1 MSDN-AA with e-Academy use at Cambridge Graham Titmus University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory

2 Department Overview 100 undergraduates per year First year 50% time in department Projects in second and final years Several small postgraduate courses Diploma conversion course Speech and Natural Language Processing 120 research staff and PhD students

3 Undergraduate teaching Contract out our workstation provision PWF – provided by Computing Service Windows 2000 Linux Software for teaching Plan one full year ahead Widely available access Colleges and bedrooms

4 Delivering software Use from servers Limited set on restricted access servers Use by staff and researchers Licence servers access for other code flexlm managed in main Distributed CDs or download areas Freeware only Distribution of boxed sets

5 MSDN-AA Software on CD Rapid changes in content for some products Keeping it online is maintenance issue Offline makes it harder to use Licence key distribution Internal – to support staff Internal – to researchers External – to undergraduates

6 e-Academy Web site to issue licences Customisable to some degree Who is in control? Spam filtering by users Distribution points Disc space required Bandwidth used Updating

7 Users view

8 Starting to use it Customising Logo Contact information Structuring users Years for Undergraduates – one bulk change per year Research and Staff – small constant change load Familiarising Controlling licences or selling them?

9 Adding packages Selection of ones to add Too many to manage all of them Workload level Demand level Distribution methods CD loan/issue Network download (http) Network share

10 Packaging for download Number of pre-packaged suites XP, VS.Net, …. Special tool to manage download Take software from MSDNAA distribution Store on own website Small downloader at e-Academy Most data over local link No checksums on image

11 Adding users Stability of classes at start of year Don’t want to leave it too late! Notification methods Official first form e-Academy looks like spam Web site in department as well Backup contact/fault system Tied to http distribution point Internal contact area

12 Becoming a salesman Site is a sales point Issue refunds for $0.00 If you choose download then want to borrow CDs then you have to be refunded and choose again Administration can be split System Administrator CD issue View waiting list Issue return and cancel requests

13 Maintenance issues list Aim for good coverage at weekends during term Reinstalls Low level of activity Run out of disk space Reformat machine Extra activation codes XP intolerance to new hardware Monitor easily via website All codes issued are displayed

14 CD loans No weekends! Leads to overlong loan periods Where to collect Recruit literate students What is a loan?

15 Experience to date Simple to configure and use Lack of ‘identity’ with Department messages need tailoring Maintenance level low Need another devolved role issue reinstalls/keys Updating user lists Scriptable route needed using ssh access

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