We are continuing to install Cisco 2970s to expand our number of backbone building switches as well as replace/upgrade our Foundry Networks FastIron Workgroup switches.

 

We are implementing a Cisco 3060 VPN solution and we are still working through some issues with Cisco but very close to prototype release. The ’group authentication’ feature had a known defect, which Cisco remedied via the introduction of SSL based encryption. Initiation of split tunneling through the use of RADIUS attributes didn’t work. There may be an interaction problem with the Win XP SP 2 firewall resulting in premature connection termination.

Our prototype wireless data network is moving forward using Airespace equipment, which is in the process of being acquired by Cisco.  Airespace has indicated Cisco will merge some specific Airespace technologies into Cisco's existing access points, but some key questions will likely remain unaddressed until the acquisition is completed in about a month.

We are doing communications infrastructure construction projects via contracts issued through Facilities Management.  We are preparing to bid a vendor blanket through purchasing in the spring or summer for communications maintenance projects.

We plan to explore with Housing & Residential Services expanding our universal cable television service beyond the residence halls to also include the family apartments.

We've received 32 accurate DMCA complaints since July 1, 2004 which is almost identical to last year at this time.  (Our big drop in complaints was between 02/03 and 03/04 when the campus implemented 30-day disconnects for the 1st complaint.)  We received 4 complaints that were withdrawn because MediaSentry (contractor for various copyright holders) was in error regarding some alleged eDonkey-based infringements. DMCA complaints have generally been quite accurate, but we noticed some recent complaints for eDonkey based infringements involved unused IP addresses.  MediaSentry was not accessible or responsive to reports of their errors, but the MPAA was ultimately responsive and ensured complaints were rapidly withdrawn.

The Identity Management (IdM) subcommittees have been attempting to create a baseline architecture for roles within the Oblix authorization framework. This has been fraught with difficulty due to limitations of the LDAP technology currently housing our enterprise directory. We are also pursuing the creation of an enterprise IdM architecture from an independent consultant. We were first advised to contact PWC, but very quickly agreed that this was impossible due to Sarbanes-Oxley. Negotiations are now in progress with Deloitte.The UCSB single signon environment, Espresso, is in production.  Currently participating applications are limited to a few administrative applications that were specifically chosen to demonstrate the concept to the campus. The future scope includes student, faculty, and staff applications based on role.  In addition to introducing the campus to the technology, the technical community is using Espresso as a means to introduce the campus to the capabilities of the Oblix Identity management (IdM) system.

UCSB is planning to release the Admissions on-line Student Intent to Register (SIR) application with eCheck payment at the beginning of March for use by the Fall 2005 accepted applicants.  This is an MS .Net application with web self service interfaces that uses broker interfaces to the mainframe Admissions system, and integrates with the UCSB billingoffice process to support the banking functions.

 

In conjunction with the on-line SIR release is an enhanced on-line enrolment process which will lead the students through all the steps to enroll at UCSB, including a streamlined on-line Statement of Legal Residency application.

 

For Fall 04 grade submittal, UCSB's eGrade application was the primary grading method. This application was introduced as a voluntary option for Spring 04 grading.  Winter and Spring 05 enhancements to the application will provide additional faculty requested functionality.

We are implementing the Tessitura Ticketing system for our Arts and Lectures program for the 05-06 seasons.  This application will replace the box office ticket sales functionality beginning in Spring 05, and introduce web ticket sales in Fall 05.

UCSB is still highly interested in and is actively monitoring the progress of the Kuali project. We are interested in discussing Kuali from a UC perspective in association with the Kuali initiative that the UC Controllers have undertaken. We see this as not only a good step forward for UCSB, but as also presenting a potential candidate for multi-campus initiatives involving both scale and economy.

Migration to the z/OS Version 1.5 operating system has been completed. We are finishing with consolidation and house keeping. The next target for the IBM server is the adoption of processes that leverage the SUSE Linux LPAR with Apache, Tomcat, JBOSS components and hipersocket shared memory between the LPARs. This is also an element of our studying open source technology to replace the IBM Websphere environment, which has proven too expensive and technologically intensive to maintain.

Our virtualization initiative with respect to the Windows and Linux server OS's under VMware ESX server has been very successful. As mentioned in the previous ITLC report, the remaining component is storage virtualization. We are adopting the architectural philosophy of no intelligence in the storage arrays, but rather centralizing it within the SAN fabric and having an attendant single point of management.

As the amortization of our servers occurs, we are moving to a blade style hardware architecture. It is fundamentally more expensive than individual rack mounted servers, but we are designing to cost from a staffing perspective and not that of the hardware.

Student Affairs and Admin Services are developing a joint architecture for electronic payments (ACH).

Exploration of Uportal usage for course management system platform and a business functions portal is underway. The key issue is integration into the campus Oblix IdM system. We have been discussing the project and the necessary technology with Unicon, the purveyor of Uportal technology.

Conversion to SAMS (Sendmail Inc) is completed. We will follow through with a re-visitation to and implementation of anti-spam technology.