- Physics-Departmental-Computing

Fwd: Re: Departmental computing meeting minutes
by David Colling 15 Apr '11

15 Apr '11

Minutes of the last meeting taken by Simon. All the best, david

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Can we do without Wolfram?,
by David Colling 15 Apr '11

15 Apr '11

Dear Computing Reps, The Wolfram lawyers are being wholly unreasonable and so Jo asked me if we could possibly do without any Wolfram products in the department. I replied that whilst this would be fine for me (I have access via CERN) I suspect that many would not be able to work effectively without it. I did however, say that I would ask this group in case I was wrong. So, was I wrong? All the best, david

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Summary of the Wolfram
by David Colling 14 Apr '11

14 Apr '11

Dear All, I think that we have probably done the Mathematica conversation to death. So I thought that I would summarise the situation as a way of rounding off the discussion this time around (although I do have a couple of questions to which I would like replies - so not quite over yet). I am sure that we will revisit the particular nugget again. - I have done a few google searches (as I know have a couple of other people have as well) and it appears that other things like Maple are good they are not as good as Mathematica for difficult problems. Also people are used to using it and like it. The science must come first and so we need to be able to use Mathematica. - College now traces all illegal use and stops it (and Carlo, there were certainly some illegal copies in theory). - We have a variety of licenses purchased in a variety of ways. Individual licenses, some as part of the 3 year plan etc. - At the end of the 3 year plan we had decided to move to a department wide license server so this is where the questions come in. o When exactly does the current 3 year agreement come to an end? o How many groups have license servers at the moment? I have a feeling it is 2 or 3 ... I have it in my notes but as I am asking other questions it is quicker to ask it again than trawl through my notes. o Am I correct in thinking that these are floating licenses in the sense that that matters is how concurrent users there are and that they are not locked to individual seats or users? o How many licenses do people currently have and how many would they like? o Would this arrangement also work for the DTC machines? If so how many licenses would be needed here (an extra 50?) o These licenses ate ~£145/license/year and you have to buy them year on year for 3 years - is this the arrangement? - Wolfram would like us to buy a site licenses at £30K. We don't want to send this. - I will keep you posted of any news I hear. Is there anything else that I have missed. All the best, david

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Fwd: FW: Disaster Recovery for Research Data - College Policy
by David Colling 01 Apr '11

01 Apr '11

Hi Linda, Having a quick read through this suggests to me that this should already be covered in the disaster recovery plans that we fill in and send to Harry. He asks for these from each group via the departmental computing meetings. I am forwarding these to the physics computing list so that the policy is distributed to the right people in the department. All the best, david -------- Original Message -------- Subject: FW: Disaster Recovery for Research Data - College Policy Date: Fri, 1 Apr 2011 11:34:47 +0100 From: Jones, Linda D <l.jones(a)imperial.ac.uk> To: Colling, David J <d.colling(a)imperial.ac.uk> CC: Jones, Linda D <l.jones(a)imperial.ac.uk> Dave – any thoughts on this? It is a large (and of course important) part of our broad disaster recovery plan. Many thanks! Linda *From:*Nadal, Rebecca C *Sent:* 17 March 2011 12:01 *To:* ph.hod; Owens, Ian; Welton, Tom; McCoy, Emma J; Mumford, John D *Cc:* Bradley, Donal D C; Cummins, Bob D; Dallman, Maggie J; Boyce, Eileen S; Jones, Linda D; Jones, Richard L; Lyle, Karen R; Evans, Pat M; Hirjee, Nazia *Subject:* Disaster Recovery for Research Data - College Policy Dear HoDs, Please see below and attached for information regarding the recently approved College policy on *Disaster Recovery for Research Data* in response to an internal audit. Best wishes, Becky. Dear Faculty Principals The College Research Committee has recently approved a College policy on Disaster Recovery for Research Data in response to an internal audit that looked at disaster recovery arrangements in individual Departments. This is an important issue, which the College takes seriously. Please could you bring this policy to the attention of your PIs and ensure they comply with it. A copy will be placed on the Research Strategy web page http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/researchstrategy for ease of reference. /Please cascade the above note to your Heads of Department./ Best wishes David Begg Acting Pro Rector Research

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Fwd: RE: Agenda for today's meeting
by David Colling 23 Mar '11

23 Mar '11

yes it is Blackett 532. -------- Original Message -------- Subject: RE: [Physics-Departmental-Computing] Agenda for today's meeting Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2011 12:07:33 +0000 From: Bantges, Richard J <r.bantges(a)imperial.ac.uk> To: Colling, David J <d.colling(a)imperial.ac.uk> Hi David, Just checking the meeting's in Blackett 532? Cheers, Rich -----Original Message----- From: physics-departmental-computing-bounces(a)imperial.ac.uk [mailto:physics-departmental-computing-bounces@imperial.ac.uk] On Behalf Of David Colling Sent: 23 March 2011 10:51 To: physics-departmental-computing Subject: [Physics-Departmental-Computing] Agenda for today's meeting Dear All, Just a quick agenda for todays meeting (time will be 12:30 in room 532). - Disaster recovery plans - Status and plans for the Huxley Machine room - News and plans from ICT - Desktop replacement status (any change) - Licensing - Possible intel compilers for Mac OS X - Any news on any other licences - Teaching status and news - Groups status and news the particular idea of these is to see if there is anything that we can do to help each other or learn from each other's experiences. All the best, david _______________________________________________ Physics-Departmental-Computing mailing list Physics-Departmental-Computing(a)imperial.ac.uk https://mailman.ic.ac.uk/mailman/listinfo/physics-departmental-computing

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Agenda for today's meeting
by David Colling 23 Mar '11

23 Mar '11

Dear All, Just a quick agenda for todays meeting (time will be 12:30 in room 532). - Disaster recovery plans - Status and plans for the Huxley Machine room - News and plans from ICT - Desktop replacement status (any change) - Licensing - Possible intel compilers for Mac OS X - Any news on any other licences - Teaching status and news - Groups status and news the particular idea of these is to see if there is anything that we can do to help each other or learn from each other's experiences. All the best, david

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Meeting Wednesday
by David Colling 21 Mar '11

21 Mar '11

Dear All, Nobody has said that they wont be able to make the meeting if we have it on Wednesday (that I have seen at least), so I have booked room 532 from 12.30 to 2.30. I will circulate an agenda tomorrow. All the best, david

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Physics departmental computing Meeting
by David Colling 18 Mar '11

18 Mar '11

Dear All, We have spectacularly failed to have a meeting this ter, This is largely because I have been very busy and have failed to organise it. I thik that we probably do have matters to discuss and so I can think of two approaches: 1. that we have a meeting next week, of which Wednesday is currently the best for me. How many people would not be able to make Wednesday lunchtime? 2. that we set up a doodle poll for the period in the Easter break. The problem with that is that people often plan to travel immediately after the lecture course finishes etc. Let me know your preferences. Mine is for option 1. if it is possible and 2. if it is not ;-) Also let me know if you have agenda items. All the best, david

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Fwd: RE: ICT Service desk phones - Update
by David Colling 17 Mar '11

17 Mar '11

-------- Original Message -------- Subject: RE: ICT Service desk phones - Update Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2011 16:06:48 +0000 From: Allatt, Paul <p.allatt(a)imperial.ac.uk> To: ICTAP Members <ccs-dept(a)imperial.ac.uk> CC: ICT Incident Manager <incident.manager(a)imperial.ac.uk> Dear All, ICT service desk phones are now working again. ICT apologises for the earlier disruption to service. Regards Paul *From:*Allatt, Paul *Sent:* 17 March 2011 14:23 *To:* ICTAP Members *Cc:* ICT Incident Manager *Subject:* ICT Service desk phones Dear All, We have a problem with the ICT service desk phones. (ext 49000) If you try to ring you may get disconnected or hear a distorted message. We have alerted the supplier of our managed phone system and they working on the issue. We are expecting a resolution by 15.30. We will let you know once the service has been restored. ICT apologises for the inconvenience caused. regards Paul

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Fwd: ICT Service desk phones
by David Colling 17 Mar '11

17 Mar '11

FYI... -------- Original Message -------- Subject: ICT Service desk phones Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2011 14:23:01 +0000 From: Allatt, Paul <p.allatt(a)imperial.ac.uk> To: ICTAP Members <ccs-dept(a)imperial.ac.uk> CC: ICT Incident Manager <incident.manager(a)imperial.ac.uk> Dear All, We have a problem with the ICT service desk phones. (ext 49000) If you try to ring you may get disconnected or hear a distorted message. We have alerted the supplier of our managed phone system and they working on the issue. We are expecting a resolution by 15.30. We will let you know once the service has been restored. ICT apologises for the inconvenience caused. regards Paul

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