• Executive Summary
• Rationale
• Hardware Standards
• Software Standards

Executive Summary:

These standards were developed by the Enrollment and Information Services (EIS) Division and revised following review by the Academic Computing Users Group, Provost’s Administrative Staff, and Chancellor’s Administrative Group.

The EIS Division will periodically review and revise these standards based on emerging desktop technologies and software development. Input on changes to identified software will be sought from ACUG and other appropriate groups. Changes to the minimum and recommended hardware configurations will occur regularly due to changing technologies and prices; these revisions will be directly input by the EIS Division.

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Rationale:

In UW Oshkosh’s modern networked environment, the ability to easily share information is crucial. Central to information sharing is the software environment, particularly software used for word processing, spreadsheets, databases, network browsing, and electronic mail. Developing a campus-wide computing infrastructure, based on hardware and software standards, will greatly improve day-to-day functions of offices and improve the interactivity of departments, both academic and administrative, as a whole. Standards will also facilitate exchange of information and documents with UW System and other UW institutions.

Hardware standards are based on the current technology available combined with the current needs of UW Oshkosh end-users. These apply to both the Windows and Macintosh platforms.

The primary considerations for each hardware configuration are:

• ease of connectivity to the campus network
• ease of connectivity to external systems and organizations
• consistent performance of all integrated components in our networked environment
• industry leader with an established track record in manufacturing, sales, and service
• successful in-house experience with the chosen product and configuration
• serviceability by external hardware repair providers
• maximum period of machine functionality

The advantages of campus-wide software standards are:

• Improved Data Sharing
  • consistency of file formats provides for optimal file sharing capabilities between individuals, departments, and groups across campus
  • identical resources on each desktop (faculty/staff offices and computer labs) provide ease of transferability and a consistent tool-set for all users
  • sharing of data between applications (word processors, spreadsheets, databases) is seamless
• Simplified Budgeting and Purchasing
  • software standards could permit centralized budgeting and purchasing. This could relieve a department from the time consuming tasks of choosing a product, tracking down the best price and product availability, and generating the proper purchase orders to place an order for the product
  • significant savings could be achieved through site licenses or quantity discounts
• Improved Support
  • IT support staff can focus on depth of application knowledge rather than breadth of numerous applications
  • product expertise means questions can be answered more quickly and efficiently
  • support can come from any member of the UW Oshkosh community, since common applications will be used
• Improved Training
  • training teams can focus on developing courses and workshops for levels of user proficiency (introductory, intermediate, advanced)
  • computer-based training (CBT) courses can be focused on selected software packages
• Smoother Software Installation and Upgrades
  • software installations for new computers could become invisible to the end-users by making it part of the initial hardware installation
  • installations can become routine, rather than a specialized process for each individual, resulting in time savings
  • installations and upgrades could be made available to all users via the campus network, and automated for consistency
  • upgrades can be tested and documented prior to campus-wide deployment to reduce potential incompatibilities and problems

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Hardware Standards

HP and Apple computers are supported by the IT Division. “Supported” means that IT will install, maintain, and attach this equipment to the campus network for its original 3-year warranty and an additional 3 years at no additional cost to the unit to which the computer is assigned.  An initial 3-year warranty is expected in order for IT to fund a total of 6 years of support.  ”Consumer grade” computers will not be supported.  While they may be cheaper to purchase, they have a higher total cost of ownership (higher maintenance costs, lower life cycle). 

If the repair is due to user abuse of the hardware, the cost of replacement parts will be forwarded to the unit or individual to which the computer is assigned.  With the exception of computers attached to specialized (usually scientific) equipment, if non-standard computers are purchased, the unit to which the computer is assigned will be charged for parts and labor when work is requested.

As hardware ages, it becomes more difficult to find replacement parts, newer applications will no longer run, and it becomes necessary to remove this old hardware from our support services.  Following is a list of processors that will no longer be supported.  If your computer has a processor at or below what is listed for that effective date, it will not be supported.  You can request replacement of your old computer from campus surplus by contacting the Help Desk, acshelp@uwosh.edu or 424-3020.

Academic Computing has created a document providing recommended desktop and laptop configurations for both Windows and Apple computers.  It can be found at http://www.acs.uwosh.edu/purchase-recommendations.pdf.

Regardless of which computer is purchased, the minimum configuration is:

• Intel Core 2 Duo processor,
• 1G RAM (2 G if you are considering Windows Vista),
• 60GB hard disk, 
• a CD-ROM/DVD drive,
• network connection, and a
• 3 year warranty.

If you are planning ahead to make use of the new Vista operating system, you should consider 2G RAM.  If you will be needing to archive data, you should consider a DVD+R drive.

Linux:
      Make sure the computer is certified to run the version of Linux you are using.

Monitors:
Flat panel monitors will be clearest at their native resolution, which is high (and will result in smaller icons and fonts).  If you require or prefer a lower resolution (larger fonts), then a 17” CRT monitor is recommended.

If you require or prefer a dual monitor configuration you will need to add either a PCI or PCI-express video card to your computer configuration.

PDAs/Handhelds
Limited support is available to attempt to synchronize your Palm with Outlook; maintenance support for the IPAQ may be possible in the near future.
     
HP IPAQ hx2000 Pocket PC series
      Palm Tungsten e2 series, but NOT the Zires

Printers
      Desktop, single user (PC and Mac)
            HP LaserJet 1022 (monochrome)
            HP Color LaserJet 1600 (color)

      Multi-user or higher volume (PC and Mac)
            HP LaserJet P2015dn (monochrome)
            HP Color LaserJet 2605dn (color)

Scanners:
      USB scanner (contact Media Services for recommendations)

Other Peripherals (Modems, NICs, and Drives) State Contract #15-20400-505:

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Software Standards:

1. Fully Supported Software

   For the following software, the IT Division will:
        install the software
        troubleshoot software problems
        provide training (individual assistance, group classes, or CBT courses)
        provide documentation and/or handouts for selected packages

    

   
   

   Office Productivity Suite (includes Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Access only):
        MS Office 2003
        MS Office 2004 (Mac)
       
   Electronic Mail/Calendar:
               Sun One

   Web Browser:
        Internet Explorer 6.x (Win)
        Safari 1.x (Mac OS 10.2 or above)
        Firefox 2.x (Win and Mac)

   Web Course Development:
        Desire2Learn

   Web Page Development:
        Dreamweaver MX (Win and Mac)

   Image Editing:
        Adobe Creative Suite 2.0 (Win and Mac)

   
   

    Operating Systems:
        Windows XP SP2
        MacOS X v. 10.4

   File Transfer:
        Filezilla 1.7x (Win)
        Transmit (Mac)
        Fetch 3.0.1 (Mac)

   Other Utilities:
        PowerArchiver 2000 7.x
        Norton Antivirus 10.15 (Win)
        Norton Antivirus 10.1 (Mac)

        PrintKey 2000

   Network Operating System (please call Academic Computing for license availability):
        NetWare 6.x
        Microsoft 2003 Server

   Network Clients:
        Netware Client 4.9 SP2 (Win XP)

   
   

    

   
   

   2. Partially Supported Software

   For the following software, the IT Division will:
        install the software
        troubleshoot software problems on a limited, lower priority basis

   Help with use of this software may be given only if the answer is readily available or the caller can be referred to another source of help.  IT does not have the resources or expertise to provide training for partially supported software.

   
   

   Office Productivity Suite:
        MS Office XP

   Electronic Mail:
        Outlook XP/2003 (Win)
        Thunderbird

   Web Browser:
        Mozilla (for D2L)

   Statistics:
        SPSS 15.x, 14.x (Win)
        SPSS 12.x, 13.x (Mac)
        Minitab 15.x, 14.x (Win only)

   
   

   Mathematical Software:
        Maple 10.x (Win and Mac)
        Matlab 2006 (Win and Mac)

   Operating Systems:
        Windows 2000
        Mac OS X 10.3

   Telnet:
        Host Explorer (Telnet) 4.x (Win)
        Putty (Win)

    

   
   

   In some instances, partially supported software includes earlier versions of fully supported software; departments are urged to upgrade to the fully supported version as quickly as possible.  In other instances, partially supported software includes a new release of a standard application. Until IT staff are familiar with the new release and have tested it thoroughly, it will be listed as partially supported.

    

   3. Installation Only Software

   There is additional software that IT will install but for which users are fully responsible on their own for follow-up support.  Most Installation Only software is not listed because of the number and fluidity of packages that fall into this category.  However, the following are listed for clarification:

   MS Office 2007
   Eudora

   DOS and Windows 3.1 based applications do not fall into the install only category.  They are non-supported software.

    

   4. Non Supported Software

   Finally, there is software that IT will neither install nor provide follow-up support for, for example, software that is considered obsolete or software for which the desktop workstation is not sufficient to allow the software to run properly. This includes all DOS and Windows 3.1 based software.  Other software in this category is determined on a case-by-case basis.

   Effective Date	Operating System	Application
   Jan. 1, 1999	DOS	All
   Jan. 1, 2000	Windows 3.x	All
   July 1, 2002	Novell 3.x
   July 1, 2002	Windows 95A
   July 1, 2002	Windows NT 3.5
   July 1, 2002	Mac 7.x
   Jan. 1, 2003	Windows 95B
   July 1, 2003	Windows NT 4.0
   July 1, 2003	Novell 4.x
   July 1, 2003	Mac 8.x	MS Office 98
   Jan. 1, 2005	Windows 98
   Jan. 1, 2005		MS Office 97
   July 1, 2005	OS 9.x	MS Office 2001
   July 1, 2007	Mac OS X below 10.4	MS Office X
   July 1, 2010	Windows 2000
   July 1, 2011		MS Office XP

    

   5. Distribution and Revisions

   The most current version of the Computer Hardware and Software Standards will be posted on the IT Division’s Web page.

   The IT Division will periodically review and revise these standards based on emerging desktop technologies and software development. Input on changes to identified software will be sought from the Academic Computing Users Group and other appropriate groups. Modifications will be communicated to departments with sufficient lead-time to allow for migration to new software standards. Changes to the minimum and recommended hardware configurations will occur regularly due to changing technologies and prices; these revisions will be directly input by the IT Division.

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Questions? E-Mail knaapen@uwosh.edu