Mudd Center

The Irvin E. Houck Center for Information Technology (CIT) is responsible for most of the computing resources on campus. CIT is located in the Mudd Learning Center on Level A.

Help Desk: Mudd 005, call 775-8197 or send an e-mail message to cit@oberlin.edu

Technology Services Center (TSC) [student technology support]: Mudd 112B, Mudd Academic Commons

Technology Store: Mudd Level A, call 775-8628 or send an e-mail message to cstore@oberlin.edu

Other Technology Resources on Campus:

E-Mail - setting up your email account (OCMail and previous e-mail system)	Wireless - available in many areas across campus	Copyright Rules - don't violate copyright laws!
ObieID - your main Oberlin computer account	VPN - provides secure access, especially important in using wireless	Printing - in Labs and Offices
Password Changing - set your password recovery questions	Protecting Your Computer - physical and data security	Guest Access - Internet access for visitors
oncampus.oberlin.edu - provides info specific to you via web page - your events, groups, courses, etc.	Network Authentication - required to access network resources	New to Oberlin? - geting started with Information Technology at Oberlin College

LATEST NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Server Maintenance Being Conducted 05 Nov 2009 [05Nov09]

Due to some issues that occurred today (Thursday, 05 Nov.), CIT will need to perform some necessary maintenance on one if its servers. This will be conducted later tonight in order to have the least impact. The work will begin at 10:30 P.M. Users may experience short periods of time (5-10 minutes) when they are unable to reach certain network resources, such as Stu and Staff LOCKER, some lab software (such as Eviews), Math shares, and some administrative data/programs. Any downtime should be quite minimal in duration. Thus, if you are unable to reach certain resources, please wait a few minutes and try again.

Access to Web Server From Off-Campus Now Restricted [05Nov09]

In keeping with our long-term plan to enhance network and server security, we have restricted SSH (secure shell) access to the college's main web server from. Users desiring access from off-campus (for example, to maintain web pages), will now need to use VPN (Virtual Private Network) in order to gain access. SSH from off-campus will no longer function on its own. Users will need to login to VPN prior to using SSH to reach the web server. VPN is available for download from the Standard Software pages (see link at left). More information on VPN is available online.

Burton Computer lab reopened. [05Nov09]

The Burton Computer lab has now been reopened. CIT is aware of the heat in the lab and has reported that to Facilities. The lab was closed due to a water leak.

Implementation Plans of New Network Authentication Process Announced. [08Oct09]

Here are our plans for the Safe*Connect Network Authentication Process.

Wired connections in the Residence Hall part of the Campus Network	Monday, October 19, 2009 (during Fall break)
All campus Wireless	Wednesday, October 21, 2009 (during Fall break)
All other wired connections (academic buildings and administrative offices)	Tuesday, January 5, 2010 (during Winter Term)

The Safe*Connect system will provide only informational warnings until at least second semester (unless a virus outbreak warrants changes to these settings). CIT’s main focus is simply to provide a product that will keep the network as safe and secure as possible, and assist our user community as much as possible. Please read the full story for all the details.

If you want to get a jump on adding the Safe*Connect Policy Key to your system, it is available on the CIT Downloads web page (http://www.oberlin.edu/cit/downloads/virusprot.html). Simply enter your ObieID and password to access the software.

Note: Wired and wireless devices with the Policy Key installed will only require authentication once every semester. For some devices, i.e., those for which there is no Policy Key available for download - iPod, iTouch, iPhone, Linux computers, etc. - authentication will be required more frequently. CIT is currently working on configuring the parameters for these devices to lengthen this timeframe to the maximum extent possible. Since the Safe Connect authentication system is unaware of the status of these devices with respect to anti-virus software and OS updates, please understand that authentication will necessarily be required much more frequently (could be 1-4 days) for these types of devices. Thank you for your patience while we work to enhance this new system, and endeavor to keep the campus network as safe and secure as possible.

Network Bandwidth Increased! [03Nov09]

Our total network bandwidth increased on 05 October 2009! Our connection speed was doubled, from 90 megabits per second (Mbps) to approximately 180 Mbps (200 Mps minus required operational overhead). The increase results from contract negotiations we started with Time Warner Cable last fall, and signed in the spring. The agreement provides a fiber link, allowing for a future growth capability of up to 10 times what we have now (up to one gigabit per second). This scalable growth potential uses a tiered bandwidth subscription model, i.e., it is dependent upon our expressed need and available funding. This should serve Oberlin’s needs for the next few years.

Oberlin College CIT Does Not Phish! [30July08]

Oberlin College CIT will never, ever, ask you for your password or e-mail credentials in an email. If you think messages that do are "phishy", you are right to be suspicious, and we thank you for not replying to the message. Unfortunately, there is little we can do in advance to block attempts like this, so please, remain vigilant! When in doubt, call the CIT Help Desk (ext 58197) or e-mail us. Please read from the following links for more information:

http://citwiki.oberlin.edu/index.php/Phishing and http://www.oberlin.edu/cit/news/alerts.html