MTT Web Report

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MTT Web Report

• Timothy Lee
• tt.lee_at_ieee.org

June 6th, 2004
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Introduction Outline

• Objective Continue to innovate by leveraging
  modern software tools and web-based technologies
  to serve the IEEE MTT-S electronic communications
  needs
• Accomplishments to date in 2004
• Need to upgrade server (again)
• Website Updates
• Domain Names IP Status
• Support to IMS and RFIC Steering Committees
• Plan for future

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Accomplishments to Date

• Special thanks to all mtt.org webmasters who
  keeps the content fresh and up-to-date
• MTT.org website upgrades
• HTML-based Adcom directory (Ian Gresham)
• MTT Dictionary (Jeff Jargon)
• Electronic Forums (Tim Lee)
• TCC Webpages (Tim Lee)
• Test version of Pond TPMS system installed (Pond,
  Lee, Hatcher)
• Supports to IMS and RFIC Committees
• 2004 Fort Worth (PDA Program Guide for PalmOS,
  Pocket PC, Nokia and Symbian cellphones)
  http//members.cox.net/leetim/ims2004
• 2005 Long Beach (new Electronic Daybook)
• 2006 San Francisco
• 2007 Honolulu (ims2007.org activated, homepage
  created) http//www.ims2007.org

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Need for Server Upgrade

• Background
• Mtt.org last upgraded in 2003 to a
  Interland-managed dedicated server (Accelerator)
  from a shared server
• Interland has phased out the Accelerator product
  (RH8 no longer supported by Red Hat)
• Current level of capabilities not able to support
  a persistent Technical Paper Management System
  (TPMS)
• While testing J. Pond TPMS on mtt.org website as
  host, discovered
• Incompatible version of Perl
• Discovered lack of upgrade path (this platform is
  frozen)
• Commitment to volunteer-based TPMS system
• Save MTT-S lots of money by not contracting with
  outside service companies
• Provide fully customized capabilities that
  address our unique needs
• Need dedicated volunteer staff and suitable
  hardware/bandwidth

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Test Version of Jeff Ponds TPMS running on
mtt.org
Obsolete version of Perl prevents modules from
running correctly
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Need for Server Upgrade

• Interland has dropped our current Accelerator
  from their pricelist and will no longer provide
  SW upgrades
• Proposed Action
• Evaluate upgrade path managed or dedicated
  server
• Interland or other provider?
• Monthly and setup costs (current baseline
  362/month)
• Will need a dedicated MTT Web Team
• Need continuity to provide support
• Linux, Apache, mySQL, PHP (LAMP), Perl skills
• Team (others?)
• Timothy Lee
• Jeff Pond
• Dave Lovelace
• Jenshan Lin
• Marc Goldfarb

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Web Hosting Services

• Baseline is Interland Accelerator
• Preferences in selection (LAMP)
• Standard, widely supported OS (Red Hat Linux ES3)
• Apache webserver
• PHP, mySql, Perl (latest versions)
• Backup services (daily or weekly)
• Under investigation
• Interland High Performance dedicated plans
• Hostway dedicated plans
• Rackspace managed plans (critical patches,
  backups included)
• A-Plus dedicated plans
• Will get consensus from MTT-S web team and make
  recommendations to AdCom

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Upgrade ComparisonsInterland
Recurring monthly fee scales with server
features setup cost fixed. You rent the server
perpetually.
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Upgrade ComparisonsInterland
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Plesk 7 Web Server Management Software
Visit http//www.sw-soft.com/en/products/plesk7/
Server Admin
Domain Admin
New Plisk7 server management software very
promising. Limits command line tinkering while
managing complex server functions
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Server Upgrade Summary

• Upgrade to our Interland account or migration
  needed to support growth and new capabilities for
  Technical Paper Management System
• Will try to keep monthly cost neutral (400 to
  500/month)
• Major H/W upgrade
• PIII 933MHz to P4 2.6GHz or Xeon class
• 60GB to 100GB bandwidth
• S/W upgrade
• Supported Linux Red Hat Enterprise version 3
• Plesk web-based administration
• Sufficient IP domain support and email accounts
• Will submit to Adcom and Budget Cmte for
  approval to proceed

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MTT Website Changes

• Electronic Forums added for TCC, IMS and Adcom
  committees
• Conference Calendar updated for 2004
• HTML version of Adcom Directory added to
  Membership Services
• Updated MTT Handbook posted to AdCom site
• Still need more inputs for TCC webpages
• More chapter web links added.
• MTT-S dictionary homepage created
• Email address obfuscator used to protect MTT
  member privacy

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Under Development
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Example of Updated TCC Webpage (MTT-9)
40 of TCC chairs have responded to request for
updates
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Electronic Forum Developed

• Need Electronic Forums for members of MTT-S to
  share information
• Discussion threads are recorded for those who
  cannot attend meeting to read, comment and for
  incoming committee members to gain corporate
  knowledge
• Unified interface for mtt.org electronic
  communications
• No heavy advertising found on Yahoo or MSN groups
• Organized into four sections
• General discussions Feedback
• TCC topics
• Symposia
• Adcom committees
• Located at www.mtt.org/forum

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• All users must be registered
• Automated email verification activation system
  for registration
• TCC forums will have moderators assigned from
  each committee
• Symposia and Adcom forums will be private and
  managed through ACLs
• Need more active participation by AdCom and TCC
  members

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• phpBB 2.06 (open-source, phpBB.com)
• mySql database
• Web-based administration
• Access control levels
• By group or individual
• All, Registered, Private, Moderator Admin
• Forums can be public, registered, private and
  hidden

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MTT Web Directory Structure
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Domain Names

• Ims20xx registered thru 2021
• Rfic20xx registered thru 2010
• Domain names are reserved 20 years out
• Domain names for current conferences are
  registered at least 1 year following conference
  to allow debriefing activities

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IP Addresses

• IP status unchanged
• Rfic2005.org and ims2007.org activated

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New Homepage design

• Need to make MTT homepage more attractive and
  informative for both long time and prospective
  members of the society
• Will undertake a redesign this summer using CSS
  format using Macromedia Studio MX 2004
• Enables separation between content and styles
• Cleaner interfaces and faster load times
• Gathering best ideas
• From other engineering society sites
• From your suggestions

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Support to IMS Steering Committes
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IMS Conference Mobile Device Program Guides
This year, the usability and interoperability of
the 2004 IEEE MTT-S IMS PDA Interactive Program
Guide has been greatly enhanced through the use
of Cerience Corporation's Repligo software.
Cerience has developed an automated document
conversion and management software for handheld
computers and smartphones. It enables the
conversion, viewing, transporting, annotating and
management for documents of virtually any type,
on mobile Palm OS, Windows Mobile, Microsoft
Smartphones, Nokia Series 60, and Symbian UIQ
devices. To view the Program Guide on your mobile
device, you will need to install the Repligo
Viewer first and then download the Program Guide
into your device's main memory or flash storage
(CF, SD, Memory Stick) Download the Repligo
Viewer application via the URL links below. Or
from the Cerience website, you can download the
Windows Installer or type in your mobile device's
email address for direct installation. . Then
install the 2004 IEEE IMS Program Guide through
normal synchronization methods (ActiveSync, Palm
Desktop, etc) . Also download install the
Exhibitor Booth Directory. http//members.cox.net
/leetim/ims2004
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Electronic Daybook Tool

• IMS 2005 will use an electronic daybook based on
  an Access database, Scheduler Plus
• Am serving as IMS2005 Local Arrangement Chair and
  Webmaster
• Inputs taken from Event Request Forms
• Generate reports on utilization, resources, AV,
  food/beverage requirements
• Replaces obsolete and limited Excel spreadsheet
• Provide efficient interface to IEEE Conference
  Planner
• CEO Software
• Can pass on to 2006 and 2007 Committees

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Scheduler Plus

• KEY FEATURES
• Manage and schedule events, rooms, and related
  services
• Schedule multiple rooms at multiple locations
• Microsoft Outlook integration
• Graphic interface displays available and booked
  rooms by day, week or month
• Easily schedule recurring meetings
• Schedule events and services without an assigned
  room
• Schedule private meetings
• Track last minute changes
• Send e-mail notification to clients and staff
• System wide setting are customizable per site in
  a multi site environment

This product can be upgraded to a totally
web-based so that Event requesters and planners
can interact anywhere anyplace they have an
Internet connection.
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Electronic Daybook Tool
Translation of Event Requests into
database-driven scheduling and reporting system
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Electronic Daybook Tool Resource Management
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Plan for future

• Server migration and submittal of plans to Adcom
  and Budget committee
• TPMS installation and support for IMS 2005
• Continue supporting current and future IMS and
  RFIC websites
• New MTT homepage re-design
• Multilingual websites Ryan Miyamoto is
  translating into Japanese version. Need more
  volunteers on other languages.
• Please register and try out the forum area at
  http//www.mtt.org/forum
• Your suggestions are important to mtt.org site
  development

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Acknowledgement
Thanks to all webmasters and everyone
contributing to the web contents or giving
suggestions! Looking for volunteers with Web
development skills!