Announcements - Penn Printout, Mar 1994

The University of Pennsylvania's Online Computing Magazine

March 1994 - Volume 10:5

Announcements

New version of Vi-Spy

Vi-Spy, the recommended antiviral package for DOS/Windows systems was recently updated. The new version is 12.0 release 1.94. It is compatible with most IBM-PC/compatible computers and supports all DOS versions from DOS 3.3 to 6.2.

The CRC distributes Vi-Spy to all members of the Penn community holding a valid PennCard or HUP ID. The software may be obtained at the CRC at 38th & Locust Walk during regular business hours from 9 AM to 4:30 PM. To obtain Vi-Spy, bring either two 3.5 inch double-sided double-density disks (720 Kbytes), three 5.25 inch double-sided double- density disks (360 Kbytes), one 5.25 inch high-density disk (1.2 Mbytes), or one 3.5 inch high-density disk (1.4Mytes) to the CRC. For information call the CRC at 898-9085 or send e-mail to crc@a1.relay.

UMIS authorization forms due May 16

Fiscal 1995 forcast and authorization forms recently sent to departmental computer account administrators are due back on Monday, May 16. The forms, which provide budget planning projections for UMIS clients, contain estimates of fiscal 1995 UMIS charges based on current departmental resource consumption and UMIS rates for the next fiscal year (see page 9).

Computer account administrators and business administrators should review the estimates--taking into consideration departmental computing resource needs for fiscal 1995. If, for example, a department has a new project or application that will increase or decrease their need for UMIS computing resources in fiscal 1995, that change should be reflected in the space provided on the form. Questions regarding estimates should be directed to the UMIS chargeback administrator, 573-3162 or 898-4961.

Exploring Internet 2: Back to Basics

If you're curious about the Internet, you can find out more about it by attending a teleconference on Thursday, March 31. The two-hour satellite broadcast of Exploring Internet 2: Back to Basics will shown in Myerson Hall, Room B1 from noon to 2:00 PM. During the teleconference educator Elizabeth Lane Lawley will demonstrate the Internet and explain how it works. Questions from viewers will be answered duing the live telecast. The teleconference is designed to provide the beginner with straightforward instruction about accessing information on the Internet.

Penn's Landing BBS is back

The Penn's Landing electronic bulletin board service is back in operation. Dial 898-8511 (2400 bps, 8 databits, no parity, 1 stopbit).

Super User Group address change

The new mailing reflector address for the super user group is sug@isc.upenn.edu.

Policy on Backing Up Data

The decentralization of computing has resulted in significant increases in productivity among computer users on campus. However, as Penn's computing environment becomes more distributed, responsibility for the integrity of institutional data that may reside on personal computers or workstations becomes distributed as well.

Several potential threats exist, which can result in the corruption or loss of data. Hardware failure, such as a disk crash or damage to a floppy disk, can leave data useless. Users can unintentionally delete or replace important files. Computer viruses can destroy data on hard disks or floppy diskettes.

In order to ensure the integrity of distributed data residing on personal computers or workstations, individual computer users must assume primary responsibility for taking adequate precautions against loss of data.

Regular backups should be maintained for all critical data. In the case of floppy-disks, a duplicate copy of all disks should be maintained. In the case of hard disks, a backup copy should be maintained on diskettes, on tape, or on a remote server. While users are encouraged to make incremental backups on a daily basis, backups should be performed at least once weekly.

Before starting any backup program, however, first check with the information systems support person in your area to find out if there is already a backup program in place in your group.

If you have any questions about this policy, or about ways to back up your data, contact Dave Millar, University Information Security Officer, at 898-2172 or send e-mail to millar@pobox.upenn.edu.

Peter C. Patton,
Vice Provost for Information
Systems and Computing

Hardware maintenance vendors

The Purchasing Department and the task forces for microcomputer and UNIX maintenance recommend the following companies for computer maintenance services for fiscal 1994 and 1995.

For microcomputer maintenance:

Computer Fixer          Janice Cuthbert  215-629-5700
INTEC                   Mike Miller      800-225-1187 
                                         609-427-0900
System & Service Pros   William Jeffers  215-878-3778

For UNIX maintenance:


Workstation     Recommended vendor

DEC             DEC, SUN     
SUN             SUN, DEC
SGI             SGI, DEC
IBM             DEC, SUN     
HP              DEC, HP
NEXT            DEC

UNIX maintenance vendor contacts:


DEC                   Peter Brown    215-542-3468
Hewlett Packard       Leslie O'Brien 215-666-9000
Silicon Graphics      Jerry Allen    215-638-3707
SUN/Bell Atlantic     Bob Dixey      609-231-2725
                      Jim McCrossin  215-962-5571

For futher information or assistance, please call Abe Ahmed, 898- 2482, or Gail Lindsey, 898-2313.