CSCF Objectives and Milestones - Fall 2016

Hardware Acquisition, Deployment, and Lifecycle Management

Plan, purchase, configure, deploy and manage lifecycle of equipment for offices, labs, and server rooms.

• Objective: annual hardware purchasing based on CSCF budget and evergreening priorities
  • W16 (INF): finish FY15 purchasing by UW's FY15 purchasing deadline (ordered, waiting for shipments)
• Objective: timely deployment of desktop/laptop equipment to incoming graduate students
  • F16 (RSG,INF): acquire and deploy equipment for incoming W17 grads before the holiday break, for equipment choices/locations identified by the grad office before 2 December (ST#107130) - Lawrence, Dave, Phil
  • F16 (INF): purchase grad equipment for W17 in mid-October, based on best estimates of requirements available at that time, so that all equipment is here by end of November (ST#107135) - Dave, Phil
  • S16 (INF/RSG) acquire and deploy equipment for incoming F16 students by 31 August, for equipment choices/locations identified by the grad office before 10 August (done - 12 students)
• Objective: CSCF-standard equipment configurations and images, updated on an annual cycle
  • F16 (INF): patch the current (Win10/14.04) image for W17 deployments (ST#107132) - Phil/Mike
  • F16 (INF): tentative 2017 hardware configuration (ST#107798) - Dave, Phil, consultation with RSG
  • W16 (INF): F16 image ready for use on May hardware deployments (not done, but expected for May 1)
  • W16 (INF): 2016 desktop, laptop, and server hardware configurations finalized (done)
• Objective: non-standard equipment acquisition
  • W17: Thinking Ape project, purchasing phones for CS446

Machine Rooms and Server Infrastructure

Machine rooms and infrastructure for School and research equipment.

• Objective: redundant machine rooms to host CS on-line services
  • S16 (INF): improved bandwidth between CS machine rooms to support replicated services (mostly done - 40 Gb links in place between two pairs of rooms)
• Objective: rationalize CS networks
  • F16 (INF): server vlans routed on server room switches, client vlans routed on building aggregation switches (ST#106856)
• Objective: virtualization for CS servers
  • F16 (TOP/INF) migrate/update fms12.cs from Vmware4 to Vmware5 (ST#107828 Server moved and VLAN updated)
• Objective: load balancing and failover for critical CS on-line services
  • F16 (INF): deploy redundant load balancing service to balance load to apache (ST#107102)

Teaching Labs

Management of teaching labs in support of academic programs.

• Objective: database of usage statistics for all teaching labs
  • W17 (INF/TOP): time, number of bums in seats, location csv data for all labs
  • W16 (INF): accurate usage stats for thin client labs (MC 3022, MC 2061) (done, but some doubts about veracity of data)
• Objective: evergreen Lab computing equipment
  • S16 (INF/TOP): refresh (equipment, furniture) in MC 3005 (Mac lab) (done)
  • S16 (INF/TOP): acquire/install new desks in MC3027 (Mac lab) (deferred)
  • S16 (INF/TOP): evergreen MC3018 (real-time lab) equipment (done)
  • S16 (INF/TOP): evergreen MC3007 (graphics lab) - four new stations (partially done)
    • Almost done, will be done by end of F16 term (Fraser)
  • W16 (INF/TOP): finish evergreening of MC3022 by replacing 5 missing work sites (done)
  • W16 (INF/TOP): planning August evergreening of 2nd and 3rd floor Mac labs (done)
• Objective: ensure that lab equipment is functional and works well
  • F16 (TOP) - docs for external users explaining what's available in the teaching labs (ST#107814)
  • S16 (TOP): have ISA desktops and all Mac labs managed by Caspar suite and upgraded to Mac OS 10.11 (done)
  • S16 (TOP/INF): as Mac labs are OS upgraded, move each to a separate VLAN (done)
  • W16 (TOP): diagnose, fix if possible, very slow login and poor performance in labs (some progress)
  • W16 (TOP): establish a process for imaging Macs (in offices and meeting rooms, as well as in the labs) and for switching from image to image. (done)
• Objective: simple access to programming contest server from any general purpose lab
  • F16 (INF/TOP): system for providing remote contest server desktops available for use in Mac labs for F16 contests(ST#108067)
  • S16 (INF): investigate and deploy system for providing remote contest server desktops on any machines in any of the general purpose (Linux, Mac) labs. (done for Linux, not for Macs)
    • Mac labs done F16 with minor issues [ST#106905]
• Objective: lab for use by CS coursework Mmath students
  • F16 (INF/TOP) plan for refurbish of coursework Mmath lab, and move to new space once identified(ST#107829)
• Objective: lab access
  • W17 (TOP): investigate alternatives to punch-key-code lock system for realtime and graphics labs.

Meeting Room and Public Space Management

Management of A/V in CS meeting rooms.

• Objective: A/V for grad classrooms and meeting rooms
  • W17 (INF/TOP) - podium screen for DC2585
  • F16 (INF/TOP) - plan, get approval for, and deploy video upgrade in DC2568 (grad classroom) (ST#106350)
  • W16 (TOP): update signs, labels and incident management procedures, and establish procedures for responding to problems. (partially done - signage is not yet in place)
• Objective: Manage and maintain SCS public display boards
  • F16 (INF/TOP) - plan and obtain approval for third SCS public display, in Great Hall (ST#104597) - Dan
    • Project cancelled
    • Third display requested above DC cafeteria, waiting on contractor work to support display (DONE)

On-Line Services: Database Management

Backend database services to support other on-line services and School operations.

• Objective: Highly available MySQL cluster to serve non-teaching applications, including ST, inventory.
  • W17 (TOP): Auto-start MySQL
  • W17 (TOP): propose plan for upgrading to MySQL 5.6
  • W16 (INF): 3-node MySQL cluster in production and ready to accept data and host applications (Feb'16) (done)
  • W16 (TOP/RSG): port non-teaching applications to new MySQL cluster (done)

On-Line Services: Linux Computing Environments

Linux computing environment(s) for teaching and for faculty/staff/grad general use.

• Objective: track Ubuntu LTS releases in teaching and general environments (Ubuntu 16.04 in production by April 2017)
  • W17 (INF/TOP): upgrade ubuntu 12.04 machines
  • S16 (INF): ubuntu 16.04 servers on-line, announced and available for end-user testing in both general and teaching environments (not done, but close)
  • W16 (INF): ubuntu14.04.student.cs in production (done)
  • W16 (INF): ubuntu14.04.cs in production (done)
  • W16 (INF): ubuntu14.04.cs is default for linux.cs (happening last week of April)
  • W16 (INF/TOP): ubuntu14.04.student.cs is default for linux.student.cs (happening last week of April)
  • W16 (TOP): transition teaching and course/specific software to 14.04 (done, including marmoset built servers, seashell daemons, uC++, CS452 cross compiler)

On-Line Services: Teaching Systems

Systems for marking, assignment submission, and other teaching-related tasks.

• Objective: manage on-going operation of Seashell service
  • S16 (TOP): transition Seashell to a CSCF-managed service (done)
• Objective: manage and maintain Markus
  • F16 (TOP): upgrade Markus to version 1+ (Done) (ST#105327)
  • F16 (INF/TOP): update assignments.student.cs container (12.04 to 16.04) (ST#107830)
    • Prefer to move to W17 to prevent version mismatches between linux.student.cs. Nick would also like to wait until INF has a reliable, well tested Ubuntu 16.04 image instead of rushing them and getting an image that's poorly configured.
  • F16 (INF/TOP): deploy markus and marmoset deployment onto assignment.student.cs (ST#107831)
    • Prefer to move to W17 to prevent version mismatches between linux.student.cs. Nick would also like to wait until INF has a reliable, well tested Ubuntu 16.04 image instead of rushing them and getting an image that's poorly configured.
• Objective: manage and maintain Marmoset
  • F16 (TOP): configuration improvements to Marmoset to improve reliability (ST#107816)
• Objective: ISG server for CS200
  • F16 (TOP) decommission and shut down Oscar, old ISG server for CS200 (DONE ST#94375)

On-Line Services: File Storage

File storage for students, staff, and faculty.

• Objective: highly-available network file service (NetApp) with limited capacity (4GB/undergrad, 20GB/ grad, 50GB/faculty)
• Objective: highly-available, performant, high-capacity file service (DFS) for SCS faculty, staff, grads
  • F16 (INF/RSG): DFS in production under FSS (ST#105604) - Lori, Dave, Guoxiang
• Objective: file syncing/sharing (FSS) service for SCS faculty, staff, grads
  • F16 (INF/RSG): roll-out of FSS service to SCS (ST#105554) - Lori, Guoxiang, Nathan
• Objective: reliable Samba service
  • F16 (INF): Redundant samba service for both teaching and general environments

On-Line Services: Email

Supplemental e-mail services to support of SCS-specific requirements.

• Objective: SCS mail exchange (MX) service supporting local mail scripting and SCS-specific aliases.
  • F16 (INF): re-design and re-deploy existing MX servers, modernizing and avoiding current spam-forwarding problem. (ST#103315) - Dave, Adrian
  • S16 (INF): re-design and re-deploy existing MX service, modernizing and avoiding current spam-forwarding problem. (not done)

On-Line Services: WWW

Web presence for SCS and CSCF

• Objective: refresh/upgrade CSCF web presence
  • F16 (TOP/RSG) - plan content of revised site (ST#87147) - Daniel, Lawrence
  • F16 (TOP/RSG) - decision about moving CSCF web to WCMS (ST#87147) - Dave, Lawrence, Omar
  • F16 (TOP/RSG) - WCMS training for at least one staff (ST#107832) - Omar, Lawrence
• Objective: support CS web presence
  • F16 (TOP/RSG) - migration of CS WCMS content from Math to UW (ST#93697) - Daniel

Teaching/Administrative Services

Custom services in support of teaching and School administration.

• W17 (INF/TOP): acquire, deploy hardware and on-board three or more new administrative and teaching staff in school
• S16 (TOP): investigate waiting/ticketing system for new ISG student waiting area (removed as goal)
• S16 (TOP): assist with CS transition to IST's staff absence management system (done)
• S16 (TOP): assist with SCS sharepoint reorganization (not done, not client priority)
• S16 (TOP): investigate Faculty on-boarding with Sharepoint (not done, not client priority)
• S16 (TOP): transition CS349 from svn to git (done)

Research Services

Custom services in support of research activities.

• Objective: * Paper * cluster - research infrastructure from surplus equipment, operated on a cost-recovery basis.
  • W16 (RSG): rack the surplus hardware we have (not done)
• Objective: SCS research computing systems and grad/faculty desktops behind UW-mandated firewall
  • F16 (RSG): get remaining research nets behind the firewall (ST#88134) - Lawrence, Mike, Ronaldo, Gordon, Lori
  • S16 (RSG): finish research group consultations and have client net behind the firewall (client nets done, most research nets are done)
  • W16 (RSG): finish research group consultations and have client net behind the firewall (not done)

SCS Software Projects: Exam Management System (EMS)

System to support exam seating, printing, and marking.

• Objective: on-going operation and management, client assistance, handled by TOP group
  • F16 (RSG): PoC for EMS for other Depts: Accounting & Financial Mgmt, Chemistry, Engineering, Stats, Distance - posted on the Odyssey EMS help page. (ST#104199) - Isaac
  • S16 (RSG/TOP): continue Nick as primary point of contact for EMS help (done)
  • W16 (RSG): broaden EMS support base by establishing non-Isaac point-of-contact for EMS (progress made)
• Objective: on-going feature enhancement
  • F16 (RSG): revamp EMS UI (supervised by Daniel) (ST#103701) - Daniel
  • S16 (RSG): testing of new EMS feature: push exam marks from Crowdmark into Learn (done)
  • W16 (RSG): modify exam printing process to embed fonts to improve workflow with Media Services (done)
  • W16 (RSG): modify EMS to handle multi-version exams (done)

SCS Software Projects: Grad Visit Day System

System to support annual Grad Visit Day, including scheduling

• Objective: ensure reliable system operation, customization and enhancements
  • W16 (RSG): updates for W16 visit day (done)

SCS Software Projects: TA Evaluation System

Proposed system to support TA Evaluation workflow for the Grad Office.

• Objective: design, develop, deploy, maintain
  • F16 (RSG): solicit feedback on TA evaluation system, propose any Phase 2 changes (ST#107138) - Isaac
  • S16 (RSG): initial use and testing for S16 TA evaluations (done)
  • W16 (RSG): create project plan for this system (done, and system is implemented)

SCS Software Project: Teaching Preference System

System to collect faculty teaching preferences.

• Objective: ensure reliable system operation, refine and enhance as needed
  • W16 (TOP): update preference information to reflect changes in UW scheduling process (done)

SCS Software Projects: OAT

Backend database supporting advising tools, UW Portal, EMS, and other applications.

• Objective: ensure reliable system operation, enhance functionality
  • S16 (RSG): add admissions data (not done, external challenges)
  • W16 (RSG): overhaul data import to use new data source (blocked, not done)
  • W16 (RSG): add admissions data (not complete, on-going external challenges)

SCS Software Projects: OGSAS

System to support graduate admissions workflow.

• Objective: ensure reliable system operation, on-going feature enhancement
  • F16 (RSG): solicit feedback, propose new features if needed (ST#107140) - Isaac
  • S16 (RSG): implement modifications requested by Assoc. Director Grad Studies (done)
  • W16 (RSG): implement modifications requested by Assoc. Director Grad Studies (not done due to lack of data feeds)
• Objective: port OGSAS to OAT backend
  • S16 (RSG): port OGSAS to OAT (not done, blocked on data availability)
  • W16 (RSG): port OGSAS to OAT (blocked, not done)

CSCF-Internal Systems: Accounts Management

Manage and utilize accounts data for CS students, faculty, and staff

• Objective: exploit OAT database for accounts data
  • F16 (INF/RSG): get course enrollment (group) data in Directory Service from OAT DB (ST#94230) - Adrian, Clayton, Isaac

CSCF-Internal Systems: Inventory

System to track equipment inventory.

• Objective: ensure reliable operation, feature enhancements
  • W16 (RSG): version 3.5.1 bug fixes (done)
  • W16 (RSG): explore machine room mapping (not done, some progress)

CSCF-Internal Systems: Research Subscription System

System to manage research support subscriptions, track time, generate bills

• Objective: ensure reliable operation, feature enhancements
  • F16 (RSG): modify subscription system as necessary for revised billing model (ST#107142) - Daniel, Lawrence
  • W16 (RSG): bug fixes (done)

CSCF-Internal Systems: Request Tracking

System to track research support requests.

• Objective: move CSCF request tracking to RT by 1 May 2017
  • F16 (RSG/TOP/INF): RT replacement for ST system in test, with sample queues and staff dashboards - Daniel, Fraser (ST#103960)
  • S16 (RSG/INF/TOP): plan for moving CSCF request tracking to RT (done - #103960)
  • W16 (RSG): make a decision about the future of current ST system (not done)

Strategic Planning

Review and long-term planning of CSCF services.

• W17 (INF/TOP/RSG): reconcile any issues determined from F16 client survey and execute and integrate results from W17 survey
• F16 (INF/TOP/RSG): plan for revision of CSCF web space? (ST#87147)
• F16 (INF) develop printing support plan (ST#???)
• F16 (TOP) investigate and possible deploy/migrate on campus Slack alternative (ST#106914) - Devon
  • Mattermost service is ready, waiting on mysql.cs to reach MySQL 5.6+ before making service production
• S16 (INF/TOP): review remaining mail services in student environment and set objectives (not done)
• S16 (INF): develop long-term plan for backup and archiving (review done, plan not done)
• S16 (INF/RSG): go/no-go decision on owncloud/file service project (done)
• S16 (TOP/INF): review applications that remain on MySQL in the student environment and develop a plan for supporting them (not done)
• S16 (INF/RSG): review existing PostgreSQL/Odyssey infrastructure and develop a plan for managing it (review done, plan not done)
• W16 (INF/RSG): go/no-go decision on owncloud/file service project (not done)
• W16 (RSG/TOP/INF): hold CSCF staff retreat, generate recommendations (done)

Financials & Staffing

Manage CSCF spending on staff, equipment, and services.

• Objective: Produce annual equipment budget proposal for SCS.
  • F16 (INF): draft FY17 budget (ST#105854) - Dave, Omar, Lawrence
  • W16 (INF): FY16 CSCF budget request to the School (done)
  • F15 (INF): draft of FY16 budget (mostly done - pricing updates needed)
• Objective: Timely and well-managed spending - avoid last minute spending.
  • W17 (INF/TOP/RSG): develop a process with admin to ensure that non-FTE staffing budget is not exceeded in next fiscal year.
  • F16 (INF): At least 85% of CSCF budget spent by 31 December - Dave, Omar, Lawrence
  • S16 (INF/TOP/RSG): Develop spending plan for FY16 budget. (done #676380)
  • S16 (INF/TOP/RSG): At least 40% of CSCF budget spent by August 31st. (done)
• Objective: timely billing of researchers for research services
  • F16 (RSG): F16 billing under new billing model by end of October (ST#107475) - Lawrence
  • S16 (RSG): S16 bills out by the end of May 2016 (done, but at end of August)
  • W16 (RSG): F15 and W16 bills out in early Feb'16 (done)
• Objective: Staff training and coaching
  • W17 (INF/TOP/RSG): Staff appraisals