From: John Bowers, Director of Computing Services

Subject: Proposals for Technology Fee Summer Projects

I have four proposals I'd like to bring forward to the Vice Chancellors' group to consider for funding in summer 1997 as initial projects for next year's student technology fee. I have also suggested to Roger Boleman and Karen Fischer that they may have project proposals they'd like to submit. The four in this memo represent Computing Services requests only.

I think there are two reasons why we should allocate and spend at least a portion of next year's projected technology fee revenue in advance this summer. First, the fee will be better received and less resented by students next year if we can point to some immediate successes and highly visible improvements when they return in the fall. Second, work in labs and other public spaces (including classrooms and the library) almost has to be done during the summer if it is extensive. If we have to wait till fall to even begin the allocation process, we may not have the opportunity to make really substantial improvements until summer 1998.

I hope that some or all of these proposals from Computing Services, and others you may receive from the Library and Media Services, will be convincing and non-controversial enough that you'll agree that they can bypass the full review/allocation process for this first year .

1. Computing Services lab improvements

o Replace twenty oldest PCs (spread between various labs).
o Replace five Macs.
o Add five new computers to fill in empty spots in Library and Behmler labs.
o Upgrade memory and hard disk storage on some lab PCs.
o Replace ten monitors.
o Install Windows 95 and related software (Office 97 suite and utilities) on all lab PCs.

Justification: The primary purpose of this item is to upgrade all our lab PCs to Windows 95. Twenty existing lab computers are incapable and must be replaced. Others require memory, hard disk, or monitor upgrades. Most of our Internet applications are in the public domain and so do not have any cost, but we will need licenses for the Office 97 productivity suite and some other software applications. Our Windows 95 licenses have already been purchased. In addition to the PC upgrades, five of our oldest Macs would also be replaced, and vacant spots in labs would be filled with new computers.

Proposed cost: $70,000.

2. Mail server (split cost)

o Install a new, high-capacity Unix platform to act primarily as the campus mail server.

Justification: Currently we have some mail users on the Vax (caa) while new students and faculty have tended to prefer using our Unix server for mail (cda). The dual options have caused confusion for users, and massive increases in mail volume have overloaded both platforms this year. This item would add a new central Unix server with greater capacity than our existing cda server, and would shift most mail functions there. The existing cda server would be shuffled to handle POPmail and other "client" mail packages. A single Internet address would be used for all campus mail users (username@morris.umn.edu). Because this item will benefit faculty and staff as well as students, I propose to split the cost of the new server between technology fee revenue and Computing Services' existing equipment replacement fund.

Proposed cost: $12,000 (from technology fee revenue).

3. Modem pool upgrade

o Install two new terminal servers in preparation for addition of modem lines.

Justification: Terminal servers provide network ports for modem connections. Each of our incoming modem pool lines requires a terminal server port in order to connect to UMM network services. Our existing 16-port terminal server is fully used at this time -- we cannot add any new modem lines until we add more terminal servers. This item would allow us to purchase two new 16-port terminal servers in preparation for adding new modem lines in the fall. We may prefer not to add the modems or the phone lines themselves, since the lines incur monthly charges which will be unused during the summer months and the modems are likely to go down in cost if we wait. In addition, we can go through the full fee allocation process to come to a determination about exactly how many new lines ought to be added. But it makes sense to purchase the terminal servers now to allow us to add incoming lines quickly in the fall.

Proposed cost: $6,000.

4. ResNet preparation

o Purchase network hubs, adapters, and patch cables to accommodate anticipated increased demand in ResNet use.

Justification: With all special fees for ResNet to be abolished in fall 1997, we project that subscriptions will increase by at least 100%. The network has been designed to handle that volume, and only minor preparations are needed. Adapters and patch cables are provided to users when they subscribe, so a new stock of those will be required. The availability of ports on network hubs depends on the distribution of users. If certain halls have a larger number of users than random distribution would predict, then we will need to add hubs. We'd like to buy these hubs in advance in order to be prepared for demand.

Proposed cost: $7,000.

Please feel free to get in touch with me if you'd like more information about any of these proposals. When the official allocation process is in place, I will bring forward other proposals, including the much-requested proposal for expanded laser printing.

cc: Karen Fischer
Roger Boleman