Computer Science Computer Science Computing FacilityComputing Facility

Technical Staff supporting the Technical Staff supporting the School of Computer ScienceSchool of Computer Science

CSCF FormationCSCF Formation

A result of the formation of the School of A result of the formation of the School of Computer ScienceComputer Science

MFCF was split into two units – roughly 2/3 of MFCF was split into two units – roughly 2/3 of staff went to CSCFstaff went to CSCF

CSCF shares MFCF Help Centre (Consultants) CSCF shares MFCF Help Centre (Consultants) & MFCF Operations in exchange for one CSCF-& MFCF Operations in exchange for one CSCF-funded MFCF Staff person (Patrick Matlock)funded MFCF Staff person (Patrick Matlock)

CSCF Staff offices are located on the 2CSCF Staff offices are located on the 2ndnd floor of floor of DC, above the libraryDC, above the library

CSCF MandateCSCF Mandate

The primary computing support The primary computing support organzation for the School of Computer organzation for the School of Computer Science (SCS)Science (SCS)

Not a separate department; we are a Not a separate department; we are a group of staff within the School.group of staff within the School.

We support approx. 100 faculty/staff, We support approx. 100 faculty/staff, nearly 300 graduate students, and 1800 nearly 300 graduate students, and 1800 undergraduate students. undergraduate students.

CSCF NetworkCSCF Network

Two core switches with redundant links to Two core switches with redundant links to rest of campus via Math, Science, and rest of campus via Math, Science, and EngineeringEngineering

Most equipment is from Extreme Most equipment is from Extreme Networks, but it’s being replaced by HP Networks, but it’s being replaced by HP over the next few yearsover the next few years

Routing is being taken over by a pair of Routing is being taken over by a pair of Netscreen-500 firewallsNetscreen-500 firewalls

Standard Platforms supported by Standard Platforms supported by CSCFCSCF

Windows XP/2000Windows XP/2000

Windows Server 2003 (WTS/AD)Windows Server 2003 (WTS/AD)

Linux (ubuntu is strongly favoured)Linux (ubuntu is strongly favoured)

Solaris 8Solaris 8

Mac OS XMac OS X

Teaching Labs Supported by CSCFTeaching Labs Supported by CSCF

Mac Labs for CS 100/200 – ~ 120 seatsMac Labs for CS 100/200 – ~ 120 seats

Nexus Labs - ~ 95 seatsNexus Labs - ~ 95 seats

Thin client labs - ~ 100 seatsThin client labs - ~ 100 seats

Nortel lab – 28 seats + a phone switchNortel lab – 28 seats + a phone switch

Real time train lab – 20 seats + 2 tracksReal time train lab – 20 seats + 2 tracks

Graphics Lab – 22 seatsGraphics Lab – 22 seats

Networks lab – 2 stationsNetworks lab – 2 stations

Teaching Computing ContinuedTeaching Computing Continued

Thin clients have access to Unix front-end Thin clients have access to Unix front-end (x11) or Windows Terminal Server (RDP)(x11) or Windows Terminal Server (RDP)

24 UltraSPARC CPUs dedicated for 24 UltraSPARC CPUs dedicated for assignment workassignment work

Servers housed in MFCF Machine Room Servers housed in MFCF Machine Room (MC 3015)(MC 3015)

Computing for ResearchComputing for Research

Most faculty/groups have their own Most faculty/groups have their own computing resources (and in many cases computing resources (and in many cases machine rooms!)machine rooms!)We have a central environment (10 CPUs) We have a central environment (10 CPUs) available “for free” to all faculty/staff/gradsavailable “for free” to all faculty/staff/gradsWe encourage use of our “free” central e-We encourage use of our “free” central e-mail/web servicesmail/web servicesCSCF Machine room is on the 3CSCF Machine room is on the 3rdrd floor of floor of DCDC

Grad Student Desktop ComputingGrad Student Desktop Computing

Faculty sponsors given choice of providing Faculty sponsors given choice of providing new student with a thin client or a PCnew student with a thin client or a PC

PCs can be Windows XP, Ubuntu Linux, PCs can be Windows XP, Ubuntu Linux, or dual-bootor dual-boot

Students are given super-user access to Students are given super-user access to machine. If they cause trouble, we wipe machine. If they cause trouble, we wipe and re-install with a fresh image.and re-install with a fresh image.

CSCF Support of Research CSCF Support of Research ComputingComputing

Support is subscription based (2 types):Support is subscription based (2 types):Desktop support – inexpensive way to get Desktop support – inexpensive way to get support for a single machine (best-effort)support for a single machine (best-effort)Dedicated support – allows for support of Dedicated support – allows for support of pretty much anything, tasks prioritized by pretty much anything, tasks prioritized by clientclient

Some faculty members and research groups Some faculty members and research groups elect to not get support from CSCF.elect to not get support from CSCF.

CSCF OrganizationCSCF Organization

SCS Director of Infrastrucutre is the CSCF SCS Director of Infrastrucutre is the CSCF Director – currently Professor Steve MannDirector – currently Professor Steve Mann

Associate Director of CSCF – Bill InceAssociate Director of CSCF – Bill Ince

Administrative SupportAdministrative Support

Infrastructure SupportInfrastructure Support

User SupportUser Support

Research SupportResearch Support

CSCF Advisory CommiteeCSCF Advisory Commitee

Chaired by CSCF DirectorChaired by CSCF Director

Varying number of SCS facultyVarying number of SCS faculty

One grad studentOne grad student

One undergrad studentOne undergrad student

CSCF ManagersCSCF Managers

CSCF Points of Contact (PoC)CSCF Points of Contact (PoC)

Every faculty/staff member, and course has a Every faculty/staff member, and course has a CSCF PoCCSCF PoCCSCF Research Support Group provides PoCs CSCF Research Support Group provides PoCs for research computingfor research computingCSCF User Support Group provides PoCs for CSCF User Support Group provides PoCs for non-research computingnon-research computingA faculty member may have a PoC for his/her A faculty member may have a PoC for his/her research computing and a different PoC for research computing and a different PoC for his/her teachinghis/her teachingFor more details, see: For more details, see: http://www.cs.uwaterloo.ca/cscf/about/contacthttp://www.cs.uwaterloo.ca/cscf/about/contact

CSCF Administrative SupportCSCF Administrative Support

2 Staff: Jennifer Keir and Paul Thompson2 Staff: Jennifer Keir and Paul Thompson

Computer Account administrationComputer Account administration

Financial AdministrationFinancial Administration

Software Licence managementSoftware Licence management

InventoryInventory

CSCF Infratructure SupportCSCF Infratructure SupportStaffStaff

Dave Gawley – Technical ManagerDave Gawley – Technical Manager

Dan Hergott – NetworkingDan Hergott – Networking

Phil Beldowski – Hardware specs, PC supportPhil Beldowski – Hardware specs, PC support

Adrian Pepper – Postmaster, Unix softwareAdrian Pepper – Postmaster, Unix software

Guoxiang Shen – Backups, Unix administrationGuoxiang Shen – Backups, Unix administration

Clayton Tucker – Windows AdminstrationClayton Tucker – Windows Adminstration

Walter Tautz/Daniel Allen – Linux administrationWalter Tautz/Daniel Allen – Linux administration

1 Part-time staff1 Part-time staff

CSCF User Support StaffCSCF User Support Staff

Jason Testart – Technical ManagerJason Testart – Technical ManagerEd Chrzanowski – Macs and SolarisEd Chrzanowski – Macs and SolarisFraser Gunn – Specialty Teaching labsFraser Gunn – Specialty Teaching labsIsaac Morland – WWW SoftwareIsaac Morland – WWW SoftwareStephen Nickerson - NexusStephen Nickerson - NexusIan Turner – Macs, Nexus, Admin. Staff Ian Turner – Macs, Nexus, Admin. Staff desktop supportdesktop supportUW Co-op studentUW Co-op student

CSCF Research Support StaffCSCF Research Support Staff

Lawrence Folland – Technical ManagerLawrence Folland – Technical Manager

Mike GoreMike Gore

Mike PattersonMike Patterson

Trevor GroveTrevor Grove

High school co-op studentHigh school co-op student

Unofficial CSCF Staff PhotoUnofficial CSCF Staff Photo

Current ProjectsCurrent Projects

Auto lockdown of public labs – to reduce theft of Auto lockdown of public labs – to reduce theft of computing equipmentcomputing equipmentPrinting – We’re reviewing our printer Printing – We’re reviewing our printer deployment. We need to ensure people can deployment. We need to ensure people can print from all of our supported platforms.print from all of our supported platforms.UI update – thin client interface moving from UI update – thin client interface moving from twm on Solaris to KDE/Gnome on Linuxtwm on Solaris to KDE/Gnome on LinuxGrad Office Application – web-based application Grad Office Application – web-based application to track grad student admissions, TA to track grad student admissions, TA assignments/payroll, grantsassignments/payroll, grantsOngoing CFI proposalsOngoing CFI proposals

The EndThe End

Thanks for your time.Thanks for your time.