Computing and Information Services News

TAMU Email Scheduled Outage on Saturday, November 21

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:22:58 CST

TAMU Email (Neo) will be unavailable for all users on Saturday, November 21, 2009 from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. for software upgrades. Planned maintenance includes moving to Zimbra version 5.020 and installing operating system upgrades to the mail servers.

This planned TAMU Email outage should have no effect on other email services provided by colleges, departments, or campus organizations.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Help Desk Central at 979.845.8300 or helpdesk@tamu.edu.

Discovery Gate Software Added to Open Access Lab Computers

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:30:46 CST

Discovery Gate 2.5 software was added to Open Access Lab computers. The software allows users to search chemistry research databases for data on synthesis, bioactivity, physical properties, metabolism, toxicity, sourcing of chemicals, and citations to the original literature reports of the data.

Windows 7 Upgrade Now Available

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:11:33 CST

Windows 7 is now available for personal purchase by registered students and eligible faculty/staff at software.tamu.edu. Note that either the 32-bit or the 64-bit version can be purchased, not both. Also, once you have purchased Windows 7, you will not be eligible to buy Vista or Windows XP, even if you had not ordered them previously. The software is available for delivery, with the mailing process normally taking 4 to 7 days. The software can be picked up in person at the SELL office by presenting your ID card.

Windows 7 upgrade is available through the SELL for departments that have signed up for the Microsoft license. Both 32- and 64-bit versions are available, and each requires one blank DVD. Eligible departments can obtain copies by sending us a blank DVD for each version. Include a note stating which version(s) you need and instructions on how to return the software to you.

The SELL is located at the Computing Services Center/Teague Building, Room 1105, Mailstop 3363. For more information, visit the SELL web site, or contact them at 979.862.4104 or sell@tamu.edu.

New Code Maroon System Launched

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:28:48 CST

Code Maroon, Texas A&M University’s emergency notification system, is now accepting enrollees in its new system. Texas A&M students, faculty and staff who signed up for Code Maroon before Tuesday, July 21, 2009, must re-enroll in the new system to continue receiving alerts. To sign up, visit http://codemaroon.tamu.edu.

Starting August 31, 2009, emergency alerts will come from AtHoc ISW Alerts, Code Maroon’s new vendor that uses a single integrated system to notify the campus of an emergency.

“Recent tests have demonstrated that text messaging is the fastest way to receive alerts, and we encourage all Texas A&M students and employees to sign up to receive text alerts in the new system,” said Charley Clark, Associate Vice President for University Risk & Compliance. “Our goal is to get as many people as possible signed up in the new Code Maroon before it goes live on August 31.”

With the new system, Texas A&M students, faculty and staff members who have a NetID and password can register one number to receive text message alerts. Alerts will also be sent to all Texas A&M Email (Neo) accounts ending with “@neo.tamu.edu.”

Parents, local residents and friends of Texas A&M can follow “TAMUCodeMaroon” on Twitter or subscribe to Code Maroon’s RSS feed to receive alerts. The new system also sends alerts via campus cable television, KAMU-FM radio and Emergency Alert System radios, and has the ability to send desktop pop-up alerts.

GIS Software Available Campus Wide Through OAL Computers

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:43:43 CST

Geographic Information System (GIS) software from ESRI, ArcMap and ArcCatalog, is now available on Open Access Lab (OAL) computers. Through funding from Computing Information Services (CIS), students are able to work on their GIS assignments and research projects from their favorite OAL around campus. GIS allows in-depth analysis, organization and visualization for geographically referenced information. Many fields of study such as oceanography, transportation, biology, urban planning, history and marketing use GIS for their data analysis. Access is also available throughout the University Libraries, which shifted to OAL computers in the spring. Read more at http://dmc-news.tamu.edu/templates/?a=7828&z=15.

Hewlett-Packard Chosen as Bulk Computer Purchase Program Vendor

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 08:49:25 CST

The Workstation Upgrade Program (WUP) is a bulk computer purchase program that achieves standards and savings for the university and participating members of The Texas A&M University System. In the Open Access Labs, one-third of computers are replaced every year through this program.

Texas A&M Information Technology evaluated several desktop manufacturers and chose Hewlett-Packard as this year's vendor. This year's unit costs for standard desktop configurations average $50 less than last year's prices.

Texas A&M Information Technology is coordinating with Procurement Services to offer these negotiated prices to other university departments and A&M System members. Through these efforts in fiscal year 2008, WUP purchases from last year's vendor, Dell, Inc., achieved a 52 percent average discount beyond the single unit price. Last year, a total of 1,362 desktop PCs were ordered from Dell at a value of $1.1 million.

Self-Service Password Reset of Forgotten NetID Passwords

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 08:47:08 CST

Of the over 101,000 calls answered by Help Desk Central last year, 31,700 calls (31%) were requests to reset a forgotten password. To help manage this call load, Computing & Information Services introduced Self-Service Password Reset. Now users can reset their forgotten NetID password at any time from any place without contacting Help Desk Central or visiting an Open Access Lab.

To be able to use Self-Service Password Reset, three security questions must be chosen in advance. The answers to these questions, along with other account information, will be used to verify your identify if you need to reset your password. To get started, go to http://gateway.tamu.edu/. Click "NetID Password Management" then select "Set Password Security Questions." For more information, go to Self-Service Password Reset. If you need any assistance, contact Help Desk Central at 979.845.8300 or helpdesk@tamu.edu.

Computer Changes in University Libraries

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 16:46:22 CST

The University Libraries and Computing & Information Services announced that in spring 2009, all library public computers will transition to Open Access Lab computers, making your library experience more convenient. The location of the library computers will remain the same, but the computers will be configured identically to those in the OALs (such as the Student Computing Center).

Students will now be able to access their Home drive from the library computers and send documents to new printing kiosks located in all university libraries, which will be charged against their CIS account. Documents printed in the West Campus Library can be picked up at the OAL printing center located inside the library.

Users can still access online library services from these computers by visiting http://library.tamu.edu/.