August 17th, 2000 by Dana Roode
NACS/DCS provides Unix and Linux system administration services to the campus on a contractual basis. DCS uses a Unix/Linux system administration technique called “autoinstalling” to help keep quality high and costs low relative to the industry norm.
While autoinstalling requires system administrators to spend a little more time planning and executing initial system configuration, many later tasks become much easier, such as operating system updates (including security patches). Autoinstalling also preserves a lot of information about how customers prefer their machines to be configured.
The most recent versions of Unix/Linux currently configured for use with DCS’s autoinstall procedures are Solaris 8, Redhat 6.2, Irix 6.5.6, and Tru64 4.0g.
If you would like to evaluate contract support with DCS for a Unix or Linux machine, please contact dcs@uci.edu or call 824-6854. Additional information is available on line at http://www.nacs.uci.edu/support/dcs/sysadmin.html
August 17th, 2000 by Dana Roode
The Ericsson User Group (EUG) board held a meeting at UCI’s University Club on Friday, June 16. The EUG is a national organization of Ericsson telephone system users which includes UCI, UCSC, and UCSD. Bruce Cotsonas, a Project Coordinator in NACS, is the board’s Vice President and served as host.
The EUG board completed its preparations for the annual meeting to be held in Las Vegas from October 22-25, 2000. The focus of the upcoming annual meeting will be the status of Ericsson’s PBX migration to IP.
The next software release for the MD110, the UCI campus telephone system, will incorporate IP Telephony features. Ericsson will provide extensive details about the IP enhancements for the MD110, and plans for its release in the United States, at the annual meeting in October 2000.
August 17th, 2000 by Dana Roode
NACS is currently evaluating Voice Over IP (VOIP) products from a number of communications vendors including potential to allow faculty and staff to use UCInet and the Internet to carry telephone traffic.
NACS staff members are beginning the planning process early in the development of VOIP technology. In fact, a pilot project may be launched in one of the university buildings in the University Research Park later this year.
The evaluation and test pilot processes will enable NACS staff to develop the knowledge and expertise necessary to deploy and support VOIP when it becomes “ready for prime time.”