ITD NEWS
Information Technology Directorate
Testing time for text
No more waiting for exam results to arrive
in the post - now you can opt in for SMS
SMS delivery of course results is in the final test
phase with MBA students recently offered the
chance to receive their second trimester results by
SMS.
Once electronic results distribution begins all
students will automatically receive their results
by email. In addition students can opt in to have
results sent to them by SMS.
E-results developer, Damon Ferris thinks that the
flexibility of e-results will make it popular with
students ‘It means that you can get your results
instantly wherever you happen to be which is really
important especially over the summer holidays.
Once the current test phase is completed SMS
delivery of results will be extended to all students.
Volume 3, Issue 3, Spring 2007
More spam to be canned
A new anti-spam device will lead to
a significant reduction in the amount
of spam arriving at UNE.
As part of the UNE Network upgrade a new
email filtering system will be installed that
should reduce spam and improve email
flexibility.
Gordon Smith, Principal IT Officer, says that
while UNE is currently achieving industry
best practice in spam filtering, the new box
should pick up another 6-7% of spam emails.
“Of course we will never eliminate spam
emails entirely but with this new device we
should get another step closer”.
Unlike previous spam filters the new device
can look into the contents of an email to help
determine whether it’s likely to be spam. u
Coming soon - UNE results by SMS
ITD News, Spring 2007, page 1 of 4
ITD NEWS
ITD NEWS
u Any email tagged as ‘spam’ will be sent to
a special quarantine area rather than a user’s
inbox. Users then have the option of checking
quarantined emails or simply ignoring them. “it’s
a bit like a virtual dial that you can set to suit your
own needs – you can decide how much spam you
want to see.” explains Mr Smith
The new device will also be able to screen
attachments making it safe to send zip files and
other formats currently blocked by the network.
Access to the internet will also be improved with
new applications such as Skype working on the
UNE network.
Access all areas
Forget the hassle of registering your
computer on the network, visitors to UNE
will soon be free to bring their own devices for use on the UNE network.
Gordon Smith explains “Once the new anti-spam
anti-virus box is installed we will be able to do a
quick security check on all devices plugged into
the network. If a device looks like it poses a threat
the user will be notified. Because of this improved
security its possible to open up the network to
visiting users”
It should also mean increased flexibility for on
campus staff and students. On the new network
the emphasis is on individuals not machines.
Individual users will be required to identify
themselves on the network using their UNE
username and password.
Having identified themselves users will have the
same level of access to the network no matter
which machine they happen to be using.
Bot Attack
Recent spam surges are thought to be the
result of hijacked PC’s known as BOTs.
BOT-hearders attack PC’s with malicious
software allowing them to be controlled
remotely. Networks of zombie PC’s then
flood the world with spam.
Callista Upgrade
UNE will be
one of the first
universities to
upgrade to the
latest version of
the Callista student administration system.
When version 10 of
the Callista student
administration
system was launched
on 1st August, UNE
immediately began
testing the new
system in preparation for the upgrade scheduled
for 1st October.
The Callista student administration system is
UNE’s administrative backbone. The latest version
of Callista, version 10, is a big jump from the
version of Callista that UNE has been using for
some time. The upgrade also involves an upgrade
to the hardware and operating systems associated
with Callista.
For users this means significant changes but,
more importantly, powerful new functionalities.
Project manager Kylie Day explains, ‘The new
version of Callista includes a number of significant
performance improvements. It also includes
options for online admission and other self-service
functions.” The latest version of Callista also allows
UNE to simply and easily comply with new DEST
reporting requirements.
The upgrade is scheduled to take place on the
Labour day long weekend 29th September- 1st
October. There will be disruptions to online
services on this weekend although efforts have
been made to minimise the impact on students.
The FBI’s operation BOT-roast launched
this year has already uncovered more than
a million infected machines. For more
see http://www.fbi.gov/page2/june07/
botnet061307.htm
ITD News, Spring 2007, page 2 of 4
ITD NEWS
ITD NEWS
A Tree-changer’s Vision for
UNE
Daniel Gooch’s vision of the good life has
taken him from Denmark to Armidale.
Now he’s got a vision for IT @ UNE
Daniel Gooch was living in Demark and working
as e-commerce manager for shipping giant Maersk
when he decided that it was time for a tree-change.
“My wife Collette and I wanted to have children
but we really wanted to have the time to enjoy our
children. We really wanted all those quality of life
things, time together, a great environment and
rewarding work of course.”
Desktop Doctors on
Demand
Guaranteed
response
times and
flexible pricing are features of new
onsite desktop support
contracts.
The recent
tender process
for the provision of onsite desktop support was
highly successful with three suppliers signing
contracts to supply desktop support services to
UNE. Allcom Networks, Armidale IT and Mac 1
will take on the task of setting up, maintaining
and troubleshooting computer problems that
cannot be resolved over the phone at your desk.
The contracts negotiated by ITD cover a range
of core services including setting up new
machines, installing software and peripherals,
troubleshooting and arranging repairs. Flexible
pricing allows users to pay per machine or by
the hour.
Daniel Gooch
But it was a chance meeting that brought Daniel to
UNE. “Collette and I were staying at a B & B which
was run by Anne Abbott. We got talking and in the
end I met Rick Nelson late one Friday evening. Rick
mentioned that there was a job available heading up
UNE’s web project, so I jumped at the chance.”
As well as heading up the UNE web project,
Daniel will now take on the challenging task of
implementing recommendations from the recent
external Rebbecci IT Review and UNE-wide IT
sub-plan.
“It’s going to lead to some real changes in how
we think about IT at UNE. IT isn’t just some back
of house thing that ITD does - it’s a key part of
achieving UNE’s strategic goals. We really need to
align all of the diverse IT activities of UNE.”
Daniel will spend the next six months translating
recommendations into concrete outcomes. His first
priority is to consult with key stakeholders and
engage the broader University community in the
planning process.
Individual areas are able to negotiate directly
with any of the three suppliers for the supply of
ongoing or one-off support services. It will also
be possible to call the Service Desk and request
“ad-hoc” onsite support. The Service Desk will
then negotiate with one of the suppliers in
order to organize a service technician to come
to your desk.
For further information on arrangements
for onsite desktop support contact Martina
Linnemann [email protected]
Weather Portlet
No more getting caught without your
umbrella, MyUNE now includes a
three day weather forecast.
With information provided by weathercom.au
and updated every 20 minutes you’ll always be
prepared. Developer Matt Peterson says it is a
popular addition to MyUNE “We have already
had some really positive feedback from both
students and staff.”
ITD News, Spring 2007, page 3 of 4
Service Desk
ITD NEWS
News in Brief
From the Service Desk
Room to store more
Mobile Phone Support
ITD has just completed a major upgrade of its
storage systems providing increased storage for
core computing functions. This has included the
purchase and installation of two new storage units.
UNE mobile phone purchasing, support and
account administration is now handled by the
service desk. More information can be found at:
http://www.une.edu.au/it-services/staff/phone/
mobilephone.php If you have questions or problems
with your mobile phone contact service desk staff.
The new data storage system will mean quicker
access to data and a significant increase in storage
capacity. Data centre staff are now busy with the
job of moving data off the old storage system and
on to the new.
Cutting out plagiarism
Academic plagiarism is an increasing problem for
universities. UNE is currently planning for the
integration of turnitin anti-plagiarism software
for screening assignments in 2008. For more
information on the software visit http://turnitin.
com/static/home.html
Put your feet up and Collaborate
The ground floor of the ITD building has been
transformed with the addition of bright comfy
chairs and coffee tables. The student collaboration
space provides a safe and comfortable
environment in which to work or take time out.
With access to the wireless network it’s a great
place for computer based collaboration.
ITD News Blog
With an average of 300 visits a week the ITD News
blog is becoming an important source of information
for UNE staff and students.
ITD News covers a range of stories including service
updates, virus warnings student information as well as
general IT news. To access the blog visit http://blog.
une.edu.au/itd-news
It’s so easy being green
More than 700,000 computers end up in landfill
every year and thousands more are gathering dust
in offices and spare rooms. Computers contain a
cocktail of toxic chemicals including lead, mercury,
barium and cadmium. Many of these chemicals
are known to cause cancer, birth defects and
disabilities. If you have old computer equipment
consider taking it to a computer recycler. They
will spruce up your old computer and donate it to
a family in need. In Armidale
you can take old computers to
the Armidale recycling centre,
Long swamp road or the Uralla
Computer bank 222 Donnelly
Street Uralla.
Printable phone book
A printable version of the UNE phonebook has
been made available online. You can find it at
http://www.une.edu.au/it-services/staff/phone/
phonebook.php
ITD News
Produced by the Information Technology Directorate at the University of New England.
Editor: Kate Nash
ITD News welcomes your comments and suggestions. For further information about any of the
stories in this issue, or if you have an idea for a story, please feel free to contact us:
Phone: 6773 4521
Fax: 6773 3390
Email: [email protected]
ITD News, Spring 2007, page 4 of 4