Super User Group - 2006 Meeting Schedule

The Super User Group meets from 12:00 Noon until 1:30 PM on the second Monday of each month.

December 11, 2006 - State of Computing at Penn

Benjamin Franklin Room (218) - Houston Hall
12:00 Noon - 1:30 PM
Brown Bag lunches welcome.

This month, Robin Beck, Vice President, Information Systems and Computing at the University of Pennsylvania will join us for our annual State of Computing address.

In addition, we'll have an update from the PennERA team and an additional update on Vista information.

Request a meeting topic - If you have an idea for a Super User Group meeting topic or have something to present to the group, please contact Kristin Nelson (knelson@isc). We have openings for the spring meetings.

January 9, 2006 - Evaluation Team Results

Benjamin Franklin Room (218) - Houston Hall
12:00 Noon - 1:30 PM
Brown Bag lunches welcome.

Final results from the three Fall 2005 Evaluation Teams. Each team will share what they learned about the topic along with their final recommendations to the group. Come learn more from your colleagues on the evaluation teams!

The Fall 2005 Evaluation Teams explored:

• Data Encryption - This team explored options for data encryption on the desktop as well as support for data encryption over the network within our current framework of supported products and services. It also considered options for extending use of PGP to support both encryption and signing for selected audiences.
• Instant Messaging - This team evaluated instant messaging clients and servers, with attention to ease of deployment and security issues.
• Soft Phones - This team evaluated the use of software-based telephones for desktop and laptop computers.

February 13, 2006 - Mobile Computing at Penn

Benjamin Franklin Room (218) - Houston Hall
12:00 Noon - 1:30 PM
Brown Bag lunches welcome.

The Mobile Computing Task Force (MCTF) formed following the July, 2005 Super User Group meeting where Deke Kassabian presented a white paper on Mobile Computing at Penn. The MCTF focused on current end-user support, application development and middleware infrastructure, and end-user perspective and future direction. Jorj Bauer will present the findings of the MCTF along with recommendations for additional investigation.

Dan Alig will present some mobile initiatives from Wharton. How are Wharton students using mobile devices in their education and how might these initiatives translate for your area?

Bob DeSilets will present mobile computing with a view from the Provider Desk. What types of questions do Local Support Providers pose to the Provider Desk? What's currently on the PDA recommendation web page and what might be coming?

In addition, we'll have an update from the BEN Financials Team.

March 13, 2006 - Networking and Telecommunications: State of the Union

Benjamin Franklin Room (218) - Houston Hall
12:00 Noon - 1:30 PM
Brown Bag lunches welcome.

This month's meeting is our annual ISC Networking and Telecommunications: State of the Union update. Mike Palladino will report what's on the horizon for new technology in the networking and telecommunications infrastructure on campus.

SANS@Penn - If you haven't had the opportunity to sign up for SANS Security 401: Security Essentials with Bootcamp to be held at Penn June 19-24, 2006, now's the time! Registration deadline is Monday, April 17, 2006.

April 10, 2006 - Information Security: Edge Filtering, Security Policies, and PennNet Gateway

*** Please note the change in location ***

Graduate School of Education Building - 3700 Walnut Street - Room 203
( Penn ID must be worn while in the building.)
12:00 Noon - 1:30 PM

This month's meeting features updates on a number of fronts - networking, security, research, and desktops.

PennERA Update - The PennERA team will report on Penn's interim solutions for Grants.gov/NIH. Grants.gov allows organizations to electronically find and apply for more than $400 billion in Federal grants.

Desktop Recommendations - John Mulhern will present the new desktop recommendations for comment.

Edge Filtering - Penn is poised to implement Edge Filtering of NetBios at PennNet's edge routers. Here's one more opportunity to find out more about these changes and ask any questions for last minute preparations.

Information Security Policies - Dave Millar, Penn's Information Security Officer, will provide updates on new and proposed information security policies that all IT staff at Penn should become familiar with.

SANS@Penn - If you haven't had the opportunity to sign up for SANS Security 401: Security Essentials with Bootcamp to be held at Penn June 19-24, 2006, now's the time! Registration deadline is Monday, April 17, 2006.

May 8, 2006 - Internet2 - More than just speed...

Benjamin Franklin Room (218) - Houston Hall
12:00 Noon - 1:30 PM
Brown Bag lunches welcome.

If you think Internet2 is just a fast connection, think again. At this month's meeting we'll explore beyond the infrastructure of Internet2 and MAGPI to some of the applications now available or enhanced due to this new network.

Internet2 is a consortium led by over 200 universities working in partnership with industry and government to develop and deploy advanced network applications and technologies, accelerating the creation of tomorrow's Internet. The aim of the Internet2 project is to recreate the original partnership among academia, industry and government towards the three-fold goal of: creating a leading edge network capability for the national research community; enabling revolutionary Internet applications; and ensuring the rapid transfer of new network services and applications to the broader Internet community.

Spring 2006 Evaluation Team update - The teams will report briefly on the status of their Spring evaluations of Hard Drive Encryption, RSS, and Smartphone Email Clients.

June 12, 2006 - Spring 2006 Evaluation Team Results

Benjamin Franklin Room (218) - Houston Hall
12:00 Noon - 1:30 PM
Brown Bag lunches welcome.

The Spring 2006 Evaluation Teams will provide more in-depth information from their evaluations. This is an opportunity to learn more about the thought process the team followed, how they arrived at their recommendations, and specifics about the evaluated products. This year's evaluation teams focused on Hard Drive Encryption, RSS, and Smartphone Email Clients.

In addition, we'll have a demo of the revised Polaris system from ULAR, and information about upcoming changes to Penn's DNS servers.

July 10, 2006 - IT @ Penn Networking Opportunity

Benjamin Franklin Room (218) - Houston Hall
12:00 Noon - 1:30 PM
Brown Bag lunches welcome.

If you're familiar with Drew Carey's "Whose Line is it Anyway?" improv show, one segment is called "Scenes from a Hat."  Audience members supply ideas which are pulled randomly from a hat for the actors to improv.  Our options won't be as funny, but should be more informative.

Our first question will be, "What are the things that incoming students are expecting and what technology do Penn students use most often?" Meagan Kozhimala and Stephanie Young, two Penn students who are part of Penn's College House Computing ITA program, will join us to help us better understand technology at Penn from the current, full-time student point of view.

We'll also have updates on the Computer Connection's Back-To-School Computer sale and changes to Penn's DNS.

August 14, 2006 - What Makes A Design Seem Intuitive

Benjamin Franklin Room (218) - Houston Hall
12:00 Noon - 1:30 PM
Brown Bag lunches welcome.

Today's meeting will be abbreviated to allow for the on-line seminar "What Makes A Design Seem Intuitive?" starting at 1 PM.  Co-sponsored with Web-SIG, all are welcome to attend!

At today's SUG meeting we will have updates from:
- Dell OSE - Meet Dell's On-Site Engineer, Anthony Ferguson and find out what an OSE does
- Penn's Software Licensing Program - Mary Griffin will update us on the  program and will be available to take questions.
- AirPennNet - Jeff Edwards and Colleen Szymanik will provide an update on AirPennNet wireless.

September 11, 2006 - Where are we going...

Benjamin Franklin Room (218) - Houston Hall
12:00 Noon - 1:30 PM
Brown Bag lunches welcome.

The best way to predict the future is to invent it. - Alan Kay

Where is Information Technology heading? Where is IT heading at the University of Pennsylvania and in Higher Education in general? We will be joined by a panel for a discussion as we predict the future of IT.

October 9, 2006 - PDA - Not just for calendars anymore...

Benjamin Franklin Room (218) - Houston Hall
12:00 Noon - 1:30 PM
Brown Bag lunches welcome.

If you blink, you miss changes to the PDA market.  Join us for an update on the state-of-the-PDA along with some of the interesting applications for handhelds.  Bob DeSilets, Dan Dougherty, and Steve Strawser from ISC start with a presentation and will then lead the follow up discussion.  This is an excellent opportunity to learn from your colleagues and share what you know with others.

November 13, 2006 - Cultivating your IT Career

Benjamin Franklin Room (218) - Houston Hall
12:00 Noon - 1:30 PM
Brown Bag lunches welcome.

How did others get the position they have at Penn? What might you want to know as you cultivate your IT career at the University. This month's SUG features a panel discussion designed to provide insight into developing your career. (see also: www.educause.edu/cultivatingcareers)

Our panelists are:
    Mary Alice Annecharico, Medicine
    Cathy DiBonaventura, Design
    Donna Milici, Nursing
    Deirdre Woods, Wharton

In addition, we'll have updates on Windows Vista and BEN Financials.

Windows Vista Preview - University-centric preview of the Windows Vista release. For additional information, visit www.upenn.edu/computing/provider/docs/windowsvista.html - November, 2006

Windows Vista Licensing Preview - Windows Vista campus licensing information (as of the date ofpresentation and subject to change). For additional information, visit Penn's Office of Software Licensing - November, 2006