.

Touchtone Registration

Information Technology and the Registrar's Office worked collectively to bring touchtone registration (RSVP) to the Davis campus. According to Bob Strobel, associate director, over 90 percent of UCD continuing students and 100 percent of UCD law students have registered using this system.

Digitizing Slides and Audio Tapes

Information Resources is converting many slides and audio tapes into digital format in the Media Distribution Lab, 1101 Hart Hall. By fall quarter, users will be able to view select slide sets in this pilot multimedia project from computers in the lab. The goal of the project is to increase the limited accessibility of traditional media on reserve. For more information, contact Catherine Olvera at 752-9625.

DCAS Mission Statement on the CWIS

Interested parties now can obtain an electronic copy of the mission statement for the IT Distributed Computing Analysis and Support Group. It is located on the Campuswide Information System (CWIS) in The Campus/Using Computers on Campus - Information Technology/Distributed Computing Analysis and Support/Organization.

Groupware Package Evaluated

Information Resources personnel attended an IBM-sponsored demonstration in Palo Alto recently. The topic was Team Focus, a "groupware" software package and facilitation process to make meetings more effective using interactive PCs. The product has quite a bit to offer both IT and the rest of the campus, though startup costs, site, and resources for facilitator training are issues that must be considered. For more information, contact Kent Kuo of Information Resources at 757-8732.

BANNER SIS Reporting Tool Selected

Team Brio Technologies' DataPrism has been selected to be the enduser reporting tool for the BANNER Student Information System. DataPrism allows access to the database without the need for programming. The Registrar's Office and Admissions Office are piloting the use of this graphical query tool. Pricing, training, and ordering will be announced once the pilot is completed.

IT-Managed Academic Systems Changes

VMS -- Information Resources (IR) will be replacing the current VAX 8600s with a DEC AXP Server running Open VMS. This server uses the new Alpha RISC processor. UNIX -- IR is evaluating software and hardware to replace the current backup system on the academic UNIX platforms. The new system will increase backup capacity and more fully automate the backup and restore functions.

Elected Post

John Keller of Technology Resources has been elected to the board of the Sacramento Chapter of the Society Of Motion Picture and Television Engineers. In September 1993, he hosted a section meeting of the chapter at UC Davis, providing its members with a tour of the Center for Advanced Information Technology, the Olson Hall Control Room, the Hart Hall multimedia classrooms, and other IT facilities.

IT-Managed Lab Servers Being Upgraded

Information Resources will be upgrading the file servers in the microcomputer classrooms as well as the method of access to lab services. The following is a tentative schedule:

Cynthia Pickens, Robert Ralston, Catherine Olvera, Zack O'Donnell, Laura Townsley, Ray Reveles, Eric Myrehn, Laurie Bunten, Kent Kuo, Johnson Lai, Dana Drennan, Joyce Johnstone, Joan Gargano, and Ivars Balkits contributed to "Inside IT."

ietpubs@ucdavis.edu