As a first step to linking help desks across campus, ISC and SAS are jointly deploying Apriori problem resolution software, which helps provide answers to question more quickly, builds a sharable database of solutions, and tracks problem patterns. This program subsidized the renewal of Maple site license software, allowing all campus labs to make the mathematical software available at no cost to students and allowing faculty to use the software at little or no cost. Moving the distribution of site license software to ISC's Locust Walk facility improved campus access to products and documentation. Continue to negotiate new agreements to locate ISC support staff on-site in schools and administrative offices. A second school has contracted to join the distributed staff program in July of this year, and additional sites are under discussion.
Discussions are underway with other clients to explore customized helpdesk services.
Upgrade PennNet electronics and cabling to improve performance and reliability. Begin putting in place a more cohesive, easier to manage distributed computing infrastructure. Work with the Distributed Computing Task Force and the Network Architecture Task Force in these efforts. Penn's connection to the Internet upgraded from 4Mb to 10Mb per second. Major infrastructure change in connecting Penn to the Internet through PREPnet.