1
MSDN-AA with e-Academy use at Cambridge
Graham Titmus
University of CambridgeComputer Laboratoryhttp://www.cl.cam.ac.uk
2
Department Overview 100 undergraduates per year
First year 50% time in department Projects in second and final years
Several small postgraduate courses Diploma conversion course Speech and Natural Language Processing
120 research staff and PhD students
3
Undergraduate teaching Contract out our workstation provision
PWF – provided by Computing Service Windows 2000 Linux
Software for teaching Plan one full year ahead
Widely available access Colleges and bedrooms
4
Delivering software Use from servers
Limited set on restricted access servers Use by staff and researchers
Licence servers access for other code flexlm managed in main
Distributed CDs or download areas
Freeware only Distribution of boxed sets
5
MSDN-AA Software on CD Rapid changes in content for some products
Keeping it online is maintenance issue Offline makes it harder to use
Licence key distribution Internal – to support staff Internal – to researchers External – to undergraduates
6
e-Academy Web site to issue
licences Customisable to some
degree Who is in control? Spam filtering by users
Distribution points Disc space required Bandwidth used Updating
7
Users view
8
Starting to use it Customising
Logo Contact information Structuring users
Years for Undergraduates – one bulk change per year
Research and Staff – small constant change load Familiarising
Controlling licences or selling them?
9
Adding packages Selection of ones to add
Too many to manage all of them Workload level Demand level
Distribution methods CD loan/issue Network download (http) Network share
10
Packaging for download Number of pre-packaged suites
XP, VS.Net, …. Special tool to manage download
Take software from MSDNAAdistribution
Store on own website Small downloader at e-Academy Most data over local link
No checksums on image
11
Adding users Stability of classes at start of year
Don’t want to leave it too late! Notification methods
Official email first Email form e-Academy looks
like spam Web site in department as well
Backup contact/fault system Tied to http distribution point Internal contact area
12
Becoming a salesman Site is a sales point
Issue refunds for $0.00 If you choose download then want to borrow CDs then
you have to be refunded and choose again Administration can be split
System Administrator CD issue
View waiting list Issue return and cancel requests
13
Maintenance issues Email list
[email protected] Aim for good coverage at weekends during term
Reinstalls Low level of activity
Run out of disk space Reformat machine
Extra activation codes XP intolerance to new hardware
Monitor easily via website All codes issued are displayed
14
CD loans No weekends!
Leads to overlongloan periods
Where to collect Recruit literate
students What is a loan?
15
Experience to date Simple to configure and use
Lack of ‘identity’ with Department Email messages need tailoring
Maintenance level low Need another devolved role
issue reinstalls/keys Updating user lists
Scriptable route needed using ssh access
16
Top Related