This document specifies the features of a PCN Maintained workstation running Microsoft's Windows operating system and the accessible services for Self Maintained Workstations running Microsoft's Windows operating system. First, make yourself familiar with the PCN Workstation Support Program. All policies defined in that document apply to workstations running the Microsoft Windows operating system.
The Physics Computer Network staff have created a custom Windows operating system environment to meet the needs of the department faculty, students, and staff. We have standard list of components and employ many advanced features to help you utilize the workstation to its fullest potential. PCN has worked hard to develop an all encompassing system for Windows users. Our goal is to provide a completely hands off, zero maintenance solution for Windows users. A great deal of research has gone into choosing the best software and hardware to accomplish this task and is intended to meet the general needs of most users in the Physics department. As this program expands so will the services PCN maintained workstations can benefit from.
The operating system version chosen for all PCN Maintained Workstation is Microsoft Windows XP Professional. As a member of the PCN Maintained Workstation program you have these services provided:
As a member of the PCN Maintained Workstation program you must:
Please remember, as a member of the PCN maintained program you may not:
PLEASE NOTE: Regardless of whether you are PCN maintained or self maintained you may not have a local printer attached to your machine. Printers are separate entities from your workstation and fall under PCN's Printer policy.
ITaP as well as PCN do random checks on workstations to ensure the security of the Physics Computer Network from hackers as well as viruses. If it is discovered that a PCN Maintained Workstation running a Microsoft Windows operating system has been compromised PCN will inform the owner of the situation and remove the workstation from the network immediately. If it is deemed necessary PCN will give you a loaner workstation until we can effectively clean and repair the compromised workstation.
As with other Self Maintained Workstations, there are few rules that need to be followed:
With a Self Maintained Workstation, you may:
As a Self Maintained User you are responsible for:
PCN will provide to you:
As a Self Maintained Workstation user you may NOT:
If you are running Windows NT/2000/XP , you may also use the following publicly accessible PCN files via the Windows Networking share \\Files\Software\Windows [5]. You should use them at your own risk. They are not guaranteed to be current, or appropriate (or even work!) for your machine. PLEASE NOTE: Installing some of these files under any other version of Windows may cause damage to the system! PCN is not responsible for any lost data or any problems that may arise from use of these files on any Self Maintained Workstation system.
PLEASE NOTE: Regardless of whether you are PCN Maintained or Self Maintained you may not have a local printer attached to your machine. Printers are separate entities from your workstation and fall under PCN's Printer policy.
Security Note: ITaP as well as PCN do random checks on workstations to ensure the security of the Physics Computer Network as well as the Purdue Data network from hackers as well as viruses. If it is discovered that a Self Maintained Workstation running a Microsoft Windows operating system has been compromised PCN will inform the owner of the situation and it is the owners responsibility to remove the workstation from the network immediately. If it is not removed from the network in a timely manner PCN will remove it from the network and inform the owner of the actions taken. This policy is to ensure the security and usability of the network resources for all users.
Footnotes:
1. You must keep proof of purchase for any University software audits.
2. The user is responsible for obtaining, installing the necessary printing drivers. PCN will not provide them, nor will we help debug problems you may have getting printing to work.
3. This is the UNC name for the share
4. Domain authentication provides increased security and future expansion for services
5. Any applications or utilities that need to be installed must be installed by PCN staff. Any requests will be completed immediately. There should never be a need for a user to install an application for himself/herself.
Programs which are not considered Freeware, Open Source or Public Domain . Those products which the user has installed on his/her machine written which require immediate or eventual payment (THIS INCLUDES SHAREWARE!).
Programs that do not require monetary payment. They may often, however, request a Post Card, or some miscellaneous good be sent to the author if one finds the program useful.
Becoming popular with Windows 3.1 for Workgroups Microsoft has used their SMB networking for file sharing in all versions of Window since. The implementations remain incompatible in many ways. (Even Windows 2000) Often referred to (though somewhat loosely) Peer-to-Peer, NetBIOS, “Windows Networking”, Network Neighborhood.
PCN uses the SMB server program called SAMBA to provide this service.
Software that is written in the spirit of, or in accordance with, the Open Source Definition or the philosophy of the GNU group. This term has come to mean any software that makes its own the source code available for restricted or unrestricted use.
Software that has had its copyright expired [computers have not existed long enough for this to have happened yet… or at least not with any useful program], or a program that has been willed by the author to be free and open to completely unrestricted use.
A standard file sharing convention created by Microsoft and IBM for file sharing.
\\HOSTNAME\filepath\[filename]
You will often find them written with forward slashes as well.