Current Projects
Central Services
Data Center Co-Location / Server Hosting
CNS now provides a range of hosting solutions, where your server runs on CNS's enterprise-class hardware, or, if you prefer, a "co-location" service--where you own your own hardware, but it is installed in CNS's secure, environmentally-controlled machine-room.
You can have as much hands-on involvement with the management and operation of your server as you want--or as little. You retain exactly the degree of control and involvement that suits your preferences. And whatever type of hosting service you choose, sleep soundly at night (or even go on vacation!) knowing that your server is under the care of experienced IT professionals in a secure environment.
UF Exchange
The UF Exchange is a consolidated messaging service that is being developed by the Office of Information Technology in collaboration with existing campus services. This service will provide a robust, available and scalable solution for UF and will include secure email, calendaring, receipt notification, message recall and email lists based on class roles, affiliation and other groupings.
Initiatives
Calendar
The final recommendation of the committee was sent to CIO, Dr. Marc Hoit. All further work will be assigned based on priorities and schedules by Dr. Hoit.
Domain Update (ufl.edu to uf.edu)
A project to consider the possibilities and practicalities for changing UF's second level domain from UFL.EDU to UF.EDU
On-line Course Evaluations
A new enterprise class application to allow the collection of course and faculty evaluation for courses presented on-line or otherwise non-classroom based and not specifically distance education courses. It is based on an existing application in production use by the College of Business.
Web Based Workflow Tracking
This is a general purpose system to allow any form based information to be entered and tracked thorough an approval process. We will be seeking to publish the underlying code and architecture to the open source community.
Pilot in IFAS-College of Agricultural and Life Sciences for graduate courses is complete. The pilot review process is underway and we will evaluate the steps needed to move the application forward to production as soon as practical.
Oracle Site License
The University has just signed a site license agreement with Oracle for their database software. We have site licensed three major products: Enterprise Database, Clustering Software and Tuning/Management Utilities. This includes support/ maintenance for the products. In addition, we have locked in an excellent discount (45%) for any additional products that may need to be purchased.
The license was a cooperative effort with all the SUS schools and resulted in better pricing for all. Because of the site license, any UF group can use copies of the software on any UF equipment at no direct cost to them, with the exception of patient records or patient billing.
High Performance Computing Efforts
HCS Research Lab focuses on research in advanced computer architectures, networks, services, and systems for critical applications in distributed, parallel, reconfigurable and fault-tolerant computing. Currently in Stage 3, the HPC lab houses a Dell cluster which is currently 221 on the 24th Top 500 list of the world's fastest supercomputers.
Active Directory Project
The Active Directory Project was developed for the purpose of centralizing systems management, which limits and/or reduces redundant management tasks, increases interoperability, and lowers total cost of ownership without sacrificing autonomy and control over local computer resources.
Florida Lambda Rail
In partnership with the ten Florida Universities, the FLR created a high-bandwidth optical research network. The network is capable of 32 channels of 20 gigabit bandwidth each and began operation in March of 2005.
LIFT Text Transcoder for Web Accessibility
LIFT Text Transcoder (or transcoder) is a web application that converts a web page into its text-only version on-the-fly by eliminating all page layout that is present in the original page and by hiding many accessibility defects. Details about the project are in PDF format.
AT Grid
The Academic Technology Grid Computing Service is a collection of computers across campus that have been pooled together to create a virtual super computer. It aims to harness the power of underutilized computing resources on campus for research and educational needs.
Using the Grid Computing Service, computations that require a large amount of computing power can be performed here on campus with a short delay on the return of the results instead of waiting for time on other supercomputing services.
Microsoft Campus Agreement
A campus agreement with Microsoft for office software, core client access licenses, and operating system upgrades has been put in place for all university owned computers and for home use by faculty and staff.
Other Projects Include:
Web Page Accessibility (Ongoing) » Resources designed with accessibility and usability in mind result in more effective access to information and higher levels of user satisfaction. Accessible sites often result in cost savings, and increased revenue from eCommerce transactions. OIT is increasing awareness of accessibility issues within the UF community and providing training resources to faculty and staff.
Video and Collaboration Services (Ongoing) » These services include videoconferencing, video streaming, video production, campus cable TV and digital TV, video storage, satellite uplinks and downlinks, and a video transport network.
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) (Ongoing) » A technology for transmitting voice, such as ordinary telephone calls, over packet-switched data networks. Also called IP telephony.
Imaging Project (Ongoing) » The Imaging Project gives your unit the capability to capture, store, manage, retrieve, and route documentation in a secure electronic manner.
Other projects include: NMI testbed, Wallplate Service Model
