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Hot Topics Archive

TTU Campus Wireless Project

Over the past 8 months, Telecommunication Services, Information Technology Division, has been implementing wireless access across campus. The project includes academic buildings, the Student Union, and major support buildings on the Lubbock campus. Initially, areas with high volumes of student traffic and with required laptop programs were brought online. The project is scheduled to be completed Fall 2004.

The primary devices being supported on the wireless network are laptops through a secure and encrypted method using eRaider authentication and 802.1x security standard. Because of the large variation and the continuing changes in handheld devices, some handheld devices may work better than others. The wireless network is also not intended as a replacement for wired network access but is an augmentation of the existing network. The performance of wired networks far exceeds the capability and quality of wireless networks at this time. However, the versatility of wireless computing on an "anytime, anywhere" basis should assist both our teaching and research missions very well, and with time, the use of wireless will also continue to enhance activities towards these missions.

As more students and employees start using wireless access, tweaking of the infrastructure may be required. Based on feedback from those using these areas, the wireless network in each completed building will be adjusted as needed. IT Help Central has developed and tested instructions to help guide you through gaining access to the network. Access to the wireless network cannot be guaranteed to every wireless device and computer setup. Recommendations and information on hardware, building locations, FAQs, and installation and configuration instructions for tested devices are available by visiting IT Help Central's wireless page. For further assistance, please feel free to contact IT Help Central at 742-HELP.

Recording Industry Plans a Massive Push Against File Sharing

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) announced on Wednesday, June 25, 2003, that it will begin utilizing software to scan public directories for users of peer-to-peer networks and illegal file-sharing in order to compile evidence against individuals who offer copyrighted music over networks.

The RIAA plans to sue individuals, including college students, for damages beginning as early as August 2003.

Popular peer-to-peer networking software (including KaZaA, Morpheus, iMesh, and others) allow other users to access their computer resources. Illegal file-sharing includes all activities that allow access to copyrighted materials, such as music, movies, and software. Placing copyrighted materials in a shared network folder can also be a violation of copyright laws. It is the license holderís responsibility to ensure that other users cannot gain access to the data.

Texas Tech network users (including TTUnet dial-up and Residence Hall LAN users) are required to comply with all copyright laws relating to their computers. Illegal file sharing of copyrighted materials over Texas Tech Networks is strictly prohibited. If you are in doubt as to whether you are in violation of copyright laws, you are strongly encouraged to disable all peer-to-peer software and/or shared network folders. More information on copyright may be found on the TTU Laws and Policies site.

Summer Student Orientation Sessions

The Information Technology Division is pleased to embrace the Studentfirst Initiative by providing IT services and support for new-student Orientation sessions throughout the summer. Incoming freshmen and transfer students are first contacted by mail with their eRaider activation instructions. New students are able to set up accounts and can start using IT services with their eRaider username and password. Equipped with laptop computers, the IT orientation staff help students navigate through the eRaider process. On Day 2 of the Orientation session, the IT Division presents important information to the entire group of students attending to help them navigate the information highway at Texas Tech. Many of the IT services are presented at this time, such as TechSIS, eRaider, Raiderlink, TechMail, training services, free software, computing labs, and technical support. After the presentation, IT staff members are available to answer questions and help students activate their accounts. A special Web site, Student Technology Services, is available to all students to help them understand IT services.

Security Note

Operating system patching is probably not high on most to-do lists. A report by the CERT Coordination Center at Carnegie Mellon estimates that 99% of all reported intrusions "result through exploitation of known vulnerabilities or configuration errors, for which countermeasures were available." While not very glamorous, the necessity of system patching to maintain security cannot be understated. One of the best ways to patch on a Windows platform is to initialize Windows Update. This utility, usually located on the Start menu, can be configured to check automatically for critical system patches, download and install them at set times--say 3:00 a.m.

Recently, two critical Microsoft Issues were announced, and the patches are extremely important. One is a vulnerability in the Java Virtual Machine. The other is a vulnerability in all Windows 2000 machines, server and professional, of the NTDLL.dll. Presently, two published exploits exist for the NTDLL.dll vulnerability, and a wide-scale attack is expected within 30 days. All major OS vendors release vulnerability updates and most also have an automatic update tool to assist with patch maintenance. While the process can be overwhelming, automation provides a "set it and forget it" system most find ideal.

Using Linux

Texas Tech was recently recognized by the Oracle Corporation with an article on their site, "Keeps Costs Low and Ensures Uptime with Unbreakable Linux" that was taken from an interview with Software Development Director Brandon LaBonte. It discusses the reasons Tech switched to Oracle9i and how well the solution has worked for the University.

A quote: "We're a large University, and we're trying to leverage technology to provide a very personal experience for our students. If we're down, we don't lose money like private industry, but we do lose potential customers, people who might visit our Web Site to enroll or contribute to research.

"Oracle9i Real Application Clusters has been a natural solution to my heartburn. We now know that if we ever have a hardware or software failure, we have redundancy in place and the assurance that we're not going to be left in the cold if something goes wrong."

Full article

New Macs in Open Access Area

Technology Support is proud to bring back the Open Access Macintosh area in the ATLC. Five eMacs are now available for use by students, faculty, and staff in the Open Access Area in front of the Information Desk. The new eMacs are running Mac OSX 10.2.3. This is the first time that OSX has been available in the ATLC labs. The eMacs have 700 Mhz G4 processors, 384MB of RAM, CD drives, and Zip drives. Software available includes Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, Macromedia Dreamweaver and Flash, and the Microsoft Office package.

Don't forget that the Mac Lab with OS9 and other applications is still available in ATLC.

Gaming Now Allowed in Residence Halls

To alleviate network problems that were encountered during the fall in the residence halls, network access for the residence halls has been changed in the following ways:

Microsoft Campus Agreement 3

Technology Support would like to announce that, with the signing of the Microsoft Campus Agreement 3, the following software products are available to students, faculty, and staff from the download site or from the High Tech Computer Store.

Note: Students versions of these products have a registration wizard (for Office and FrontPage) or product activation (for Win XP and VS .NET) but are otherwise the same product.

In addition, BackOffice Server CALs (including SQL Server CALs) are included for FY03 but will not be included in the next renewal of this agreement. Departments that use this product should start making plans now to purchase SQL Server CALs for FY04.

FrontPage Disks

For the first two years that Texas Tech participated in the Microsoft Campus Agreement students could download all licensed products, but they could only receive disks of FrontPage and Office. Since Microsoft has incorporated product activation into Windows XP and Visual Studio .NET, students can now get disks of these products. The High Tech Computer store has placed an order, and they should be available soon.

Technology Support Unveils a New Look

The Technology Support Department has a fresh, new look on the Web. The user-friendly design will take you through the numerous services that the department provides its users. Visit the various computing labs in the ATLC and at remote locations, including the new ATLC East lab in the Bledsoe/Gordon/Sneed complex. Access shortcourse information (complete with on-line registration), computer-based training, and computer documentation that includes a Virtual Reference Room. Also at your fingertips is information on types of computing accounts, employment with Technology Support, and current staff members.

Wireless Ethernet Coming to Texas Tech University

Texas Tech has received a TIF grant to install wireless Ethernet on the Lubbock campus. Over the next year laptops and PDAs will be able to connect to TTUnet in "hotspots" in most buildings on campus. Details of the project will be made available at WWW.NET.TTU.EDU as they become available.

Beowulf Linux-based Athlon Clusters

Two Beowulf Linux-based Athlon clusters that are administered by the TTU High Performance Computing Center are now available for production-level use by the faculty, staff, and students of the University.

Both clusters, Antaeus and Mathwulf, are available to all TTU users. Antaeus, located at Reese Center, consists of 20 single-processor Athlon XP and one single-processor Athlon XP front-end machine. Mathwulf, located in the North Computer Building, consists of 30 single-processor Athlon XP compute nodes and one single-processor Athlon XP front-end machine.

If you have any questions please contact Jerry Perez, the System Administrator for the TTU High Performance Computing Center, via email.

TTU Hosts the 9th Annual National Consortium of the Specialized Secondary Schools for Mathematics, Science and Technology

TTU is hosting the 9th Annual "National Consortium of the Specialized Secondary Schools for Mathematics, Science and Technology" (NCSSSMST) this week June 6 through June 9. This conference is the result of a presentation made by Assistant Provost Elizabeth Hall from the TTU Provost Office and Associate Academic Dean Kambra Bolch of the Honors College. This conference showcases Texas Tech research efforts at a national level and is a significant recruiting opportunity for Texas Tech.

The IT Division is playing a major role, along with other areas, in arranging this conference. The Software Development group created the on-line e-mentor database and the conference Web site. Technology Support is handling all of the registration, technology support, and other logistical support. Other volunteers from the IT division have also assisted in various ways in helping to organize this conference.

More information about this research conference

Telecommunications Web Site Honored

The ACUTA Web Site Recognition Task Force has selected the Telecommunications Web site as an "ACUTA Member Site to See" for the first quarter of 2002. The Task force selected the site using the established criteria of content delivery, timeliness, ease of use, accessibility, and graphically pleasing. J Stalcup was the designer of the Web site, and Kent Towns did the custom application programming. A variety of staff provides documentation for the site, including Kevin Crockett and Everett McArthur. ACUTA will feature the site on their home page in March. ACUTA ( the Association for Telecommunications Professionals in Higher Education) is an international non-profit educational association serving nearly 800 colleges and universities.