Recommended Solutions provides advice to the campus regarding acquisition of hardware and software. Our goals in providing these recommendations are:
Our current levels of support are defined as follows.
| Primary | Limited |
|---|---|
|
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ITSS provides broadband wired connections to every building on campus. Wireless access is provided throughout most of the campus as well, in both a secure and guest service.
To connect to the UMD Campus network from off campus, ITSS recommends using a third party broadband provider such as Charter or Qwest. If one is not available, then ITSS does offer modem dialup service supporting 33.6-56k baud access.
For secure access to University resources from off campus, ITSS provides a VPN service.
| Category | Primary | Limited |
|---|---|---|
| Network connections | na | |
| VPN Access | na |
The University can provide more efficient service and better pricing by limiting the number of vendors we work with. ITSS and the Computer Corner work together to provide workstation configurations that should meet all campus needs. By choosing a supported vendor, ITSS computer maintenance staff can provide hardware maintenance and warranty work on campus. We will also provide trouble-shooting assistance and repair work for non-standard hardware on a time-and-materials basis.
When purchasing a workstation (desktop or laptop), ITSS recommends that our customers use the most current operating system (OS) that is stable for the platform (Windows, Mac, Unix). This may not necessarily be the most current OS. Please note that "home" versions (Windows Vista Home, Windows XP Home) are not engineered for a business environment and are not supported on our network.
| Category | Primary | Limited |
|---|---|---|
| Laptops, desktops |
|
|
| Operating System |
|
Not Supported
|
New mobile devices - including netbooks, iPads, smartphones and PDAs - arrive on the market daily. These devices provide convenience and limited functionality and do not replace standard desktops or laptops for University business computing needs. ITSS does not support a primary mobile device or service, but we can provide basic assistance in setting up UMD email or calender through Google Apps.
| Category | Primary | Limited |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile Devices |
|
|
Printer and scanner models and features change frequently. The basic requirement is full network capability. Before purchasing a new printer or scanner, we recommend that you contact ITSS Maintenance or the Computer Corner for the current specification.
| Category | Primary | Limited |
|---|---|---|
| Printers and Scanners |
|
|
For departments considering purchase of servers and expecting ITSS support, we recommend purchase of the same type of systems owned and operated by ITSS. Contact Dan Burrows (dburrows) for further information on these servers.
| Category | Primary | Limited |
|---|---|---|
| Servers |
|
|
Student Response Systems (SRS) - also called "clickers" - are small handheld devices coupled with receiving hardware and presentation software. The system allows an instructor to present questions, usually via a computer projector, and collect student answers immediately during the lecture. The results can generally be manipulated and displayed immediately and can be used to change the course of the lecture. For details see: http://www.d.umn.edu/itss/classroom/srs.html
| Category | Primary | Limited |
|---|---|---|
| Student Response Systems |
|
Assistive technology is available in a number of locations across campus, including some ITSS student computer labs. For more information, contact Disability Resources.
| Category | Primary | Limited |
|---|---|---|
| Assistive Technology |
|
Following is a summary of ITSS recommended desktop software solutions. For an alphabetical listing of software available for use, see: Software.
| Category | Primary | Limited |
|---|---|---|
| Assistive technology |
|
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| Calendar software |
|
|
| Databases |
|
|
| Desktop publishing |
|
|
Note 1: Support for email clients is provided for those faculty and staff who are not eligible for Gmail. Note 2: UMD WebMail will be retired when all UMD students, faculty and staff are converted to GMail. |
||
| File Transfer | ||
| Geographic Information Science (GIS) |
|
|
| Graphics and Multimedia Tools |
|
|
| Mathematical and Statistical Tools | ||
| Presentation |
|
|
| Spreadsheets |
|
|
| Terminal Emulation | ||
| Virus & Spyware | ||
| Word Processing |
|
|
| Web Browsing |
|
|
| Web Publishing |
|
Technology resources for faculty and staff can be found at http://www.d.umn.edu/itss/facstaff
| Category | Primary | Limited |
|---|---|---|
| Class management tools |
|
|
| Communications Tools | ||
| Databases (server) |
|
|
| Network File Access |
|
|
| Text Editors (Unix) |
|
|
Rev: 9.11 sab
University of Minnesota Campuses