Minutes of September 20, 2011 Meeting

Present:

Joe Abraham [Chair], Ka Neng Au, Stephanie Bartz, John Gibson, James Hartstein, Pam Johnson, Kevin McGuire, John Mulez, Andrew Ruggiero, Rich Sandler, Chris Singh, Darryl Voorhees [Recorder]

Excused:

Ashwin Bijur, Anne Butman, Nick Gonzaga, Ken Kuehl

Absent:

John Maxymuk

IIS Update (Anne Butman):

• Machine deployment: NBL machines have been shipped to UCS. Kilmer installs will begin this week SCC/Robeson/Newark machines will ship next week
• Laptop lending: The laptops were taking an inordinately long time to load the os. Part of the problem was an issue OIT is currently having with their printing. Also, there was an issue with the network adapter loading prior to the os. The problem is resolved, Alex laptops will be sent out this week, Kilmer will ship next week.
• OIT wireless printing: OIT is having a problem with Pharos print management software, the result of which, is the inability, or sporadic ability, to print from RU Wireless. They are working on the problem with the vendor and will let us know when the problem is fixed. Libraries with laptop lending, the laptops should begin printing without incident or intervention once the problem is rectified.
• Zimbra Upgrade: OIT is going to be performing an upgrade on Zimbra in November. There will be some changes but for the most part the regular processes of sending emails and scheduling calendar events and appointments should stay the same. I will have a more detailed list of changes and any possible issues that might be a result of the upgrade for the October meeting; I should, at that point, have definite date for the upgrade as well.
• E-Displays: Wiring should be completed by the end of the month for all displays. I am making arrangements with building admins to get backets hung by facilities and hope to have displays in physically in place for October 1.
• VOiP: There are a number of issue with the LSM roll out. I am working through them with the faculty and staff over there and the VOiP folks. All should be resolved by the end of this week. Chang is next to cut over, possibly by the end of this year.
• Wireless Upgrades: Wireless upgrades in Alex and Douglass are complete. LSM's extra access point, located in the area formerly occupied by DTS has been installed. Connectivity should be better and more widely available throughout these buildings...
• Alex wireless: Users in Alex have been complaining that wireless is not available. This seems have begun at the same time that the upgrade was completed--go figure. I have an email in to OIT about this and will work to have the issue resolved as quickly as possible.

Automated Backup (Nick Gonzaga)

• After the upgrade from Backup Exec version 11D to 2011, previous backup jobs were retained but had problems with failed backups; the full backup job was taking too long to finish (took almost 2 days and still running); ended up canceling the job. I had to create new backup jobs and re-install symantec agent on some servers. Finally backups were all successful and it took 17 hours to complete for over 815 GB of data. I think the backup now is stable since all new Full and Incremental jobs are successful for the past two weeks.
• DLO Push-install for clients was not successful. Tech support from Symantec assisted to troubleshoot the push-install including a webex shared desktop conferencing but still the push-install did not work. The next work around is using silent installation of DLO using login script. Login script is working; testing is being conducted in TAS building and later on will involve some clients in other libraries.

FY 2011 Annual Report Submitted (Joseph Abraham)

• The PCWG annual report was submitted and shared to RUL Everyone.

FY 2012 Goals Discussion (Joseph Abraham)

• The goal of the RUL IT entry form has been identified as an IIS goal and therefore removed from the PCWG list of goals, although some members will be participating in the process.
• The group will undertake an exploration of PC reservation enhancements or alternatives. Anne Butman is the goal facilitator.
• PCWG will also look into teleconferencing endpoint interoperability. This will involve testing conflicts between brands and making updates to firmware and strategic placement of service contracts where needed. An equipment replacement cycle may become more focused as a result of this process. Rich Sandler is the facilitator.
• The continued rollout of the automated backup system remains a goal of PCWG in the upcoming year. Nick Gonzaga is the facilitator.
• PCWG will continue to work on a technical skill series as a goal in 2012. John Gibson is the facilitator, with Joseph Abraham being the New Brunswick/Piscataway contact.

Business (Joseph Abraham)

• Scarlett Apps is now available to all students, faculty, and staff. It will not replace RUmail and a memo clarifying this is forthcoming from Tibor Purger. This memo will also outline what Scarlettmail represents to its potential users.
• Joseph Abraham shared a technique of loading existing printers onto new PCs via batch file and encouraged USCs to use this method as a time saving method if they wished to do so.
• The group discussed a suggestion Marty Kesselman to do some fact finding on uses of iPads and other tablets for library services, culminating in a possible pilot program. There is a potential area of growth for library services and will be explored further. Printing may be technically difficult at this time. This will be a business item at the next meeting.

Experience Sharing

• John (Robeson): The printer and print release station are now working. Old classroom PCs are going to surplus. The library is waiting of construction in the lower level. Arrangements are underway with the county library's use of the facilities.
• Joe (Alexander): The new print drivers for the networked copiers have proved to be more cumbersome to store prints. Copying a second copy of the copier driver that is defaulted to store circumvents this issue.
• Chris (Dana): All new scanning and copy equipment is now installed. One scanner is a faulty unit and is being replaced by the vendor.
• Darryl (Imaging Services): Most scanners have been installed (23 of the 29 total in 7 of the 11 locations). Some technical issues are being addressed. When the installations are complete later in the semester, a detailed listing of number of scanners will be available on the Imaging Services website.
• Kevin (Kilmer): The alcove is functioning again after flooding from Irene. This alleviates a large overcrowding issue from early in the month.
• Pam (LSM): e classroom is imaged and ready to go. The Special Collections room will have 30 laptops for use as an on-the-fly classroom. The new podium is on the way soon.