Berkeley Lab Computing News: March 2002


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Calendaring

CompUSA Chosen as New Vendor to Provide Computer Classes for Lab Employees

After reviewing proposals from three vendors to provide Lab employees with computer training courses, the Computing Infrastructure Support (CIS) Department has selected CompUSA to present the courses. In addition to the new vendor, the class registration process will also be changing. Effective Wednesday, April 10, class registration will be done via the Employee Self Service website at https://hris.lbl.gov/.
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April 24 Talk, Demonstration to Focus on Laptops, Projectors

On Wednesday, April 24, the Computing Infrastructure Support (CIS) Department will host special presentations and displays of hardware for making computer-based presentations. Details are still being sorted out, but the tentative lineup includes Dell laptop computers and several projectors in different price and performance categories. (Dell laptops are recommended by CIS and can be easily purchased under the Lab's Basic Ordering Agreement with the manufacturer.)

The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Perseverance Hall, with presentations to be given starting at noon. In addition to the hardware displays, CIS staff will be on hand to talk about their services. The session is open to all interested employees and refreshments will be served. See the next issue of Computing News for more information.

Tip of the Month: Help Desk No Longer Requesting Account Number to Open Help Request

The computer support Help Desk will no longer request a Project ID number when employees are calling for assistance or filling out the Web-based help request form. Although most calls were handled at no charge to the caller, many employees didn't like having to provide the number up front. Now, the Help Desk staff will only request a Project ID number when problems are so extensive that a Time and Materials charge must be assessed to resolve them.

LBLnet to Upgrade Lab-Wide DHCP Service

If you work with a computer here at the Lab, the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) has probably saved you time and frustration. DHCP service, which is provided by LBLnet, allows laptops and desktops to obtain network configuration information automatically as they boot. This service means employees don't have to configure their PCs for a specific IP address and can move computers around the Lab without having to reconfigure them to get Internet access.

During the week of April 22, LBLnet will begin migrating from a Windows- to a Unix-based DHCP server and implementing Dynamic DNS. This new system offers several advantages, especially to users who run MacOS, Linux, or other non-Windows operating systems. After the transition, "reverse lookups" will function properly for every computer receiving a DHCP lease.

The schedule for migration will be publicized by April 8 at LBLnet's website: http://www-lblnet.lbl.gov, under the heading "Current Project Schedules."

For information about this project, please call X4559.

Laboratory Telephone System Upgrade Phasing In New Telephones

Telephone Services is upgrading the Laboratory's current telephone system. The current telephone system was installed in 1988 and is nearing the end of its life cycle. Other than finding new telephones on their desks, users will notice few changes. All features on the new telephone will work the same as on the old one. Also, voice mail is unaffected by the upgrade.
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Separating Hype from Reality: LBLnet Services Group Discusses Wireless Support

The LBLnet Services Group in the Networking and Telecommunications Department (NTD) has been investigating issues related to deploying wireless technology throughout the Lab and has found that wireless may not quite be living up to the marketing hype. Among the factors to be considered are security, ease of use, system maintenance and quality of connectivity.
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Tell Us What Your Computer Security Training Needs Are

The Computer Protection Program has offered nearly a dozen on-site computer security training courses over the last year and is asking LBNL staff for input on future training. Are we meeting your needs? What kinds of additional courses would be useful to you?

Interested employees are invited to take a few minutes to complete an on-line CPP Training Questionnaire. The results will be used to develop future training classes. The last day to complete the survey is Friday, March 29.

Progress Report: UC Berkeley Group Providing Printer Support for Lab

The UC Berkeley Workstation Hardware Support Group (WHSG) has now been providing on-site service and repair of Hewlett Packard printers at the Lab for about a month. Here's a review of some of the main points to remember.
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Computer Protection Program to Launch Quarterly Newsletter

The LBNL Computer Protection Program regularly writes items related to new security-related threats and developments for Computing News and other Lab publications. These news items are generally time-sensitive. In response to input from Lab security liaisons and others, the Computer Protection Program will soon offer the Berkeley Lab Computer Protection Quarterly, a publication intended to acquaint readers with more strategic issues and solutions, in addition to answering questions that users frequently ask.

This electronic publication will feature short pieces from a number of people within the LBNL user community in addition to contributions from members of the Computer Protection Program. The first issue of the Computer Protection Quarterly is scheduled to be distributed on April 1, with new issues every three months thereafter.

Library Now Provides Laptop Connections, Electronic Access to ACM Publications

Need to get away from your office but still have network access for your laptop? The Bldg. 50 Library has added electrical outlets and network drops at two study tables.

Berkeley Lab staff members now have access to the full text of all of the Association for Computing Machinery's (ACM) journals, magazines, transactions and conference proceedings (including special interest groups). The documents are available through the ACM Portal to Computing Literature at http://portal.acm.org.

Monthly Virus Update: MyLife, Impo and Gibe Worms and a Hoax Target Windows Systems

The LBNL virus wall continues to find and eradicate many hundreds of viruses and worms in email messages. Last month the most frequently found virus was PE-Magistr (versions A and B), followed closely by the Sircam worm, then the Badtrans worm, Klez worm, and Nimda worm. Several new Windows virus and worms, including Gibe, Mylife and Impo have surfaced within the last few weeks.
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Student Interns Getting Hands-On Lessons In IT

After a 20-year period in which she raised a son, danced ballet, wrote drama and fiction, authored economic policy papers outlining steps to opening up the Chinese economy, and worked for an international company, Wei Du-Griffiths was looking for another challenge. So she applied for an internship with the LBL Network Group in the Information Technologies and Services Division. The step, she says, was an extension of her studies and job at the College of Alameda, where she was also a member of the networking group.

Du-Griffiths and four other student interns are working 20 hours a week at LBNL under the School-to-Career Intern Program in ITSD, an occupational work experience opportunity for community college students. The program is a cooperative effort between the Lab, community college staff and students to place students in a structured, supervised and meaningful work experience related to the students' field of study.
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Computing News is maintained by Jon Bashor.