Author Archives: Kerrin.Perniciaro@stonybrook.edu

Administration Building to Get its Own Network Sept. 30

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Stony Brook University's Administration Building

In order to improve network connectivity in the Administration Building, the Division of Information Technology (DoIT) will be creating a separate, isolated network exclusively for Internet traffic for the Admin Building, which will mitigate outages and service disruptions caused by problems in other buildings connected to the main campus network. It will also provide an extra layer of security and protection. The cutover will happen on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014, at 4 a.m.  There should be no service disruption and no other buildings should be affected by the cutover.

Client Support staff members will be on site in the Administration Building the morning of Sept. 30 to monitor the situation. If you notice an inability for certain devices (computers, cameras, printers) to access the new network, or if you have trouble accessing certain applications in the days, weeks, or months following the cutover, please call 2-9800 to report issues. Thank you.

University Purchases Three-Year Site License for MATLAB Software

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Mathworks LogoStony Brook University purchased a three-year site license for MATLAB software, Simulink, and companion toolboxes from Mathworks. The new license agreement began Aug. 1, and covers installation of the software on University-owned computers (including classrooms and labs), as well as home use (one installation on a personal computer per person) for all instructors, students, staff, and researchers.

Please visit the MATLAB software page for instructions on how to obtain the software. Users must create a Mathworks account and activate the software before downloading and installing it on their computers.

Stony Brook University’s campus license includes the following standard MATLAB toolboxes:

  • Bioinformatics Toolbox

  • Control System Toolbox

  • Curve Fitting Toolbox

  • Data Acquisition Toolbox

  • DSP System Toolbox

  • Image Processing Toolbox

  • Instrument Control Toolbox

  • MATLAB

  • Optimization Toolbox

  • Parallel Computing Toolbox

  • Signal Processing Toolbox

  • SimMechanics

  • SimScape

  • Simulink

  • Simulink Control Design

  • Stateflow

  • Statistics Toolbox

  • Symbolic Math Toolbox

Additional toolboxes may be purchased as child licenses of the MATLAB TAH license by contacting Debbi Cohen at Mathworks.

As a service to the Stony Brook community, a MATLAB listserv has been established as a way for users of this software to ask each other questions, develop solutions, and share information. The list is open to all subscribers with @stonybrook.edu and @stonybrookmedicine.edu email addresses.

To subscribe to the list, send an email to listserv@lists.sunysb.edu with the following information in the body:

  • SUBSCRIBE matlab-l FirstName LastName (replace FirstName and LastName with your own full name)

Once you are subscribed to the list, you can post questions to the community by emailing matlab@lists.sunysb.edu

MATLAB will be visiting Stony Brook University in early October to give some presentations on its products and to answer questions from the community. A separate event invitation will be distributed once a date has been scheduled.

For questions about the license agreement and what it entitles you to, please contact DoIT’s Research Technologies team at researchtech@stonybrook.edu. The Client Support Help Desk can assist with technical questions related to downloading, installing, and configuring the software. Client Support can be reached at (631) 632-9800 or by emailing supportteam@stonybrook.edu.

Power Issues in the ECC May Affect Network Connectivity

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As a result of the power outage that occurred on campus on May 29, the ECC Building was adversely affected and continues to experience electrical power issues. Last night, building generators failed and as a result, network connectivity was lost from 7 p.m. until approximately 8:27 p.m.

DoIT continues to work with Campus Operations and Maintenance to investigate and solve these problems, but in the meantime, please be advised that network connectivity may continue to be affected periodically.

We will provide an update when there is more information to share. Thank you for your patience.

Image of power generators running outside the ECC Building

Generators running outside the ECC Building since May 29.

Two Additions to the SUNY Spring Education Enterprise Purchase (EEP) Offering

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Two different Dell network switches were added to the SUNY Spring Education Enterprise Purchase (EEP) offering and will run through July 31, 2014. The Dell pricing is available at discounts better than New York State and higher education pricing. The products listed on this promotion may be purchased direct through Dell or via a reseller (on the OGS contract).

Dell Networking Switch Model S4810

List Price $26,533.44 … SUNY Special $9,545.18

Image of a Dell Network Switch 4810

48 port 10G SFP+ PORTS W/4 QSFP 40GPORTS,1 AC PS,2 FAN SUBSYS W/AIRFLOW Front to back.

Reference Config ID 1250818/Quote #679060808

Offer Expires: July 31, 2014….

**Extended warranties, enhanced features & connectors available on this promo, please call the contact number below or your Dell partner for a custom quote.

Key applications

  • Ultra-low-latency 10 GbE switching in HPCC, high-speed trading, or other business-sensitive deployments that require the highest bandwidth and lowest latency
  • High-density 10 GbE ToR server aggregation in high-performance data center environments
  • Design with the E-Series or Z-Series core switch/router to create a flat, two-tier, non-blocking 1/10/40 GbE data center network design
  • Design a distributed core Clos fabric with S4810 switch in leaf and spine with the S-Series 1/10GbE ToR switches for cost-effective aggregation of 10 GbE uplinks
  • Regular iSCSI Storage deployment
  • Enterprise iSCSI (iSCSI over DCB)
  • FIP Snooping Bridge as part of storage solution

Key features

  • 1RU high-density 10/40 GbE ToR switch with 48 dual-speed 1/10 GbE (SFP+) ports and four 40 GbE (QSFP+) uplinks (totaling 64 10 GbE ports with breakout cables)
  • 1.28 Tbps (full-duplex) non-blocking, cut-through switching fabric delivers line-rate performance under full load with 800ns latency
  • Scalable L2 and L3 Ethernet switching with QoS and a full complement of standards-based IPv4 and IPv6 features
  • IO panel to PSU airflow or PSU to IO panel airflow
  • Open Automation Framework adds VM-awareness as well as automated configuration and provisioning capabilities to simplify the management of virtual network environments
  • Modular Dell Force10 Operating System (FTOS) software delivers inherent stability as well as advanced monitoring and serviceability functions
  • Supports jumbo frames for high-end server connectivity
  • 128 link aggregation groups with up to 8 members per group, using advanced hashing
  • Redundant, hot-swappable power supplies and fans
  • Hardware support for DCB
  • Low power consumption
  • VLT and eVLT:mulit-chassis link to enable up to 576 10GE (3:1 over subscription)
  • User Port stacking support for up to 6 units
  • Support IPv6 Layer 2 and FIPS certification

http://www.dell.com/networking

Dell Networking Switch Model N2048P

List Price $4,290.83 … Education Special $2,312.66

Image of a Dell Network Switch 2048

Dell  N2048P L2 48-Port POE+ switch with three-year ProSupport and NBD on-site services

Offer Expires: July 31, 2014….

**Extended warranties, enhanced features & connectors available on this promo, please call the contact number below or your Dell partner for a custom quote.

Dell Networking N2000 Series

  • Up to 220 Gbps switch fabric capacity.
  • Supports up to 48 line-rate 1GbE ports per
    switch and up to 600 1GbE ports in a twelve-unit stack
  • Standard N-Series stacking cables and built-in ports for cost-effective high-performance stacking at up to 84 Gbps
  • Up to 48 ports of PoE+
  • Up to 4,094 VLANs supported
  • Advanced Layer 2+ functionality with up to 256 static routes and Routing Information Protocol (RIP) included supporting up to 256 interfaces
  • Advanced network security including highly configurable ACLs
  • USB Rapid deployment expedites switch configuration
  • Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE) and lower power PHYs reduce
    power to inactive ports and idle links
  • Fresh Air® compliant for high operating temperature
    environments

A powerful and economical 1/10 Gigabit Ethernet switching solution for efficient Layer 2+ access for end user devices, entry-level servers, and network devices. Up to twelve switches can be stacked and managed with a single IP address to deliver reliable network performance.

Leverage familiar tools and practices

  • One common CLI and GUI using a well-known command language gets skilled network administrators productive quickly.
  • Maintain consistent configurations by running one OS release across all products in the series.
  • Rapidly deploy mirrored configurations to numerous devices by simply inserting in a USB key

Modernize campus network architectures

  • Supports loop-free redundancy without spanning tree using MLAG to create high availability and full bandwidth utilization.
  • Interfaces seamlessly with Cisco proprietary protocols like RPVST+ and devices running CDP for greater interoperability and integration.
  • Unite various networking products with the latest open standard protocols for more network choice.

Key features and innovations

  • Multi-chassis Link Aggregation (MLAG) creates active/active loop-free redundancy without implementing expensive spanning tree protocols.
  • Interface seamlessly with Rapid Per-VLAN Spanning Tree (RPVST+) for greater flexibility and interoperability with Cisco networks. (Available with OS 6.1 release)
  • Authentication Tiering allows admins to tier port authentication methods, such as 802.1x, MAC Authentication Bypass, and Captive Portal in priority order so that a single port can provide flexible access and security.
  • Policy Based Routing (PBR) allows you to forward packets based on assigned criteria beyond destination address. Policy Based Forwarding (PBF) is available
    on Layer 2 devices.
  • Remote Switch Port Analyzer (RSPAN) allows you to monitor ports across a Layer 2 domain without purchasing costly dedicated network taps.
  • DHCP Snooping ensures IP integrity on a Layer 2 switched domain to harden the security of the LAN.
  • OpenFlow 1.0 provides first-look SDN capabilities in environments outside the data center. Beta release
  • And hundreds more including the latest open-standard protocols.

***Please note there are L3 versions of this switch and 10gbe versions. Please call for details.

To order or discuss options, please call:
Matt Sperling
Regional Sales/Dell Networking
Phone (518) 810-4345
matthew_sperling@dell.com

 

Student Printing Services Will be Unavailable on June 3

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Stand alone printer in Frey Ha

 

Student printing services will be unavailable all day on Tuesday, June 3, 2014, in order to perform server-side enhancements and help Stony Brook work towards enabling mobile printing, which is a top request by students. Once this upgrade is complete, the Division of Information Technology (DoIT) can begin testing out mobile printing solutions.

Affected Services:

  • Student printing on campus
  • Print From Anywhere

Affected Locations:

  • Campus Residences
  • HSC
  • SINC Sites
  • South Campus
  • Southampton
  • Stand alone printers – Biomedical Engineering

If you need to print on June 3, you may do so at one of the UPS Store locations on West Campus *  using Wolfie Wallet, credit card, or cash:

  • Melville Library, Lower Level, Room 0320 (down the hall from the Bookstore)
  • Student Union Lobby

* UPS charges for printing are as follows:

  •  B & W 8 1/2 x 11:  4 cents a page / 8 cents double sided
  •  Color: 8 1/2 x 11: 39 cents a page / 78 cents double sided

For More Information Contact

Instructional Technology Support
(631) 632-2777

DoIT Calls for NetID Password Changes in Response to Heartbleed Bug

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Stony Brook University's Heartbleed NetID Password Change Poster

Help us spread the word by downloading, printing, and hanging up the poster in your area.

CIO Cole Camplese issued the following campus announcement on April 15, urging everyone to change their NetID passwords as a result of the Heartbleed Bug …

To the Campus Community:

Good afternoon. Due to our current understanding of the Heartbleed Bug that has impacted the majority of the Internet, I wanted to provide you with a brief update on our progress and immediate next steps. We have no evidence that any Stony Brook University system or user credentials have been exploited by the Heartbleed Bug. However, we feel in order to protect your data and the institution’s data and out of an abundance of caution, you should change your Stony Brook NetID password.

To change your Stony Brook NetID password, please follow these directions carefully:

http://it.stonybrook.edu/help/kb/changing-your-netid-password

To stay connected to updated Heartbleed Bug information, to get immediate help or support in the password change process, and to review what has been done to date at Stony Brook University, please visit:

http://you.stonybrook.edu/heartbleed

Cole W. Camplese
Vice President for Information Technology & CIO
Stony Brook University

Security Alert: OpenSSL “Heartbleed” Bug

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heartbleed bug icon

Several media outlets reported a serious vulnerability in OpenSSL 1.0.1 through 1.0.1f (inclusive) called “The Heartbleed Bug,” on April 7, 2014. This represents a serious Web security flaw that may compromise privacy. Please see the following news articles and websites which describe the issue in greater detail:

If you run a Web server with SSL (specifically OpenSSL 1.0.1 through 1.0.1f), it is  recommended that you patch the software immediately and upgrade to OpenSSL 1.0.1g. If you’re stuck with a previous version of OpenSSL for some reason, you can block the vulnerability by re-compiling it using the OPENSSL_NO_HEARTBEATS flag. OpenSSL 1.0.2 will have the bug fixed in the upcoming 1.0.2-beta2 release. If you do not know what version of SSL you are running, go to https://sslanalyzer.comodoca.com and enter your site’s URL to find out if the site is vulnerable.

Additionally, if you have contracted with any vendors who use SSL, please contact them immediately to find out if they have applied the current patches and to find out what other steps may be required.

One of the side effects of this vulnerability is that the server private key may be compromised and there may be no trace of it. In this case, after patching, please generate new keypairs and request a new certificate. DoIT will provide a new Comodo/Incommon certificate to its Stony Brook IT Partners at no cost if they just email the CSR to certreq@stonybrook.edu.

DoIT is actively monitoring the situation here at Stony Brook and has contacted its vendors about any vendor-supplied software.

Stony Brook’s SOLAR, PeopleSoft, Blackboard, and Google Apps for Education systems are not affected by this vulnerability. Other systems accessed with your Stony Brook NetID and NetID password are not affected.

Individual users may want to consider changing the passwords on all their sensitive Internet accounts, such as banking accounts, private email accounts, and any accounts created for online shopping with the use of credit card information. However, the New York Times Bits blog suggests waiting a day or two to allow time for websites to get patched.

DoIT has created a public Yammer group to provide the campus community with updates as this situation unfolds and develops. Please post your questions and comments to the Heartbleed Bug Info Yammer group.

SUNY’s Spring 2014 Educational Enterprise Purchase (EEP) Offerings Announced

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SUNY is conducting a Spring Educational Enterprise Purchase (EEP) program of technology hardware with participation from Apple, Dell, and IBM. The program will run through the end of June 2014. This is a system-wide initiative led by SUNY in Albany. Details regarding this program are outlined below. Hardware offerings and pricing can be found in the attached documents. Please contact Stony Brook University’s Vendor Manager Michael Ospitale at (631) 632-6685 for any further questions about the SUNY Educational Enterprise Purchases (EEP) Program.

Dell LogoDell

Spring Education Enterprise Purchase offering from Dell will run through June 30, 2014. The Dell pricing is available at discounts better than New York State and higher education pricing. All products listed on this promotion may be purchased direct through Dell or via a reseller (on the OGS contract) with the exception of the SonicWall products which have to be purchased through a reseller.

View Hardware Offerings and Pricing: Dell_2014_Spring_SUNY_Big_Buy (.pdf)

Please contact Peter Griffin, Large Institution Sales Manager, with any questions.
Phone: 484-431-1276
Email: Peter_Griffin1@Dell.com

Apple_logoApple

Spring Education Enterprise Purchase offering from Apple will run through June 28, 2014.  The Apple pricing is available at discounts better than New York State and higher education pricing.

 

 

 

View Hardware Offerings and Pricing: Apple_SUNY_Spring_2014_pricing (.pdf)

Please contact Christine Young, your Apple Education Inside Account Executive, with any questions.

Phone: 512-674-6841

Email: christine_young@apple.com

IBM LogoIBM

Spring Education Enterprise Purchase offering from IBM will run through June 30, 2014. The IBM pricing is available at discounts better than New York State and higher education pricing. All products listed on this promotion may be purchased direct through IBM or via a reseller (on the OGS contract).

 

 

View Hardware Offerings and Pricing: IBM_SUNY_EEP_Spring2014 (.pdf)

Please contact Michele Richens, the Power Scale Out ISV Sales Specialist, with any questions.

Phone: 518-487-6183

Email: mrichens@us.ibm.com

 

HP logoHP

Spring Education Enterprise Purchase offering from HP that will run through July 31, 2014.  The HP pricing is available at discounts better than New York State and higher education pricing. All products listed on this promotion may be purchased direct through HP or via a reseller (on the OGS contract).

In addition, HP will be holding a webinar to showcase their offering.  Details will be sent to campuses as soon as the webinar is finalized.

View Hardware Offerings and Pricing: HP Spring 2014 pricing_v 5 0 (.xlsx)

Please contact Drew Todd, Inside Account Manager, with any questions.
Phone: 800-277-8988 ext 7716021
Email: drew.todd@hp.com

RFSUNY Oracle Shutdown Planned for April 25 – May 5

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SUNY Research Foundation logoRFSUNY’s Oracle e-business suite and related reporting applications will undergo a major upgrade from version 11i to 12. To implement this upgrade, it is necessary to shut down the Oracle Business System for five business days beginning at the close of business on Friday, April 25 until Monday, May 5, at 9 a.m.

Read more to find out what units at Stony Brook University will be affected.

Windows XP and Office 2003 Reaching End of Support on April 8

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Sanjay Kapur, DoIT’s Director of Systems and Operations, received the following email Windows XP logofrom Microsoft regarding product retirements. Windows XP and Office 2003 will be reaching end of support on April 8, 2014. According to Microsoft, reaching “end of support” means customers will still be able to run the software, but Microsoft will no longer provide security updates or update online content. In short, you will be on your own for support and will be essentially accepting all risk if you decide to continue using unsupported software.

DoIT highly recommends that departments and individuals stay up-to-date on latest versions of operating systems and software. Please visit our Institutional Software Support page for a list of recommended standards. In some cases, computers may need to be upgraded due to hardware restrictions. To purchase a replacement computer that meets University standards, please see DoIT’s list of recommended systems.