Technical Computing
by John Lalande
This month, we would like to remind you of some services TC offers that you may not be aware of.
Server Monitoring
If you have a server that generates or serves critical products, we can set up server monitoring for you. To set up server monitoring, just email unix.admin@ssec.wisc.edu and let us know what server(s) you would like to monitor, which services to watch (e.g., web server? SSH server?) and what email addresses should receive notifications.
Gigabit and 10 gigabit networking
Last summer, TC completed a network upgrade in our two server rooms that allows us to provide 10 Gigabit per second (Gbps) connections to SSEC servers. We have a limited number of these ports available. If you have a server that would benefit from an upgrade to 10 Gbps service, please contact us with details on which server you would like to upgrade and what application the server is hosting. For now, 1 Gbps service is still more than enough for the vast majority of data center servers, but some public-facing servers that send or receive very large volumes of data between SSEC and external users may benefit from a 10 Gbps link.
In addition, researchers working with large datasets on their office computers should have at least one 1 Gbps connection available in their office. If you do not have a 1 Gbps connection (or are unsure), please email us at unix.admin@ssec.wisc.edu with details.
Floor & 'nonwork' email lists (and more)
SSEC has a 'nonwork' list that can be used for non-work related discussions where you need to reach as many of your co-workers as possible. Among other uses, this list is often used to announce fundraisers (e.g., girl scout cookies for sale) or to solicit personal recommendations for contractors (e.g., roofers) or other service companies. New employees are not added to the nonwork list by default -- we wanted this to be opt-in instead of opt-out.
There are also email lists for each floor here at SSEC. Building management may use these to send out notices about maintenance happening on your floor. These are also handy for coordinating things like Hail/Farewell planning when your floor is hosting.
To see if you are subscribed to your floor email list, visit https://www.ssec.wisc.edu/employee_info/email/groups.html. There you will see a list of email groups at SSEC. Some of the other interest groups (e.g., the mac users or programmer email groups) may also be of interest to you.
You can request addition to an email group by emailing unix.admin@ssec.wisc.edu.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please drop us a note, or stop by and visit us in room 439.
john.lalande@ssec.wisc.edu / 608-263-2268
