Information Technology News Archive

1996 - 2017

Computer Security

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NACS Distributed Computing Support has developed software to improve campus computer security.

In the same way a night watchman proceeds through a building, turning doorknobs to check that they’re locked, hackers scan the network looking for open ports on computers. The new NACS system collects and analyzes information from UCI Unix and Linux computers to check for activity indicative of possible misuse or attempted misuse.

This system is modeled on security features integral to Linux, and delivered to other Unix systems on campus through NACS’s autoinstall software. It depends on modified network applications (such as telnet and ftp) which are often used for compromising system security. These modified applications report to NACS’s logging system whenever they are used. Certain patterns of use are clues that a particular system may need attention.

Intrusion efforts which can be caught by this system range from the simple-minded (probing for improperly secured network ports) to some very sophisticated kinds of attacks (e.g., “buffer overflow” exploits). While the only way to guarantee a computer is safe from network-based attacks is to remove it from the network, this new system represents another way NACS is making it harder to cause harm to UCI computers.

UNIX Support

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NACS/DCS provides Unix and Linux system administration services to the campus on a contractual basis. DCS uses a Unix/Linux system administration technique called “autoinstalling” to help keep quality high and costs low relative to the industry norm.

While autoinstalling requires system administrators to spend a little more time planning and executing initial system configuration, many later tasks become much easier, such as operating system updates (including security patches). Autoinstalling also preserves a lot of information about how customers prefer their machines to be configured.

The most recent versions of Unix/Linux currently configured for use with DCS’s autoinstall procedures are Solaris 8, Redhat 6.2, Irix 6.5.6, and Tru64 4.0g.

If you would like to evaluate contract support with DCS for a Unix or Linux machine, please contact dcs@uci.edu or call 824-6854. Additional information is available on line at http://www.nacs.uci.edu/support/dcs/sysadmin.html

Phone Service Plans

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The Ericsson User Group (EUG) board held a meeting at UCI’s University Club on Friday, June 16. The EUG is a national organization of Ericsson telephone system users which includes UCI, UCSC, and UCSD. Bruce Cotsonas, a Project Coordinator in NACS, is the board’s Vice President and served as host.

The EUG board completed its preparations for the annual meeting to be held in Las Vegas from October 22-25, 2000. The focus of the upcoming annual meeting will be the status of Ericsson’s PBX migration to IP.

The next software release for the MD110, the UCI campus telephone system, will incorporate IP Telephony features. Ericsson will provide extensive details about the IP enhancements for the MD110, and plans for its release in the United States, at the annual meeting in October 2000.

Voice Over IP

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NACS is currently evaluating Voice Over IP (VOIP) products from a number of communications vendors including potential to allow faculty and staff to use UCInet and the Internet to carry telephone traffic.

NACS staff members are beginning the planning process early in the development of VOIP technology. In fact, a pilot project may be launched in one of the university buildings in the University Research Park later this year.

The evaluation and test pilot processes will enable NACS staff to develop the knowledge and expertise necessary to deploy and support VOIP when it becomes “ready for prime time.”

New Staff

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Tony Soeller joined NACS on May 30, 2000 to enhance campus support for research and scientific computing. Tony has a B.S. degree in Geology from the University of California, Santa Barbara and an M.S. degree in Geology from the University of Nevada, Reno.

Tony is skilled in a wide range of programming languages and has extensive experience with 2-D and 3-D visualization applications. Tony is equally capable with UNIX, PC, and Mac computing platforms.

Previously, Tony has held management positions at a number of companies and academic institutions, including the Geographical Information Systems Laboratory at Caltech. Please feel free to call Tony at 824-3239 to discuss research computing needs.