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Standard Platform
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Standard Platform |
This page provides information on the Standard Platform. What it is, what it provides and why it exists.
The layers that make up the Standard Platform
The "Staff Standard Platform 2008 Recommendations" as a PDF document is here.
The "Student Standard Platform 2008 Recommendations" as a PDF document is here.
Put simply, the Standard Platform comprises a standard set of software running on hardware that meets or exceeds a specified minimum. Any further software needed by Faculties is installed in addition. This standard will ensure a common configuration, enabling staff and students to be able to access the core applications from any PC.
The platform comprises of not only desktop application software, but a common set of collaboration tools, standardised file and print services, a fully portable print recharging system and access to many core business applications over the web, including e-mail and file storage areas.
Each year, the base specification of the Standard Platform elements are reviewed and updated, where a change in the technology occurs. This has meant the University is right at the cutting edge of computing technology.
The project is centrally funded, ensuring a consistent delivery of services between all faculties on modern, robust hardware.
Since 2000, MMU has rolled out consistent desktops, backend servers, print recharge mechanisms and other services to ensure that a minimum level of service can be expected, regardless of which site or campus is used to login to the University network.
Previously, faculties maintained their services in line with the needs of that faculty. This meant that certain versions of software were not available cross-site, and even cross-site logins were problematic.
Initially, there was no web access to e-mail, calendaring or file storage areas. This has now been addressed by the Standard Platform project to provide consistency across the board.
Introduced in 2001, GPAS is a key element of the Standard Platform. It provides a robust and audited print recharge mechanism, based upon the "pay anywhere, print anywhere" design goal of the original project.
A touch screen kiosk is located at each site (there are eleven kiosks in total) that allow students to pay into their GPAS account (which is held on their network account) and then use that balance at any time during the academic year at any site, without the need for any kind of card mechanism.
Currently, black and white printing is 5p per sheet, single sided. Costs for colour printing and plotting vary at each site, due to the different colour printing technologies. For example, an A1 colour plot would be more expensive than a single A4 colour inkjet page.
Kiosk Locations
Introduced in 2003, Windows XP is the latest iteration of Microsoft's desktop operating system. XP was rolled out as an upgrade to Windows NT4 Workstation, which was previously used on all desktops.
New technologies enabled by Windows XP include support for USB devices such as cameras and memory sticks as well as core OS improvements and increased security.
MMU uses Novell ZENWorks for Desktops 4.01 to control access and manage XP workstations around the University. This product allows remote assistance, software licence metering and automated application delivery, amongst others.
ZENWorks For Desktops Product Pages
GroupWise became a part of the Standard Platform for MMU staff in 2002. Since then, it has been rolled out over time to replace the existing install base of Pegasus Mail.
GroupWise was selected above solutions such as Microsoft Exchange and Lotus Notes to provide full collaboration capabilities such as e-mail, calendaring, document management, wireless access and shared folders/calendars between staff at different sites.
Also for the first time, staff were able to send, recieve and view e-mails securely off campus with a web browser using GroupWise WebAccess.
In the summer of 2004, GroupWise 6.5 was added to back end servers to provide further enhancements such as Junk Mail filtering and an improved desktop client.
MMU's Student E-Mail System (SEMS) replaced Pegasus Mail in the summer of 2001. The service provides web based access to e-mail and calendars. As well as providing web access, SEMS also provides access using POP or IMAP off campus for users who prefer to use more fully featured third party e-mail clients, such as Outlook Express or Mozilla Thunderbird.
All SEMS users have a mailbox quota of 10MB, and for the first time, there are full "all student" mailing list capabilities, as well as mailing lists to target faculty-only students or course-only students.
SelfService provides the ability for any registered user (student or staff) to access their personal and shared filestores via a web browser. In addition, users may set a question and answer pair which will allow the resetting of passwords when a password has been lost or forgotten.
Should a user wish to simply change their password, this is also made possible by SelfService.
Core applications are desktop applications that are available at every PC at every site. These applications include the Microsoft Office suite, MS Publisher, SPSS and Minitab.
Core applications are usually site licenced, and are complimented by the addition of faculty-specific applications. These are applications used by faculties to aid course delivery and include such software as AutoCAD.