Techtalks
This is a forum for all University IT staff and related positions. The talks cover relevant IT information for IT staff, giving notice of changes and innovations, and generally acting as a communication channel on campus. If you have any topics you would like to see covered please contact the Relationship Management team.
20 December 2007 – ITIL Acquaint
Date: 20 December 2007
Time: 2:30 – 3:30 pm
Venue: Carslaw Lecture Room 251 (at back of entrance courtyard)
Presenters: Anna Roberts (ICT Client Services Support Specialist) and Patrick Ryan (Pink Elephant)
Catering: afternoon tea will be available after the talk
ICT is introducing the principles of the ITIL IT Information Library into its processes and workflows.
This one-hour session will provide an introduction to the ideas behind the ITIL methodology and the key terms used. It will cover:
working knowledge of ITIL processes, with focus on Incident, Problem and Change Management
an understanding of the common ITIL terminology used in day-to-day work
awareness of the benefits of using a good practice framework for both individuals and organisations.
17 July 2007 - e-Research gathers speed
Date: Tuesday 17 July
Time: 10.00am - 11:45am approx
Venue: Darlington Centre Conference Rooms 1 & 2
This Techtalk reprised some of the messages from the recent e-Research Australasia conference in Brisbane, which showed how activity in e-research is gaining speed, and gave inspiration for us in the state of NSW to participate.
Speakers and topics (with PDF presentations) were as follows:
Jim Richardson (ICT): e-Research: what's happening and where we're going
Allan S. Jones (EMU): The NANO Image Database: big stores for microscopic pictures
Ian Johnson (ACL): Heurist and FieldHelper: tools for the (academic) masses
Ross Coleman (Library): e-Research and the digital library
Further information about e-research activities in the University is available to staff in June ICT News.
24 May 2007 - Microsoft and End of Lease Procedures
Microsoft and Higher Education
Microsoft is taking increasing interest in the education sector world wide and plan to be playing a far more active role than they were previously. Recently Anthony Beggs was appointed as NSW Education Account Manager and he and Mark Tigwell, Principal Technology Specialist, Education would like to bring attendees up to date with some recent developments from Microsoft, as well as providing some perspectives on Microsoft as a corporation. Their Techtalk presentation will cover:
- Vista and Office 2007 update
- Microsoft open source and interoperability initiatives
- Microsoft collaboration and social networking tools
- The new Microsoft platform for rich content development
- Microsoft infrastructure platform and tools
Equipment Return at End of Lease
Phil Stead, Financial Operations, University of Sydney will present on this current topic. Equipment Leasing has been in place at the University of Sydney for 3 years and end of lease returns commenced on a quarterly basis from 31 March 2007. One early return has already been performed from a range of Access labs.
A process has been developed to ensure the University will meet its obligations under the terms of the agreement with Alleasing Finance Pty Ltd. This process is available with the objective of assisting non technical as well as technical support staff.
A brief walkthrough of this process will be included in the Techtalk with the anticipation of obtaining feedback and suggestions from the group.
2 April 2007 - Progress towards ICT Shared Services
Time: Tea and coffee from 9:45 am, for 10 am start
Venue: Darlington Centre Conference Rooms 1 & 2
Led by: Geoffrey Brown, Director, Distributed ICT
This special Techtalk, principally for distributed IT staff, will involve a presentation and discussion on the ICT Shared Services Transformation.
31 October 2006 - Living in a Virtual World
Time: 10.00am - 11.30am approx
Venue: Darlington Centre Conference Rooms 1 & 2
This important Techtalk will be introduced by Rob Mackinnon, Chief Information Officer, as virtual servers will form an increasing part of ICT's offering to the University, with benefits in risk reduction, availability, disaster recovery, and easy backup.
Over time, it is expected that many small to medium servers across the University may be replaced by virtual servers, housed on physical servers in a secure environment provided by ICT. Root or administrator access at the virtual level will still be available where appropriate.
The virtual server approach is likely to play an increasing role in IT provision across the University, so all IT staff involved with servers will find this talk relevant and useful.
Craig Hamilton, Acting Manager, ICT Server and Email Services, will give a talk on ICT Infrastructure's experiences with virtualization via VMware ESX 2.5. Among the topics covered will be:
- reasons and benefits;
- hardware and software used;
- types of services virtualized;
- traps for the unwary;
- where we are headed with the strategy.
Craig's Virtual Server presentation is available to staff via Unikey access (47 megabytes).
10 October 2006 - Dell Desktop Roadmap
Time: 10.30am - 11.30am
Venue: Darlington Centre Conference Rooms 1 & 2
In line with Dell recent release of the new corporate desktop platform, the Optiplex 745, Luke Francis, Account Executive, NSW Universities and Frank De Petro, Senior Product Manager from Dell will present their desktop roadmap, discuss the features and benefits of the 745, and the work Dell has done with industry partners Intel, Microsoft and Altiris in delivering the platform. Some of the inherent features of the Optiplex 745 include:
- Improved Power Efficiency - Intel Core 2 Duo processors boost system
performance and shrink power consumption; - Smart Security - Industry Standard Solutions as well as customizable
options that help protect against physical, identity, data and network threats; - Direct Deploy - Streamlined image management and customization;
- Advanced Remote Management - Deploy, manage, migrate and troubleshoot Dell client systems whether the target PC is on or off.
The Techtalk will also cover SLA-related information like delivery
time frames, support and warranty.
28 August 2006 - New Staff & Student Cards and eProcurement
Time: 10.00am - 11.30am
Venue: Darlington Centre Conference Rooms 1 & 2
New Staff and Student Cards
David Carr, Project Manager, Financial Services, along with Dr Mohamed Kader from ERG, will outline the new Staff and Student Cards which are being introduced to the University of Sydney. It is envisaged that the cards will have multifunction capabilities to access a range of services, including parking, access control, transport, and library.
David's Powerpoint presentation is available to staff via Unikey access.
eProcurement Project Overview
Karen Davies, Project Manager ICT Strategic Development & Planning, will speak about the following topic. The University of Sydney has recently implemented an electronic eProcurement solution for its full procure-to-pay processes. Defining change-management practices to address process improvements and changing roles of individuals to meet organisational needs is challenging, as this presentation will outline.
Learn about:
- The business drivers for change
- The technical challenges of electronic procurement
- The change-management practices implemented to ensure staff adoption of the new procure-to-pay methods
- Aligning processes to ensure the users understand the procure-to-pay needs
- Improving practices which allow process-driven activities to be managed more effectively
- Creating clear distinctions for roles within the procure-to-pay process.
The Powerpoint presentation for the eProcurement talk is available.
20 June 2006 - CMS Update and Records Online
Time: 10.00am - 11.30am
Venue: Darlington Centre Conference Rooms 1 & 2
CMS Update
Charlie Forsyth, Manager, Web Services from Information & Communications Technology will provide an overview of current service upgrades and roll-out of new web technologies across the university, covering the following topics:
- upgrade of existing CMS platform - a new workflow process, move to a delegated user administration, and more;
- upcoming deliverables - search engine upgrade, newsletter services, form-builder, course information
- web infrastructure upgrade; and
- roll-out of Blog technology.
The Powerpoint presentation for the CMS Update talk is available to staff via Unikey.
Records Online
Anne Picot and Tim Robinson from Records Management Services will speak about the following topic. Very soon all University staff using their Unikey log-in will have access to University records electronically by using a web browser.
By the same means they will be able to capture their electronic documents themselves into the records management system (the application is called TRIM Context) either by using the Records Online Stage 2 website or using a plug-in in MS Outlook.
This will mean access to records management facilities for all who want them without loading another application onto the desktop or going through Citrix.
It will mean for many University staff immediate, multiple access to documents without having to get their hands on a cardboard file, without risk of loss and with the security of knowing that personal information is properly protected.
The University’s records management system stores the metadata of documents and files, electronic and paper, and manages the creation, capture, retrieval and transfer, long-term retention or destruction of University records.
When we (Archives & Records Management Services) say “records” we mean:
email, contract documents, status reports, minutes, and other papers of meetings, Helpdesk or similar records of computer system problems, the accounts payable, general ledger and finance system, the students records system (FlexSIS), applications for leave, receipts and supporting documents for credit card payments.
The point of our project is to make it easier for University workers to keep and retrieve the records (and information) you need in your job. The first and foremost reason for making and keeping records is to facilitate your work.
Our presentation will show the searching facility which hundreds of University staff already use to locate a file or retrieve an electronic document. We will also show the prototype of the new facility. We will explain the basic architecture of the system, its interface with FlexSIS, and the whys and wherefores of our approach to the massive task of looking after the University’s interests through good recordkeeping.
16 May 2006 - Red Hat and Energy Saving
Time: 10.00am - 11.30am
Venue: Darlington Centre Conference Rooms 1 & 2
10.00am - 10.40am approx.
Red Hat: Global File System, Clustering, and Virtualisation
Andrew Lee and Martin Zierer of Red Hat Asia Pacific Pty Ltd, will give a presentation on Red Hat's Cluster technology (Red Hat Global File System and Cluster Suite) products. Following on from this will be a small presentation on Red Hat's Virtualisation current and future capabilities.
Red Hat Global File System (GFS) is an open source, POSIX-compliant cluster file system and volume manager that executes on Red Hat Enterprise Linux servers attached to a storage area network (SAN). Red Hat GFS allows Red Hat Enterprise Linux servers to simultaneously read and write to a single shared file system on the SAN, achieving high performance and reducing the complexity and overhead of managing redundant data copies.
Red Hat GFS is tightly integrated with Red Hat Enterprise Linux and distributed through Red Hat Network. This simplifies software installation, updates, and management. Applications become easier to manage and achieve higher throughput and availability with Red Hat GFS.
10.40am - 11.30am approx.
Exploring the possibility: Energy saving options for on-campus computing
Miriam Buchhorn, Water & Energy Communicator from the Environmental Strategies team at Campus Property & Services, will talk about exploring the potential of “energy saving recommendations/guidelines” for users of university computers. The presentation will give an overview of how energy is used on campus; outline on-campus energy management challenges and activities and discuss the environmental benefits. It will reference recent discussions on the Contacts discussion list which have unearthed some concerns, some solutions and possible ways forward. A potential framework for recommendations will be provided for comment and constructive feedback.
29 March 2006 - Microsoft Software Licensing at USYD - IT & Environmental Sustainability
Time: 10.00am - 11.30am
Venue: Darlington Centre Conference Rooms 1 & 2
10.00am - 10.45am approx.
Microsoft Software Licensing at USYD
Madeleine Petit, Manager, Support Services (ICT) will speak on the following topic. Do you understand how Microsoft Licensing works at the University? What is covered? Where can you get the cheapest software? How do you order and pay for licenses and media?
ICT coordinates the Microsoft licensing and many other volume licenses for the University. This presentation will detail the conditions of the various Microsoft license agreements, and how to work within these agreements.
Find out more about Microsoft Agreements
10.45am - 11.30am approx.
IT and Environmental Sustainability
The Environmental Strategies Team is responsible for incorporating sustainability into the everyday operations and policies of the University of Sydney. The University’s Environment Policy promotes the re-use of materials wherever practicable, the collection of materials appropriate for recycling and the disposal of waste in environmentally acceptable ways.
This talk will consider the environmental implications arising from the huge increase in the use of electronic equipment and peripherals which includes computers, copiers and printers, toner cartridges and paper across the University. These not only incur upfront costs at the point of lease or purchase, but through the products’ lifecycle, taking into consideration energy use, maintenance and final disposal.
Janelle Forrest, Environmental Projects Coordinator will discuss the Sustainable Campus Program’s current and planned promotions and programs to improve sustainability outcomes in the IT area.
Find out more about IT & Environmental Sustainability
Visit the Campus Property and Services website to find out more about SUstainable Campus projects
14 February 2006 - Leasing and Procurement Discussion
Time: 10am - 11am
Venue: Carslaw Lecture Room 351
For the first Techtalk of 2006 the Shared Services Manager, Declan Devenney will speak about and answer questions on issues of interest to the University IT community, including leasing and procurement.
08 December 2005 - MAMS Project - Lecture Video Process Demonstration
Time: 10am - 12 noon
Venue: Norman Gregg Lecture Theatre, Edward Ford Building
What is the MAMS Project?
The MAMS Project is a DEST funded project under the Systemic Infrastructure Initiative component of the Government's "Backing Australia's Ability" package. The MAMS Project charter is to investigate how Identity and Access Management technology may be used to improve research effectiveness in higher education. The MAMS Project team, in association with AARNet are seeking to establish a 'Testbed Federation' based on Shibboleth and SAML to enable the sharing of user attributes between Identity Providers and their users and Service Providers and their services (such as image and document repositories).
Who will benefit?
Educators and researchers who would like to share electronic resources, securely, with other institutions.
Dr Erik Vullings, Program Manager (Macquarie University) for the MAMS project will talk about the project and where it is at.
Daniel Burn and Tim Harland from Medicine (USyd) will demonstrate the method they use to Video Lectures – This will be done in conjunction with the above talk - if you are interested in how they do it please ensure that you come on time.
26 October 2005 - Digital Repositories
Time: 10am - 12 noon
Venue: Darlington Centre Room 6
Ross Coleman , Manager, Innovation and Development, Sten Christensen, Digital Repository Coordinator, Gary Browne, Development Programmer and Trestan Gutsche , SORRT Database Developer will provide an overview of strategic activities and services being provided or planned by the Library around the Sydney eScholarship initiative.
They will cover the following areas:
- The Library's new Sydney eScholarship repository service (DSpace platform)
- Support for other repositories through the APSR (Australian Partnership for Sustainable Repositories) SORRT (Sustainable Repositories for Research and Teaching) test-bed;
- Support for other repositories through the APSR (Australian Partnership for Sustainable Repositories) SORRT (Sustainable Repositories for Research and Teaching) test-bed;
- Integrated electronic/print publishing services provided through Sydney University Press Licensing
- Other collaborative ARC funded digital projects.
22 September 2005 - The University - Open Source Software and IP Ownership
Time: 10am - 12 noon
Venue: Norman Gregg Lecture Theatre in the Edward Ford Building, A27
This techtalk will cover the uses of Open Source Software in a University environment, the practicalities, current uses and the legal issues associated with IP.
- OSS in Large Organisations
Dr Elizabeth Gordon-Werner
Manager Strategic Projects
Office of the Government CIO
NSW Department of Commerce
http://www.opensource.nsw.gov.au/ - How OSS is being used in Education and Research communities on campus
Dr. Rafael A. Calvo
School of Electrical and Information Engineering - USyd - OSS in relation to the University's ownership of IP
Malcolm Donnell
Commercialisation Manager, Licensing
Business Liaison Office - USyd
30 August 2005 - University Email Project - New Directions in Sydnet
Time: 10am - 12 noon
Venue: Darlington Centre Conference Rooms 1 & 2
Harry Swanenberg, Director (Infrastructure Unit, ICT) will give an overview on the following
- The University Email Project (UEP)
- The Change Management Procedure that is being implemented within ICT
Stephen Tolhurst, Data Network Manager (Infrastructure Unit, ICT) will fill you in on the new directions in Sydnet.
28 July 2005 - Web Standardisation - Vislab - OLIVER & CaseBuilder
Time: 9.30am - 12 noon
Venue: Norman Gregg Lecture Theatre in the Edward Ford Building, A27
9.30am – 10am
Sandra Weston, Project Manager for the Web Standardisation Project will give an overview on the project, what it is about and where it is at.
10am – 10.30am
ViSLAB will demonstrate services that they can offer to researchers amongst others, collaboration on computing infrastructure and visualisation.
About ViSLAB
The Sydney Regional Scientific Visualisation Laboratory (Sydney VisLAB) is the leading-edge site in Australia for advanced computing and scientific visualisation. Sydney VisLab is used by hundreds of researchers statewide in disciplines spanning from astrophysics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering and medicine, to archaeology, visual arts, economics and meteorology.
10.45am – 11.30am
The Faculty of Veterinary Science will be demonstrating the following technologies.
- OLIVER: Image repository with >10,000 images
- CaseBuilder: Software to develop case-based learning activities.
02 June 2005 - Mod_Perl V2 - Stas Bekman
Time: 10am - 12 noon
Venue: Darlington Centre Conference Rooms 1 & 2
Stas Bekman the author of the renowned Apache's mod_perl V2 will come and give us a two hour talk on mod_perl V2.
Stas will cover the following topics.
* Getting Your Feet Wet
* A quick introduction to mod_perl 2.0
* Startup handlers
* Protocol handlers
* Filter handlers
* HTTP request handlers
* Migrating from mod_perl
Stas Bekman's Website
22 March 2005 - ICT Teams
Time: 10am - 12 noon
Venue: Darlington Centre Conference Rooms 1 & 2
CLIENT SERVICES - ICT
Russell Cook, Deputy Director and Tristram Ellicott, Support Desk Coordinator (ICT)will run through the new ICT support website
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT - ICT
Stephen Tenison, Director of the Program Management Office will give an overview of all the major projects being undertaken by the Project Management Office this year.
ENTERPRISE ARCHITECTURE AND INNOVATION - ICT
The Enterprise Architecture and Innovation Unit is undertaking an initiative to develop an Enterprise Architecture (EA). An EA is a
strategic tool that identifies current capabilities, plans for future needs and provides a framework in which to address and assess IT capabilities. Max Malcolm the Senior Domain Architect will let you know how this will affect you and how you can assist.