Development and testing of the Eos desktop

ITECS sets system specifications and upgrade/maintenance requirements for the computers it purchases annually for Eos labs. This hardware must be evaluated, installed, configured, and maintained over a 3-4 year period until it is replaced. ITECS delivers four desktop configurations to run on this hardware: Sun Solaris (1), Red Hat Linux (1), and Microsoft Windows (2, administrative and engineering lab). These computers are networked in a distributed client-server environment that allows more than 7,000 engineering students, staff, and faculty to access and share resources.

Eos/Unity software integration into the Eos desktop

ITECS works with campus ITD services to support three of the four operating systems in the Eos/Unity environment: Sun Solaris, Red Hat Linux, and Microsoft Windows (MAC OS X is developed by ITD). To build a unified environment across so many operating systems requires the integration of a common file system (AFS), authentication (Kerberos), name services (Hesiod, LDAP), mail and web services, plus many other layers of service and security software. ITECS also installs and configures engineering-application software to run in this multi-platform environment.

Development of student-owned wireless laptop platform

In addition to developing the Eos lab platforms, ITECS supports academic computing through the Student-owned Computing (SOC) initative. This program provides technology and purchase solutions that enable students and faculty to acquire educationally-priced laptops for use both inside and outside the classroom. ITECS also works with faculty to develop courses for wireless computer classrooms using instructional software that takes advantage of this platform's mobility.

Eos lab hardware support

More than 600 computers in 18 labs need ongoing support and maintenance in order to run effectively each semester. The labs are heavily used, so ITECS regularly re-installs, repairs, upgrades, and replaces the equipment. Intensive work is often done during semester breaks, summer, and off-hours so that the equipment is fully operational during periods of highest utilization. ITECS support for lab computing also includes printing, facilities planning, networking, security, and enforcement of policies governing the use of the equipment.

College networking support

Networking is a key factor in harnessing multiple platforms to a common environment and for adequate performance in labs and offices. ITECS works with ITD and campus Communication Technologies to implement high-bandwidth networking for wireless and wired classrooms, labs, and offices. Services also include host/domain/IP registration and configuration, cabling and routing, integration of new networking technologies as they become available, and support for department LAN administrators.

Software licensing and management

ITECS manages software licences for the Eos labs and the administrative desktop. Requests for engineering software on Eos come from faculty members and are reviewed and approved by the Computer Committee for installation on the system. ITECS also works with ITD to administer software licensed through the UNC System and NCSU for use in the College of Engineering and other colleges. ITECS maintains a catalog of the 60+ applications it runs in the labs. Nearly 40 of these are engineering applications, which are purchased, installed, and supported by ITECS.

Storage and file services

ITECS provides file space lockers and services for data storage, web sites, course workspace for students, administrative and research projects, individual use, and a variety of other purposes. The AFS file system is the repository for this data, requiring terabytes of space on secure file and web servers. Services include managing access control lists, backup and restores, allocating and configuring space, and providing space-management methods and procedures.

Web services

ITECS provides web services to the College of Engineering and develops its web site at http://www.engr.ncsu.edu as well as the Eos computing site at http://www.eos.ncsu.edu. ITECS also provides web space, tools, and technologies to support the many college and department domains and the web sites and pages they encompass.

Remote access services

ITECS provides remote-access services to connect students, staff, and faculty to their AFS file space and to software applications. ITECS also works with ITD and campus High-Performance Computing to develop and support the Virtual Computing Lab (VCL). These services benefit students and faculty working outside campus labs, principally from home, the workplace, or in Engineering Online distance education programs. Services also include software downloads, secure file transfer, and remote batch processing.

Administrative staff desktop

ITECS develops and supports a Windows-based administrative computing platform for nearly 150 college and department administrative staff. Peoplesoft applications needed by staff are provided by ETSS but administered to staff desktops through ITECS. The administrative desktop connects staff to shared "drives" in AFS, printers, and other resources. ITECS coordinates purchases and configures the computers that run the admin desktop and routinely upgrades the hardware and software that administrators use for their work.

Front-end support for administrative mail and calendaring services

Administrative users require special mail and calendaring software for their work. ITECS supports a common mail program for administrative users and shared mailboxes and mailing lists for college communication. It also supports the campus calendar solution for individuals and groups in the college, and for cross-scheduling resources and events.

FRSM services (specific administrative applications)

ITECS writes and supports several administrative applications: foundation, release time, scholarship, and matriculation, plus an increasing number of web forms and applications to collect and process information in the college.

System administrator training for department IT support staff

ITECS regularly consults with systems administrators in the academic departments to develop IT solutions. System administrator meetings and several mailing lists have been set up to coordinate IT activity across the college. Training is important to ensure that we work together toward common goals and make the best use of limited resources available for IT development and support.

Help desk, support, and documentation

Key to support in the college is the ITECS Help Desk, staffed M-F, 8-5, to help faculty, students, and staff with their computing problems. E-mail and calls to the help desk are logged and tracked in the Remedy call-tracking system to make sure they are routed to appropriate personnel and answered. ITECS also provides substantial documentation on the academic computing environment in the Eos Guide and on the Eos web site. ITECS also works closely with the Computer Committee and with system administrators and webmasters in the departments to develop and support computing in the college.

80 servers maintained to run these services

Servers underpin all of the above and deliver the file space, applications, and services that users need. These servers must be located in secure locations and regularly upgraded and maintained. They must also be distributed and configured to comply with the university-mandated Disaster Recovery Plan. ITECS monitors its servers 24/7/365 to ensure that they are responding to their network clients with the resources they request.