DDS Michael Doa and Todd Raeker
Where to get help: website: http://www.si.umich.edu/computing/, email: si.computing@umich.edu, phone: 734-936-7255, walk in 400 WH: 8-5, Monday-Friday, SI-N walk in on 1st floor

Mike:
Applications: Adobe Pro, Photoshop, Office 2007 and 2008, basic utilities are available on SI owned machines
Can request specialized software: SPSS, NVivo, Camtasia, Atlas.ti (can install on SI issued machines- desktop or laptop)
Can also get through http://virtualsites.umich.edu/- they have a bunch of these apps
Endnote- SI faculty, staff, students can have free Endnote on personal machines (must sign a waiver- make an appointment to have it installed)
Jim Schmidt is Applecare certified to repair SI owned laptops
Workload permitting, SI Computing will help with questions and problems on your personal machines.
Can check out: projectors, digital video cameras, laptops, tripods, digital voice recorders. Laptops generally have 24 hour loans

Todd: Linux/Unix
UM has a site licene for RedHat linux. SI-C can’t install it through their site license, but you can download it. They prefer that you use RedHat, for stability purposes, on your machine, but its up to you. If it’s an SI issued computer, let them know that you are doing this.
Most of the distributions do automatic updates, but some 3rd party software does not
They support Drupal servers in development, production environments- Michael Hess works on this
If you need a specialized server for Linux, they are working on rolling out virtual machines. Can roll it out on the fly, use it as long as you need, let SI-C know when you are done, and they will turn it off.
Planning to sell virtual machines for projects, easier than buying a computer that you will only use for 6 months.
Talk to SI-C rather than struggling to figure it out yourself.

Q&A:
In the server room on 1st floor, only about 7 racks are SI- a bunch are leased out to LS&A, Dentistry, etc. they are planning to pursue clients to use some of this space

SI-C can help you set up printing preferences
PhD students can print to any Xerox machine at West Hall- there is one on 3rd and 4th floors (by 400 WH) 4th floor room is generally locked, 3rd floor room is always open

New computer purchasing-
PhD program generally buys about 10 computers a year, replaced approximately every 4 years
Computers for staff and faculty are generally on 4 year turnover as well
If you need a RAM upgrade, let SI-C and Sue know
New machines are min 1 GB RAM

How to get site licenses-
Build a critical mass of people who want it (how many depends on the software and price)
Faculty will need to buy-in as well
In the long run, a site license is cheaper than people getting it on their own in 1s and 2s
Let SI-C know, and email around to see who else is interested
The license distribution part is fairly easy

If you’ve been having trouble with the web form, it may be because your directory is set to private
If you have a general question, the best way is si.computing@umich.edu. If you have a real request (need some kind of action taken) use the online request form. The Jira system is expanding to other SI departments as well. If you need that kind of capability, SI-C can start a project for you and give you access

Also using Confluence, online software with collaboration capabilities (made by Jira creators). It has wiki capability and you can integrate Word docs- open them, make changes, hit save, and it saves the new version to the project site. Has some benefits over CTools. Ask SI-C if you’d like to check it out and/or use it.

Connected Back Up from ICTS- about 30$/year for 30GB? IFS space is also available for backup. Default is 1GB, but you can request up to 10 for free.