IT Support Update

IT Support Update

1.       Ground floor Refurbishment

The data points for green ground for the self service machines have now been installed and everything is working well.  Work has been carried out to prepare for the reopening of Blue 1 on 17^th August.  We are awaiting the arrival of some matting to ensure wires are covered and are not an h&S issue.  The reception PCs, Epayment PC and Telepen PCs are in place and working.  There was a problem with 1 self issue machine but SB electronics have been to sort out.  The final moves for self issue machines will take place on 14^th August PM.  The telephone line will be transferred on Monday 17^th as it is required to be used on Sat 15^th August.  The walk in users PCs will also be moved they have been tested that they work in the new location.

 2.       Office Moves

These continue and we have been busy checking out data points and organisng telecoms moves.  The latest moves are Rachel Beckett to Deansgate, Sandra Bracegirdle to her new office at Joule and Des Coyle to her old office and Paul Holder from the main library to Joule.

3.       Desktop 08

Alison is working her way through building the objects for deployment on the image.  There is a desktop deployment project where I represent the library.  Each faculty is at a different stage deploying the desktop.  This project provides support and defines a coordinated approach to ensure that there is consistency which will make it easier for support issues at the IT Servicedesk. Our project plan fort e rollout of staff desktop is in the process of being accepted.

 The clusters including our training rooms and study rooms will all run the student desktop.  To enable these to run at an acceptable speed additional memory was purchased and will be installed before the start of academic year.  A staff email was sent to everyone encouraging staff who will be using the teaching rooms to test out the look and feel image.  Andy received some feedback which was passed on to Chris Mallon.

4.       Network Upgrade News

As part of the campus upgrade the cabinets in the main library apart from the basement cabinet have been upgraded. The cabinet in the basement will be upgraded when the new ground floor data cabinet is in place.  The precinct library data cabinet is due to be upgraded at the end of August and the quality of networking improved.  The wireless network in the main library will be upgraded and additional coverage provided.  We are waiting for timescales on his work.

 5.       VSD

The survey was available from x to 20^th July.  There were 45 replies and the survey is now being analysed.  A report is going to LT on 26^th August which will outline some quick wins and target some longer term improvements.

 The use of a remote tool logmein is proving very useful for the team and feedback from staff suggest that this working well.

 A reporting pack is currently being produced by the shared service coordinator that gives statistics on a monthly basis that we can use in our local areas. Part of this reporting package will identify trends and identify areas for the PKM team to investigate and report back on in the next report.

 The resource required from JRUL in freshers week has been ramped up by 1 x 0.5 day so that week we will be contributing to 3 sessions.  Examination of the data from last year has been used to manage the resource better for start of year.

 The VSD now has a room set up to be used in the event of an emergency/disaster affecting the sackville building.

 6.       Other items

Some new equipment has been purchased at the end of the financial year.  We now have a small stock of laser pointers which can be loaned by staff doing presentations.  Additional ebook readers have been purchased.  The store is now full!

 Encryption of laptops is being pursued and everyone who has a laptop is being encouraged to have their laptop encrypted.  The LT have been targeted first – Lorraine has had her laptop encrypted for a while and is a good advocate for us.  The next article in PageTurner will focus on the range of encryption tools available.

 The knowledgebase purchased by IT Services will be launched soon.  We need to have a push on information from us to go in.  I have been talking to key people about this and we should have more content available for launch.

The team took part in the acceptance testing for Student Outlook live.  A  big thanks to everyone else who also found time to take part. Alison represents us on the PAT.