INFORMATION SERVICES
October 2002
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to Information Services
Announcements from the Bulletin, Today, Notification-L
10/31/02, Mail Server Problems
There were some problems with e-mail delivery today, that were resolved
this afternoon. Both incoming and outgoing messages were being queued
on the mail server and not delivered. No messages were lost, delivery
was just delayed until we got the mail server queues cleared.
The problem was caused by the disk drive where e-mail Inboxes are kept
getting filled up yesterday afternoon. This prevented any messages from
being delivered, and caused the mail delivery queues to get hung up.
If you have a large number of messages in your Inbox, especially if you
have received notices asking you to clear your Inbox, please move any
messages you want to keep to another folder. Folders are kept in a
different place than the Inbox, and messages can be stored in other
folders without causing mail delivery problems. [Notification-L]
10/29/02, Academic Server
The Academic Server was temporarily down last night, making it difficult for some
of you to access services available to the Macalester community. The
problem was solved early this morning but some people were still wondering
why they couldn't access some of the services. It is CIT's standard
protocol to notify the community of scheduled downtimes. However, this was
not a scheduled downtime and the problem was resolved during the early hours
of the work day. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. [Notification-L]
10/28/02, Bandwidth Problem Solved - For Now
Our networking staff has been working on the problem of disguised
file-sharing programs, such as KaZaa, and we evidently have a solution.
The solution returns us to the place where we started: bandwidth
available to the program is strictly limited so that an adequate amount
is available for e-mail, general Web access and other applications. [Notification-L]
10/25/02, Bandwidth Events and Actions
Tuesday, October 22, witnessed many events having to do with Internet bandwidth.
For approximately two weeks, Web access speeds had been slowing significantly.
Tuesday morning we discovered that much of the problem was due to a new version of
KaZaa, a peer-to-peer file-sharing package, and we sent this message out to
the Notification-L list:
"WEB SLOWDOWNS"
"Web traffic has slowed significantly, and the culprit is a new version
of KaZaa. This software shares files (particularly large files, such as
songs and movies) across the Internet. While the previous version of
KaZaa was a known problem, one which our packet-shaper knew how to
identify and regulate, the new version exchanges information using the
hypertext transport protocol, so it looks just like any other Web
traffic. It also slows all Web transactions to a crawl. We cannot
simply cut off all http: traffic, as this would kill most of our
legitimate Web work as well as KaZaa.
"Our network staff are talking with Onvoy, the College's Internet Service
Provider, and are also investigating new software tools that would help
to identify and regulate file-sharing traffic. In the meantime, we ask
that students shut off KaZaa and other file-sharing software, at least
during business hours, so that the College's academic Web work can go
forward at reasonable access rates."
By the afternoon, it became clear that KaZaa was not the only problem.
However, after taking corrective action on the firewall to block the
non-KaZaa traffic, we were left with the file-sharing difficulty. We
placed a cap on outgoing Internet traffic from the residence halls and
sent a second message out to Notification-L:
"PARTIAL SOLUTION TO WEB SLOWDOWNS"
"Part of the problem that has slowed Web traffic at Macalester
now appears to have originated off-campus. In order to combat
this attack, our networking staff have made adjustments to the
firewall that stands between our campus network and the Internet.
We should see improved performance due to this fix.
"However, we still face the problem of the inflated and camouflaged
KaZaa 2.0 data stream. (Recall that with this new version of
KaZaa, file sharing traffic uses the http: protocol - it looks
exactly like legitimate academic Web traffic.) To fight the
KaZaa problem, we have put a cap on the bandwidth coming from
all residence halls, where the KaZaa problem is originating.
It is critical that network users avoid KaZaa and similar
file-sharing applications so that others may have the bandwidth
they need to do academic work."
By 5:00 PM we determined how to take further action, since capping
outgoing bandwidth for all residence halls punishes the innocent as well as
the guilty. Joel Clemmer, Vice President for Information Services, sent
this third posting to Notification-L:
"KAZAA AND BANDWIDTH FOR RES HALLS"
"As you have heard, the people who issue the KaZaa file-sharing software
have learned how to camouflage their service. Probably others will
follow. Thus, use of this software now is a real threat to the ability
of other network users to access the Internet.
"C.I.T. staff did quick research and identified the top bandwidth-hogging
computers on campus. I called the room occupants of each location and
explained that their file-sharing practices effectively block access by
others. We hope for understanding and cooperation. If abuse continues,
we will take disciplinary action.
"Our network and Internet connection are shared resources with limits.
Taking more than a reasonable share for one's self hurts others. I
regret the need for these measures and thank you for your patience." [Bulletin]
10/25/02, Software Galore!
Visit www.macalester.edu/cit/services/software
for lots of important software downloads. You can download Windows XP Service
Pack 1 there (which will be a MUCH faster download than from Microsoft's site),
Norton Antivirus for Windows and Macintosh platforms, the latest Novell clients
and a ton more. [Bulletin]
10/25/02, Harmon Reading and Research Series
October is National Gay and Lesbian History Month. Please join us at
3:30 PM Wednesday, October 30th in the Library's Harmon Room for
"Storytelling and Critical Alterity: Queers Challenge Contemporary
Culture." Judith Katz, English, will read from her novel-in-progress,
Atomic Age. This book differs from her previous two novels, in
that she attempts here not to focus on lesbian lives, but to tell a
traditional family story through a lesbian lens. Katz will discuss the
challenges inherent in taking on such a project. Scott Morgensen,
Women's and Gender Studies Program, will read from an upcoming article,
"A Queer Tribe?: Colonial Legacies in Sexual Politics." The piece
examines the pitfalls and promises of playing with racial meanings while
creating queer culture that might link sexual subjects globally. After
reading, the guests will converse on the work of cultivating a queer
practice and vision that challenges norms in society at large and in
oppositional sexual politics. The event concludes with questions from
the audience. [Bulletin]
10/22/02, KaZaa and Bandwidth for Res Halls
As you have heard, the people who issue the KaZaa file-sharing software
have learned how to camouflage their service. Probably others will
follow. Thus, use of this software now is a real threat to the ability
of other network users to access the Internet.
C.I.T. staff did quick research and identified the top bandwidth-hogging
computers on campus. I called the room occupants of each location and
explained that their file-sharing practices effectively block access by
others. We hope for understanding and cooperation. If abuse continues,
we will take disciplinary action.
Our network and Internet connection are shared resources with limits.
Taking more than a reasonable share for one's self hurts others. I
regret the need for these measures and thank you for your patience.
Joel Clemmer
[Notification-L]
10/22/02, Partial Solution to Web Slowdowns
Part of the problem that has slowed Web traffic at Macalester
now appears to have originated off-campus. In order to combat
this attack, our networking staff have made adjustments to the
firewall that stands between our campus network and the Internet.
We should see improved performance due to this fix.
However, we still face the problem of the inflated and camouflaged
KaZaa 2.0 data stream. (Recall that with this new version of
KaZaa, file sharing traffic uses the http: protocol - it looks
exactly like legitimate academic Web traffic.) To fight the
KaZaa problem, we have put a cap on the bandwidth coming from
all residence halls, where the KaZaa problem is originating.
It is critical that network users avoid KaZaa and similar
file-sharing applications so that others may have the bandwidth
they need to do academic work. [Notification-L]
10/22/02, Web Slowdowns
Web traffic has slowed significantly, and the culprit is a new version
of KaZaa. This software shares files (particularly large files, such as
songs and movies) across the Internet. While the previous version of
KaZaa was a known problem, one which our packet-shaper knew how to
identify and regulate, the new version exchanges information using the
hypertext transport protocol, so it looks just like any other Web
traffic. It also slows all Web transactions to a crawl. We cannot
simply cut off all http:// traffic, as this would kill most of our
legitimate Web work as well as KaZaa.
Our network staff are talking with Onvoy, the College's Internet Service
Provider, and are also investigating new software tools that would help
to identify and regulate file-sharing traffic. In the meantime, we ask
that students shut off KaZaa and other file-sharing software, at least
during business hours, so that the College's academic Web work can go
forward at reasonable access rates. [Notification-L]
10/18/02, Update on updates
We have been working on some changes to the network in recent days. While
necessary to correct problems and avoid more in the future, such change does
often lead to disruption. Network architecture is being adjusted to effectively
increase capacity to the residence halls. We are acquiring a new device to manage
file-sharing services such as KaZaa. We must accommodate some library system
issues by temporarily removing a traffic management device. Our servers had to
receive an anti-virus update. Each of these initiatives or fixes caused a short
disruption or slow-down, typically for a few minutes. We are very hopeful that we
are getting to the end of these projects. We schedule such work for "down" times,
such as weekends or academic breaks, whenever possible. When we do not, it is
because of limits on vendor support contracts or similar hindrance. We will
continue to announce scheduled disruptions in Notification-L. Thanks for your
patience as we work to improve our systems! [Bulletin]
10/18/02, Viruses In Your Spam?
We've noted the ongoing problems with heavy volumes of spam; please see
our archived column from September 27, at www.macalester.edu/infoservices/2002september.html.
(The Chronicle of Higher Education covered this issue in a very
useful column; see chronicle.com/free/v49/i05/05a04701.htm).
Spam is merely annoying in itself, but it can also carry computer
viruses which could potentially damage your critical data. What is CIT
doing about this virus-by-mail threat?
Since all e-mail traffic into and out of Macalester passes through our central mail server, we have installed some virus filters. These catch much incoming spam that contains computer viruses. The filters are most effective against common viruses and those with well-known, fixed subject lines. (When messages containing such viruses are caught at the firewall level, you will still see whatever text came with them, often nonsense like "This is my first game, I hope you would like it." But notice that such messages have multiple parts: one of these parts is named "substitute.txt" and its presence is your clue that a virus was caught and removed before the rest of the message was delivered to you.)
On individual College-owned computers, we have installed a further level of virus protection, in the form of Symantec's Norton AntiVirus. This powerful software is set to run automatically, and also to update automatically (so that it can catch new viruses). More information about Norton AntiVirus, and computer viruses in general, is available on Symantec's Web pages: www.symantec.com.
We have just signed a contract with Symantec and purchased the right to make Norton AntiVirus available for students to install on personally-owned computers. Look for it on CIT's Web pages devoted to Services, or link directly to www.macalester.edu/cit/services/software/. Before installing Norton AntiVirus, you should remove any other virus-detecting software. Having multiple virus-checkers does NOT confer extra protection!
There are also actions that you can take that will minimize the chances of your contracting a potentially-damaging computer virus. They include the following:
Use Mulberry for your e-mail; avoid Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express, all flavors. Virus creators tend to target security holes in these products and tailor viruses to take advantage of the weaknesses.
Delete unread any e-mail from an address you do not recognize, particularly if it carries a suspicious subject line (promising money, humor, pornography or effortless weight loss).
Don't be fooled into believing every "virus alert" you may receive in your e-mail, particularly those that insist that you "send this to everyone you know!" Computer viruses are real, but they are not cause for panic. Virus hoaxes can be as damaging as many real viruses. Educate yourself by visiting the Department of Energy's Computer Incident Advisory Capability page, a.k.a. 'Hoaxbusters,' at hoaxbusters.ciac.org.
Again, as with spam, please understand that CIT cannot, and will not, review incoming e-mail messages in the hopes of catching viruses. Even if this were technically feasible, it would endanger your privacy and threaten the principles of academic freedom. Just as the Post Office does not sort your paper mail to remove the junk, leaving that task up to your individual judgment, CIT cannot sort your electronic mail to remove all spam. This is why so many of the incremental virus-fighting steps mentioned here depend on individual awareness and action. [Bulletin]
10/18/02, Look For Yourself
x6777
will direct you to Macalester departments and on-campus people, by using
your phone keypad and simply spelling the department name or last name
of the person. It's available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please
call x6777 and try your own name. (Admissions and Athletics personnel
are not accessible via x6777.) If you don't find yourself, please call
Telecommunications at x6566. [Bulletin]
10/18/02, Harmon Reading and Research Series
October is National Gay and Lesbian History Month. Please join us,
Wednesday, October 30th at 3:30 PM in the Harmon Room, Library, for
"Storytelling and critical alterity: Queers challenge contemporary
culture." Judith Katz, visiting writer in the English Department, will
read from her novel-in-progress, Atomic Age. This book differs from her
previous two novels, in that she attempts here not to focus on lesbian
lives, but to tell a traditional family story through a lesbian lens.
Katz will discuss the challenges inherent in taking on such a project.
Scott Morgensen, assistant professor of LGBT studies in the Women's and
Gender Studies Program, will read from an upcoming article, "A Queer
Tribe?: Colonial Legacies in Sexual Politics." The piece examines the
pitfalls and promises of playing with racial meanings while creating
queer culture that might link sexual subjects globally. After reading,
the guests will converse on the work of cultivating a queer practice and
vision that challenges norms in society at large and in oppositional
sexual politics. The event concludes with questions from the audience. [Bulletin]
10/18/02, Faculty Workshop
The Center for Scholarship and Teaching and the Library are offering a
workshop for faculty on Thursday, October 24th. Two sessions will be
avaiable: Session One - "LESTER: our campus portal" (10:00 AM to noon), and
Session Two - "Strategies for keeping current" (1:00 PM to 3:00 PM). Lunch
will be available between sessions. Pre-registration is a must and space is
limited. The sessions will take place in the library instruction room
(level 2). To register, contact Marga Miller (CST) at
millermk@macalester.edu or x6108 and let her know which session(s) you
would like to attend. [Bulletin]
10/18/02, The Information Services Advisory Committee
Get to know your representatives on this committee and share your
concerns and compliments about C.I.T., the Library and Media Services.
Faculty members are Eric Wiertelak (Chair) and Adrienne Christiansen.
Student representatives are Jon Dayton and Geitiria Onsongo.
Representing the staff are Doug Rosenberg and Denise Ward. See www.macalester.edu/cit/compcomm/isac02-03/.
[Bulletin]
10/15/02, Update on updates
We have been working on some changes to the network in recent days. While
necessary to correct problems and avoid more in the future, such change does
often lead to disruption. Network architecture is being adjusted to effectively
increase capacity to the residence halls. We are acquiring a new device to manage
file-sharing services such as KaZaa. We must accommodate some library system
issues by temporarily removing a traffic management device. Our servers had to
receive an anti-virus update. Each of these initiatives or fixes caused a short
disruption or slow-down, typically for a few minutes. We are very hopeful that we
are getting to the end of these projects. We schedule such work for "down" times,
such as weekends or academic breaks, whenever possible. When we do not, it is
because of limits on vendor support contracts or similar hindrance. We will
continue to announce scheduled disruptions in Notification-L. Thanks for your
patience as we work to improve our systems! [Notification-L]
10/11/02, Brief Network Outage
There will be some brief network outages on the morning of Saturday, October 12.
We are upgrading some central network equipment, and the upgrades will require
some down time. The most likely time for outages will be between 9:00 AM and
11:00 AM, and will affect all on- and off-campus network traffic. Each outage
should last no more than 5 or 10 minutes, but there may be several. Feel free to
use the network, but please be aware that there will be unannounced outages in
the morning. [Notification-L]
10/11/02, New Info Desk Number
On Monday, October 7, the phone number for the Campus Center Information Desk
was changed to x6888. Calls to the Campus Programs Department
should go to x6638. These numbers replace x6297. If you have any
questions, please call Telecommunications at x6566.
[Bulletin]
10/11/02, Web Pages While U Wait
Want good looking Web pages for your course, your department, yourself but don't
want the techno-hassle that goes with them? Have we got a deal for you! Point
your browser to www.macalester.edu/web/wizard/,
make a selection and just drop in your data. It doesn't get better than this! [Bulletin]
10/11/02, LESTER Makes It Easy
We have brought together your course folders, e-mail lists, electronic Reserves
and other services into one, easy-to-use interface. It's called LESTER and it is
found at lester.macalester.edu. Just
log in with your usual network and e-mail password. LESTER also offers you local
and national news, campus events and lots else. [Bulletin]
10/11/02, Free Software for You!
Visit www.macalester.edu/cit/services/software
for lots of important software downloads. You can download Windows XP Service
Pack 1 there (which will be a MUCH faster download than from Microsoft's site),
Norton Antivirus for Windows and Macintosh platforms, the latest Novell clients
and a ton more. [Bulletin]
10/03/02, New Info Desk Number
On Monday, October 7, the phone number for the Campus Center Information Desk
will be changed to x6888. Calls to the department of Campus Programs
should go to x6638. These numbers replace x6297. If you have any
questions, please call Telecommunications at x6566.
[Bulletin]
10/03/02, Out, Damned Spam!
Seeing increasing spam spam spam in his mail, the NewsScan Poet
Laureate, Andrew Rafalski, turned for inspiration to Shakespeare and to
Macbeth's famous soliloquy in Act II, Scene I in Shakespeare's play.
(Surely you're not surprised that NewsScan has its own Poet Laureate!).
Here is Andrew Rafalski's Spam Soliloquy:
Is this junk mail which I see before me,
And headed my way? Come let me trash you:
I keep you not and yet I get you more.
Are you not, virtual gunk, sensible
To feelings and to right? or are you but
A mail for the can, unwanted spam
Never to be opened, read or replied?
I get you still, in numbers virtual
And unwanted, numbing
My mailbox with cache overfilled.
You lead me to trash you and revile you,
Ignore and defile you.
Hotmail and Yahoo I was to use
But now both are flooded with
Nonsense, gobbledygook and lies.
I see you still, and on your
Subject lines, deception, deceit
And fabrication. Your marketing
Eyes polluting the ether, the net
And my mailbox to boot.
Out, damned spam! out, I say!
What! will this mailbox ne'er be clean?
[Used by kind permission of the author, Andrew Rafalski, and the editors of NewsScan Daily in which this soliloquy first appeared on 30 September 2002. See www.newsscan.com] [Bulletin]
10/03/02, Media Services Adds More Hours
Media Services is now open more hours each week for access to video viewing
and production facilities:
Monday through Thursday: 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Sunday: 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM
[Bulletin]
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