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V o l u m e 1 8 • N u mI b e r 4 MS a r c h / A p r i l 2 0 0 3 . . New MIT Home Page Innovates Further, as the home page images . . on a Very Good Thing change, the border containing the MIT . . logo remains consistent to show the . • Susan Curran . integration of MIT the institution and . MIT the community. . Coming Soon: Tap into Tuition . eci n’est pas un hack,” As before, members of the com- . Assistance via the Web ...... 2 . “C proclaimed the debut of munity and the public are invited to . . the new MIT home page on April 1. submit images or designs. This spirit of Software Spotlight . . “This is not a hack.” collaboration celebrates the diversity TSM Backups Can Save the . . Very true. The redesigned home of MIT and its freewheeling spirit, and Day, So Schedule Them Now ...... 3 . page reflects a great deal of thoughtful . reinforces the idea that we’re all here . work, based on data gathering through to learn from one another. Network Notes . . surveys and focus groups, work with a SecureFX and SecureCRT: More . Fostering Community 4 . professional design firm, and usability Options for Good Connections ...... Through its changing graphic . testing. The redesign team, led by IS Bits and Bytes . Web Communications Services (WCS), and spotlight, the MIT home page . has fostered a very organic kind of Advice about End User License . worked to achieve a sense of dynamism . community. The spotlight provides Agreements and Readme Files ...... 4 . and community, and to communicate . an important way for groups and de- . that MIT, the institution, relies on the MCC/Computer Currents . partments to share news and activities . collective strength of its many diverse The Changing Role of the MIT . with the MIT community and the . parts. Computer Connection ...... 5 . outside world. And it continues to . The More Things Change . showcase the vibrancy and creativity It’s Here, So You Can Go: IS . One of the best-loved features of . of MIT. It can feature anything from Offers E-mail Vacation Reply...... 5 . the site was the surprise and creativity . the announcement of a Nobel Prize to . of the changing home page graphic. men’s gymnastics, from new nano- Tech Tips: TSM ...... 6 . . Since 1997, the home page has featured technology research to a spectacular . Telecom Talk . hundreds of graphics contributed by new hack. . students, alumni, outside artists, and Sorry, Wrong Number: And This . Where the previous home page 6 . even prospective students and parents. One Has Consequences ...... offered only one or two spotlights, . Recognizing that the changing . the new site features eight, one on the Update on Windows 2000 . graphic mirrors MIT’s tradition of home page and one or more on each 7 . Delivery Project ...... hacks and “open source” initiatives, of the second-level pages. The new . the redesign team made sure it re- Getting Help ...... 8 . home page creates a connection to . mained the centerpiece of the new site. . these second-level pages through color Surf Sites: Resources for . The graphic will continue to play on . (which changes daily), typography, Developing a Web Site ...... 8 . the Institute initials much of the time; . grid and layout, and the white bar . the main difference is that it can now . at the top. . fill a larger canvas.
. . . continued on page 2 Usability Testing software, used by people with repeti- NEW MIT HOME PAGE To ensure the usability and acces- tive strain injuries; and the World Wide continued from page 1 sibility of the new site, WCS worked Web Consortium’s validator. Minor with the IS Usability Team and the changes in the way the web pages One Level Down ATIC (Adaptive Technology for Infor- were coded significantly improved Each of the five second-level pages mation and Computing) Lab. accessibility for users with disabilities, (Education, Research, Offices+Services, Usability testing was conducted in without detracting from the experi- Community, and About MIT) uses an phases, to validate the work at each ence for non-disabled users. stage. Each round of testing provided enlarged and cropped logo as a back- The Team Behind the Scenes valuable insight – often in unexpected ground to bring together the catego- The redesign was led by WCS in ways. For example, in one design, sev- ries of life at MIT. For the graphical close collaboration with designers from eral users could not locate the campus key to the background designs, see Pentagram. Pentagram understood right map, even though it was visible on the the About This Site page at away that the site’s greatest strength http://web.mit.edu/site/ page. At the same time, users readily was its “un-institutional” feel – that it aboutsite.html understood some complex elements wasn’t the result of a Madison Avenue that the redesign team thought might Navigation for the second-level branding campaign. In fact, it is the go unobserved. opposite: a natural extension of the pages has also been revamped. Now, The first phase of testing focused when you look under “Research,” you open, creative culture that exults in on the menus and site architecture. hacks and invented OpenCourseWare. can search by topic, not just by lab or As the original navigation was found department name. This makes the site Now that the new web site has been to work well, it was retained with only launched, feel free to send your feed- easier to get around – and highlights the minor modifications. The second phase interdisciplinary work going on at MIT. back to
Coming Soon: Tap into Tuition it is eligible for reimbursement. The Assistance via the Web process takes only minutes to complete MIT Information Systems and displays a confirmation screen that The employee self-service function on tells whether the course is eligible for reimbursement. Managing Editor the Web will expand in May with the Robyn Fizz introduction of tuition assistance (TA) Employees can review their TA Writer/Editor tools. These will let eligible employees: account or submit data for course reimbursement by going to Lee Ridgway • Determine if a course qualifies for http://web.mit.edu/sapwebss/ i/s is published six times a year. MIT faculty tuition assistance and staff receive copies through campus mail; • Check their TA balance for the and clicking on the Benefits tab. Em- i/s is also available in lobbies around campus. calendar year ployees still need to submit (in paper) Individuals at MIT may subscribe by contacting proof of payment for a course as well the managing editor. • Check the status of reimbursement as proof of successful completion. requests Send comments or subscription requests to: Employees can also use this link to MIT Room N42-290B, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, • Submit course data for reimburse- see when a reimbursement check was Cambridge, MA 02139-4307 ment (although paper forms will issued. Phone: (617) 253-0540 still be accepted). You can send questions about the Electronic mail:
TSM Backups Can Save the Macintosh: Keep the TSM Confirm Scheduled Backups Day, So Schedule Them Now Scheduler Running The day after a scheduled backup, • Janet Littell Mac OS X check the last section of your TSM • Ensure that the TSM Mac X Sched- schedule log for statistics with the uler is always running by adding it most recent backup date and “number eing able to recover recently lost to your System Preferences>Login of objects inspected,” etc., to confirm B files contributes significantly to Items list. a successful backup. For quick access, you can create a shortcut for the log on the security of your information. The • In the Energy Saver System Prefer- your desktop. Here’s the path to the MIT TSM backup service, maintained ences, set the timing for Put the by IS, provides members of the com- computer to sleep… to Never. You log, based on your operating system: munity with an application for backing can, however, set times for the • Windows up files from their computer over the display and hard disk to sleep. Program Files\Tivoli\TSM\baclient\ network to a secure server. This appli- dsmsched.log cation, Tivoli Storage Manager (TSM), At the time of a scheduled backup, • Mac OS X was called ADSM in an earlier incar- you or another user of your computer Applications>MIT TSM 5.1.5> nation. must be logged on with Administra- tor privileges. Secure your computer TSM Schedule Log Note: In TSM lingo, you “restore” using a screensaver with a password. backed-up files from the TSM Server. • Mac OS 9 The “archive/retrieve” is for selected Mac OS 9 Applications (OS 9)>Tivoli Storage files only. • Ensure that the TSM Scheduler Manager v4.1>TSM Schedule Log The TSM at MIT web site at application is always running by Your schedule log may open in Word http://web.mit.edu/is/help/tsm/ putting an alias to it in your or some other text processor. If it gets System>Startup items folder. too large, you can delete it. The next provides details about who’s eligible • On the expanded Energy Saver scheduled backup will generate a new to use TSM and about how to obtain, log. You can adjust how often your register, and use TSM on Windows, Control Panel, set a time for the display sleep only. schedule log is “pruned” using TSM’s Macintosh, Athena, and non-Athena Preferences. Unix systems. When you restart Mac OS X or OS 9, You can back up files manually a Schedule Information window on the Getting Help using TSM, but the best way to ensure desktop shows the time of the next If you have questions about TSM the security of your files is to arrange check-in between your computer and its or scheduled backups, contact the for scheduled backups. Follow the assigned TSM server. The window dis- Computing Help Desk at
The Changing Role of the MIT This includes help in selecting new products you want and the features Computer Connection equipment and upgrades, with a focus that make the experience easier. on MIT-recommended products. The Customers placing personal orders • Kathleen Moriarty recommended list includes desktop may come to the MCC for needs anal- and laptop systems, displays, printers, ysis, help with obtaining certificates, he MIT Computer Connection software, modems, and network inter- and placing and tracking orders. T (MCC) has had many roles since it face cards. You can view it online at Departmental customers can make an first opened as a computer store in the http://web.mit.edu/is/products/ appointment for a consultant to come to their office and evaluate their needs mid-80’s. The business expanded dra- The MIT-recommended products and assist with ECAT purchasing. matically when the store moved to the have been tested by IS and are known If you are shopping for an item that Student Center in 1988, and changed to work well on campus. The IS Com- is not listed in the GovConnection cata- again when the MCC selected an online puting Help Desk staff are familiar log, an MCC consultant will work with vendor for sales – at that time, NECX. with these items, and many of the a product manager to see if the item can Today the MCC partners with Gov- systems and printers can be repaired be sourced through one of its vendors. Connection and Dell, and continues to by MIT Hardware Services. For best results, you should provide help MIT students, faculty, and staff Beyond the recommended list, MCC the MCC with the manufacturer’s who are buying computers, software, consultants can help you find other name and product part number. and accessories. Services include pre- products, including memory upgrades sales support, on-site visits for depart- and internal devices that are appropri- Business Basics mental customers, and demonstrations ate for your system. The MCC showroom in W20-021 is of recommended products. open on Monday from noon to 4:30 pm Getting to Know the Catalogs and Tuesday through Friday from 10 am Pre-Sales Support If you are new to online shopping, to 4:30 pm. For general inquiries, just MCC staff offer computer pre-sales you may appreciate some guidance walk in or call during business hours. support for the GovConnection and in getting around the GovConnection To arrange an appointment for an on- Dell catalogs, available from the ECAT and Dell sites. MCC consultants can site visit, contact the MCC at x3-7686 page at show you how to navigate the catalogs, or via e-mail at
It’s Here, So You Can Go: IS Members of the community have ing that you are away. You can tailor Offers E-mail Vacation Reply requested this service for some time, this message to inform recipients that but in the past there were issues related you are not actively checking your e- • Mark Van Dyke to network traffic, since auto-responders mail for a specified period of time and at different locations can end up send- to provide a contact in your absence. icture this – your long-awaited, ing a barrage of messages back and How It Works P well-deserved vacation has forth. However, IS recently upgraded The auto-responder replies only to arrived. You’ve set your voice mail its mail servers, and the more sophisti- messages that are addressed directly extended absence greeting, left a note cated software on board can stop the to your
This column presents answers to frequently should be used for large amounts of all unrestored files as deleted and delete asked technology questions. For more Q&As, data (around 200GB or more) that need them from the server 30 days after that. check the IS Stock Answers database at to be restored within just a few hours http://hdstock.mit.edu/stockanswers/ after a crash. Restoral of a larger drive How do I use TSM to restore my via the network could take a few days. Q files? Back up your data! Here are answers to some common questions regarding How do I manage my TSM If you need to restore files, use the MIT’s backup service, TSM – provided Q backups? A Restore button on the main TSM by Information Systems. (See also the Backup window. If you are restoring after Software Spotlight on page 3.) For an Some TSM subscribers prefer to a system crash and are prompted for a overview of the service and links to A run a backup session infrequently, login password that you don’t know, the specifics for Windows, Macintosh, after making important changes or contact the Computing Help Desk at Unix, and other machines, go to before leaving for several days. Many
T e l e c o m T a l k
Sorry, Wrong Number: And This code of 011 or 01, you might dial 9 Swiss Miss One Has Consequences (to access an outside line), then 91-11- Another combination, though less etc. You may already see where this is troublesome, is for Switzerland (coun- • Lee Ridgway going: right to the local 911 Cambridge try code, 41) and Zurich (city code, 1). Fire and Police emergency center. Without the preliminary 011 or 01, this aking an international phone In recent months, Cambridge Fire combination will get you directory M call from the U.S. can take a lot and Police have been getting calls such assistance (411). of numbers! Between carrier access as this, where people placing calls to New Delhi realize they’ve misdialed, International Calling Procedures codes, country codes, city codes, and To review procedures for placing the phone number itself, the possibility and hang up when the emergency operator answers. A “hang up” on international calls, check any of these for error is high. And if you are calling sources: from an MIT business phone, you may Cambridge Fire and Police sets the need to include an MIT cost object. Emergency Response in motion. Such • The front of your local white-pages Errors in pressing all those num- calling errors tie up 911 lines and directory bers usually result in a simple wrong personnel time, which could interfere • The instructions provided by your number, or no connection at all. One with legitimate emergency calls. long-distance carrier If you mistakenly dial 9-911 and country and city code combination, • The front of MIT’s printed telephone however, presents a special problem. reach Cambridge Fire and Police, do not hang up directories The country code for India is 91, . Identify yourself as a caller from MIT, and tell them that there is • MIT’s dialing instructions at and the city code for New Delhi is 11. no emergency and that you have mis- http://web.mit.edu/is/tel/ If you try to call New Delhi and forget dialed. Wait for them to acknowledge dialing-int.html ø to start with the international access and then hang up. . . . . 6 . i/s • March / April 2003 • http://web.mit.edu/is/isnews/ http://web.mit.edu/is/isnews/ • March / April 2003 • i/s . 7 . . Update on Windows 2000 domain to address its training needs: cations for MIT students and faculty. Delivery Project a variety of computer courses are These machines are members of the taught at its facility in W89. win.mit.edu domain and allow users • Kerem Limon and John Welch The PLC’s administrative users are a access to AFS and other central services. small group using a Windows server to The cluster has been available to nformation Systems is committed to share data and some applications, along faculty for teaching since Thanksgiving Iproviding a coherent array of client with server-based printing. Users’ POP 2002, and has been open to the MIT services for the Microsoft Windows e-mail and bookmark data are kept on community for off-schedule use since platform at MIT. One major initiative, local server shares. January 2003. MIT classes are being the Windows 2000 Domains, Work- PLC has migrated all of its Windows taught in 37-312 this semester, and the groups, and Servers (DWS) Delivery 2000 workstations into the win.mit.edu facility sees heavy off-schedule use by Project, is creating the framework for domain. The users’ Windows profiles students engaged in course work and implementing and supporting Windows are stored in their AFS lockers. PLC other projects. 2000 Server environments at MIT. also plans to migrate the data from its For more information or to contact remaining local Windows NT 4.0 server the project team, go to Current Pilots to a Windows 2000 server that is a mem- http://mit.edu/windows/cluster/ The delivery team for this project ber of the win.mit.edu domain. PLC will has been involved in three Windows use local user accounts on this server to IS Windows Vision Statement 2000 pilots. The planning behind these provide access to its data for colleagues The IS Windows vision statement is pilots has helped in developing the in other MIT departments who are not an important development at MIT. This design assistance process to be used by part of the win.mit.edu domain. high-level commitment paves the way departments, labs, and centers (DLCs) PLC successfully tested a laptop for client services that are consistent implementing Windows 2000. The pi- running Windows 2000 Professional with MIT’s dynamic balance of central- lots are also providing real experience (and part of the win.mit.edu domain) ized and distributed environments. in the issues involved in migrating to for the ability to remotely access appli- To read the statement, go to Windows 2000 from Windows NT 4.0 cations, AFS lockers, and other shared http://web.mit.edu/windows/ network environments. resources on its Windows 2000 member winadmin_vision.html Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) server. This test shows that laptops can OSP began moving its administra- participate in a central domain along The Windows 2000 DWS tive systems into the win.mit.edu Active with desktop computers, albeit with Delivery Web Site Directory domain – centrally managed some additional preparation. IS recently launched a Windows by IS – in the second half of 2002. About Finally, PLC – with help from the 2000 Delivery Project web site at 30 Windows 2000 machines are now in Delivery Team – is in negotiations with http://web.mit.edu/windows-delivery/ the OSP “container” (a Windows term Microsoft and Dell to initiate an explor- with up-to-date project information. for an organizational unit of computers) atory project for the design and imple- The Products & Services section show- under win.mit.edu. OSP’s remaining mentation of its independent Windows cases the framework for documentation, workstations are scheduled for hard- 2000 domain. resources, and interfaces for Windows ware replacement; the new systems will Building 37 Windows Cluster 2000. To follow the project’s progress, be delivered with Windows XP Profes- IS maintains a Windows cluster in check the Recent Changes section. sional and added to the win.mit.edu 37-312 with high-end workstations run- Suggestions are welcome; send them to domain as they are deployed. ning Windows 2000 and selected appli-
If you don’t know where to get help For help with… Dial… Or send a message to… for your computer, network, or telephone problems, dial one of the Administrative applications 2-1177 [email protected] help lines listed to the right. Athena Computing Environment 3-4435 [email protected] If you prefer to use e-mail, you Computer and printer repairs 3-0815 [email protected] can send your questions to the cor- responding e-mail addresses on the Computer pre-sales consulting 3-7686 [email protected] far right. (When logged into Athena, Disabilities and computing 3-7808 [email protected] you can also use the olc command Macintosh computers 3-1101 [email protected] to send questions to Athena’s online (including network problems) consultants.) PC computers 3-1102 [email protected] For a complete list of services (including network problems) offered by Information Systems, see http://web.mit.edu/is/services/ Telephone repairs 3-4357 [email protected] UNIX/VMS (by subscription) 3-1103 [email protected] Voice mail 3-3677 [email protected]
S u r f S i t e s : R e s o u r c e s f o r D e v e l o p i n g a W e b S i t e
Creating or redesigning a web site is Guidelines for MIT Web Sites not for the faint of heart. As the lead http://web.mit.edu/guidelines.html article on the MIT home page redesign IS Web Communications Services suggests, developing a site involves http://web.mit.edu/services.html long hours and the interplay of many specialties: information architecture, MIT Web Accessibility Guidelines graphic design, editorial insight, http://web.mit.edu/atic/www/sw/developweb.html familiarity with standards, and Usable Web knowledge of web technologies. http://usableweb.com/ IS Web Communications Services (WCS) can help you evaluate your web Web Page Design for Designers publishing needs and budget. To set http://www.wpdfd.com/ up an appointment, call x3-3500 or World Wide Web Consortium’s Markup Validation Service write to
MIT Information Systems
i/s is printed with soy inks on recycled paper, and can be recycled in MIT’s “mixed paper” bins.
. . 8 . i/s http://web.mit.edu/is/isnews/ . • March / April 2003 •