Goals grow with virus elimination success

JOEL RENDER

Staff Writer

The Information Technology Department successfully resolved several potential network-related problems over the past couple of weeks all while maintaining the minimum amount of disruption to everyone involved.

The first potential problem appeared last Tuesday afternoon at approximately 3:30 p.m. At that time, network users were cut off from service as the result of a wiring problem.

The IT Department was alerted to the problem quickly and proceeded to deal with it accordingly. Using the very same tools that the department used to eliminate the virus threats last semester, the wiring problem was identified and service began as normal about two hours after it had ceased.

David Reed, Director of Information Technology, was pleased with the timely response of the rest of the staff. He said, “We’re gaining experience in how to deal with these issues.” The expeditious solution to this problem certainly validates that statement despite some of the negative comments that could be heard around campus during the down time.

The Information Technology Department has also been monitoring the proliferation of the My Doom A, an email virus, which has been running rampant over the internet lately. The virus first appeared on the campus email server on January 27.

In just three days, the number of different iterations that existed on the server had jumped to nearly 6,000. Since that time, the number of iterations has been lowered to about 3,000 per day on average. Thanks to the anti-virus software in place on the email server and some hard work by the staff, this particular threat posed no damage to anyone on campus.

The Information Technology Department is also happy to announce the scheduled replacement of the computers in the main lobby of the library. The new computers are about four times as fast as the old ones, and the department hopes they are useful to anyone who may use them.

In addition, the number of ports disabled because of virus or other problems has nearly been completely eliminated.

In the future, the department plans on creating and executing a plan to extend the network to small-unit housing in the most effective and efficient manner possible. Reed said that one of the biggest goals of the department is how to deal with students returning back from vacation.

With that in mind, the promise of a new network registration system to slow down the virus problems that occurred when students returned to campus last fall will be kept. Despite this new technological addition, however, Reed said, “Students need to protect their own machines for the sake of everyone involved.”

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