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Taking in the sites

By Donna Milici

As more and more people have started to use computers, the costs to the University for initial hardware and software purchases (plus the cost of staying current with new versions and in compliance with licensing requirements) have often been staggering. The Office of Information Systems and Computing (ISC) has, therefore, taken on the task of negotiating and managing site agreements centrally. Site agreements, which either offer discounts for volume pur-chases or allow a flat fee for site (University) copying, are a cost-effective means of providing access to computing equipment and software. The yield in return for the time and resources required to provide this service centrally is significant. Keep in mind, however, that the primary reason for the service is to save the University time and money; the ISC does not necessarily provide technical support for products available under site agreements.

Several departments in ISC are involved in negotiating and managing site agreements. Because of this shared effort and because of the variability of the conditions imposed by different vendors, the processes for ordering, distribution, and updating vary considerably among products: Some are available from Computer Connection, Computing Resource Center (CRC), Academic Computing Services (ACS), Data Communications and Computing Services (DCCS), or from networked servers. Some require special order forms; some come shrink-wrapped with documentation; some include support from the vendors; some require journal transfers for billing; etc.

Obtaining information

We also encourage you to use the contact information above to inquire about the availability of a site agreement before purchasing a product, or to request that a product be considered for a site agreement. A product is likely to be a candidate for central site management if its utility extends beyond the needs of an individual School or department and if there are significant economies of scale to be gained in central negotiations and management. Finally, if you have suggestions for improving the way site agreement information is communicated or site agreements are managed, we welcome your input.

Below is an overview of products for which centrally managed site agreements are, or soon will be, available. If you need additional information about ordering procedures, turnaround times, or current version numbers, please use the contact information provided for each product. The full text of these descriptions is available on PennInfo and will be updated as warranted.

Recent site agreements

• 38 percent for 9000/705 Workstations and associated system peripherals

• 45 percent for 9000/710 Workstations (16 Mbytes RAM) and associated system peripherals

• 45 percent for 9000/720 Workstations (16 Mbytes RAM) and associated system peripherals

• 50 percent for 9000/730 Workstations (32 Mbytes RAM) and associated system peripherals

• 50 percent for 9000/750 Workstations and associated system peripherals

Maple Site License Agreement. Maple software for symbolic computation algorithms, available for faculty and staff purchase, runs on DOS, Macintosh, and a variety of UNIX platforms. The current version has a wide range of capabilities, including calculus, statistics, and linear algebra, and also has more than 2,000 built-in functions. The site license provides a discount of approximately 40 percent from the standard educational price. For details, prices, and order form contact ACS, 573-3587 or ssl@isc.upenn.edu.

MicroPhone Pro for NeXT. The recently released MicroPhone Pro 1.0 provides terminal emulation for NeXT systems. The software and user guide will soon be available from the Computer Connection for $70.

Novell LAN Workplace for DOS. This product provides TCP/IP functionality and IP tunneling capabilities for DOS-based PCs running on a Novell Netware Network. The license covers 1,000 users and substantially reduces the cost of the product. The distribution and charging mechanisms are being developed and will be announced once they are finalized. If you are a Novell Netware administrator or manager and you have questions about this license, contact Bill Rawles, 898-6424 or rawles@a1.relay.upenn.edu.

Pascal Compiler for NeXT. The University of Virginia Pascal compiler for NeXT is available free of charge to all Penn affiliates via anonymous ftp from ftp-next.upenn.edu. The file path is ~/pub/NeXT/software/uvapc.tar.Z.

Existing site agreements

BMDP 90 Statistical Software for DOS. The DOS version of BMDP, a very popular statistical package on mainframes, is available to faculty and staff. It contains more than thirty different statistical routines. A one-time $200 license fee covers the current version and selected updates. The BMDP 90 program is distributed by the CRC (you must bring either 11 HD 3.5" disks or 12 HD 5.25" disks to make your copies), and manuals are sold in the University Bookstore. To acquire software contact CRC, 898-9085 or crc@a1.relay.upenn.edu.

DEC Campus Software License Grant (CSLG). Under this agreement free right-to-copy licenses for most DEC-labeled software (VMS and ULTRIX) are available for University-owned DEC computers. Media and documentation are not included. Participants are eligible to receive Product Authorization Keys (KeyPAKs) to activate the licenses for software which they are authorized to copy. For information call ACS, 573-3587 or send e-mail to ssl@isc.upenn.edu.

Ingres. Ingres, a relational database management package, is available at a significant discount through the University site license. Ingres runs on several hardware platforms, including VAX/VMS and UNIX, and includes a variety of application development and decision-support tools. Penn's site license includes all University and Hospital departments, the clinical practices, Children's Hospital, and the Wistar Institute. For information send a query to ingres@dccs.upenn.edu or contact Noam Arzt, 898-3029 or arzt@dccs.upenn.edu.

IronClad. IronClad, the successor to Disk Manager PC, provides software security for IBM PC/compatible systems--particularly useful in an open lab environment. Under the University agreement, IronClad can be purchased directly from the vendor for $59 (documentation, shipping, and handling are extra). Order forms can be obtained from the CRC, 898- 9085, or ACS, 573-3587, or by sending your fax number or campus mailing address to ssl@isc.upenn.edu.

MacTCP. MacTCP, the software necessary for Macintosh computers to communicate over the campus ethernet, is distributed by the CRC at no cost to end users (you supply the disks). Because the software must be configured with each particular machine's network address, copies are made to order on request. Information: CRC, 898-9085 or crc@a1.relay.upenn.edu.

Mathematica. Mathematica for Mac, DOS, Windows, UNIX standalone, and UNIX workstations is available at a reduced cost. Mathematica supports numerical, symbolic, and graphical computation. It can be used both as an interactive problem-solving environment and as a modern high- level programming language. For details about the agreement, price list, and order form contact ACS, 573-3587 or ssl@isc.upenn.edu.

MicroPhone II for Macintosh. Under the site agreement, MicroPhone II terminal emulation software for Macintosh systems, along with the user guide, can be purchased for $46 from the Computer Connection, 898- 3282.

ProComm 2.4.2/3. The unlimited site agreement covers all existing and future copies of the shareware version (v. 2.4.2/3) of this IBM PC/compatible terminal emulation software. Individuals no longer need to pay to register their copies. Faculty, staff, and students can obtain the software (documentation provided on disk) by bringing a blank disk to the CRC, 898-9085. Note: This shareware version of ProComm has been superseded by commercial versions. Although the shareware version is suitable for general terminal emulation functions, you may experience incompatibilities and need to buy the commercial version to gain enhanced functionality.

Statistical Analysis System (SAS) for DOS. The site license for the DOS version of this popular mainframe statistical program covers six SAS modules (Base SAS, SAS/Stat, SAS/Graph, SAS/ETS, SAS/IML, and SAS/FSP) for use by University faculty and staff. All the modules are available for a single $100 annual license fee covering the current versions of the modules and any updates issued during the year. The SAS program is distributed by the CRC (you must bring 45 high-density 3.5" disks to make your copies), and manuals are sold in the University Bookstore. To acquire the software contact CRC, 898-9085 or crc@a1.relay.upenn.edu.

Statistical Analysis System (SAS) for RISC Workstations. SAS for RISC workstations is available at reduced cost for the following platforms: DEC ULTRIX, HP-UX, IBM RS/6000 AIX, SunOS, and NeXT. All current SAS modules are included in the license fee, including Base SAS, AF, ASSIST, CONNECT, ETS, FSP, GRAPH, IML, INSIGHT, OR, OC, and STAT. Renewal license fees will be due annually, beginning July 1993. For details, prices, and order form, contact ACS, 573-3587 or ssl@isc.upenn.edu.

SUN-4/SPARC Software Maintenance Agreement. SUN software support is available at a substantially reduced fee through an ongoing University site agreement. The agreement also provides the right to copy operating system updates and unbundled product updates to those products for which an individual currently has a license. Renewal fees will be due annually, beginning July 1993. For details, prices, and order form, contact ACS, 573-3587 or ssl@isc.upenn.edu. VI-SPY for DOS. Vi-Spy antiviral software is distributed free of charge by the CRC (you supply a blank disk). Since new viruses are continually being developed, the program is updated frequently. Information: CRC, 898-9085 or crc@a1.relay.upenn.edu.

WordPerfect. There are three ways members of the University community can purchase WordPerfect:

• Individuals can buy the retail version (about $250), fill out a special form, and receive a $100 educational rebate check from WordPerfect Corp.

• Departments can purchase a copy of the retail version and obtain an educational license to run it on a total of eight University-owned machines (or about $30 per copy).

• Individuals and departments can purchase the educational version of the program (identical to the retail version except for an identifying stamp) at the Computer Connection for about $120 per copy. Information: Computer Connection, 898-3282.

Coming soon

BMDP 386 Statistical Software for DOS. A site license for BMDP for 386/486-based DOS systems, containing more than 30 different statistical routines, is being negotiated. A one-time license fee would cover the current version and selected updates.

Hewlett-Packard Software Agreement. ISC is investigating the options for providing reduced-cost right-to-use licenses for selected HP software.

Hewlett-Packard Warranty Agreement. ISC is working with HP to explore the options for on-site service.

MacSLIP. ISC is negotiating an unlimited right-to-copy license for the University to provide SLIP functionality for Macintosh systems. SLIP makes IP/ethernet services available over modems and phone lines.

MicroPhone for Windows. The developer is working to implement Kermit file transfer capability in this Windows terminal emulation product by January 1993. A site agreement would make the product available at reduced cost from the Computer Connection.

PK-ZIP Site License. PK-ZIP is a popular file compression program running under DOS and OS/2. A site agreement that would provide the software to University affiliates at a reduced cost is under consideration.

Silicon Graphics Incorporated (SGI) IRIS Varsity Program. ISC is negotiating a site agreement to cover a core set of software applications at reduced cost.

SYSTAT for DOS and Macintosh (and possibly Windows). The current agreement for DOS and Macintosh versions of SYSTAT, a powerful statistics and scientific graphics program, is being renewed; the new agreement might include a Windows version.