Access of non-standard PCs to the PPW intranet services

Name: Access of non-standard PCs to the PPW intranet services

Status: Agreed Fac bestuur 4-11-2011, In test

Sponsor: Sict / Fict

Validity:

Goal

To provide access to PPW ICT services (access to network discs and printing facilities) for staff members of the PPW Faculty (having a u-number, and registered in the CWIS database under PPW) who need to use non-standard PCs for their work.

Terminology: A standard PC is a Windows computer that adheres to the dICT “dienstnota” description which you can find here. dICT provides full support for such PCs (i.e., advice on the purchase, configuration, network access, installation of relevant software, solving individual and network related problems, communication with the manufacturer).

Motivation

The Faculty would like to respond to an increasing need of staff members to supply services to non-standard PCs. The ICTS VPN system ensured that all non-standard PCs could access the PPW ICT services. Since the recent change of the ICTS VPN system, some non-standard PCs could no longer access some PPW ICT services. By acknowledging strict regulations, that adhere to all ICT users, the faculty is willing to relax the rules of access to the PPW ICT infrastructure. This will enable all non-standard PCs to access the PPW ICT services. It will also slightly decrease the security and availability of the network due to the fact that devices are introduced of which the workings lie outside of dICT’s current expertise. This is unlikely to cause problems because the current levels of security and availability are of such high standards.

Underlying services

• Access to PPW network drives
• Access to PPW network printers
• Wireless network access

DICT Service description

Access to PPW network drives and printers from non-standard PCs.

Procedure

To consume the service you need to make sure that:

1. your job requires that you use a non-standard PC
2. you have written permission of the head of your research group (except for ZAP)
3. you have to identified  yourself with your computer and its details (e.g. type of hardware, operating system and Media Access Control or MAC address) at the dICT helpdesk
4. you have filled in and signed the ServiceRequest form, which states that you are aware of the following:
   1. I will install, use and update a virus scan on my computer.
   2. I will make sure my operating system is up to date.
   3. I will use a screen saver that asks a password before resuming work after a certain time of nonuse, or manually activate a screen lock.
   4. I am fully aware of the KULeuven-ICTS rules of conduct (see here) and will adhere to these rules at all times. These rules specify that the user should use a screen lock and anti-virus software.
   5. I understand that there will be no support for the non-standard PC from dICT. The only exception is that PC can be purchased for me at the PC shop through dICT (but the dICT personnel is not qualified to provide advice on which type of PC suits me best).
   6. I understand that access to all services available on the PPW network are delivered on an "as is" basis and is not guaranteed, nor supported. Access to S-drive, T-drive, X-files and printers is currently possible, but in the future due to upgrades of operating systems of clients or servers, this access might fail. In respect of this, dICT will share technical information which is useful for the users of a non-standard PC to access file and print services. Examples of such technical information are TCP/IP addresses, subnets, ports, services and software versions, to the extent such is relevant or required by the users to establish and maintain access (e.g. Samba, NFS, LPR, etc.).
   7. I understand that all costs related to an incident damaging the standard services available on the PPW network, caused by the use of non-standard equipment in violation the present agreement, such as but not limited to a Denial-of-Service attack on the network originating from a non-standard PC, will be charged to its owner. This includes but is not limited to materials, time and use of contractors.
   8. I understand that, if there are ICT problems my network access can be stopped for fault finding and/or to alleviate the problems.

Clients

All staff members in the PPW Faculty that have a u-number, and are registered in the CWIS database as being part of the organisational structure under PPW.

Service requests

• Make an appointment with the dICT Helpdesk
• Present yourself with the computer, The Service Request Form, and the written permission of the head of your research group (except for ZAP)  at the dICT helpdesk.

Service levels

• Access to the service and underlying services is not guaranteed
  • They are on an “as is where is” basis and are not supported
  • Might fail due to upgrades, incidents,  or other events on the network.
• Support is not available
  • problems cannot be solved by the helpdesk
  • dICT will communicate technical information needed to use this service to a representative of user groups on a best effort basis

Availability

This is not defined as it is not supported.

The service will not be specifically made unavailable, unless there are incidents.

Monitoring

This is not defined as it is not supported.

Installations

To be done by the user. It is recommended to consult the user group representatives.

Configurations

To be done by the user. It is recommended to consult the user group representatives.

Training

To be done by the user. It is recommended to consult the user group representatives.

Support

To be delivered by the user. It is recommended to consult the user group representatives.

Bart Lismont kindly supplied a Manual for Mac computers

Costs

The costs for access to the network with a non-standard PC are the same price as for a standard PC, currently 25 euros.

Limitations

This service applies only to non-standard PCs. It is encouraged that non-standard PCs are purchased through dICT, and exceptions to this should be motivated (cf. point 2 under the procedure).

There are specific finance policies with regards to purchasing of equipment  to which all faculties need to adhere.

PCs with operating systems similar to the standard PCs from dICT should always be purchased through dICT and therefore automatically adhere to the hardware standard.

External PCs (used by official visitors to the KULeuven) with operating systems similar to the standard PCs from dICT can access the PPW intranet using VPN (see here for more information).

Responsibility users

• Adhere to the ICTS ICT policy (see here)
• Adhere to the specific procedure set out above
• Keep dICT informed about possible removals  to different locations (permanent)
• Keep dICT informed about possible change of ownership, after which the new user needs to restart the procedure to consume the service.