Communique, 26 January 2004

Main story: "Netware? Beware!". Second story: "Web cache-'n'-carry shuts up shop". Item: "Basement jacks for self-service musicians...". Item: "No-strings-attached networking". Feature: "ISS-Windows98 relationship: the 5-year ditch?". Contact information: "Contacting Information Systems Services"

Virtualization: an old concept in a new approach

Virtualization technology is transforming today’s IT community, offering new possi-bilities to improve the performance and efficiency of IT infrastructure by a dynamic mapping of the PC resources, enabling to run multiple applications and operating systems on a single physical system. Virtualization also offers high availability and error recovery solutions by encapsulating entire systems into single files that can be replicated and restored on any desti-nation machine. This paper brings new elements related to the concept of virtualization, presenting the princi-ples, the new architectures and the advantages of the virtualization. We make also a brief comparison between the PC’s functional structure before and after the virtualization. Finally, we present licensed software to create and run multiple virtual machines on a personal com-puter

A new approach for data acquisition at the JPL space simulators

In 1990, a personal computer based data acquisition system was put into service for the Space Simulators and Environmental Test Laboratory at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California. The new system replaced an outdated minicomputer system which had been in use since 1980. This new data acquisition system was designed and built by JPL for the specific task of acquiring thermal test data in support of space simulation and thermal vacuum testing at JPL. The data acquisition system was designed using powerful personal computers and local-area-network (LAN) technology. Reliability, expandability, and maintainability were some of the most important criteria in the design of the data system and in the selection of hardware and software components. The data acquisition system is used to record both test chamber operational data and thermal data from the unit under test. Tests are conducted in numerous small thermal vacuum chambers and in the large solar simulator and range in size from individual components using only 2 or 3 thermocouples to entire planetary spacecraft requiring in excess of 1200 channels of test data. The system supports several of these tests running concurrently. The previous data system is described along with reasons for its replacement, the types of data acquired, the new data system, and the benefits obtained from the new system including information on tests performed to date

Computer‐assisted learning as an alternative to didactic lectures: A study of teaching the physics of diagnostic imaging

A computer‐assisted learning (CAL) package entitled Physics of Diagnostic Imaging was developed in 1995 to replace five hours of didactic lectures at the University of Glasgow Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, and has been available as an additional learning resource for students in the other five UK veterinary schools for over three years. The package was reviewed by peer experts and the reaction of the students to its use gauged by post‐task questionnaire administration, informal discussions and observation. To assess the effect of integration into the curriculum, analyses of fourth‐year degree examination results over a six‐year period were carried out. Analyses of students’ examination results for pre‐ and post‐CAL delivery of the diagnostic imaging course showed that performance in the CAL‐based course was significantly higher than in other subjects. This confirmed that the courseware can be used to replace didactic lectures as part of a rich learning environment supported by other resources. Initial student resistance to lecture replacement with CAL occurred, but has lessened as the use of the package has become established in the curriculum

Iowa Technology, April, 2002, Issue 3

Newsletter produced by the Iowa Information Technology Departmen

IDENTIFIKASI PORTOFOLIO, STRATEGIC SOURCING DAN PENGUKURAN KETERSEDIAAN LAYANAN TI PADA PT PLN (PERSERO) WILAYAH SUMATERA SELATAN, JAMBI, DAN BENGKULU

PT. PLN Wilayah Sumsel, Jambi dan Bengkulu banyak menggunakan layanan TI agar dapat mengelola proses bisnisnya dengan baik. Tidak adanya suatu mekanisme pengukuran kinerja pihak ketiga membuat perusahaan kesulitan mengukur kinerja pihak ketiga. Penelitian ini ditujukan untuk mengatasi berbagai permasalahan yang ada di PT. PLN Wilayah Sumsel, Jambi dan Bengkulu. Tahap pertama penelitian ini akan dilakukan dengan menjabarkan strategi dengan analisis SWOT, yang menghasilkan portofolio layanan TI. Tahap selanjutnya adalah pemberian rekomendasi mengenai strategic sourcing dalam membangun layanan TI perusahaan dengan menganalisis kondisi perusahaan saat ini. Pada tahap akhir penelitian akan dijabarkan mengenai mekanisme pengukuran ketersediaan layanan TI dengan kerangka kerja COBIT 4.1 sub segmen DS1. Dari hasil penelitian diperoleh portofolio layanan TI yang secara efektif dapat mendukung perusahaan. Penelitian ini juga menghasilkan temuan yang menunjukkan bahwa perusahaan belum mampu mengelola sendiri layanan TI secara internal, sehingga pengembangan layanan TI sebaiknya dilakukan melalui outsourcing. Formulasi mengenai SLA juga diusulkan dalam penelitian ini agar dapat digunakan untuk mengukur kinerja pengelola layanan TI perusahaan. PT. PLN Region Sumsel, Jambi and Bengkulu use IT services in order to properly manage its business processes. The absence ofa mechanism for third-party performance measurement make it difficult to measure the performance of third parties.This study aimed to address the various problems that exist in there. The first phase of this research will be done by outlining strategies with SWOT analysis, which produces a portfolio of IT services. The next stage is the provision of recommendations on the strategic sourcing in developing IT services in the company by analyzing the current condition of the company. In the final stage of research, we will clarify the mechanisms in measuring the availability of IT services with COBIT 4.1framework, DS1 sub segments. From the research results obtained a portfolio of IT services that can effectively support the company. The study also produced findings that shows the company has not been able to manage their own IT services internally, so the development of IT services should be done through outsourcing. Formulation of the SLA is also proposed in this study, so that can be used to measure the performance of IT service management company

Identifikasi Portofolio, Strategic Sourcing Dan Pengukuran Ketersediaan Layanan Ti Pada PT Pln (Persero) Wilayah Sumatera Selatan, Jambi, Dan Bengkulu

PT. PLN Wilayah Sumsel, Jambi dan Bengkulu banyak menggunakan layanan TI agar dapat mengelola proses bisnisnya dengan baik. Tidak adanya suatu mekanisme pengukuran kinerja pihak ketiga membuat Perusahaan kesulitan mengukur kinerja pihak ketiga. Penelitian ini ditujukan untuk mengatasi berbagai permasalahan yang ada di PT. PLN Wilayah Sumsel, Jambi dan Bengkulu. Tahap pertama penelitian ini akan dilakukan dengan menjabarkan strategi dengan analisis SWOT, yang menghasilkan portofolio layanan TI. Tahap selanjutnya adalah pemberian rekomendasi mengenai strategic sourcing dalam membangun layanan TI Perusahaan dengan menganalisis kondisi Perusahaan saat ini. Pada tahap akhir penelitian akan dijabarkan mengenai mekanisme pengukuran ketersediaan layanan TI dengan kerangka kerja COBIT 4.1 sub segmen DS1. Dari hasil penelitian diperoleh portofolio layanan TI yang secara efektif dapat mendukung Perusahaan. Penelitian ini juga menghasilkan temuan yang menunjukkan bahwa Perusahaan belum mampu mengelola sendiri layanan TI secara internal, sehingga pengembangan layanan TI sebaiknya dilakukan melalui outsourcing. Formulasi mengenai SLA juga diusulkan dalam penelitian ini agar dapat digunakan untuk mengukur kinerja pengelola layanan TI Perusahaan. PT. PLN Region Sumsel, Jambi and Bengkulu use IT services in order to properly manage its business processes. The absence ofa mechanism for third-party performance measurement make it difficult to measure the performance of third parties.This study aimed to address the various problems that exist in there. The first phase of this research will be done by outlining strategies with SWOT analysis, which produces a portfolio of IT services. The next stage is the provision of recommendations on the strategic sourcing in developing IT services in the company by analyzing the current condition of the company. In the final stage of research, we will clarify the mechanisms in measuring the availability of IT services with COBIT 4.1framework, DS1 sub segments. From the research results obtained a portfolio of IT services that can effectively support the company. The study also produced findings that shows the company has not been able to manage their own IT services internally, so the development of IT services should be done through outsourcing. Formulation of the SLA is also proposed in this study, so that can be used to measure the performance of IT service management company