UNHCE Information Technology & Distance Education Blog: October 2003 Archives

The ITDE Team has established an employee database to provide information for the on-line staff directory and to provide user security and authentication for future web applications. As a result, when we deploy new applications that require user authentication (e.g., Soils Recommendations, Request for Educational Materials, FormBuilder, etc.), we will use the employee database as our user base. This means that each staff member will have a single username and password that will apply across the web applications we deploy.

In the coming days, each employee will receive an email with their username and password and a link to the Employee Database. Each person should log in to the management interface at: http://cecf1.unh.edu/cestaffadmin/staff/staff_home.cfm , using the username and password provided in the email. You should then go to the "Edit my information" option to check your personal information. Please note that holding the mouse pointer over the question marks next to some fields will provide more information about how the field is used. For example, the message "only enter a phone (or FAX) number if you have a direct phone line; if you are in an office with a shared incoming phone (or FAX) number, it will be listed that way in the directory" will appear while holding the pointer over the question mark next to the phone information input field.

You may also want to change your password to one that's easier for you to remember. Please don't choose a simple password (e.g., "coopext", "password", etc.) since your username and password will be the basis for securing all of our future web applications. If at anytime you forget your password, there is an option on the login screen to have it emailed to you (ITDE staff will not be able to retrieve your password.)

The goal of this system is to make it more seamless when moving from one web application to another, and to be able to provide different levels of functionality depending on a user's role.

Existing web applications (e.g., TERS) will continue to work as before. Older applications will only be modified to use the new staff database when they undergo an upgrade or major modification. Therefore, you will still encounter the pop-up dialog box asking for our standard username (ceuser) and password.

In order to minimize potential problems with printers, the ITDE department recommends that individuals purchase Hewlett Packard (HP) printers for three reasons.

HP printers have consistently been rated the best in terms of printer quality, printer longevity and tech support. Secondly, the UNH Computer Store is an authorized HP maintenance facility and is equipped to diagnose and fix most printer problems. This greatly expedites the fixing and return of printers, with an average turnaround for printers of just a day or two, depending on the complexity of the problem. And finally, ITDE staff have a lot of experience with the software used to manage the printers, and can help you to troubleshoot both more effectively and efficiently.

There are two major areas that people have problems with printers; physical malfunctions and software or cable malfunctions. The most common problem we encounter is a software or cable issue, with the printer refusing to print. This could be a connection or networking problem, or a driver issue and is generally fairly easy for ITDE staff to fix. If you are experiencing difficulties of this type, please contact ITDE staff via the online request form or by calling the hotseat at 862-0351.

In the case of physical hardware malfunctions; rollers not moving paper or pieces of the equipment physically breaking off, for example, warranty parameters prohibit us from working on your machine. These types of issues are internal to the printer and unrelated to your computer or network. ITDE staff are not trained or authorized under your warranty to fix theses types of problems. To make arrangements to have a physical malfunction fixed, please contact the UNH Computer Store at:

UNH Computer Store
CIS Center - 54 College Rd.
Durham, NH 03824
Phone: (603) 862-1328
Fax: (603) 862-3567
Email: computer.store@unh.edu
http://www.utc.unh.edu/

The tech store charges $40 to diagnose a computer problem. This covers the diagnoses time and first half hour of any repairs needed. If it can be fixed relatively easily and requires no replacement parts, this may be the only cost involved. If parts are required and more than a half hour is needed, than the repair could cost $100 or more.

The most frequent question we get is "should we repair a printer or just but a new one?" This is difficult to answer. On one hand we all don't want to join the throwaway society, but on the other, it isn't wise to keep dumping money into a piece of equipment that may only cost a few dollars more to replace. There is no easy answer to that question. Each printer will need to be reviewed on a case by case basis.

To reduce the instance of physical or connection problems, routine maintenance is a proactive approach to extending the life of your printer. Printers are like copiers and other equipment and do get dirty after extensive use. One thing that counties can do is have their printer cleaned at the tech center. If you have a large network printer that may cost $1,000 or $2,000 to replace, investing in $50 to $100 for maintenance really makes sense. Each location should take this into account and build it into their budget.