====================== SSCC News, May, 1997 ====================== Inside this issue... Update on Recent VMS Technical Problems Two New Self-serve Printers GAUSS Installed on GUY Anticipated Summer Power Shortages Food in Public Terminal Rooms --------------------------------------- Update on Recent VMS Technical Problems --------------------------------------- A new VMS backup system is now in place. This system includes new software and a DLT tape drive. The system is currently running on IRP3 but will be moved to an ALPHA server that is on order. The backup schedule is as follows: full backups run on Saturday and incrementals backups run Sunday through Friday. The old backup system will continue to run in parallel with the new system for a while. All the RZ58 disks on VMS have been replaced with new SCSI II disks that have increased capacity. The RZ58 disks began failing at an alarming rate about six months ago and it was decided to use Capital Exercise funds to replace them. --------------------------- Two New Self-serve Printers --------------------------- Two new printers have been set up in the I/O room and the 2470 Public Terminal Room. Unfortunately, both have been experiencing frequent jams and stalls. We are working with the vendor to get these problems corrected. Please note that I/O room print-outs will now be filed by the operator in the bins used for computer room output. The table space will be reserved for print-outs too large to fit in the bins. Also, we will be introducing new more consistent queue names for all printers that will go into effect June 1. Hopefully, you will find these queue names easier to figure out. If not, the old queue names will still work. The new queue names will be added to Bulletin later this month. ---------------------- GAUSS Installed on GUY ---------------------- GAUSS is now available on SSCC's UNIX computer called GUY. In addition to the main GAUSS system, we also purchased the following GAUSS add-on applications: Maximum Likelihood Constrained Maximum Likelihood Time Series CurveFit Constrained Optimization Nonlinear Equations GAUSSX (a command-driven front end for X-windows) We have prepared a short handout called "How-to Access GAUSS on GUY" which contains information on how to run GAUSS and change its configuration file. SSCC Consulting also has a set of manuals which you are welcome to come by and browse or borrow long enough to photocopy what you need. Please note that none of the SSCC consultants are familiar with how to use GAUSS and so will not be able to help you with problems you encounter other than making sure the software is properly installed. ---------------------------------- Anticipated Summer Power Shortages ---------------------------------- The University is anticipating power shortages this summer. SSCC is petitioning to be excluded from planned "brown-outs". This will not protect us against unplanned interuption in electricity, however. We advise everyone to save their work frequently and backup important data. SSCC ordered an Uninteruptable Power Supply (UPS) for the computer room over a year ago. Once physical plant gets this UPS in place, when power is lost, we will have a power supply that will allow us to shut down machines gracefully. However, even when the UPS is installed, users may not receive more than one minute's notice that the systems will shut down. ----------------------------- Food in Public Terminal Rooms ----------------------------- PLEASE refrain from eating and drinking in the Public Terminal Rooms. We have very expensive equipment in these rooms which can be easily damaged by food and drink.