2 September 2004 - 12:21MUB Computer Lab Issues
In the MUB (UNH Student Union) basement there is a student computing lab. Since I don’t currently have a laptop I need to use these labs occaisionally. The labs have been improved this year, with new computer equipment and flat panel displays. This is good. Whats bad is the way these machines are configured. They authenticate to the WILDCAT Windows domain so any user with a UNH email account can use them. This is good. However, there is no roaming profile support and the machines are configured to discard any changes at logout. Users can access files stored in their CISUNIX accounts, but this is the only method of saving anything.
This means there is no way to save any settings in any application. Everytime log in to check my email, I need to reconfigure the SSH client for usable colors and settings. Everytime I use a web browser I have to reenable popup blocking. No browser settings are saved. I cannot save bookmarks. The SSH host keys are not cached, which removes a critical part of SSH’s security features. The upgrade webpage proudly proclaims that users can now save files on their desktops and those files will be saved on the network. Great. But if I can’t save any other settings, the machine’s utility decreases drastically. I shouldn’t have to spend 5 minutes configuring the SSH client and browser to bring them to a usable state every time I log in.
Recently someone asked me why I needed a laptop. This one of the biggest reasons why a laptop is important to me. Fortunately, a replacement for Gryphon will hopefully be arriving sometime next week.
1 Comment | Tags: computers
03 Sep 2004 - 11:47
I hear you, spinfire. I am typing this at one of WKU’s computer labs, which has some very nice boxes with flatscreens. Users experience the same troubles you describe, as upon logoff the machine’s configuration is reset to the default state. This is not particularly troublesome for the common student, but I can see how reconfiguring Word every time a student without a home PC wants to compose an assignment would get annoying. The system does have its hidden gems, however… many times a user will not log off but instead perform a hard shut-down, which doesn’t trigger the restore function. When the next user boots the machine, they find IM programs auto-connecting and assignments still saved in My Documents. Sometimes the temptation to abuse such power is overwhelming… :)