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  • Name: CAEN Staff
  • Email: caen@umich.edu
  • Phone: (734) 764-CAEN
Releases Quick Access
Wednesday, September 05, 2007

Changes and improvements to CAEN computing labs

CAEN would like to announce several significant computer lab changes and improvements for the fall 2007 semester.

CAEN LAB INFORMATION DISPLAYS

We have started installing LCD kiosks outside the CAEN computer labs which will display information we hope you will find valuable. The three initial CAEN labs to receive these will be FXB B085, CSE 1620, and Autolab G019. The goal is to eventually install these in all CAEN labs. Some of the information will include:

  • Real-time desktop availability of all the CAEN labs at a glance, so you can more easily find open computers.
  • Lab reservation schedules.
  • Current network outage information.

CAEN LAB COMPUTER AND FACILITIES CHANGES

New computers have been deployed in Pierpont B505 and B521, EECS 4440, SRB 2230, and the Duderstadt Center in various locations on the second and third floors. See www.engin.umich.edu/caen/wls/labchart.html for further details.

EECS 4327 will be closed temporarily due to renovations taking place on that floor. We'll announce the reopening of EECS 4327 which will likely be towards the end of the fall term. The all-new EECS Atrium CAEN computer lab is scheduled to be opened as soon as construction is finished at the beginning of November.

CAEN LAB SOFTWARE ENVIRONMENT

Both the Windows and Linux desktop environments on all CAEN lab computers have been refreshed and updated. The Windows environment is based again on Windows XP (not all the applications will run under Vista yet), and many of the applications have been upgraded to newer versions this year. Office 2003 has been replaced by Office 2007. By default, Office 2007 will save files in the Office 2003 format. Login times for Windows have been dramatically reduced as well.

The new Linux desktop environment has been upgraded from Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 to Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5. It too has been updated with the latest versions of applications.

CAEN LAB SECURITY CAMERAS

CAEN has been installing security cameras in computing labs. This will be an ongoing effort. The goal is to deter vandalism and computer theft in the labs which has risen due to the lab doors no longer being locked. You can view the complete CAEN Security Camera policy at: www.engin.umich.edu/caen/intro/policies/camerapolicy.html


If you have questions on these changes, please contact the CAEN Hotline (caen@umich.edu; 734-764-CAEN).