Wow, sorry about not getting any updates reported. Just have not been thinking about the blog and busy getting all the loose ends taken care of now that classes have started.

The Computer Classroom/Lab is about to be completed. None too soon. Faculty are wanting to hand out some computing assignments and so the pressure is on. We moved a process machine (hardly ever used by users) down from the SEC to the NWC today. I will set it up to be the license server for Splus. Gempak and Matlab are also installed on the base linux box. So we are ready to deploy. Networking finally got installed in the room and so the work is on us. I am pretty sure that most of the lab will be available by the end of the day Friday. Just in time for the SoM "Welcome Back Picnic".

Students are still complaining about the lack of MS Windows. They had a legit complaint about the slowness of the new iMacs, but that slowdown was a problem with the connections of the file server back at the SEC with machines housed in the NWC. Not much I could do there other than put on-line the local file server. This is a slight problem in that I cannot share back out to the few remaining machines still at the SEC. So for a short time, there are 2 files systems running. We sync the two systems every couple of days, but still not the ideal place to be.

Other than that, I will try and schedule a few workshops in the Mac lab for users to help let them know of all the features that are available on the iMacs. I am pretty sure that once they learn all that the machines can do, they will be happy. Well, at least not complaining as much. Some folks will never be happy working on an Apple, just as some Apple users will never be happy on a MS Windows machine.

mjl

Well, a slight routine is starting to develop. More connections are being made active than are being found broken. As more of the graduate students begin to return from summer activities, I am sure a few more problems will be discovered but at least the number of problems with networking are at least stabilizing.

Furniture issues are still causing for some folks to be upset, but such is the nature of the beast.

The Mac lab is about ready to be imaged. The master computer, named Ground Zero, has most of the software installed and is configured. So, time for me to learn the finer details to Mike Bombich's NetRestore software. The lab should be up and running some time mid week next. [And for all those that are going through MS XP withdraw, I have loaded Parallels as well. So deeps breaths all.]

The new printers have arrived, One for the main office, 2 for the labs (Computer Classroom and Computer Lab) and one color for the main office. The color that it replaced will be set up in the small computer room that will play host to the Apple G5's from the old map room. These computers are the higher end machins which have the added abilities to scan documents, a large cinema screen, AV editing software and now easier access to color printing. These resources will be under a bit more control as I do not want folks going wild over color printing.

Finally, I was completely surprised today. After giving a tour of the classrooms for the folks from OU Classroom Scheduling, I found a card on my desk. It was from the group of grad students who have been here over the summer and have taken part in the move to the NWC. In it were their expressions of thanks to me for my help with their transition into the NWC. I was a bit choked up reading the card, knowing that in part, the help that I have received from my students, Sam and Brian, the Dean's office staff and the grad students themselves is what has made my role easier. I thank you all.

mjl

Well, it seems that news is finally starting to trickle down back the pipeline. After a week of me sending up the line problem tickets concerning room connections, I finally got some news back as well as some connections activated. Seems that the wiring on the fifth floor is a bit messed up. Maybe even more than a little. OU had contracted out the majority of the wiring of the NWC during the main construction phase of the NWC. Mislabeled ports in the rooms and in the floor wire closets are part of the blame. Crossed wires from bundles in other areas. Slowly the OU group are sorting it out and more connections were made active today. Patience is the name of the game. I am hoping that in the next few days, all the offices will be connected.

For one thing, trying to stay on top of the wire story is keeping me from working on the student computer labs. No too much of a problem since I still can set up the new servers in the server room. However, for both the Apple lab and the Linux lab, I will be able to image a master machine and clone it out to the others. It will make life much easier, and will also allow for a more uniform experience for users. Over all, I will think the students will be pleased. Especially those who think they cannot live without Windows. The Mac lab (and now possibly the Linux lab) will be able to run Windows in a virtual machine. This will make Windows a more easily administered system and less of a security nightmare.

I am still running around a lot and trying to help get folks up and running (and still bone tired at the end of a day). Again, Sam and Brian have been a big help with keeping up with the more normal business of computing in the department while I have been more the administrator. All this paper chasing and pushing makes me wish for the more quiet days when I could muck around on a machine, playing with a Linux install, or working with Gempak. Ahh the good ole' days.

mjl

For those of you following this, sorry about not posting about the rest of the week. I have been going to bed earlier, trying to keep my hours of 7:30am-6pm at the NWC. The last few evenings have been spent putting together a list of problem tickets as I struggle to get connectivity to the desks of students and faculty. There have been many glitches that have left me a bit frustrated. Pulls of networking cables to rooms where there were not enough connections. It takes almost a day to get those done. Then it is a follow-up to see if the ports have been made active, then a follow-up to see that the active connection has been put on the correct network. It is mainly the grad offices that are having the major issues. I am sensing some frustration on the part of the graduate students. I cannot blame them. They see the work getting done, yet when they test the ports, no connection. In the meantime, the rest of the NWC is beginning to fill up as some of the NOAA units are moving in. This puts addition strain on the NWC IT group has they rush around trying to keep up. I am afraid that my delays will be increasing as this process continues. Owing to the length of time it is taking to resolve some of these issues, those offices that I have not addressed owing to faculty/students not here over the summer, I will begin adding to the problem ticket list. No point in letting these stay at low priority status.

Classroom furniture has begun to arrive. Overall I am pleased with the setup. The Instrument lab tables however, do not have power outlets. Just a small problem since we were going to use those tables for setting up some of the instrument labs and power is needed in order to run the equipment. Later next week I will see what can be done regarding this. I am hoping that faculty will start to become more involved in the process and not expect me to always be the front contact person. I personally still have two computer labs and a server room to set up for the fall and I cannot be spending all my time dealing with individual spaces and finer details. Own your space folks, use the problem web site and be understanding and patient when issues are not resolved as quickly as you want.

One benefit of the new network is that we have discovered a computer that has been infected with a trojan virus. Under the old system, we may not have discovered this. The user is not completely happy that the best solution for fixing this machine is a complete wipe and re-install of the OS. It cannot be easy to be going through a move, have work disrupted owing to the move and then find out that you are going to loose use of your machine because of a virus. The silver lining here is that the new network will be more secure and problems of this nature will be less likely. Of course, it is a MS Windows box that is the culprit. Those that know me know that I hate Windows. But I should leave that rant for another time.

I personally am loving the space. I hope that as we continue to find minor problems, that folks remember of what we have gained with this building as opposed to what is missing or not quite right.

mjl

Well another day under our belt. Not quite as exciting as the first day as many folks spent more time unpacking boxes and settling into their space. Networking wise, cable pulls to the south wing were completed and terminated. Main rooms, the Dean's faculty office, mine, the computer workroom and the classrooms. As the pulls south were completed, pulls for the north wing were started, some even completed. While it great to get the pulls (many rooms need them for more connections to match the number occupants), there was some frustration with the fact the drops were not activated. I mentioned it in my report of my afternoon walk through. More on that later.

Printers were starting to be set up. Brian and I took a look at the personal computer lab and began planning its set up. We also tested the ability for the NWC network to see past ifs firewall to the servers still on the SEC network. Good news there in that we could connect. This means that our plan of using the file server in the SEC is available and so users when logging onto the Apple lab will have access to their files that only before were available on the linux lab machines. The plan is to have much of the computational tasks performed by users on the linux machines and post processing (graphics, text etc) be available on the Macs. Another nice thing of the Macs is the fact that they are unix machines as well. So code development and weather visualization are as much a part of the Apple computer lab as it is the Linux computer lab.

Now back to the walk through. I did not pester much the NOC today regarding networking other than touching base regarding cable pulls and connection problems that were already identified the day before. I felt it was prudent to let them proceed and only bother them if it truly was a critical situation. So the walk through was to confirm that the work slated to be performed was progressing. Also gave me an opportunity to identify new issues. I am hoping that all the pulls that were terminated today are activated tonight. I am slightly annoyed if that is the case. It is the graduate students who I am primarily getting on line now. It frustrates the grads in a room when they see the connections go in and they then have to wait and not see their computer connect up. I made it a point in my report to activate as soon as they possibly can. I may be off base and I am not aware of something that needs to be done, but the users sure would like it.

Anyway, this is getting long. Another decent day. I am loving this building more and more. I just hope the others are/will too.

Well, Day 1 of the SoM at the NWC is over. It was very fitting that a nice line of thunderstorms moved through Norman mid afternoon complete with lighting, winds and a good soaking rain (around an inch at the OCS Norman site). A great christening and what I believe to be an omen of good things to come.

I arrived at 7:30 AM, coffee in hand (will be happy to see a coffee cart or bar opening soon) ready for the onslaught of faculty/staff/students. Well, it was not quite the rush I expected. In fact, it was quit the opposite. Folks just slowly trickled in. Some of the faculty who I expected to show and who I thought were at the top of my list to help, did not show but have opted to come in tomorrow. Oh well, while settling them into their new digs is still a priority, Brian, Sam and I will stick to our game plan and concentrate on our Tuesday tasks of getting the majority of network printers up and running so that users can print. We only set up the main SoM office printer today for the front office staff. Also, we will touch base with the NOC early morning and set the priorities of network connections that still are out. While I estimate that 85-90% of the computers are on-line, there are still some that are not for various reasons (cannot get to ports behind furniture, connection not activated, etc). Some machines are still not on the SEC network, but only a handful. There are some issues regarding the firewall and getting to services still on the SEC network. Those will be sent on to the NOC by the RCS as priority issues for the CA&GS. Phones have been another major issue, with around 50% of the phones at the start of the day not working. While I did not go around to check towards the end of the day (ran out of time), I know that many of those offices (with folks occupying the space) without phone service were getting dial tones by the end of the day.

It was nice to hear the people be impressed by the building and tell me that all seems well with their space. A few surprises as there were a couple of last minute room changes that I was not informed about, so those folks will be without connectivity for a day (or two at most) until the high priority problems are addressed. (Hey, what do they expect with a last minute change?) Those who are unhappy I am sympathetic up to a point regarding the furniture and all, but really all I care about is that their machine was up and running and they had a network with which to check e-mail and start back to work.

I am slightly jealous of folks who have begun to unpack their offices. I have only unpacked my desktop computer and those boxes needed to get folks up and running. I would love to settle in and get some boxes emptied and make my space my own. That will come later. I have at least set up my Penn State and Kentucky road signs much to the chagrin of the OU fans and students, but hey, I only work at OU (or at least I did until the signs went up).

A good day over all. A few lost boxes were found, and many keyboards and mice returned to their cpu's. I will take this day and call it good.

mjl

I am calling this day zero. It is the first day after the move but before everyone is slated to return to their spaces at the NWC. (I should say report to their spaces since they have never really been at the NWC before tomorrow.) I plan on being at the NWC around 7:30-45 in order to be available to help folks and to start the process of getting everyone setup and connected. We have set up those machines that we have helped take apart. We will be available to assist those that have taken apart and are putting together their own machines. Many are moving to behind the firewall while others will still be on the SEC network. By the middle of the fall term, we should be nearly 100% behind the or just in front of the NWC firewall.

Today was a relatively quiet day. Brian, Sam and I met with the NOC folks while Kevin G. was setting up his and his fellow grad student machines. His group has a work deadline and so their office as well as that of their advisor are at the top of the list on getting up and running. The meeting with the NOC personnel was to help set priorities and pinpoint trouble areas. At this point, they know the top needs of SoM and hopefully can respond fairly quickly. Right now, the SoM front office is set to go. All connections and computers are ready for their return. The director's phone is still not ready, but is one of top of the phone list "to-dos".

I called the A&GS and CAPS sysadmins to give them an update. They should have a good feel for how the weekend move went. There are a few issues regarding the shared file space that SoM uses that Courtney will take the lead. However, he will also be busy since he is helping program all the door locks and I am am sure there will be problems in that arena. CAPS graduate students for the most part are ready to go. OCS grads have moved their own machines and so I cannot comment on how well they will be until they are in their space. Most of their space has some connectivity. Which brings me t one of the more surprising problems that I have encountered: Not enough ports in a room. Strange that one can look at the room assignments, see that 5 people are to occupy the space and yet only have one DAP and 3 cables ready. Not sure why that was not caught earlier. I know that I have been pretty consistent with the number of connections per room to various people when asked. Now this problem has occurred primarily in the smaller rooms that with 4 or 5 people are tight on space. The larger rooms have more of an issue that a computer is too far from the DAP and the cable is a bit tight (easy fix, longer cable but the longest that we have been given is 25 feet).

At the end of today, I feel mostly ready for the next couple of days. I have a feeling that I may wish for the weekend again, when it was just busy, but I did not need to deal with all the faculty, graduates students and staff.

Oh and I almost forgot, the Oklahoma Weather Lab (OWL) HOOT Project machine is back up and running. The old SEC network was extended to their area for now in order that we can keep the site up and running. Well, check it out: OWL HOOT Project

mjl

At a little past 6 pm this evening, the last truck was unloaded and boxes delivered and so ends the physical move of the SoM to the NWC. However, this is only the first part. There is still all the unpacking and getting settled into the new digs to get through. Some folks have showed up and started to unpack, Officially, they are not to be here but then again, I am not going to chase them out. Some of the rooms are already connected to the network. Brian (my grad asst) and I will be at the NWC tomorrow to work with networking folks and get as much as we possibly can operational. We will identify the priorities: rooms needing connectivity ASAP and those that can wait (ie. those out of town for a few weeks or more). Also start to track down more of the boxes that may have not made it to their correct rooms (mainly those rooms at the SEC whose occupants were moving to different rooms at the NWC).

We will also start the initial phase of setting up the student computing laboratories. The Apple iMacs are in and so getting them unpacked and setup will take a slight back seat as we get all the other folks up and running (including the computing groups machines). I would also like to get the OWL hoot computer up and running since many out there in cyberspace are hitting the site for their weather data.

All in all a good day. I personally spent too much time running back and forth between the SEC and the NWC, but I had again great support from Sam, Brian and Kevin while the undergrad students, Terra, Chris and Gabe helped guide the movers to the various rooms. While I am very tired after spending nearly 12 hours at the SEC and the NWC, it really is amazing that come Monday, the SoM will begin business at and in the NWC.

mjl

The move has started. Where to begin.......

Thanks and thanks and thanks to all the students (grad and undergrad) who have pitched in on this move, they have my deepest appreciation. To my group of student assistants (all 2 of them), Brian and Sam have stepped up beyond the call of duty. WIthout them, I would have lost it long ago. For them to put up with me during this time and for all that they do to help me look good, I thank them! Thanks to the other college IT folk who have helped. I will make sure that I will be there for them and their move as they have been there for SoM's. Thanks to the college office for their letting me vent some. They have been supportive as best as they can having been through this themselves. I know that I have left some folks out but they know that as tired as I am at this point, I just wanted to get something up for those that have been following this saga.

So for some details, the move itself has had its ups and downs. Many keyboards and mice are without their CPUs and monitors, but we should track most of them down this weekend. The guy running the moves, Ron, has been so patient with the goofs and has been accommodating. He is on track to get all our stuff over by the end of tomorrow. The network is coming along. Nothing to the desktops yet, but cables are appearing in the rooms and we will be setting up computers and testing for when the network is fired up.

At this time, I will end this update. I am too tired to think straight and I do not want to ramble. I will try and update tomorrow and let you know how the physical move ends and the unpacking begins.

mjl

Well, the move for SoM has been moved up to take place over the weekend, starting July 7th. This means we are back on a weekend move.

THe temporary network plan for the SoM folks is about 90% complete and ready to turn in Friday so that SoM users will l have most of their basic working environments set. First I just want to get the users in place and up and working. I can then go back in a more systematic manner and finish the conversion.

The machines for the computer classroom and the new servers have been ordered and those orders are in the pipeline getting worked on to go out the door in time for the start of the new fiscal calendar. While it will be tight, we should be set in time for a basic lab setup when the students return.

mjl

While the network in the new building is not completely set up to accommodate our move, it is well enough that we can proceed in getting all folks up and running. I know that you are now waiting for the but or however and so here it is. There is still many issues related to the fact that the building is still not at "substantial build". Many of the problems will get worked out. The folks of the SoM will just need to let the dust settle. I think overall, folks will be happy just to get the move over and done.

I myself am not sure how I feel as we near the move and final completion of the NWC. I have spent much time, sweat and angst worrying that the building and if the SoM space will work. Part of me is loving the fact that we are almost done and looking forward to working on weather related projects again. No, now that I think about it, I will be very glad when it is all over.

Anyway, the 10th of July is still zero hour and so the final preparations are taking place. Hmmm, I guess it is time to finish packing my office.

mjl

Well, the great migration begins. SoM is to start it's move on July 10th. And then the fun begins. I will need to finish packing my boxes and work on seeing what type of network will be in place for the department. I am hoping that the current subnet will be continued down to the NWC and at have it available at the desktop. Then once we have moved in and can figure out how we want our vlan to work, go about configuring the machines. But I am not holding my breath and figure that we will be in the midst of a major work tryst trying to reconfigure machines and setting up the firewall to allow NFS traffic through.

I am just now going to order the new hardware. I have delayed the orders owing to not having access to either the machine room or the classrooms. And I did not have the room at the SEC to store the machines even if I did go ahead with the orders. So now that race with time begins and the clock is ticking.

Wish me luck and say a prayer. Oh, and if you see me wandering the halls looking dazed and confused, offer to buy me a beer.

mjl

Well, it seems that the furniture is in the NWC for the 5th floor which is the main floor for SoM. It should not be too much longer and we should begin our move into the new building. I will be ordering the computers and servers for the new building this week. However, I am not sure that I will be able to get all the new machines up and running in time for the new term. I will be working in a priority list as to what servers will be worked on first. The new file server and mail server are at the top of the list and the new OWL Hoot Project process server and the LDM servers will be at the bottom.

I would show some pictures of the new furniture, but I am not allowed just yet. Suffice it to say, I am not totally happy with some items and surprised by others. At this point, we will make it work. It is a new building and workspace. The classrooms are nice should be ready in time for classes (Holding breath that computer tables show up soon).

mjl

A lot has been going on. I have been made co-chair of the National Weather Center Information Technologies Council (NITC). I am not all that comfortable with the formality of it all, but I will do my best. This is a committee made up of mainly techno-geeks trying to follow some form of Robert's Rules. It would make for a great week long series in Dilbert.

I got to tour the NWC classrooms today to check out the AV equipment. I am very happy at how well the classrooms are coming along. I think the students will appreciate the features, especially the smart boards. The real challenge will be to get all the faculty trained on the equipment. I am sure the first semester will be a busy one for me in that regards.

Furniture is in my office. While not quite the setup I imagined, it is a definite improvement over my old digs in the SEC. I at least now have a separate room to work on the computers. This will make for a much neater office. I wish that I could post some pictures, but I am not allowed until after the official opening of the NWC. So you all will just have to wait or stop by once we are moved in to the NWC.

Oh, by the way... the move has been delayed yet again. So June 7th is out and I have yet to receive official word as to when our new move in date will be.

mjl