The primary public access computer lab in McCardell Bicentennial Hall is located in MBH 116–17. A divider is available to separate the two rooms; at most times, this is left open to provide a single space. A total of 24 Windows computers are in the lab, with eight in room 116 and sixteen in room 117. Computers in this lab are available to students, faculty, and staff whenever a class or event is not scheduled in the space.
Twelve Windows computers are located in the Armstrong Library instructional lab, MBH 161. These are also available for general use when not scheduled by a class.
For class or event use, the MBH 161 lab must be scheduled directly through Armstrong Library, rather than through the Course- or Events Scheduling offices.
STSS will provide support for laboratory computers that are dedicated to specific pieces of equipment, just as it does for other laboratory instrumentation. Simply submit a Technical Services request form to Garry Sprigg identifying the work to be performed.
Except for computers dedicated to laboratory instruments, all computers are officially the responsibility of the College’s department of Library and Information Services (LIS). LIS has a Helpdesk line at ext. 2200 to accept your requests for help or service regarding hardware or software problems. Each classroom and lecture hall has been provided with a campus phone to permit ready access to LIS’s Helpdesk.
In addition to working with the Computer Science Department, Dave Guertin, Educational Technology Specialist in Scientific Computing, assists faculty with the development and use of course-related software and Web sites, and in the selection of hardware and software for teaching applications; and may occasionally be able to offer support for new setups. Dave will also offer assistance with classroom and laboratory computing applications. Dave’s office is in MBH 506A (inside the Computer Science Teaching Lab 506) and his telephone is ext. 3143.
Laptop computers (Mac and Windows) are available for loan on a short-term basis from the Armstrong Library checkout desk, or from the LIS Helpdesk in the main library.
Portable LCD projectors for use with a laptop computer may be signed out for short-term use from the Armstrong Library checkout desk. For those rooms without built-in projection, LIS can also provide portable projectors on carts that can reside in the room for an entire term. Speak with the LIS Helpdesk, ext. 2200, for more information or to make a reservation. Please feel free also to discuss your needs with Cathy Ekstrom or Tim Wickland.
Color printing via the Xerox Phaser 8560DX color printer and the large-format Hewlett-Packard DesignJet 5500PS color printer/plotter is administered by Cathy Ekstrom, MBH 330, ext. 3262. Both machines are capable of producing high-quality output using UV-resistant inks. Users are charged by the page, with the cost varying by the ink coverage and the paper size.
Users may also send black-and-white print/copy jobs electronically to the Océ VarioPrint 2075 or Xerox WorkCentre Pro 245 copier. At all times on the Océ and under Secure Print mode on the Xerox, your print job will be spooled to a print server, and you will need to release the print job manually at the copier before it will actually print. This is both to prevent others from seeing your print job (as, for example, when you are printing an exam), and to ensure that you are present in the event that a misfeed or other problem occurs with your print job.
To use all of the features of a printer, you will need to ensure that the proper driver software is installed and selected on your computer.
Windows users should access the printers through the Bombay server. Mac users may access the printers using either AppleTalk or the Bombay server. Detailed instructions for each operating system on how to connect to a printer are available at the LIS web page, http://www.middlebury.edu/administration/helpdesk/documentation.
For further assistance in accessing the printers or configuring your computer, speak with Cathy Ekstrom (ext. 3262) or Tim Wickland (ext. 5421), or contact the LIS Helpdesk at ext. 2200.
LIS recommends that users store their important data and document files on a network server such as Ocelot or Tigercat, as these servers are backed up automatically each evening. However, many users find it necessary or preferable to maintain important files on their local hard drives.
For such users, automated tape backups are available upon request for any networked Macintosh, Windows, or Linux computer in McCardell Bicentennial Hall. Backups are performed each evening except for certain holidays, and noontime backups, intended primarily for laptop users, are also available. With our in-house backup system, no special effort by the user is required; new or changed files are automatically backed up, and it is easy to restore files and folders to the same state each was in as of a particular backup, including earlier versions.
For more information on STSS in-house backups, or to be added to the backup system, speak with Tim Wickland.