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Preparing to handle the year 2000 computer date change is an ongoing project on campus. Here is a short list of some of the system and software upgrades taking place in the next few months:
- UA2MVS: The operating system on the administrative systems computer will soon be updated to OS/390. This version of the operating system is Y2K compliant. This upgrade is not expected to cause any changes in access to the administrative systems.
- Student Information System: The administrative system that includes student records and related information will be upgraded February 15, 1999. If you use the Student Information System, you should already have been notified about classes for using the new system. Be prepared for changes starting in February, which will include small changes in the logon process, and changes in the information screens.
- TN3270: There are a number ofTN3270 programs in use on campus. Among these are Graftek, Passport, some versions of QWS_3270, some versions of Extra, TCP3270 from McGill, and others. The Computer Center is evaluating new packages and upgrades for these TN3270 programs, for use with the OS/390 system on UA2MVS. Watch for more information about upgrading the program you use to access the administrative applications.
- Bama.ua.edu: The operating system on bama.ua.edu will be upgraded to Solaris 2.6 on January 3, 1999. The new operating system will be Y2K compliant.
Sunday, November 15, will be the last day to use the PROFS program on UA1VM to send and receive mail. After that date, selected PROFS mail services will no longer be supported. In particular, some of the services that allow PROFS to send and receive mail and to communicate with non-PROFS addresses will be dropped. If you are still using PROFS for sending and receiving mail, you need to move off of UA1VM and onto a different mail program immediately.
On the standard PROFS main menu, these menu items will not appear after November 15: PF3 Open ALL incoming Mail (PUMP); PF4 Process notes and messages; PF8 PROFS User Directory. In addition, the PROFS mail forwarding file (RFC822) will be dropped. Mail sent from PROFS to UA1VM userIDs will not be forwarded. Do not use PROFS to send mail after 11/15/98.
PROFS will continue to be available to read old mail and notelogs, and view old nicknames and mailing lists. These are services that might be needed to complete migration off of UA1VM. In addition, PROFS calendar services will still be available, until the new calendar server is in use. But PROFS will no longer be supported as a standard mail product.
The general migration off of UA1VM and onto PC platforms and the bama.ua.edu server is continuing. For the latest information on the migration schedule and progress, check the migration web page at http://bama.ua.edu/~helpdesk/migration. If you have not yet finished moving your files and information, here are a few things to note:
- Sunday November 15, will be the last day to use regular PROFS mail services. See the related article in this issue.
- On Monday December 21, 1998, all accounts on UA1VM that were created for undergraduates will be deleted. This includes all accounts for which the last (right-most) character is the number 1, and some other undergraduate student accounts.
- Wednesday January 13, 1999 is tentatively scheduled to be the date for the name UA1VM.UA.EDU to move off the IBM machine and point to the bama.ua.edu server. This will not take place unless all PROFS calendars and listserv mailing lists have already been moved. Note this is a name change only. No files or accounts will be moved as part of this change.
- If you have reel or cartridge tapes that were written on UA1VM, you should be in the process of converting your information on those tapes to other storage media. Look at the information on your tapes, select what you need to keep, then think how you expect to use the information in the future. Most people want long term information storage, and access to the information from a PC. While limited tape access is available on bama.ua.edu, both for long term storage and for PC access there are now many storage methods much more useful and accessible than magnetic tapes. Think about choices like ZIP cartridges, super drives and CDs for long-term information storage and PC access. The Faculty Resource Center in Seebeck Computer Center has two CD writers for faculty/staff use.
- A calendar server has been installed on bama.ua.edu, and is being set up for use. If you are currently using PROFS for calendar access, you should be contacted by the end of November or first part of December about using the new server.
Bama.ua.edu is a UNIX system. You may have seen or heard in the past about the ways in which unauthorized persons (computer hackers) around the world can break into UNIX computer systems. This kind of break-in can be serious. The University of Alabama is not immune to problems of this type.
One way that computer hackers get into a system is by guessing the passwords of people who have passwords that are too easy to guess. Your password on bama has to be a combination of letters and numbers, with at least six characters. It can also contain a special character, such as '&', '*' and '-'. It should not be your name, your account name, or any variation of these names. It should not be any variation of the words bama, Alabama, or rolltide.
How do you choose a good password? One easy way is to think of a phrase you will remember, then substitute letters and other characters for the words of the phrase. For example, the phrase "You just don't seem to understand" could remind you of the password "Yjds2u". The phrase "I want to make straight A's" could become "iw2m-As". Instead of your pet's name as a password, think of a phrase that describes your pet then make up a password based on that phrase. Think of a phrase from your favorite song, or some event that happened to you recently. Be creative. And of course, after you choose a good password, don't write it down in obvious places, don't give it to anyone else, and do change it regularly.
For information on how to change your password on bama.ua.edu, visit the UNIX Information webpage at http://bama.ua.edu/~unixinfo. For more information on password and file security, look at the UNIX Weekly Tipsheets, also available on the ~unixinfo webpage.
Question: I am a staff member and my e-mail from UA1VM is forwarded to my department e-mail account. I read my e-mail with the Pegasus mail program. Please explain to me exactly what is going to happen to my mail forwarding after Christmas.
Answer: First, get an account on the mail server bama.ua.edu with the same name as your account on UA1VM. Then forward your e-mail from your account on the bama server to your department e-mail account. Then, when the UA1VM name changes after Christmas, nothing will happen to your mail forwarding. It will be exactly as at present. Mail sent to you at your UA1VM address and mail sent to you at your bama.ua.edu address will be delivered (through mail forwarding) to your department server and you will still read it with Pegasus mail.
If you do not get a bama account, or if you choose a bama account name that is different from your UA1VM account name, then mail sent to your UA1VM address will stop forwarding when the UA1VM name changes after the Christmas holiday. You should be sure to inform everyone who is still sending you mail at the UA1VM address that they should use your departmental address instead, and be sure that your e-mail address is correct in the on-line faculty-staff directory. If you have a special mail forwarding problem, call the Helpdesk at 348-2435 for more information on mail forwarding.
NOTE: For more information about any question featured here, or to ask about something which might be answered here, send e-mail to Help.Desk@mail.ua.edu