UNIVERSIT Y COMPUTING COMPUTING NEWS NNWNW (' Decemier, 1989 The Computing Center University of Oregon Eugene, Oregon 97403 Vol. 5 #3 Plan Ahead for VAX Down Times As most VAXcluster users ar e tempts to minimize the inconvenience formed at times that impact th e aware, periodic service interruptions in three specific ways : fewest users, and that still fall are a fact of life in the computin g • System Notice . The staff within our contracted main- world. Hardware or software failures provides at least 48 hours ' tenance hours with DEC occasionally bring a system down advance warning online via log- (currently 6 - 8 pm, weekdays) . without warning . However, most Less urgent repairs are service interruptions are schedule d in NOTICE . When possible, scheduled between terms. and predictable, and users can often maintenance notices are issued a plan ahead to avoid disruption of their week in advance . To obtain a copy of the Center' s work. • Selective Maintenance. The service guidelines, send a request via University departments that run Center interrupts service on only VAX MAIL to Fred Beisse (usemame VAX jobs on a daily or weekly basis those components that actuall y FBEISSE) or call Fred at x4404. The can minimize the impact of need repair. guideline packet includes a survey interruptions by becoming familiar asking users to indicate their tim e • Prioritizing Repair Schedules. preferences for scheduled service with the VAXciuster ' s maintenanc e High-priority repairs are per- schedule and the times operators are interruptions. p on duty. Guidelines for anticipating service interruptions follow. New VAX Rates Take Effect VAXcluster Service Guidelines On November Z6, the Computing Centel' instituted a new rate structure for . : Weekly Down Time (Fridays 10:30 SAX machine charges. During hours when operators are on duty, charges for`.` :: pm - 11:30 pm) - The entire CPU and connect time are now divided into "peak" and "off-peak'' periods. Off VAXcluster is brought down every pezlc rates offer a 50' discount to encourage VAX usage during slow times: Friday evening for system software backup and re-computation of dis k Peak Periods Off-Peak Periods quotas. (M-F, 8am-5pm) (M-F.5-I lpm; Sun, 4-llpm) Connect Time $ 0.016/minute $ 0.008/minute Operator Schedule - When an CPU Time S 0.030/second $ 0.0151second operator is on duty, users can request tape mounts, expect 30-minute or Rates for =tailed periods (no operator on duty) and for jobs run in the better service on standard printing and LOWSBATCH queue continue to be ti'r.ounted 75% and 95%, respectively . plotting requests, and receiv e For complete information on computing charges; type $ help uo_info rates or assistance with many data pick up a copy of the Center's charge rate sheet in the Documents Room. communication problems . Operator staffing is scheduled as follows: Monday - Friday 8 am - 11:30 pm Campus Lab Managers Share Ideas Sunday 4 pm - 11 :30 pm When VAX operators are off duty, Microcomputer lab managers from several different departments on campu s users have access to VAX processors, met informally in October to discuss mutual concerns and share information . At disk resources, and data com- a second meeting in November, the group discussed lab access policies. munications, but will not receiv e Information on software and software licensing will be shared December 12 . The responses to requests for tape, printer, topic for the January meeting will be networking with Novell and AppleTalk . plotter, and other operator services . Current participants represent Biology, Business, the Center for Advance d Technology in Education (CATE), Computer Science, Geological Sciences, Scheduled Hardware and Software Human Development and Performance, Journalism, Physics, the Social Sciences , Down Times - VAX maintenance is the EMU, the Continuation Center, and the Computing Center . timed to impact the fewest possible If you're interested in attending these informal sessions, please contact Sar a users. The Center management at- Wyant at x4394 or via VAX MAIL(username SWYANT) . 1 December, 1989 The Computing Center University of Oregon Eugene, Oregon 97403 Vol . 5 #3 MPP Offers New Deals, Product s To celebrate the holiday season, Zenith - Highlights of Zenith's II since September, 1989, are eligible the University's Microcompute r offerings include the introduction o f for a software update. Bring your Purchase Plan (MPP) is offering a three new laptop computers and tw o original MacWrite II diskettes to the number of special deals on new desktop models, the Z-386SX-I 6 Lab during regular hours for updating . microcomputer products . The Cen- and Z-386-20. Zenith is offering free You'lI also receive updates to th e ter' s Microcomputer Support Lab upgrades to the 150 Mb hard disk on documentation . (Room 202) provides demonstrations desktop model Z-386/25, and i s and assistance with Apple, IBM, discounting Microsoft Word an d '7 7 Zenith, Claris, Microsoft, and Ashton - Excel to $100 for both with all system Tate products. The Lab is ope n orders. All new machines are Ashton-Tate - For a limited time weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm . available for shipping in December. only, Ashton-Tate is offering Full Holiday bundles and discounts are Impact and FullWrite Professional at described below. See related T V special discount prices. While sup- handouts in the Lab or call 686-4402 plies last, buyers who purchase both for full details. Claris - While supplies last, Clari s Full Impact and FullWrite is offering special prices on MacWrite Professional will pay only $120 for VT ' II and MacDraw II. MacWrite Il is the two programs, or $65 for each. discounted to $45.00, and MacDraw U Apple - Apple has assembled a is available for $75.00. selection of holiday package deals for Buyers who purchased MacWrite the Mac Plus, SE, SE/30, and Mac Ucx. Many bundles include an Apple ImageWriter U printer, and one Mac Ilce package offers an Apple LaserWriter IISC printer . All packages include HyperCard software . t During the month of November, Multiplier and Wald tests fo r Apple's discount prices are in effec w distribution-free estimation, an d through January 31, 1990 . vendors introduced a number of ne statistics packages, including SPSS bootstrapping and jackknifing for the Macintosh and OS/2, and a capabilities. new version of EQS for the VAX . For more information on Version e 3.0, see EQS: Structural Equations IBM - IBM specials are availabl : Program Manual by Peter M . Bender. through February 15, 1990, for all but SPSS for the Macintosh and OS/2 PS/2 Model 25s, which are discounte d SPSS Inc. has announced that the To order a copy, call BMDP at (213) through December 31, 1989. Bundles SPSS package is now available fo r 479-7799, or write are offered for PS/2 Models 25, 30 , Macintoshes and PCs running OS/2 . For information on these ne w BMDP Statistical Software Inc. 50Z, 55SX, and 70 . All bundles ., Suite 31 include a mouse and a selection of products, call SPSS Inc. directly, at 1440 Sepulveda Blvd 6 software that IBM will install on the (312) 329-3310, or write Los Angeles, CA 90025 hard disk prior to delivery. All but the - Joe St Sauver Model 25 bundle include the IB M SPSS Inc. 444 N. Michigan Ave. 8513 color display. 1 With each holiday promotio n Chicago, IL 6061 Computing News is published monthly during the academic year order, buyers will receive a of EQS for the VAX : by the Office of University complimentary gift package that New Version The Center has received Version 3 .0 Computing, Computing Center, includes a mouse pad, power strip , University of Oregon. Eugene, of EQS for the VAX. New features of OR 97403 . Telephone : (503) and diskette case . IBM has also e instituted a convenient new loan this LISREL competitor include th 686-4394. n program. If interested, contact the ability to handle multiple populatio Newsletter Editor_ Joyce Winslow Lab staff for details. models and models with structured Editorial Advisor : David Ulric h means (including missing dat a You may rep rint articles fro m models), the Satorra-Bentler scale d Computing News, provided yo u TV Chi-squared statistic, Lagrange credit the source . 2.