Computing Advisory Committee

Minutes of Meeting of July 13, 2000

Those present: Duke Koch, Dennis Leitner, JP Dunn, Ruth Bernhardt, Jim Fox (for Susan Logue), Don Olson, Geoff Nathan, Larry Schilling

Don Olson began by presenting a proposal for the `leasing' of computers, based on a model at the University of Louisville. There the Foundation fronts the funds to purchase all the computers for the year, and the departments `purchase' them on an installment plan. He estimates that $3.8 million would be needed to replace all of the computers on campus. Don pointed out the advantage of this program would be that it gives units a choice of computer vendors (the university negotiates deals with a select set of first tier vendors) and of configurations. Secondly, at the end of the `lease' the unit gets to keep the machine, perhaps to recycle to graduate student offices or student worker stations.

Duke asked whether there was any chance that the Dell bulk purchase deal would be available to students at SIUC as well, and Don said that he would look into it.

On the topic of site licenses, Don announced that they had just signed a site license for unlimited numbers of SPSS (for Wintel machines). Some of the issues that site licensing raises in general include the problem of a need for a fairly large amount of up-front funding, and of departments dropping out of a payment commitment after the first year.

Internet II needs to be jump-started, and Don is planning to talk with a representative of NSF about the possibility of funding for an OS-3 line, but he estimates that we are already spending a good fraction of the required $500,000 on current infrastructure upgrading. Geoff gave him a draft of the I2 application letter and he will proceed with what needs to be done.

Duke inquired about the e-mail use policy subcommittee, and Geoff promised to get it restarted immediately. Duke also enquired about the use of application servers, and Don stated that he would look into that also.

There has been a request for a convening of the LAN administrators to deal with some training issues.

Next meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, August 16th at 9 AM in the Library Dean's Conference room.