Division of Life Sciences Mission Overview 

The Division of Life Sciences Helpdesk mission is to provide state of art computing services to our users. This is accomplished by staying abreast with the current Information Technology (IT). Our services include, but are not limited to: VPN, wireless, e-mail, web, file & print, web mail, database development, internet, intranet and maintaining hardware & software.  Most importantly we provide a point of contact for our user's to report problems and receive answers to their questions.

 

Location: Nelson Biology Laboratories Room B229

Hours: Monday- Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Phone: (732) 445-3661

Fax: (732) 445-2797

Email: helpdesk@biology.rutgers.edu

 

Staff:

 

 

 

DLS Computing News

January, 2008

DLS Quarterly News Letter: The DLS Helpdesk recently sent out a newsletter to all Life Sciences covering topics concerning new software available to faculty and staff, new services being provided, etc. Below is a list of topics covered in the Newsletter. For detailed information please see the PDF below with the actual Newsletter.

DLS Quarterly Newsletter.pdf

November, 2006

 DLS Mac Newsletter: The DLS IT Helpdesk is providing a newsletter with information on what services we provide to our Mac users. Over the past few years we have greatly improved support for Mac equipment, applications and operating systems to better serve our MAC constituents. 

DLS Helpdesk Mac News.pdf

New Managed DHCP Network: In order to provide improved network security and accountability, DLSIT is implementing a Managed DHCP environment.  DHCP stands for dynamic host configuration protocol, and it’s fancy tech Jargon to explain how a machine acquires the correct credential to navigate on a network.  The DLS has had open DHCP, which means anyone can bring any machine into the DLS and plug into any data port and gain full Network access.  In this setup, DLSIT cannot account for all network access or respond quickly if a serious violation occurs, Like the Whitehouse being hacked from a DLS machine. 

A major problem that has developed over the last year is an increase on bandwidth utilization for non DLS activities. Specifically users have been bringing in home machines with P2P software (Limewire, KAZZA, Morpheus, Edonkey) Just to name a few and illegally downloading pirated software.  This behaviors exposes the DLS to many dangers from the downloaded content and eats up our bandwidth, which is regulated by the university.   When these users are confronted, they claim that they were not aware of the policy. This month and into December the DLS will be making these changes by sections (Wings in Nelson, then LSB).

 

February, 2006

 

      QWS 3270 Secure:   The University is in the process of changing the access procedure for the ESS mainframe (RUTADMIN).  The University has decided to utilize Secured Socket Layer (SSL) as a secure transport protocol to ensure a secured transmission from end to end.  Currently to gain access to the ESS mainframe you are required to have a valid user account, password and SecurID card.  However as of April 1st 2006, all TN3270 access to RUTADMIN will require the use of a secure TN3270 software product. 

 

       The DLS Helpdesk has assembled a new software package (QWS3270 Secure) which is configured to address all upcoming changes with RUTADMIN.  This is intended to replace the current QWS33270 program used in the DLS for University mainframe access.  For more information or to obtain this software package please contact the DLS Helpdesk.

 

 

 

January, 2006

 

      DLS Faculty & Staff Directories:   The Division of Life Sciences has been working with the administrative offices to provide a more complete list of contact information for our Faculty and Staff.  This includes a new web page for Faculty/Staff contact information located here, and an updated server address book available for DLS users of Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Entourage.  Click here to see how to open the Server Address Book.

     The server address book will provide email addresses, title, department, office location, telephone number and even mailing address information for DLS users; however like any phonebook this data can become outdated and requires correction.  We encourage all DLS users to please verify their own information and provide any updates to the DLS Helpdesk or Laura Panos.

     RCI Email changes:  RCI has been sending notifications concerning their email system changes which will take place the first week of March.  These changes will not affect any DLS users who use their Biology email account for sending and receiving email or anyone who has their RCI email automatically forwarded to their Biology account.  If you have any specific questions concerning this feel free to contact the DLS Helpdesk.

     Slow Internet:  Many users have noticed the general decrease in speed of websites and downloads from the Internet.  This is a Rutgers wide problem caused by the inflation of network traffic and the limited capacity of Rutgers' main Internet connection.  Rutgers is aware of this issue and has plans to double the capacity of this connection in the coming weeks.

 

December, 2005

     DLS IM: The Division of Life Sciences will soon be supporting a new integrated communications system that enables people to communicate quickly and easily from their computers.  This system includes the ability to transfer text messages in real time over the network securely via Instant Messaging.  The DLS IM solution also supports peer-to-peer audio, video, application-sharing, and data collaboration, as well as presence awareness, the ability to detect another user's availability on one or more devices. 

     Please click here to read more about DLS IM.

 

 

 

For older news topics please refer to the DLS News Archive here.

 

 

 

                               

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