I S News about nformation systems throughout M I T V o l u m e 1 7 • N u m b e r 2 N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . r continued on page 2 MIT Personal Certificates Now Available for Internet Explorer on Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Software Spotlight It’s Here, But Wait: Mac OS X at MIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Network Notes Another Way to Get E-Mail on the Fly: MIT WebMail . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Bits and Bytes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 MCC/Computer Currents There’s Something About Servers: A Primer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 IS to Discontinue Support of Selected Hardware, Software . . . . . . . 5 Telecom Talk Cutover to New 5ESS Switch Slated for January . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 IS Does IAP: From Concepts in Insecurity to a Talk on MITnet . . . . . . 6 Tech Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 IS Offers New Central Printing Service to the MIT Community . . . . . 7 Getting Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Surf Sites: Resources for Seniors . . . 8 AgeLab: Designing Technology to Improve the Lives of Seniors • Lee Ridgway K, let’s face it: none of us are getting any younger. Most of us, however, will live longer than our great- grandparents did. Over the past century, the expected human life span in the industrialized world has increased by about 30 years, and now developing countries are seeing similar growth in their aging populations. Brought about by better nutrition, health care, and living conditions, this expanded longev- ity may be counted as one of human- kind’s greatest successes. At the same time, it poses one of our greatest chal- lenges: how to live those extended years with grace, independence, and dignity. Addressing some of these challenges is MIT’s AgeLab, established in 1999 as a partnership with industries and organizations with a focus on aging. Under the direction of faculty member Joseph Coughlin, the AgeLab pursues a mission to develop technologies that promote healthy, independent living. Its research involves an array of disci- plines: engineering, computer science, human factors, health and medical sciences, management, marketing, and the social and behavioral sciences. The AgeLab has formed consortia with its partners around several areas of research and development, covering not only new technology, but also new business approaches and public policy O issues as they relate to older consumers. The people involved in AgeLab projects may include engineers, social scientists, architects, designers, consumer special- ists, and graduate students. They share a belief that appropriate use of tech- nology, along with innovations in its delivery, can improve the quality of life not just for older people, but also for their families and caregivers. Technology + Design A key aspect of the AgeLab’s ap- proach is to concentrate not only on the function of new technologies or services, but also on good design that is appealing and usable, whether it be in homes, clothing, appliances, vehicles, or information technology. A device to help an older person maneuver through city streets shouldn’t necessarily look like a machine. Nor should health-care equipment for an elder’s home make it look like a hospital. This emphasis on function and design points to another central focus of the AgeLab’s work: developing an integrated infrastructure for independent aging. This approach includes a healthy home, productive living, personal communications, and lifelong transportation. Bright Red Beetle In preparation for studies of driving and aging, the AgeLab received con- siderable publicity last winter: it parked (legally) a new Volkswagen Beetle on the second floor of Building E40. Dubbed “Miss Daisy,” the engineless
Transcript
I SNews about nformation systems throughout M I T
V o l u m e 1 7 • N u m b e r 2 N o v e m b e r / D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 1
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MIT Personal Certificates Now Available for Internet Explorer on Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Software SpotlightIt’s Here, But Wait: Mac OS Xat MIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Network NotesAnother Way to Get E-Mail onthe Fly: MIT WebMail . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
AgeLab: Designing Technology to Improve the Lives of Seniors• Lee Ridgway
K, let’s face it: none of us are getting any younger. Most of us,
however, will live longer than our great- grandparents did. Over the past century, the expected human life span in the industrialized world has increased by about 30 years, and now developing countries are seeing similar growth in their aging populations. Brought about by better nutrition, health care, and living conditions, this expanded longev- ity may be counted as one of human-kind’s greatest successes. At the same time, it poses one of our greatest chal- lenges: how to live those extended years with grace, independence, and dignity.
Addressing some of these challenges is MIT’s AgeLab, established in 1999 as a partnership with industries and organizations with a focus on aging. Under the direction of faculty member Joseph Coughlin, the AgeLab pursues a mission to develop technologies that promote healthy, independent living. Its research involves an array of disci- plines: engineering, computer science, human factors, health and medical sciences, management, marketing, and the social and behavioral sciences.
The AgeLab has formed consortia with its partners around several areas of research and development, covering not only new technology, but also new business approaches and public policy
O
issues as they relate to older consumers. The people involved in AgeLab projects may include engineers, social scientists, architects, designers, consumer special- ists, and graduate students. They share a belief that appropriate use of tech- nology, along with innovations in its delivery, can improve the quality of life not just for older people, but also for their families and caregivers.
Technology + DesignA key aspect of the AgeLab’s ap-
proach is to concentrate not only on the function of new technologies or services, but also on good design that is appealing and usable, whether it be in homes, clothing, appliances, vehicles, or information technology. A device to help an older person maneuver through city streets shouldn’t necessarily look like a machine. Nor should health-care equipment for an elder’s home make it look like a hospital. This emphasis on function and design points to another central focus of the AgeLab’s work: developing an integrated infrastructure for independent aging. This approach includes a healthy home, productive living, personal communications, and lifelong transportation.
Bright Red BeetleIn preparation for studies of driving
and aging, the AgeLab received con-siderable publicity last winter: it parked (legally) a new Volkswagen Beetle on the second floor of Building E40. Dubbed “Miss Daisy,” the engineless
• November / December 2001 • http://web.mit.edu/is/isnews/2. . . .
i/s
MIT Information Systems
Managing EditorRobyn Fizz
Writer/EditorLee Ridgway
i/s is published six times a year. MIT faculty and staff receive copies through campus mail; i/s is also available in lobbies around campus. Individuals at MIT may subscribe by contacting the managing editor.
Send comments or subscription requests to:MIT Room N42-290b, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307Phone: (617) 253-0540Electronic mail: <[email protected]>
i/s is also published online athttp://web.mit.edu/is/isnews/
A companion Web site, i/s NewsLink, offers frequent news updates. It’s located athttp://web.mit.edu/is/newslink/
All products names are trademarks of their manufacturers.
MIT Personal Certificates Now Available for Internet Explorer on Windows
Members of the MIT community who use Windows can now acquire MIT personal certificates using Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 5.5 with Service Pack 2. Previously, MIT personal certificates were not supported for Internet Explorer.
Windows users who want to access secure Web services at MIT using In- ternet Explorer should install the MIT Certification Authority (CA) certificate and obtain a personal certificate. The CA certificate authenticates the secure Web server to your computer. The per- sonal certificate authenticates you to secure MIT Web services. For more information about certificates, see http://web.mit.edu/is/help/cert/
For detailed instructions (with screen shots) on obtaining MIT certificates for Internet Explorer, see
Another Version, Another BrowserIt is possible to obtain a certificate
using Internet Explorer 6, but IS does not recommend it at this time.
While IS has made an effort to accommodate those who use Internet Explorer, members of the community should be aware that Netscape Naviga- tor remains the recommended browser at MIT. Navigator offers support for certificates across all MIT platforms (Macintosh, Unix, and Windows). Inter- net Explorer does not support personal certificates on the Macintosh, and the current recommended version (Internet Explorer 5.5) is not available for Unix.
SupportFor help in setting up certificates
with Internet Explorer, contact the Business Liaison Team at x2-1177 or <[email protected]>. ø
car has been equipped as a realistic driving simulator for use in studies to determine how technology can aid, but not overwhelm, elderly drivers.
Among the projects gearing up to use Miss Daisy is one to help older drivers avoid collisions at intersections. Such accidents occur at a statistically high rate and often include bodily injury. Led by James Kuchar, Associate Professor of Aeronautics and Astro-nautics, and in collaboration with Ford Motor Company, the project will test older drivers in various simulated situ- ations, including those with the poten- tial for an accident. After collecting data about the drivers’ performance, Kuchar and his team will explore ways to help senior drivers avoid these accidents.
In general, two types of devices are needed: sensing devices and warning or automatic control devices. First, something has to determine that a hazard is nearby. Possibilities include a radar-like device on the driver’s vehicle which senses the nearness of a pedestrian or another vehicle. Or vehicles might communicate their presence and proximity to each other.
Or intersections may be equipped to sense and broadcast to vehicles what is near or in them. Whatever the sensing technology, it must be accurate and timely.
Second, a technology must be in place to warn the driver to take action to avoid an accident, or to intervene to prevent an accident. Here is where testing with older drivers is crucial. Among the questions to be answered are: How will different drivers pay attention to warnings or automatic actions? How quickly will they react and what will they do? At what point do information and warnings become overwhelming to the driver, interfering with his or her ability to take control in time? What do all of these factors mean for the layout of a car’s controls and its ergonomic design? What do they mean for driver training and for licensing?
If you are wondering about the connection between Kuchar’s Aero-nautics and Astronautics affiliation and researching aging drivers, these questions provide the key. Kuchar and others in the aviation field wrestle with the same issues as they apply to a pilot’s interaction with aircraft control and warning systems, and problems with overautomation and information overload.
Pill PetAnother example of the AgeLab’s
collaborative efforts was with a studio course at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) last spring. Among the ideas for devices from the RISD stu- dents and AgeLab researchers was the Pill Pet, inspired by a RISD student’s observation that elders often took to computerized dolls as a companion and source for interaction.
The Pill Pet is a small, fur-covered, cuddly, animal-like device with a computer and display that can be programmed to remind a person to take medications or eat certain foods. Instead of just buzzing or speaking, however, the Pill Pet requires some sort of feedback to ensure that its owner is responding to the reminders; otherwise, it “dies” an electronic death. This emotional interaction helps engage a sometimes forgetful owner, or one who eventually ignores the usual kind of impersonal alarm reminders.
More InformationMiss Daisy and Pill Pet are but two
of the AgeLab’s multi-faceted projects that address the challenges of active, productive aging. To check out more of its activities, visithttp://web.mit.edu/agelab/ ø
i/shttp://web.mit.edu/is/isnews/ • November / December 2001 •
S o f t w a r e S p o t l i g h t
It’s Here, But Wait: Mac OS X at MIT• Albert Willis
ife in the Macintosh community these days is all about Mac OS X.
It’s understandable: Mac OS X brings a whole new set of features and capa-bilities to the Macintosh. According to Apple CEO Steve Jobs, it will be the operating system for the next 10 to 15 years of Macintosh computing.
Apple’s stated goal was to create a modern, industrial-strength operating system while retaining the ease of use for which the Macintosh is famous. In addition, Apple needed to ensure that thousands of existing applications could still run. The good news is that Apple has largely achieved these goals. How- ever, Mac OS X is still a work in prog-ress. Depending on what you do on your Macintosh, you may not be able to take full advantage of Mac OS X for a while.
Bright FutureMac OS X has a new user interface
called Aqua that has received rave reviews for its translucent menus, ele-gantly rendered windows, and photo-realistic icons. Windows and menus cast shadows on the screen to createa sense of depth.
Underneath this interface are the new underpinnings for the operating system. Mac OS X is built on top of Darwin, a version of Berkeley Standard Distribution (BSD) UNIX. It’s Darwin that supplies many of the modern operating system features: • Preemptive multitasking, so that
multiple applications can run at once without blocking each other;
• Protected memory, so that if one program crashes, it doesn’t affect other programs that are running;
• Sophisticated virtual memory that manages memory – you’ll no longer need to manually change the amount of memory a program should get;
• Symmetric multiprocessing, which automatically runs the operating system more efficiently if the com- puter has more than one processor.
The Classic EnvironmentAlthough programs written specifi-
cally for Mac OS X can take advantage of its new features, Mac OS X also has
to be able to run existing programs. This is where the Classic environment comes in. Classic is really Mac OS 9.1 or higher running inside of Mac OS X. (As a result, when a program crashes in Classic mode, it can still take with it all the Mac OS 9-based programs that were open.)
Most applications tested so far work well in Classic mode. Members of IS and other IT-support organiza-tions have been testing MIT-supported applications since Mac OS X shipped in March; you can see the results at http://web.mit.edu/swrt/macosx/ matrix.html
Classic is great for running existing programs, but if that’s all you’re doing with Mac OS X, you’re better off boot- ing your Macintosh into Mac OS 9.x and using the applications there: they will run faster and you’ll have full access to the functionality you need.
Applications that are going to make Mac OS X worthwhile are those written to take advantage of its features. How- ever, native applications have been slow to ship. As of November 1, only five ap- plications on the IS supported products list have appeared in native format: Acrobat Reader 5.0, Fetch 4.0.1, File- Maker Pro 5.5, Virex 7.0, and Eudora 5.1 (OS X), which is still in beta. The Mac OS X version of Microsoft Office – officially called Office v. X – should be available by the time you read this. It’s not known when native versions of the other programs will ship. Applications based on PowerBuilder (COEUS, Roles, etc.) can only run in Classic mode.
CarbonTo make the transition to Mac OS X
easier, Apple created an application pro- gramming interface (API) called Carbon. Using Carbon, a developer can modify an existing Mac OS application and have it run natively on Mac OS X. In
some cases, the same application will also run on Macintoshes using Mac OS 8.6 through 9.2.1. Going back to the IS list, Fetch, FileMaker, and Acrobat Reader run natively on Mac OS X and older Mac OS versions. Eudora, Virex, and Office v. X use Carbon in such a way that they run only on Mac OS X. A word of caution: although vendors will be releasing new versions of IS- supported applications, IS recommends that you stick with the supported ver- sions. New versions haven’t yet been tested and qualified by IS.
Support IssuesIS doesn’t provide Help Desk sup-
port, training, or documentation for Mac OS X at this time. There are a few reasons for this. First, Mac OS X is so different from previous versions of the Mac OS that IS needs to work with the community to plan the timing of sup- port and make preparations.
Second, Mac OS X is a moving target. After Apple shipped version 10.0, the company quickly released four updates that brought it to version 10.0.4. In Sep- tember, Apple released version 10.1, a major upgrade. Since then, Apple has released three updates and more are expected. While it’s good that Apple is being diligent about fixing problems and adding features, it’s difficult to do testing when the version keeps chang- ing. On a positive note, 10.1 includes full AppleTalk network support and support for over 200 laser printers, including those widely used at MIT.
Third, as previously mentioned, Mac OS X native versions of supported applications have been slow to appear. Once they do, IS will test and qualify them for use at MIT.
IS expects to have more details about support for Mac OS X by the spring. If you are experimenting with Mac OS X, help is available through a user-support mailing list, <[email protected]>. IS also maintains a list of useful resources at http://web.mit.edu/is/help/macos/ macosx/#info
If you have questions or comments, contact the release team at <[email protected]> or the Software Release Team at <[email protected]>. For more information on Mac OS X and the release effort, see http://web.mit.edu/swrt/macosx/ ø
KLPR 2.1.3 for MacintoshIS now supports KLPR 2.1.3 for Macin- tosh. KLPR is a plug-in that provides the option of Kerberos authentication in TCP/IP printing so that Macintosh users can print to Kerberos authenti- cated printers. This includes printers in Athena clusters as well as other Kerberos authenticated printers on the MIT network. KLPR 2.1.3 performs Kerberos v5 and v4 authentication using MIT Kerberos for Macintosh 3.5.
You can download both KLPR 2.1.3 and Kerberos for Macintosh 3.5 fromhttp://web.mit.edu/software/
Certificates are required to download these installers.
For more information on KLPR, see http://web.mit.edu/is/help/klpr/
Netscape 4.78IS has released the MIT-tailored ver-sion of Netscape 4.78 for Windows and Macintosh systems. Netscape 4.78 is already installed by default on Athena workstations.
If you are running a previous ver-sion of Netscape, IS recommends that you upgrade. You can get the 4.78 installer at http://web.mit.edu/software/
The Netscape 4.78 release• Fixes permission problems on
Windows 2000 that prevented some accounts from running Netscape (without Administrator intervention)
• Fixes software bugs and security issues
• Improves mouse wheel support for Windows
• Provides better support for the Sun Java plug-in. For more information on what’s
new in Netscape releases, see the new features section of the Netscape Release Notebook athttp://web.mit.edu/swrt/netscape/
Keep in mind that Netscape 6 and 6.01 are not supported at this time, and are not recommended for use with MIT Web applications. ø
Another Way to Get E-Mail on the Fly: MIT WebMail• Jag Patel and Lee Ridgway
nformation Systems has been work-ing to roll out WebMail, a conven-
ient and secure way to read, reply to, send, and delete current e-mail using almost any Web browser, almost any-where in the world. Introduction of this service had been prompted by continuing demand for ways to access MIT e-mail remotely. The WebMail product that IS chose is IMP, an open source program from the Horde Project (http://horde.org/).
Try WebMailMIT’s WebMail installation is still
being tested; it’s available in a beta ver- sion for anyone to use. You can access WebMail’s beta and tester notes fromhttp://web.mit.edu/webmail/
IS invites MIT community members to try out WebMail and send feedback to <[email protected]>. WebMail is still in development, so it may change as you use it. The implementation team is gathering comments and bug reports on the beta release and will list known issues and major changes on the Web site as development and testing con- tinue. IS anticipates announcing sup- port for WebMail in early Spring 2002.
WebMail Can and Can’t…WebMail does provide desktop-
independent access to e-mail stored on an IS post office server. However, WebMail is not a full-featured e-mail product, such as Eudora. IS does not recommend WebMail as a replacement for a desktop-based e-mail client.
WebMail is not intended for long- term, archival handling of your e-mail, because it only allows for manipula-tion of e-mail while it is on the post
office server. WebMail does not cur- rently provide an easy way to move your e-mail from the post office server to your local computer or Athena home directory, or any other place you nor- mally store your e-mail. The messages and folders you see in WebMail are stored on the post office server until you explicitly delete and purge them. When you logout from WebMail, re- maining messages and folders are left on the server. Quotas are enforced on the MIT post office servers, so you should use an MIT supported e-mail client, such as Eudora, for long-term management of your e-mail.
Usage ScenariosIf you are satisfied with your cur-
rent e-mail client, you might simply use WebMail as a supplemental e-mail client to access e-mail remotely. When you return to your usual method of accessing e-mail, all the mail you read and left stored on the post office server can be downloaded in your usual way.
If you’re not sure whether you’re using e-mail effectively, IS has devel-oped a set of scenarios to help deter-mine the best ways to take advantage of the various supported e-mail clients and protocols. To view these recom-mended scenarios, and to get an over- view of e-mail protocols, go to http://web.mit.edu/is/help/email/ scenarios.html
TrainingThe implementation team is hold-
ing an IAP seminar on “Using Web Mail – Another Way to Get Your MIT E-Mail” on Tuesday, January 15, from 2 to 3 pm in the N42 Demo Center.
In addition, IS offers two related Quick Start classes: “E-Mail with IMAP at MIT” and “Retrieving E-Mail from Afar.” For the schedule of classes, seehttp://web.mit.edu/is/training/ ø
I
This column presents announcements about IS-supported software. For more information about recent releases, see http://web.mit.edu/swrt/
Security Tips for MIT Personal Certificates
With more secure services migrating to the Web, the use of MIT personal certificates is on the rise, as are the opportunities for misuse. If you use and then leave your MIT personal certificate active in a Web browser, someone could easily walk up to your machine and access secure applications in your name. To avoid this, quit your browser after using certificates. Also, pass-word protect your personal certificate to help prevent unauthorized access by someone opening your browser in your absence. In Netscape, do this via the Security icon in the Navigation toolbar.
i/shttp://web.mit.edu/is/isnews/ • November / December 2001 •
M C C / C o m p u t e r C u r r e n t s
There’s Something About Servers: A Primer• Kathleen Moriarty
server is a networked com-puter that is used to manage
resources – for example, a file server lets users store and access files over a network. While servers share many hardware features with desktop sys- tems, certain technologies are more important in this type of system. These technologies are designed to improve performance as well as fault tolerance – the ability of a system to respond to hardware or software errors in such a way that data and service are not lost.
When buying a server, key selection factors are the intended purpose of the server, the number of users, and the consequences if the server becomes unavailable.
Performance BoostFeatures that improve performance
include high-end processors, like the Intel Xeon, or support for multiple
CPUs (as many as four are common). Servers may support higher amounts of Level 2 cache – high-speed memory between the processor and the RAM for storing frequently accessed instruc-tions. Desktop systems have up to 256KB of L2 cache, but a server may have up to 2MB.
The type of storage and controller used also affects performance. Desk-tops typically include Ultra ATA hard disks and drive controllers while servers frequently have SCSI devices. SCSI controllers can support more devices than ATA and provide faster throughput – up to 160MB/second versus up to 100 MB/second for ATA.
To a FaultOther technologies improve fault
tolerance. RAID (Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks) safeguards data on hard drives. RAID can be implemented in several ways; the most common are known as Level 1 and Level 5. RAID Level 1, or disk mirroring, requires that two copies of data are written to two hard drives using one adapter, as
opposed to disk duplexing which uses two adapters. Raid Level 5, or disk striping with parity, enables data that is written to three or more hard drives to be regenerated if a drive fails. This technique writes data at the byte level, treating the first two or more hard drives as a single volume, leaving the last disk for parity checking.
Another technique to improve fault tolerance for a server is support for redundant components. Devices like the power supply and network inter-face cards are commonly installed in pairs in a server. More sophisticated systems automatically detect hardware errors with these devices and switch to the second component while the server is still running.
These types of safeguards usually increase the price of a server, but greatly improve its reliability.
In the Market?For more information or help in
selecting a server, contact the MIT Com- puter Connection at <[email protected]> or x3-7686. ø
A
IS to Discontinue Support of Selected Hardware, Software
• Theresa M. Regan
ecently, in an effort to ensure a high level of support for the
Macintosh and Windows platforms, Information Systems reviewed the extensive combinations of hardware and software for which it currently offers assistance. As a result of this review, IS plans to discontinue support for selected older hardware, operating systems, and applications on June 30, 2002 (see the box to the right).
Feedback from IT Partners confirms that many departments, labs, and cen-ters have already upgraded or plan to upgrade these products by June, 2002.
The hardware configuration stan-dards are geared towards daily, multi-tasking users, not people who use their computers infrequently. If your com-puter use is limited to e-mail, Web browsing, and Microsoft Office, a less powerful computer may be fine.
If you have questions or concerns, send e-mail to <[email protected]>.
R
Products for Which IS Will Discontinue Support as of June 30, 2002
Macintosh
Models prior to PowerMacintosh G3s (68K Macintoshes, such as the Mac IIci, Quadra 700, Quadra 800, PowerMacintosh 7300, 7500, etc.)Operating Systems Mac OS 8.1, 8.5.xApplications Dreamweaver 3 Eudora 4.0.2 and earlier FileMaker Pro 3 and earlier Kerberos for Macintosh v 2.0.2, 2.5.1, 3.0 Microsoft Office 98 and earlier
Netscape 4.5 and earlier TSM/ADSM 3.x and earlierWindows
Models with CPU speeds less than 350MHzOperating Systems SP5 and lower for NTApplications Dreamweaver 3 Eudora 4.0.2 and earlier FileMaker Pro 3 and earlier Kerberos: Mink-10-18-99 (Leash 32 v 2.0) McAfee VirusScan 4.0.3 and earlier Microsoft Office 97 and earlier Netscape 4.5 and earlier TSM/ADSM 3.x and earlier
• November / December 2001 • http://web.mit.edu/is/isnews/6. . . .
i/s
T e l e c o m T a l k
Impact on the Community It is a requirement of this project that
all moves, adds, or changes to phone service at MIT cease two weeks before cutover. This “quiet period” will start Monday, January 7. On that date, 5E Ops will take a final snapshot of the current switch database. This snapshot will be used to ensure the accuracy of the new database.
Any moves, adds, or changes made on an emergency basis during the quiet period will be lost, and will have to be redone after the cutover.
IS expects that the transition will be seamless, except for some people in mid-campus and west campus who will temporarily lose service due to an unavoidable equipment issue that can’t be addressed until the new switch comes online. During the cutover week- end, 5E Ops will work to get these lines back in service, and to verify the proper operation of priority numbers (e.g., MIT Medical, Campus Police).
For the week of Tuesday, January 22, 5E Ops plans to troubleshoot outages as they are identified. MIT customers
should report any telephone outage to 3-HELP (3-4357) or <[email protected]>. Customer service – for move, add, and change orders and other requests – may not return to normal levels until the following week.
Project CompletionAfter the cutover, 5E Ops staff will
complete the transition to the new switch behind the scenes. They will dismantle the old switch, move the new switch into its permanent place, and rebuild all of the switchrooms. This work should not affect campus phone service.
More InformationFor notices of major transitions or
possible service-affecting events, seehttp://nic.mit.edu/3down/
For updates on the 5ESS switch replacement project, seehttp://web.mit.edu/is/delivery/5ess/
If you have questions about any aspect of the project, send e-mail to <[email protected]>. ø
Cutover to New 5ESS Switch Slated for January• Lu Keohane and Joan Cyr
s reported in the July/August i/s, IS is installing a new 5ESS
telephone switch. The current switch for MIT has reached its capacity, both in memory and number of lines. Cutover to the new switch is scheduled for Martin Luther King weekend – from 5pm on Friday, January 18, 2002 to 8am on Tuesday, January 22, 2002.
The 5ESS Operations Team (5E Ops), part of Telecommunications and Net- work Services, has already done a lot to prepare for the transition: verifying existing phone lines, building the new switch, and mapping all current service information into the new data- base. Over Martin Luther King week- end, everyone’s telephone service will be moved to the new switch. The old switch will not be dismantled until 5E Ops is satisfied with the operation of the new switch.
IS Does IAP: From Concepts in Insecurity to a Talk on MITnet • Jeanne Cavanaugh
nce again, IS is sponsoring a host of IAP sessions in January. The
events highlighted below don’t limit the number of people who can attend and don’t require preregistration. For a complete listing of more than 50 IS- sponsored events, see http://websis.mit.edu/iap/nsis.html
Concepts in Computer and Network Insecurity
Attend any or all of the sessions in this three-part series. Familiarity with Unix is recommended.
Computer and Network InsecurityJan 7, 7–9pm, Room 1-190This session focuses on concepts
of computer and network security, including network protocol vulner-abilities, buffer overflows, distributed denial of service, probing techniques, various attacks, common security flaws, and other related topics based on participants’ interests.
Web Security Jan 9, 7–9pm, Room 1-190
This talk examines protocols used in Web security, techniques for au- thentication, common problems, and methods of circumvention.
Information Warfare Jan 11, 7–9pm, Room 1-190
Between polymorphic viruses, script kiddies, nation-states, and corporate hackers, the Internet isn’t a safe place anymore. Who are these people attack- ing you, and what do they want? This session looks at the means, methods, and motivations of attackers.
Wireless Network- ing and DHCP Quick Start Jan 8, 2–3pm, N42 Demo Center
This overview covers what Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is; how it works at MIT; wireless net-working at MIT and where you can use it; who can use DHCP through net-work drops or wireless access points; and what software and hardware you need. The talk also addresses common issues and frequently asked questions.
ATIC Lab Open House Jan 16, 11am–2pm, Room 11-103Come to the ATIC Lab’s Open House
to learn about technologies for people with disabilities. You can try software for magnification, scanning and read- ing, Braille translation, and more. See the IAP Web site for more on other ATIC Lab events: demos of voice recog- nition software (Jan 22) and alternative keyboards and pointing devices (Jan 24).
MITnet: MIT’s Portion of the Internet Jan 18, 1:30–3:30pm, Room 10-250This talk delves into the architecture
of MIT’s network and how it connects to the rest of the Internet, including Internet 2 and other high-speed net- works. This presentation also looks at plans and challenges as the network expands in scope and usage.
Getting Connected to MITnet Jan 29, 2–3pm, N42 Demo Center This lecture guides you through
configuring your laptop or home com- puter for access to online services avail- able only to MIT community members. All attendees receive a CD with the software needed to connect to MITnet. ø
i/shttp://web.mit.edu/is/isnews/ • November / December 2001 •
T e c h T i p s
This column presents answers to frequently asked technology questions. For more Q&As, check the IS Stock Answers database athttp://hdstock.mit.edu/stockanswers/
How can I remove a personal certificate in Internet Explorer?
(Caution: If you used this certificate to encrypt documents or e-mail, you will no longer be able to read that in- formation if you delete the certificate.)
To remove your personal certi-ficate, follow these steps:
1. From Internet Explorer’s Tools menu, select Internet Options.
2. From the Internet Options screen, click the Content tab, then click the Certificates button.
3. Under the Personal tab in the Certificates window, select your personal certificate and click the button labeled Remove. ø
Q
A
How can I turn off all those “security alert” dialog boxes
that appear when I access a secure Web site using Internet Explorer?
There are a few Security Alert dialog boxes in Internet Explorer,
covering different situations. Here’s how to eliminate them:• Ensure that you have installed the
MIT Certification Authority (CA) certificate for Internet Explorer. This will get rid of the Security Alert dialog box saying that “The security certificate was issued by a company you have not chosen to trust.” Instructions for installing the CA are provided at http://web.mit.edu/is/help/ie/
• Let Internet Explorer remember your personal certificate password.
When you install your personal certificate for Internet Explorer, MIT recommends that you set its security level to “High.” This re- quires you to set up a password for the certificate. Once the password is set, you are prompted to enter it each time you access a secure Web site at MIT. You can change this so that Internet Explorer will only prompt you once per session, if you select the “remember password” checkbox the first time you are prompted. Internet Explorer will not ask for the password again until you exit and re-open the browser.
• If you have only one certificate installed on your PC, tell Internet Explorer not to prompt you for which certificate to use when ac- cessing a certificate-protected Web site. To do this, follow these steps:1. From Internet Explorer’s Tools
menu, choose Internet Options.2. Click the Security tab.
Q
A
3. Click the Custom Level button. 4. Locate the setting “Don’t prompt
for client certificate selection when no certificates or only one certificate exists,” and click the Enable radio button.
IS Offers New Central Printing Service to the MIT Community• Mary Ellen Bushnell
nformation Systems now offers a network-based printing service at
no cost. The goal is to meet the need for large-volume administrative PostScript and PDF print output such as that generated by the Admissions Office or CAO. However, the service is available to anyone in the MIT community.
Features The new service is built on IBM’s
Infoprint Manager (IPM) – queue management software that lives on the network and accepts print requests submitted over the network from desk- top computers and networked servers. IPM runs on an RS6000 server under the AIX operating system and prints to two IBM IP3160s and an HP8100. The equipment and software reside in W91.
How to Submit a Print RequestThere are two ways to submit a
print request to IPM:
• Set up a desktop printer. This option is easy since it is the same as set- ting up a desktop printer for any networked PostScript printer.
• Use the Web interface. This option offers more control. Users can view their queue and make changes after submitting a job, such as changing media, or number of copies, or even deleting the job. IPM processes PDF and image files, but all other files (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint), must be printed to file in PostScript Level 2 format. This option requires a one-time edit to Netscape Prefer- ences so that IPM correctly inter-prets the PostScript file format.Either method requires a one-time
setting up of your delivery address and cost object via the Web interface. For full instructions, start athttp://web.mit.edu/is/help/printing/central/
SecurityUsers are authenticated depending
on the method used to submit their print job. A job submitted via KPLR from a desktop computer or application
server is authenticated by Kerberos. A job submitted over the Web is secured via the user’s MIT Web certificates.
Files traveling the network to IPM are exposed; the Central Print Service does not provide encryption at this time.
Security of the printed output itself between the Data Center and the user is handled by whatever delivery re- quirements have been arranged for the job.
Output Delivery Print output from IPM is delivered
by campus mail. Customers who need output sooner can have jobs set aside for pickup at W91 by calling x3-7049.
SupportCustomers who currently call the
Business Liaison Team for support should call the BLT for help with print- ing problems associated with the Cen- tral Print Service. Others should call the Help Desk – Macintosh, x3-1101; Windows, x3-1102. There are also rela- ted Stock Answers, under Printing, at http://hdstock.mit.edu ø
• November / December 2001 • http://web.mit.edu/is/isnews/8. . . .
i/s
G e t t i n g H e l p
MIT Information Systems
i/s is printed with soy inks on recycled paper, and can be recycled in MIT’s “mixed paper” bins.
S u r f S i t e s : R e s o u r c e s f o r S e n i o r s
If you don’t know where to get help for your computer, network, or telephone problems, dial one of the help lines listed to the right.
If you prefer to use e-mail, you can send your questions to the cor-responding e-mail addresses on the far right. (When logged into Athena, you can also use the olc command to send questions to Athena’s online consultants.)
For a complete list of services offered by Information Systems, see http://web.mit.edu/is/services/
MIT’s AgeLab is working to make life more productive for senior citizens through advances in technology and design (see lead article). But why wait? There are many resources on the Web for older citizens who want to take an active role in making the most of their later years. These range from special interest alliances to government- sponsored sites.
Other sites in the list on the right may be of particular relevance to caregivers – with information related to legal, financial, and health concerns.
