CaTS Blog

Over the past year, most Novell users at Wright State University were converted to Microsoft Active Directory. As you may recall, Active Directory is the system on campus that is used to give you access to your personal and departmental files on network drives, as well as access to network printers. As a result of this transition, the password for your campus “w” account is now case sensitive. For instance, if you capitalize a letter in your password when changing it, you must remember to always capitalize that letter when typing in your password.

To complete the Active Directory project, all Novell users must be converted by the end of winter quarter. At that time, Novell will be retired on WSU’s campus, and you will not be able to access your files and printers if your workstation hasn’t been converted. If you do not recall having your computer converted from Novell to Active Directory, please call the Help Desk at (937) 775-4827 as soon as possible so that a technician can come to your office and do the conversion.

*Passwords on Mobile Devices*
Please remember to change your stored password on your mobile device after you change your password. If you don’t do this, the mobile device will continue trying to use your old password, and could cause a lockout on your account. If you have questions or need assistance with passwords, please contact the Help Desk at (937) 775-4827.7

CaTS would like to make you aware of some of the changes you will see to electronic classrooms this fall quarter. If you have questions about any of these items, please contact the CaTS Help Desk at (937) 775-4827 or 1-888-775-4827.

1) Classroom Video Projectors MUTE Button Timeout Function

CaTS wants to remind all instructors that most video projectors located in electronic classrooms have a button called MUTE that, when pressed, hides what is displayed on the instructor’s computer from the rest of the class. In many cases, this MUTE button functionality is set to timeout after 24 minutes, meaning after that time period has elapsed, the image currently shown on the instructor’s computer will reappear on the classroom video projector screen.

Further instructions on using the MUTE button are available on Quick Start Guides placed near the instructor station in these classrooms. Please note: some electronic classrooms do not have the 24 minute timeout function enabled. After pressing the MUTE button, the image will not reappear until the instructor manually presses the button again. Quick Start Guides located in these classrooms will tell you whether or the timeout function is enabled.

2) ELMO Document Cameras

ELMO document cameras give an instructor the ability to project and display any type of printed document onto the wall of their classroom. Unlike traditional overhead projectors, clear acetate film is not required, and the ELMO document camera is much smaller and provides better functionality and flexibility to the user. The CaTS Classroom Technology Support office has installed some of these document cameras onto teaching stations in several university classrooms. Instructions on using document cameras are attached to the product itself in these classrooms.

To see if your assigned classroom for fall quarter is equipped with an ELMO document camera, please contact CTS at x3162. If it is not, an order can be placed at that time for an ELMO to be delivered to your classroom on as-needed basis.

3) Mac Mini Workstations Now Installed in Electronic Classrooms

Many of the university’s Registrar-scheduled electronic classrooms at one time had both Windows and Macintosh computers at the instructor station. All of these classrooms have now been upgraded to a single Mac Mini workstation that is capable of running both Windows 7 and Macintosh OS X. These workstations have been mounted on the top of the podium and when powered up or restarted will present the user with an operating system selection screen (Windows or Macintosh). A keyboard has been installed with these new workstations that provide both Windows and Macintosh-specific keys. There are also additional USB extension cables provided with the workstations which will allow for the connection of devices such as external hard drives, cameras and scanners. It is recommended (but not required) that users attach USB devices to these extension cables for optimal performance of the device.

4) Windows 7 & Active Directory in the Electronic Classrooms

For fall quarter 2011, CaTS has deployed both Windows 7 Service Pack 1 and the Active Directory file system to all CaTS-managed public computing areas and electronic classrooms. You’ll likely notice a few changes to where software is located. The Start Menu structure has changed to show the default installation folders, groups and icons of applications that are installed automatically with Windows. Wright State specific software will now be listed in a special group at the top of the All Programs menu. For more information, review the “Electronic Classroom Quick Start Guide” located near the podium in your assigned classroom. CaTS greatly appreciates the support and cooperation of our users as we begin to use this new technology, and welcome any feedback you can provide.

5) Information on RaiderMail, WSU’s New Email Service for Students

This summer and fall, Wright State University is launching RaiderMail, a brand new student email system with lots of features that students have been asking for. RaiderMail, which is built on the Microsoft Live@edu services, gives students a 10 GB inbox, the ability to collaborate on class and club projects, have remote access to documents, and more. New and existing student email addresses will retain the current format of lastname.#@wright.edu.

Although faculty and staff will not have accounts on RaiderMail, we’d still like you to be aware that you may hear students talking about the new email service, and that any emails you receive from them will come via this new system. Please note, though, that this will not affect your email inbox or change how you communicate through email with your students. If you have any questions concerning the transition to RaiderMail, please contact the CaTS Help Desk at (937) 775-4827.

CaTS would like to remind you of some of the current and upcoming changes we're making to ensure the university's computing environment stays secure and accessible. If you have questions about any of these projects, feel free to contact the Help Desk at (937) 775-4827 or 1-888-775-4827.

1) Active Directory Transition

In the summer of 2010, CaTS began transitioning the university’s file storage and printing network infrastructure from Novell Directory Services to Microsoft Active Directory. Novell is the system on campus that is used to give you access to your personal and departmental files on network drives such as your H:\ and K:\ (also called users and shared on a Mac), as well as access to network printers. Active Directory will provide this same functionality.

This new infrastructure will give CaTS the ability to meet future needs and expectations of our users by providing them with better system functionality and tools to conduct their daily operations.

If you haven’t already, you’ll be hearing more about Active Directory shortly through more email reminders or department demonstrations. If you are invited to attend a departmental demonstration concerning Active Directory, we highly recommend that you attend, as it provides essential information to help make the transition smoother for you. If you would like to learn more, please visit our Active Directory Transition website, located at https://www.wright.edu/cats/ad/ . You’ll find answers to frequently asked questions concerning this change. As always, feel free to contact the CaTS Help Desk at (937) 775-4827 with any questions.

2) New Email Service for Students

This summer, Wright State University is launching RaiderMail, a brand new student email system with lots of features that students have been asking for. RaiderMail, which is built on the Microsoft Live@edu services, gives students a 10 GB inbox, the ability to collaborate on class and club projects, have remote access to documents, and more. New and existing student email addresses will retain the current format of lastname.#@wright.edu.

Although faculty and staff will not have accounts on RaiderMail, we’d still like you to be aware that you may hear students talking about the new email service, and that any emails you receive from them will come via this new system. Please note, though, that this will not affect your email inbox or change how you communicate through email with your students. If you have any questions concerning the transition to RaiderMail, please contact the CaTS Help Desk at (937) 775-4827.

3) Transition from McAfee Anti-virus to Microsoft Forefront

In early April 2011, CaTS begin phasing out the use of the McAfee Anti-virus software in use on all university Windows-based computers, and began making a transition to Microsoft Forefront Security software. During this transition, all university-owned Windows-based computers will automatically receive the Microsoft Forefront software over the campus network, while the McAfee Anti-virus software will be automatically removed.

For faculty and staff with home computers, CaTS now offers the Windows version of Microsoft Security Essentials software free of charge, which includes anti-virus protection. This software can be downloaded on the CaTS Anti-virus website, located at Anti-virus Software.

Please note: You MUST uninstall any anti-virus software (such as McAfee) that is currently installed on your home computer in order to successfully install the Microsoft Security Essentials software. If you would like assistance with uninstalling anti-virus software from your computer, please contact the CaTS Help Desk at (937) 775-4827, or toll free at 1-888-775-4827.

Below are some of the upcoming projects CaTS is working on to enhance the classroom environment. If you have questions about any of these projects, feel free to contact the Help Desk at (937) 775-4827 or 1-888-775-4827.

1) Office 2010 for Windows & Adobe Creative Suite CS5 for Windows & Mac

As previously announced, all CaTS-managed classrooms and labs will be upgraded to Office 2010 for Windows in time for winter quarter. Microsoft Office 2010 Pro Plus features Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Publisher and OneNote and replaces Office 2007. File formats have not changed, so documents can easily be shared between the two versions. Faculty and staff that wish to upgrade their departmental PC to Office 2010 can request a free upgrade through the Help Desk.

The Adobe Creative Suite used in CaTS-managed facilities will also be upgraded in December. Creative Suite CS5 Design Premium includes Photoshop Extended, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat Pro, Flash Professional and Dreamweaver. Design Premium CS5 replaces the older CS3 suite in the Windows PC labs. The 058L Macintosh lab that formerly ran Master Suite CS3 will also move to Design Premium CS5.

2) Virus Protection

Earlier this summer, McAfee virus and spyware protection software was installed in computer classrooms and labs. As always, when any of these computers are restarted, they are returned to a standard, clean configuration. By adding the anti-virus software, the computers will be further protected while they are in use.

The most common viruses we find in the public labs are spread through the use of USB thumb drives and portable hard disks. We strongly urge you to scan your flash/thumb drives regularly. Whenever you open a file from a USB drive, the computer will automatically scan the document and warn you if it finds a virus infection. Do not ignore these messages. If you need assistance in removing a virus, please contact the Help Desk.

One last tip – please allow the Windows PC or Mac enough time to fully boot and start up before inserting your USB drive. This gives the anti-virus software time to load. Once the icons appear on the desktop it is safe to insert your USB device.

3) Patches and Updates

CaTS will apply several patches and updates to all managed workstations in preparation for winter quarter 2011. These patches typically include relevant Microsoft updates to core applications such as media players, productivity applications, commonly used utilities and some department/discipline specific applications. Some of the items that will be patched or updated are as follows (this is not a complete list, but it represents some of the most commonly used items):

- Microsoft Windows (system updates and patches will be installed)
- Statistical Applications (SAS, PASW, STATA and R)
- Media Players (Real Player, QuickTime, Windows Media Player)
- Adobe Applications and Plug-Ins (Flash, Adobe Reader and Shockwave)

4) Reporting Issues in Electronic and Computer Classrooms

All CaTS-managed teaching facilities are equipped with a telephone which can be used to contact the Help Desk at x4827. All calls from these locations receive priority status and handling to minimize the impact on instruction. If you prefer to report a problem online, go to the Report Classroom Problems link under Labs and Classrooms on the CaTS homepage.

5) Requesting New Software

All classroom PCs are set up with a wide variety of software. Applications can also be installed on an as-needed basis by the user, as long as the installation does not require a reboot of the computer. In the event that an application needed for instruction is too complicated or too large to install on an as-needed basis, instructors can request that the application be made available throughout the quarter. For more information on software request procedures, please review the document located at https://www.wright.edu/cats/policy/labs/cats_procedures.pdf . A list of currently available software is published on the CaTS website under the Labs & Classrooms link.

6) Windows 7 Testing

CaTS is evaluating the deployment of Windows 7 and Internet Explorer 8 in campus computing facilities. Two labs are now available for testing software running under Windows 7. CaTS asks that instructors test their applications in either the 026 or 016 Library Annex labs and let the Help Desk know of any problems or software compatibility issues. Based on current plans, Windows 7 will be deployed to all Windows systems in labs and classrooms for fall quarter 2011.

7) Projector Tip: Display Mute

Projection equipment located in the electronic classrooms and computer classrooms (teaching labs) has the ability to have the screen blanked, allowing the instructor to temporarily block display of their screen to the class. The projector is still powered on, but nothing is displayed. Screen blanking can be quickly activated and DE-activated by pressing the Display MUTE button on the video-switching panel located in the classrooms. Please remember to UN-mute the display and power off the projection equipment when you are finished using an electronic or computer classroom. The projector and lamp are still powered on and running when in display mute mode, and if run for extended periods will shorten the life of the equipment.

Questions or Comments?
If you have questions or concerns about any of the topics presented here, please contact the CaTS Help Desk through email at helpdesk@wright.edu or by phone at (937) 775.4827.