IT Times, May 1999: Bits & Bytes: Short News Items

New Response and Reporting Team Focuses on Computer Security Incidents

Email s-p-a-m: It comes in many forms, but none have any meat

Now Hear This: Uploaders, Downloaders Need to Mind Their Ps and Qs When it Comes to MP3s

Myths About MP3s

New Open Access Lab

Site Licensing News

Banner, DaFIS, and Modem Pool Upgrades

Campus Directive on Caller ID

Campus Directory Updates Needed

CENIC '99 Conference

CUMREC '99 Conference

You Asked... about linking to commercial sites from official university Web pages

BITS & BYTES

	Three Major Changes Implemented in April
	Campus Directive on Caller ID
	Campus Directory Updates Needed

Three Major Changes Implemented in April

Last month, changes were made to three major campus computing resources: the Staff/Student Modem Pool, the Student Information System, and the UC Davis Financial Information System. Email notifications were sent to all current and potential users in the weeks leading to the changes. If you use any of these resources and are experiencing difficulty accessing them, the following will give you an overview of the changes and identify who you may contact for assistance.

STAFF/STUDENT MODEM POOL
When did the change occur?
Tuesday, April 27. What is the change?
All campus modem pools are equipped with secure authentication mechanisms. Prior to April 27, the authentication mechanism was not enforced on the Staff/Student Modem Pool. Now, when accessing the modem pool, all staff and students need a new-style LoginID (to access UC Davis computing resources), an IRAS ServiceID (to access the Student/Staff Modem Pool specifically), and a Kerberos password (to authenticate each connection to the network).
Who was affected?
The individuals affected by this change are staff and students who are missing a new-style LoginID, an IRAS ServiceID, or a Kerberos password. All three are now rigidly enforced on the Staff/Student Modem Pool. You were not affected by this change if you:
- already had a new-style LoginID, a Kerberos password, and an IRAS ServiceID prior to April 27.
- always use one of the other modem pools (i.e., the 56K Faculty Modem Pool or the 14.4K Legacy Modem Pool).
What to do if you are experiencing difficulties:
If you are denied access to the Student/Staff Modem Pool, you need to verify that you meet the three requirements listed above. To convert, or to verify that you meet all the requirements, point your Web browser to http://mothra.ucdavis.edu/ or contact IT Express at (530) 754-HELP. IT Express consultants are available in Room 182 Shields Library for assistance with the conversion process.
BANNER SECURITY UPGRADE
When did the change occur?
Saturday, April 17.
What is the change?
Banner's security infrastructure was improved to further protect the confidentiality of student records. (Banner is the UC Davis Student Information System.) Registered users now log in to the system using both a Kerberos password and a one-time password (provided by a hard-token card).
Who was affected?
All registered Banner users (approximately 1,100 individuals). If you are not a registered Banner user, you need not be concerned with this upgrade.
What to do if you are experiencing difficulties:
If you are experiencing difficulties accessing Banner from on campus, visit the Registrar's Web site at http://registrar.ucdavis.edu/training. The site provides an overview of the changes made to the log-in process and the steps you need to take to be able to access the system. You should also have received several notifications by email in the weeks preceding the April 17 upgrade.
If you are experiencing difficulty accessing Banner through the Student/Staff Modem Pool, you need to verify that you have a new-style LoginID, a Kerberos password, and a ServiceID called "IRAS." For more information on how to resolve these issues, see "Student/Staff Modem Pool" (#1). Keep in mind that the source of the difficulty might be related to either the new Banner log-in process or the Student/Staff Modem Pool security upgrade. Questions about the Banner upgrade can be directed to the Banner Help Desk at BannerHelpDesk@ucdavis.edu or (530) 757-8996.
DaFIS 2.7 UPGRADE
When did the change occur?
Saturday and Sunday, April 24-25.
What is the change?
DaFIS is the UC Davis Financial Information System. The most important component of the upcoming change to the DaFIS system was an upgrade to the Oracle database. The DaFIS system is built on software provided by two vendors: Oracle (for the database), and Compuware's Uniface (for the graphical user interface in transaction processing). To receive continuing support from Oracle and Compuware, it was critical that the DaFIS team upgrade both packages. More specifically, the change entailed upgrading
- Oracle to version 8.05
- the Uniface software to version 7.2.03, and
- the Oracle middleware from SQL*Net client 2.2 to Net8 client 8.04.
The new release includes no new functionality. DaFIS continues to be functional on Windows 95, 98, and NT operating systems.
Who was affected?
All registered DaFIS users. If you are not a registered DaFIS user, you need not be concerned with this upgrade.
What to do if you are experiencing difficulties:
All DaFIS users have been notified of the upgrade by email through the DaFIS list server. To access DaFIS Transaction Processing, you need to run a special installation script. Information and instructions on how to prepare for the upgrade are available on the following Web sites:
- DaFIS: http://accounting.ucdavis.edu/DaFIS/
- Desktop Systems: http://desktop.ucdavis.edu/
- Troubleshooting Web page (for Oracle install errors): http://desktop.ucdavis.edu/projects/DaFIS/DaFISfix.html
If you have questions, contact the DaFIS help desk at dafishelp@ucdavis.edu or (530) 757-3355.

Campus Directive on Caller ID

A campus directive was issued April 21 announcing upcoming changes to the campus telephone system. The changes that IT-Communications Resources will implement this month are designed to keep the campus telephone system current with the public telephone network. Changes will be made to outgoing and incoming calls placed from a campus phone.

For outgoing calls, you will have the option of blocking Caller ID either on all calls or on a per-call basis. If you block all outgoing calls, you will be able to unblock calls on a call-by-call basis by dialing *82 before composing the destination phone number. If you choose not to block all outgoing calls, you will be able to selectively block calls by dialing *67 before composing the phone number.

The telephone system changes will also expand Caller ID on multi-line sets to include all incoming calls, from on or off campus, that do not have Caller ID blocked. If you have a multi-line set, the caller's telephone number, including area code, will now be displayed on your telephone set (replacing the current "DIDV" code). If the caller has Caller ID blocked, however, the message displayed will be "BLOCKED" or "PRIVATE."

Caller ID changes made by May 7 are free of charge; subsequent changes will cost a reconfiguration service charge of $21 per subscriber line.

To have your telephone number blocked, you need to contact your department's Area Telephone Representative (ATR) by May 7. For further information, please call your Communications Resources Customer Service Representative or the Communications Resources office at 530-752-4603.

To read the campus directive (#99-050), point your Web browser to http://chancellor.ucdavis.edu/ and click on the "UCD Directives" link. A list of frequently asked questions about Caller ID is available on the Web at http://cr.ucdavis.edu/.

Campus Directory Updates Needed

IT-Communications Resources is beginning the publication process for the 1999-2000 UC Davis & UCDMC Directory. The directory update packets will be delivered to campus departments starting May 1.

When you receive your packet, please carefully review your department's listings and fill out the directory update forms. Directory Services needs your forms, with your department's most current information and listings, by May 21. Send your updates to "Directory Services, UC Davis."

If you do not receive your packet by May 7, please contact Pat Elkins at (530) 752-8972 or Linda Nixon at(530) 752-8970.