Accessing the Internet Responsibly –

Is this your first experience with a high-speed Internet connection and you want to go as fast as you can? 

Do you wonder what are your responsibilities as a holder of a Rutgers account?

Are you aware of many of the pitfalls that may await you?

Rutgers University has an Acceptable Use Policy that all members of our community are expected to abide by and to encourage others to not violate:

http://rucs.rutgers.edu/acceptable-use.html

There are local lab policies that everyone should become familiar:

http://www.camden.rutgers.edu/HELP/policies/policies.htm

For a short, video parody produced by the University of Virginia that highlights some of the pitfalls that you may face, please visit:

http://www.itc.virginia.edu/pubs/docs/RespComp/videos/when-I-go-to-UVA.ram

And, lastly, the top 10 myths for those desiring to share their private materials on the Internet that should make you think twice:

http://www.soundbyting.com/html/top_10_myths/myths_index.html

Education Series – The Fall Education series begins on Friday, September 27, 2002. A brief overview of each session, along with an online registration form, is available at:

http://edseries.camden.rutgers.edu/

RUCS staff is available to make group presentations to classes, faculty meetings, student organizations and departmental offices upon request.  If interested in a group presentation, please call our office at 6065 x10 to discuss the proposed topic and date.

Webalizer –

For the past four years RUCS-Camden's central web server (www.camden.rutgers.edu - shad) has supported a feature known as "virtual host names" (vhosts).  These vhosts allow departments to maintain their sites on the central server under a more departmental descriptive name such as “athletics.camden.rutgers.edu”.   Beginning in September 2002, RUCS-Camden now runs a web server log analysis tool, Webalizer, to generate reports for every vhost on the central web server.  Reports are updated nightly, and statistics are generated on a wide variety of information.  Some of the more interesting statistics are:

HITS - represents the number of requests received by the server that made reference in any way to your virtual host name.  These could be requests for web pages, sound files, images, or any other type of file you make available through your site.

FILES - represents the number of requests (HITS) that resulted in something (document, audio, video, image, etc.) being sent back to the person browsing your site.

(note: it is possible to get a rough idea of repeat visitors to your site by examining the difference between the HITS and FILES values.  Since most web browsers keep a temporary cache of previously viewed files, repeated visits from the same person will cause HITS to rise faster than FILES)

SEARCH STRINGS - when one of the more common search engines (yahoo, google, altavista, etc.) directs a person to your site, Webalizer is able to scan for the referrer information from those search engines.  Webalizer can then determine the keywords the user entered that resulted in your site being listed in the search results.

The listing of visible virtual hostnames on the Camden web server may be found at:

http://www.camden.rutgers.edu/webstats/

Wireless Computing in the Campus Center – Students, faculty and staff may now “test drive” the pilot wireless network access in the Campus Center that is available in the general seating areas of the cafeteria (not including the Octagon Room and Courtyard restaurant), Starbucks, the couches by the front windows, the lower area by the Raptor Roost/Pizza Shop, a portion of the computer lab, and the large lounge/eating area at the first floor entrance.  You will need a laptop computer with a wireless card properly installed and configured.  If this pilot proves successful, this wireless technology will likely be expanded to other buildings and areas on this campus as funding is identified.

The procedure to access the wireless network is quite simple - no need to register your laptop, MAC address, etc. with RUCS. All one needs is a valid Rutgers account/NetID.  You open your laptop in the Campus Center, open an application such as Internet Explorer for browsing, and an authentication screen will appear (a login prompt for your Rutgers username and password will occur).  Once authenticated, you will maintain access unless you sit idle or disconnect for over 30 minutes. 

Instructions on establishing a connection may be found online at:

http://www.camden.rutgers.edu/RUCS-Camden/S50-4320_wireless.htm

How Secure is Your System?

Free Computer Anti-virus Software from RUCS: Rutgers has a site license agreement with Network Associates Inc., makers of McAfee Anti-virus products. All Rutgers faculty, staff and students may use the McAfee Total Virus Defense (TVD) suite of software free of charge on both university-owned and privately owned computers. Protect your computer from virus attacks. Additional information on the available suite of products and how to download them is available at the Rutgers Site Licensing web page found at:

http://mssg-ftp.rutgers.edu/mcafee.html

Virus Scanning: Computing Services continues to run a virus scanning program, AMaViS (A Mail Virus Scanner), that scans all email received by the RUCS supported computer systems (email.clam, email.crab, clam and crab) for viruses.  With the continuing outbreaks of computer viruses throughout the Internet, the Rutgers Camden community sees a much reduced virus activity level. In fact, this software caught over 23,000 Klez virus emails in the months of July-August and did not deliver these infected email messages to the intended recipients.  For additional information, please send email to help@camden.

Security practices and guidelines recommended by RUCS are offered online at:

http://rusecure.rutgers.edu/

Network guidelines recommended by RUCS for individuals are found at:

http://netsecurity.rutgers.edu/

WebMail’s Popularity Grows as a Rutgers Email Reader – Started last fall, a web-based email reader that allows you to access your Rutgers-Camden email (email.crab or email.clam) from anywhere that you have access to the Internet and a web browser continues to attract more faculty, students and staff.   The application is called Internet Messaging Program (IMP) and functions similarly to other webmail applications like Hotmail^TM.  By simply pointing your browser to:

http://webmail.camden.rutgers.edu
you have access to your Rutgers-Camden email account without any of the hassles of setting up preferences, incoming and outgoing mail servers, or learning commands that must be typed.   This application also provides a secure communications connection over the Internet using what is known as SSL.

Resident Hall Connectivity – Computing Services provides information and step-by-step instructions on how to connect to RUNet through a new brochure entitled, “Students’ Guide to Computing at Rutgers” with copies available in the residence halls or at the Help Desks in the computer labs in the Business & Science building and Campus Center.  Although last year it took all academic year to reach a high of 349 systems registered from these facilities, there are already 359 systems registered this year.

Registration & Bandwidth Enforcement – In order to gain access beyond the Rutgers network, RUNet, from the residence halls students must register their systems through the online Resnet web page.  This relatively simple last step to the activation process is very important to be able to surf the Internet beyond Rutgers (to sites such as google.com, AOL.com and yahoo.com).  Be sure to finalize the procedure by registering your system.

Limits on network usage by the students in the residence halls continue to be enforced through daily measures on activity throughout the year. Students violating the bandwidth limits are sent an email message and are shut down for seven days from Internet access (although they may still access all of the Rutgers network and use public lab facilities to access the Internet for class work). Since the amount of bandwidth (traffic allowed) is a limited resource to be shared by all of Rutgers, it is important to monitor usage and check for any abnormally high patterns that may impact everyone's access. 

More information about Residential computing and tools for self-monitoring of activity may be found at:

http://resnet.rutgers.edu/

RIAS –

RIAS, the new online purchasing system developed in cooperation with RUCS-ACS and Procurement, is fully functioning to support the online processing of Requisitions and Purchase Orders at the university.  Help desk staff are available on all campuses to answer your questions and resolve issues encountered in utilizing the system.  If you have a problem please contact one of the following in Camden:

Requisition/PO/Purchasing process:   225-6915

Accounting:   225-6020;   188-5-1111

Computer Account/NetID:    225-6274

Or, visit the RIAS web page:

http://rias.rutgers.edu

Future Activity -

·         A Firewall is being tested and will be installed on the subnet supporting the unix faculty/staff servers (crab and email.crab) matching the firewall already present on the student subnet

·         McAfee WebShield – new hardware (Webshield E500) and software to provide a more effective control/block on viruses that are sent by email, and are capable of providing spam filtering.  Testing is in progress and implementation is planned to occur in late fall.  The new anti-spam features will require discussion with the various campus communities to agree to the extent which email should be filtered for spam.

·         Wireless - In the future, RUCS will be offering more information on wireless, such as recommendations for departments.    Although investigation continues, it looks like a product from Bluesocket will be implemented for RUCS installations over the upcoming months. 

·         Crab and clam will no longer support direct mail service (ie, you must change your SMTP configurations on applications such as Netscape, Outlook to use email.clam & email.crab) – check the RUCS announcement:

http://www.camden.rutgers.edu/RUCS-Camden/Announce/protocols.transition.html

·         Novell service from RUCS-Camden (ie, print and file service) is to be decommissioned and services supported will be migrated to Windows NT/2000/XP

·         Insecure protocols to be removed/limited (telnet, ftp) after conversions to secure protocols (ssh, sftp) -- We encourage those who still use telnet to download and start using ssh

·         RUCS university-wide calendaring system – A pilot calendaring system is in operation now with an anticipated announcement to the university scheduled for the spring semester.  The calendar application is available to all students, faculty, and staff to try.  The system is currently running on a system named http://moltar.rutgers.edu.   A variety of faculty, students and staff participated in the focus groups and online web survey to gather input for this project that included both calendaring and email.  The calendar system is the first step toward the new implementation.

Student Reminders -

Web-based student services available and online:

http://www-acs.rutgers.edu/Apps/studweb.htm

• University Schedule of Classes
• Register Online
• Student Grades/Transcripts/Class Schedules
• Student Online Directory Management
• Student Permanent Home Address Update
• Student Financial Services Statement of Accounts
• Financial Aid Application, Document and Award Status
• Rutgers Online Directory

BSB Lab Hours Extended - RUCS extends lab hours in the Business & Science Bldg. on Sundays for the last three weekends of each semester (opens at 9am). 

Computer Problem Report Form - Report problems quickly to the computer center staff by completing a “Computer Problem Report Form” found in the wall pockets in each lab.  The collection pocket for the completed forms is located near each lab door.

The RUCS “Students’ Guide to Computing Services at Rutgers 2002-2003” is available at the Help Desks in the Campus Center and Business & Science building.

Faculty Reminders -

Web-based faculty services available and online: 

http://www-acs.rutgers.edu/Apps/adminweb.htm

• Address Update for Faculty
• Class Rosters - the ability to create e-mail lists for Camden classes by downloading the roster to be used in Majordomo.
• Course Analysis
• Faculty Survey
• Rutgers Online Directory
• On line Grade submission (successful pilot project and summer usage resulting in over 1/3 of grades being submitted electronically through the web page)

Create a “firstname.lastname@camden” email address – send a request to help@camden

Mailing Lists Available to Faculty - for more information see:

http://rams.rutgers.edu/

Generate a list of your students' email addresses in a format compatible with Camden's Majordomo mailing list service.  The Web Rosters themselves can be accessed from the Camden Registrar's web page at:

http://registrar.rutgers.edu/CMINDEX.HTM

RUCS instructions for implementing a class roster into majordomo may be found at:

http://www.camden.rutgers.edu/HELP/Documentation/Email/majordomo-webroster.html

Staff Reminders -

Web-based staff services available and online: 

http://www-acs.rutgers.edu/Apps/adminweb.htm

• Data Dictionaries
• Address Update for Staff

• Student Grades and Transcripts
• Rutgers Online Directory

Create a “firstname.lastname@camden” email address – send a request to help@camden

Mailing Lists Available to Staff - for more information see:

http://rams.rutgers.edu

Support Reminders -

FAQs  - (Frequently Asked Questions) are now Online for easy access at:

http://www.camden.rutgers.edu/HELP/content/faq/

Email preferences – RUCS has designed our email systems such that all email should be addressed to “name@camden.rutgers.edu” for delivery to your Rutgers email address.  The computer system that receives the mail will pass it through to the appropriate system for reading mail.  It is also recommended that you review your preferences (or options) to be sure that you have your incoming mail server (and, outgoing mail server if attached to RUNET) designated as email.crab.rutgers.edu (for faculty/staff) and email.clam.rutgers.edu (for students) if you use a mail reader such as Netscape mail, Eudora mail, or MS Outlook/express.  

Open Ethernet Data Jacks –Open Ethernet data jacks are located in the Robeson library (open shelving areas on the 2^nd & 3^rd floors), Campus Center lab, Armitage Hall lobby, and BSB 110 (north wall).   Bring your laptop into the computer center lab in BSB to register your Ethernet card for access permissions to be granted or complete the online registration form:

http://www.camden.rutgers.edu/HELP/Documentation/Accounts/S50-8011_Obtain_Library_Connection