University at Buffalo - The State University of New York

UB2020 Projects Update Newsletter

October 19 , 2007

• Many efforts being made moving us closer to consolidation
• SIRI project will be highlighted in the Nov 1 issue of the Reporter
• Workstation Standardization in discussions with Apple in identifying configurations custom to UB

Server and Services Consolidation

The Server and Services Consolidation sub teams are very close to pinpointing pilot implementation timelines and are making many efforts towards getting into position for execution.

Anti-Virus/Patch Management/Firewall/Backup

The recent release of Symantec Anti-Virus version 11 software called Symantec Endpoint Protection 11 (SEP 11), substantially unlike its predecessor, produces the need for thorough feature and performance evaluation. A technical presentation is being planned for early December in which Symantec representatives will demonstrate SEP 11, open to all interested (details forthcoming). Next, the team will form recommendations.

The team has put forth a proposal for Phase I of patch management in support of "UB Campus Patch Management System", which includes the purchase of two servers to run Microsoft WSUS on the north and south campuses. Phase II involves deploying Shavlik's HFNetChk Protect product to all IT units. After deployment, patch management policies can be managed at the unit and campus levels.

SEP 11 is being evaluated for workstation protection and Blink, a product of eEYE Digital Security, is proving to be the best solution for server protection. eEYE is forming a comprehensive of products and services that the team feels confident will be cost effective and meet the 80/20 rule (solutions reflect the needs of 80% of users). Coordination of a technical briefing of Blink by eEYE representatives is being planned for early January (details forthcoming). Team leader Richard Amantia states "the committee desires two different products on a server providing AV & Firewall protection."

The team recommends using Symantec Ghost Suite v2.0 for backing up workstations, as needed. Symantec Ghost licensing was purchased and Symantec Ghost training is being pursued for the UB IT units. The TSM system is being recommended as the server backup solution.

Email-Unix

Consultation with Academic Services to determine best timeframe for implementation of consolidating Unix email new capabilities is in progress, while discussions about hosting Unix Calendaring between CAS and CIT is also occurring.

Email-Exchange

Implementation and policy development work, such as quotas and disk space, continue, to move closer towards the implementation of consolidating 13 Exchange servers as a first major assignment of the project team.

File/Print

The implementation team is currently reviewing the response to the Request for Offer received from CIT.

Active Directory

Active Directory migrations have been completed for Computer Science & Engineering and for Science & Engineering Node Services. The Graduate School of Education migration is in progress and the School of Law is on deck. Due to HIPPA requirements and issues, the School of Dental Medicine is opting out of the consolidation efforts. The Business Offices continue to work on their migration.

Workstation Standardization

The Workstation Standardization project team has met its original charter and is now in the role of the 'acting' Workstation Standards Board. The initial goal is to have standards recommendations for students in time for the start of the 2008 spring semester. Plans to develop a website to be responsive to the ever-changing nature of hardware and software are underway, and are part of a larger communication effort. As important, the team is charged with recommending an efficient process model for managing campus software standards transitions.

Peter Rittner, project leader, informed the group that we are currently in discussions with Dell reps to ensure that our future orders go more smoothly than our initial UB2020 order, and that we can expect more timely notification of model changes. At the least, we will have quarterly meetings with Dell and work on being well prepared and informed. The team is beginning an evaluation of the workstation model (OptiPlex 755) that will replace the OptiPlex 745, and hopes to prevent another gap in shipments by having the process completed in time. "We're going to have issues no matter what we do because the industry is so nimble. But we'll get better at it", expressed Rittner.

Several node managers are involved in 'specing' out higher end machines such as the Latitude D830 Prestigious Performance laptop and a Precision desktop, that would meet the needs of those not in the 80% population targeted by the first models offered.

Four Apple configurations have been agreed upon and we are hoping to arrive at an advantageous agreement. A team is being formed to develop a conceptual design for a collaboration and learning space that will be provided to Apple during an upcoming meeting being planned. The concept of a Learning Space is maturing under the direction of Rick Lesniak, Director of Academic Services, CIT.

Rittner emphasized that attempting to place a Dell order anywhere except at UBMicro will result in delays and errors. The ordering procedure is clearly stated on the UBMicro website.

Strategic Information Reporting Initiative (SIRI)

Project leader Joe Kerr reported that the SIRI project is on track. All of the data models are finished and the team is focused on the work required to automate the movement and transformation of data from where it resides today to the new models. The project team is starting to build the reports and dashboards that will be piloted by the SIRI Customer team. The development, test, and production systems are in place with initial activity in development and test. Kerr will be interviewed and the SIRI project will be featured in the November 1 issue of The Reporter.

Student Systems Assessment

The recent vendor presentations were very well attended, and a great deal of feedback was received, reported Kara Saunders, project leader. Overall, the visits helped the project team to understand the functionality, technology, and navigability of our student systems software options. The comments that attendees provided on their evaluation forms have been invaluable as the project team wraps up its software evaluation activities, and expects that the feedback will continue to be useful as specific implementation plans continue to be developed.

The Project Team and Executive Steering Committee are currently finalizing their evaluation of the software vendors, and hope to reach a decision and share it with the campus soon.

In the meantime, the Project Team is also working to lay the groundwork for a successful implementation. They are engaged in a number of activities, including: reviewing the responses received to the RFP for integration firms; conducting more in-depth conference calls and site visits with peer institutions; developing a governance structure for implementation; and investigating policies and procedures which must be created or revised prior to the start of implementation.

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)

1,100 phones out of a planned total of 8,000, have been installed on the system to date, stated project leader Barb Vasbinder. The current infrastructure is being evaluated with the help from representatives of IPLogic, to ensure its reliability and strength for taking on the large number of VoIP phone installations.

The VoIP Monitoring team has completed the first round of vendor evaluations. The objectives of the first round of evaluations were to increase understanding of the marketplace and system monitoring software solutions and vendors, begin communicating information about UB's environment and expectations to the vendors, perform initial evaluation of vendors, identify which vendors to include in round 2, and establish initial resource requirement estimates.

The process involved providing vendors general information about UB, overview information about the UB telephony current and planned architecture, technical questions requiring written response, and an invitation to an hour and a half evaluation session structured with a UB defined agenda and set of objectives.

The VoIP Monitoring Team Report was reviewed by the Advisory Committee. As a result of this review, the Monitoring Team is refining requirements and working with the vendors to finalize solution proposals.

Shared IT Service Desk

The Shared IT Service Desk project team is awaiting the responses to the RFP from the vendors it was sent to and will coordinate vendor demonstrations accordingly, stated Daniel Arrasjid, project leader. Availability of the resources assigned to this project continues to be a challenge for the team's expected timeline.

The next IT Town Hall is scheduled for Friday November 2nd, 2007 at 8:30am in 120 Clemens on the North Campus. Planned topics include UB's comprehensive physical plan, the impact of the UBFS migration, and an update on our program with Dell given by a Dell representative.

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UB2020 Transformation Project Communication Team