Information Technology Services

• Overview
• Software Installs
• Class Software
• Chatting
• Instrumented Classroom Support
• Carts and Checkout Laptops

Usage

Users will be required to log in in order to use a cluster computer. The same login and password that you currently use for NDSU e-mail is used for this system.

Upgrades

• Operating systems will be upgraded for Fall Semester if the software is released by January 1 of that year.
• Applications will be upgraded if the software is released by July 1 of that year.

Installing Software

Logging in on a cluster machine will gain users the ability to install most software. Occasionally, software requires "administrative access" before installing. In this case, users' attempts to install software will fail.

Users wishing to install software themselves will want to test their software to be sure it will operate in our environment. Also, due to the security software on our systems, any software installation requiring a system restart (known as a "reboot") will not work. (Upon reboot, all systems will be restored to the default setup. No changes that users make to a cluster machine will survive a reboot).

Deadline to Request Software

The deadline for requesting cluster class software for Fall Semester is July 1.

Software Installation and Support Cycle

We are organizing the installation and support of software into cycles, like software architects do. The beginning of Fall and Spring Semesters will be preceded with a major installation (like a major upgrade if we were software vendors).

Several weeks into each of those semesters, we will do a minor upgrade (like a vendor's patch). This will accommodate the needs of faculty new to our campus, as well as provide the opportunity for others to fine-tune the installations that are in place. Faculty should plan ahead to identify their needs and inform us before published deadlines.

Internet Chat Software

Internet chat software will be allowed, for the first time, as long as the client software is browser-based.

All faculty and students who are having difficulty testing software installations should email NDSU.Cluster.Software@ndsu.edu. If you experience problems with an installation, please communicate with us so we may diagnose the problems. In order to make substantive decisions each year about software installation and support, it is important for us to know exactly what problems occur.

Gaming and network abuse will not be tolerated.

We will guarantee the following dates for cluster software installation requests received by the deadline (assuming the software works with our configuration of Windows XP or MAC OS X):

• If we receive your request and software by July 1, we will have the software installed for the beginning of Fall Semester.
  
  
• If we receive your request and software by September 15, we will have the software installed by October 1.
  
  
• If we receive your request and software by December 1, we will have the software installed for the beginning of Spring Semester.
  
  
• If we receive your request and software by February 1, we will have the software installed by February 15.

To submit an installation request, please use the software installation request form.

All software currently installed in clusters for departments must be requested annually by June 30 to be installed for the next year. Please use the software installation request form.

We will not be supporting MAC OS X classic mode, so please make sure your software will run natively in MAC OS X.

You may also e-mail at NDSU.Cluster.Software@ndsu.edu

We will not install any chat clients on the cluster machines. Chatting that is available via Web pages will be allowed.

Computers in instrumented classrooms contain ITS software that is installed in most of NDSU's public clusters as well as class software that is requested by professors.

We will guarantee the following installation dates for instrumented classrooms software installation requests received by the deadline.

• If we receive your request and software by July 1, we will have the software installed for the beginning of Fall Semester.
  
  
• If we receive your request and software by September 15, we will have the software installed by October 1.
  
  
• If we receive your request and software by December 1, we will have the software installed for the beginning of the second semester.
  
  
• If we receive your request and software by February 1, we will have the software installed by February 15.

All software currently installed in instrumented classrooms for departments must be requested annually by June 30th to be installed for the next year.

Instructors will be allowed to temporarily install software themselves on individual instrumented classroom machines. Any software installed by instructors in this manner will be removed when we restore the machines.

Please contact Melissa Stotz by phone at 231-6158 or by e-mail at Melissa.Stotz@ndsu.edu.

These computers plus the current checkout laptops at the IACC Help Desk will only contain Windows XP, Microsoft Office, and Internet Explorer.