ESQ"> CSCF Support for ESQ

The ESQ (Engineering Science Quest) outreach program has, for the past few years, "borrowed" a Mac Lab from the SCS to support their computing activities. Our ability to provide direct support has diminished due to staff cutbacks. The following describes the basic support that we can offer. It is organized as a timeline.

Outline

The basic idea is that we dedicate a roomful of Macs to the program. A local admin userid is created. The systems are removed from ARD profile management, so that the admin user can install software and do anything else necessary (we don't manage software for the program). They are not interested in central file-storage, so we do not need to create teaching-region accounts. Over the summer, we provide hardware support but no software support. At the end of August, the systems are reimaged so that there is no risk of infection.

Suggested timeline

November-December

• Staff from ESQ contact us to see if we're still able to accommodate them. The generic email address is "manager@esqcamp.ca".

February

• If we are proceeding, we contact ISG to see if a room is available. ESQ typically wants it for a month ahead of time (June) to do setup; then July & August for the program.

March

• Negotiate the room

early May

• create an IST RT item to modify the door alarm schedule. Typically we make it auto-lock 24x7 and issue keys to ESQ staff
• remind ESQ to arrange keys (with Helen Jardine)
• set up a local userid on the selected systems for administration; we've used "esqadm" in the past. The password should be identical for all systems
• confirm userids

end of May

• "unmanage" the systems in the room so that the admin account created earlier can have full control
• confirm userids are fully enabled

June through August

• respond to reports of broken hardware

end of August

• re-image the systems that were used

summary of ST items:

• 2014: ST # 92123
• 2013: ST # 85794
• 2012: ST # 81545
• 2011: ST # 77052
• 2010: ST # 69849
• 2008: ST # 62912
• 2007: ST # 58567