ITSIG Oct' 1905

1
ITSIG Oct. 19/05

• Demise of IPX - Dec. 05 Reminder - Leon
• Cold Fusion Migration Update - Rob
• IT Help Survey Reminder - Gerrit
• Central File Service Overview - Leon
• Agenda items for future meetings - Leon

2
UoG Migration from proprietary Novell network
protocol

• (Originally presented January 05/05)

3
Background What is this protocol and how is it
used?

• Novells own proprietary protocol called IPX.
• Used for sharing files between workstations and
  file servers
• Routable across campus but NOT the internet
• Used exclusively by Novell servers

4
Why is IPX being decommissioned?

• IPX is not an Internet protocol, it can only be
  used on local networks (ie on campus)
• Novell stopped developing new features for IPX in
  the late 90s and have switched to IP
• IPX is only provided today for backward
  compatibility
• Cisco has stated that IPX is not directional and
  has been dropping support for it.
• We need to demise IPX in a controlled manner

5
Preparing for the demise of IPX

• Take inventory of all IPX servers
• Determine migration options for each of the
  campus units who are still using IPX
• Set date for decommissioning IPX

6
Migration Options

• Upgrade server to Microsoft Server 2003
• Migrate users to Central File Server
• New service currently being pilot tested
• Personal group folders for file store
• Desktop access from anywhere on campus
• Web access from the internet
• Upgrade server to Novell Netware 5.x or above

7
Schedule

• Winter 05 Spring05 Semesters
• CCS assists campus units with implementation of
  IPX alternatives
• Aug 1st 05
• Completed migrations off of IPX
• Dec 31st 05
• Removed IPX from the campus network

8
Contact Information

• Leon Loo
• Manager of Departmental Services,
• Computing and Communications Services
• LLoo_at_uoguelph.ca
• 519-824-4120
• Please feel free to contact me to discuss these
  slides or to discuss your migration options or
  plans.

9
Central File Service
10
Evolution of the Departmental File and Print
Server

• 1st Generation
• Local Servers
• Novell Netware
• 2nd Generation
• Server Farm
• Novell Netware, some MS Servers

11
Challenges of 1st and 2nd Generation

• Significant resources required for server
  maintenance
• More servers on campus than required (60-70)
• Inefficient use of servers
• A variety of solutions being applied to meet
  similar needs (Novell 3.x, 4.x, 5.x, 6.x, MS
  2000, 2K3, Linux)
• Security and Reliability could be improved

12
The Next GenerationCentral File Service

• Initiated this project from client requests
• Build a central facility shared between
  organizational units
• Meets the basic needs for file and print services
  for the majority of users
• Home directories
• Group shared directories
• Print queues for shared printers
• Remote Access (across campus / home / internet)
• Synchronization with Central LoginIDs
• Relieves departments of
• Having to buy and maintain server hardware
• Having to buy and maintain server software
• Overall savings to the campus as a whole
• One large centralized server is more efficient
  than many smaller ones
• Improve security and reliability
• Migrate away from Novell Netware
• Adopt MS Server 2003, Active Directory
  NetAppliance

13
Current status - Central File Service

• A server environment has been designed, tested
  and implemented. It is designed to maximize
  security, reliability and able to scale as demand
  grows
• Servers are up and running
• Successfully Completed a Pilot with OVC
• 600 workstations migrated off of Novell and onto
  a clustered Active Directory / MS Server 2003
  cluster
• Seamless for the majority of users
• Windows 98 was/is a challenge

14
Departmental Adoption of the CFS

• Uptake has been faster than expected
• CCS
• OVC
• Student Affairs
• Athletics
• Environmental Biology (in progress)
• Office of Research
• Financial Services
• Human Resources (October)
• Environmental Health and Safety (October)
• And others
• Since Aug 1st, weve had over 1000 unique Users
  login to CFS, approximately ¼ of all faculty and
  staff, Over half of those login to the CFS daily

15
Server Hardware Platform

• Dell PowerEdge
• Multiple Active Directory Domain Controllers
• NetAppliance storage
• Redundant enterprise class storage
• Scalable up to 12 TB
• Hardware firewall

16
Server Software Platform

• Microsoft Server 2003/ Active Directory
• Reliability
• Single node failure will not disrupt service
• Security
• MS is making good of their renewed interest in
  improving security, significantly improved over
  Server 2000
• All OSs have vulnerabilities exploits
• Any OS is only as good as its maintained
• Scalable
• More Domain Controllers will be added as needed

17
Client Access Licenses

• We are purchasing our Microsoft User CALs (Client
  Access License) as needed. These are perpetual
  licenses
• As more and more workstations are migrated to the
  CFS, annual licensing of MS software will become
  more and more attractive.

18
Underlying Technologies
Net Appliance Home Dir Group Shares
Portal
synchronization
authentication
Internet
XP Desktops
Web Access via Portal
Graphics borrowed from Campus Services
19
Active Directory Structure
20
Password Management
UserID Sync
Change Password Web Utility
CFS Sync Password Web Utility
21
User Experience

• Authentication
• UserID and password will be the synchronized with
  Central Login ID
• On campus
• Mapped drives (H home dir, G group shares)
• Shared departmental printers
• 400mb quota on home directory
• A campus unit will have the ability to purchase
  more storage for their users.
• Off campus
• Download / Upload files via portal

22
Future

• Explore annual licensing v.s. perpetual licensing
• Exploration/Introduction of other Active
  Directory related services

23
CFS Questions Comments
Hummmm
24
Agenda items for future meetings

• We will have two more meetings this semester and
  at least 3 in the winter semester
• Setup tentative agenda items for each of these
  meetings in advance
• Looking for input from the members
• Open to anything IT.
• We can use the mailing list for further
  discussions
• Email me or other CCS managers with
  ideas/suggestions/questions
• Paul_at_uoguelph.ca (Campus Services)
• LLoo_at_uoguelph.ca (Departmental Services/Academic
  Services)
• Drew_at_uoguelph.ca (Networking Services)
• PJones_at_uoguelph.ca (Operations/Help Centre)