Topics

1) General News: Charging for security violations (reminder)
2) General News: Virus checking for incoming and outgoing email
3) General News: Student worker changes
4) Windows News: Windows file server changes
5) Lab News: New Lab PCs
6) Lab News: New b/w printer
7) General News: TWIG email program to schedule meetings
8) General News: Changes to Calcium Calendar
9) General News: Buckey Bundle licenses continued for 4th year
10) Windows News: SSH Secure Shell Version 3.1 for Windows
11) General News: The Weekly Catalyst's look changed
12) General News: ISIS software updated
13) General Tips: Did you know that...?

Chemistry Department Related FAQs:

	http://www.chemistry.ohio-state.edu/compsupp/Faqs/

Newsletter Archive:

        http://www.chemistry.ohio-state.edu/compsupp/Newsletter/

Due to the many hyperlinks, COMPNEWS is best viewed on the web
at the above URL, or by going to the main Chemistry page and
clicking on Internal --> Computer Support --> The Newsletter Archive



1) General News: Charging for security violations (reminder):


Faculty members are being charged for computer devirusing: make sure this
doesn't happen to you!

The Department now charges for any computer that becomes compromised due to
lacking or outdated virus checking software or other actions or
configurations that are against our Security Policy and lead to a
compromise. This was announced in COMPNEWS 39 (March 15) and has been in
effect since then. The Security and Charging Policies can be found on our web
pages under

  Internal --> Computer Support --> Policy Statements

We remind you again that all computers on the departmental network need to be
configured securely. Virus checking software must be current, NetBIOS shares
must be password protected, all accounts must have passwords, etc.

As has been pointed out numerous times, maintaining adequate computer
security is a process that involves everybody in the Department. We have
spent countless days and weeks securing computers in research groups, only to
go back a month later to find, in some cases, the antivirus software disabled
and the computer infected again. The charges outlined above are meant to
discourage this kind of irresponsible behaviour that endangers everybody in
the Department. Research groups need to take responsibility for their
equipment. There is no way for us to effectively police what you put on the
network. If you're a faculty member and you don't want your students to bring
in their personal laptops, please let your students know. If a student's
personal computer becomes compromised because of not following the Security
Policy, the charges still apply. It is ok with us if someone in the research
group takes care of computers; if groups don't have anyone with the required
skills, we have administered the computers for them in the past and we'll
continue to do so in the future.


2) General News: Virus checking for incoming and outgoing email:


Email is one of the most effective ways for viruses to spread. Email viruses
have been a problem for many years. Some of the less sophisticated viruses
mail themselves out by always using the same "Subject:" line, and it is easy
to block them. The more devious viruses have random subjects, and they often
come from familiar "From:" addresses. More often than not, those addresses
are spoofed.

In the past, the only defense against viruses has been up-to-date antivirus
(AV) software on the desktop. While functioning AV-software eliminated most
viruses, users would still download all those virus-laden messages from their
inbox (in fact, only the act of downloading email from the server made it
possible for the desktop based AV-software to scan for viruses). Especially
with the recent bombardment of various versions of the Klez virus, this has
become a real nuisance.

As of Friday, May 3, 6:30 pm, we've been screening all incoming and outgoing
email on the chemistry Unix server for viruses. To date, after slightly more
than one month in production, more than 1,160 viruses have been blocked. The
AV-software may not catch all known viruses. Should the AV-software fail,
the system will revert to the previous state, i.e. all email will be passed
on unchecked.

Any email that contains a known virus (currently, 60,739 viruses should be
recognized), whether incoming or outgoing, will be returned to the sender
with an explanation. The virus payload will be removed. The email will NOT be
delivered to the addressee(s).

The following extentions for attachments are blocked completely:

  .scr, .vbs, .pif, and .com

Again, the sender will receive a delivery failure notification.

It must be pointed out that the server-based AV-software does not eliminate
the need to have current AV-software on individual PCs and Macs. As mentioned
above, email is one of the most effective vectors for spreading viruses, but
it certainly isn't the only one. Viruses can spread through malicious web
pages, spy- and ad-ware, open NetBIOS shares, etc.


NOTE:

The Unix-server based AV-software can only block email that was sent to
chemistry.ohio-state.edu. It will be able to detect viruses if you forward
your osu.edu email, or any other email, to chemistry. It CANNOT block viruses
if you point your Eudora or Outlook at pop.service.ohio-state.edu and read
your osu.edu email there. NOR can it block viruses if you read your email in
Physics or elsewhere. Neither OIT, nor Physics blocks viruses. We strongly
recommend that you forward all your email to chemistry and read it here.


3) General News: Student worker changes:


Our student worker of the past 1 1/2 years, Mutsuko Fukushige, graduated at
the end of winter quarter and left our Department. Many of you may have
gotten to know her as a dependable and hard worker. She is sorely missed.

We hired Nathaniel Graham as a student worker in fall to take care of some
special Unix projects. He is currently our only student worker, and you may
encounter him doing a variety of tasks, not just Unix work.


4) Windows News: Windows file server changes:


Over the last few months, more disk space was added to the Windows file
server, and data was rearranged and all moved onto RAID5 volumes (data
integrity can be maintained should one disk be lost). The total usable disk
space is now 304 GB, with 46 GB owned by research groups.

See the article "Windows file server changes (May 28, 2002)" in the Bulletin
News section for more information.


5) Lab News: New Lab PCs:


The 10 Windows2000 PCs in the Computer Lab 2105 NW have become somewhat aged
and slow measured by today's standards and by the requirements of today's
software. They are equipped with 350 MHz PentiumII processors and 128 MB of
RAM. They have been in place for several years.

We have built 6 new PCs from parts, replacing 4 of the old computers and
adding 2 more to take the total to 12 PCs running Windows2000. The specs of
the new PCs are as follows:

 1.33 GHz Athlon CPUs
 256 MB Kingston 266 MHz DDR memory
 IBM 40 GB ATA-100 disk drives
 GeForce2 video cards
 IntelPro 10/100 Ethernet cards
 Iomega 250 MB ZIP drives
 Plexwriter 24/10/40 CD-RW

A FAQ on how to use the CD-RW drive to burn your own CDs is available under

  Internal --> Computer Support --> Chemistry Department Related FAQs -->
           --> How do I burn a CD from the lab machines?

The remaining 6 old PCs will be replaced within the next month.


6) Lab News: New b/w printer:


A new HP 4100 black and white printer has replaced 'hotstuff' in the
Computer Lab 2105 NW.


7) General News: TWIG email program to schedule meetings:


Many of you have used the web browser-based TWIG email program and, in the
past, some of you have used it to schedule events and meetings for personal
or research group use.

If you have used TWIG's scheduling features but need a refresher course or
are looking for a good calendar and event scheduling program that can be
shared among people in a group, then you might be interested in our new FAQ,
which explains how to set up groups and schedule events in TWIG.

You can find it under

  Internal --> Computer Support --> Chemistry Department Related FAQs -->
           --> How do I use TWIG to create groups and schedule events?

If you've never used TWIG as an email reader and want a client that allows
you to view your Chemistry email from any machine, check out TWIG at

  https://www.chemistry.ohio-state.edu/twig


8) General News: Changes to Calcium Calendar:


If you use the Calcium Calendar system for making conference room
reservations or for equipment check-out, then you need to be aware of some
important changes in this system, effective since Monday, April 15.

When you go to the calendar's typical address

  http://www.chemistry.ohio-state.edu/cgi/calendar

you will no longer see the calendar splash page. Instead, you will be see a
page with two login options.

The first option/link will allow you to log in to Calcium as a "typical
user." If you select this option, you will be asked to input your Unix
username and password. Note that your old Calcium login information is no
longer valid. After clicking "Okay," assuming you've put in the correct
username and password, you will be automatically logged in to Calcium and
your username will appear on the first Calcium page you see. You can then
edit any entries you have made.

The second option/link will allow special log in to Calcium. Only users who
have group accounts (astronomy and gradoffice) or users who only want to view
(not edit or add to) a calendar should use this option. It will allow viewing
(with no login) and will allow group users (using special, newly created
usernames/passwords) to log in.

These changes were implemented to make interaction with the Calcium calendar
more secure and to allow access to any user with a valid username and
password. Previously, there were only 80 Calcium accounts. There are now
approximately 680 active accounts.

The Calcium calendar will look slightly different, also. We have decreased
the font sizes to allow for easier display. You also now have the option of
selecting a "day view" in any calendar -- a handy way of figuring out blocks
of available time for any room or piece of equipment.

Please send all questions regarding these changes to
support@chemistry.ohio-state.edu

If you are confused as to what your different computer accounts do, see

  Internal --> Computer Support --> Chemistry Department Related FAQs -->
           --> What accounts do I have in the Chemistry Department and at OSU?


9) General News: Buckey Bundle licenses continued for 4th year:


The OSU Buckeye Bundle is a suite of software that Ohio State site-licenses
from Microsoft Corporation on a Custom Enterprise agreement. The bundle
consists of:

  Windows Upgrades
  Office Pro and Office Macintosh
  Visual Studio Pro
  FrontPage
  Back Office Client Access Licenses (license to authorize access to
              Microsoft servers)

A number of server products are also allotted to Ohio State.

This agreement had an initial term of 3 years with a 4th year extension at
the option of the 15 Ohio schools participating in this agreement. Ohio
State, in conjunction with our partner universities and two medical schools,
has decided to go forward with the 4th year of this agreement. This means
that:

  - Departments and currently enrolled OSU students who have not yet
    purchased the Buckeye Bundle will have a 4th year in which to do so.

  - Departments and currently enrolled OSU students who currently have a copy
    of the Buckeye Bundle will continue to be eligible to obtain upgrade
    licenses and new versions of products in the bundle at no further
    licensing charge. As always there will be a media fee for the upgrade CD
    media (usually about $6 per CD).

OIT administers the Microsoft Enterprise licensing agreement. OSU Business
Operations is responsible for sales and distribution. Campus units can
purchase the Buckeye Bundle Cop-EZ (Tuttle location--around the corner from
UniComp). Students can continue to purchase the software at the OSU
Bookstore. The OIT Help Desk provides support assistance on the software.
More information on the Buckeye Bundle is available on the OIT Site License
Web site at

  http://www.oit.ohio-state.edu/site_license/mslicense/


10) Windows News: SSH Secure Shell Version 3.1 for Windows:


SSH Secure Shell Version 3.1 for Windows has become available on March 28. It
has several enhancements (file transfer speed increase, keymap editor, paste
selection on right mouse click, etc.) that are included in the Help
documentation (if you select "Documentation" when installing).

Like older versions, SSH Secure Shell Version 3.1 for Windows is available
for download through OIT's "Software to Go" page at

  http://softwaretogo.osu.edu

It should run on all versions of Windows.


11) General News: The Weekly Catalyst's look changed:


As of Monday, April 29, the Weekly Catalyst's look has changed. The Catalyst
has been online since April 1994. We hope the new design is easy to read and
convenient to view.

You can find all of the seminars from the Catalyst listed on the Chemistry
homepage. Clicking "Details" on any one of them will, as you might expect,
give you fuller details on that particular seminar or lecture.

The current week's edition of the Catalyst newsletter can be found at:

  http://www.chemistry.ohio-state.edu/Catalyst/this-weeks.html

The seminars listed there are also detailed on the Chemistry homepage:

  http://www.chemistry.ohio-state.edu

Please send comments and requests for inclusion to DeAnna Martinez at
dmartine@chemistry.ohio-state.edu


12) General News: ISIS software updated:


On March 19, the ISIS Cheminform Reaction Library (CIRXL) was updated with
the latest database files. Updates are usually installed once a year and make
available the latest reaction data and display files.

The ISIS software, ISIS/Base, is available on all PCs and Macs in the
Computer Lab 2105 NW.


13) General Tips: Did you know that...?


 ... you need to remember your passwords? See FAQ "Why do I have so many
     accounts/passwords?" The most frequent reason why users think the DPR
     system, or their Eudora, or the Calcium calendar is broken is because
     they can't remember their password, or they don't know which password to
     use. PLEASE read this FAQ. Really.

 ... you may not deploy wireless access points (e.g. Apple Airports) in the
     Department? Open access points are against University policies, and they
     allow anybody on the street to get behind our firewall.

 ... you're not supposed to remove shortcuts, remove software or install
     any software on the PCs in the Computer Lab 2105 NW?

 ... if you use one of the Macs in the Computer Lab 2105 NW, you need to
     authenticate with your osu.edu username/password before you can use
     an application that accesses the network (such as SciFinder)?

 ... staff members should not attempt to install new software on their
     computers themselves? Usually such attempts result in broken systems,
     and it often takes hours to fix them.

 ... you are supposed to send all requests and problem reports to

        support@chemistry.ohio-state.edu

     and NOT to individual members of the support staff? Otherwise, you might
     not get any response if one of us is sick, on vacation, or very busy
     with other tasks.

 ... our FAQs on the web pages contain lots of information about
     recurring problems? Check them out under

        Internal --> Computer Support --> Chemistry Department Related FAQs

     If you have a question that looks like something that somebody else may
     have asked already, try checking the FAQs first.

 ... we perform daily backups of Unix home directories and email spools on
     the chemistry Unix server, as well as daily backups of all U: shares on
     the Windows file server? There are NO BACKUPS of files on individual
     PCs, Macs or Unix workstations.

 ... if you get a message from someone telling you that IBM or another
     computer company just released info about the latest and most terrible
     virus, or one that says that this warning is very new and to SEND IT TO
     EVERYONE YOU KNOW! this message is very likely a hoax? See

        Internal --> Computer Support --> Security and Virus Information

 ... laptops being taken in and out of the Department represent a huge
     security exposure against which our firewall and other tools are
     powerless? Unless you have secured your laptop, have disabled
     unnecessary services, have kept up with patches and are running a
     personal firewall, it is only a question of time until disaster
     strikes.

 ... we cannot tell you your current passwords on Unix or Windows? Passwords
     are stored in encrypted form. We can only change them. If you want to
     have a password changed, please stop by in person and bring an ID.