Network Connection Management System to Replace NAMS

At a Glance

Central Software
CityVoD - CSC Forum Archive
Software List on CSC Student LAN
Online Tour of the CSC Student Terminal Area
Opening Hours of the CSC
Systems Maintenance Schedule
List of Blocked Network Cards / IP Addresses
List of CSC Representatives
List of Departmental Network Administrators
Staff Computer Courses

Chat with the CIO

Newsbits

Down Stop Up Top

WiFi Collaboration among the JUCC Institutions

With the collaboration among the JUCC institutions (CityU, HKU, CUHK, PolyU, HKUST, HKBU, LU and HKIEd), the Computing Services Centre (CSC) is pleased to announce that CityU members (staff members or students alike) from now on can enjoy wifi connections to the Internet while they are visiting any of the above eight JUCC institutions without any prior approval.

All you need is an IEEE802.11b/g/n compliant wireless device, no matter whether it is a WiFi phone, PDA or notebook computer. While you are at one of the JUCC member institutions, use your WiFi device to search the WiFi network there for the SSID "Universities WiFi" (which is common to all JUCC institutions and denotes the name of the collaborated WiFi service). After connecting to the said SSID, use your CityU's Network Connection password to login the wireless network there (the same password for logging in the CityU's Wireless LAN network) and then gain WiFi access to the Internet. You can check the locations at each institution where WiFi access is available by visiting http://wifi.jucc.edu.hk/jucc-wifi/.

The "Universities WiFi" utilizes the most secure connection and data encryption (WPA and WPA2) to protect your data privacy. Please refer to http://www.cityu.edu.hk/csc/
deptweb/facilities/ctnet/wlan
/wlan-summary.htm for the set-up procedures and details.

Please be reminded that you can also enjoy the same WiFi connection to the Internet while visiting any of the EduRoam member institutions and any local hotspots run by PCCW and Y5Zones. For details, please refer to the CityU WLAN home page at http://www.cityu.edu.hk/csc/
deptweb/facilities/ctnet/
wlan/wlanmain.htm.

How to Go Green: Double-sided Printing

Double-sided (or 2-sided or duplex) printing should be used whenever possible. Besides the benefits of saving trees, reducing carbon in the atmosphere, and holding a handier set of hardcopies, surprisingly it can save up your print quota. With immediate effect, whenever you use duplex printing to print on a piece of paper through the Quota Controlled Fast Print Queue, your print quota will be deducted by 1.5 instead of 2. This is really a big saver!

To use double-sided printing, when you print:

Choose the printer Quota_FastPQ on CCSTUNG1
Click Preferences and then Finishing on the Printing Preferences window
Select 2-sided Printing and click OK

Using double-sided printing is a small change but can have a big impact. As going green is our common goal, act NOW to show your support!

CSC e-Forms

Submit CSC Work Req.
Req. for Printing
Req. for Dump / Restore
Teaching Studio Booking / Cancellation
Apply for a Computer Account
Email Alias Application
Apply for a New Domain Name
Remove an Existing Domain Name
Modify the Hosting of an Existing Domain Name

Useful Links

網上中文網頁繁簡轉換
CityU Email Services
Computing Dictionary
High-Tech Dictionary
Webopedia
Web Glossary
What is?

Got any questions, comments or suggestions? Contact the editors at ccnetcom@cityu.edu.hk

Issue 39 - March 2004

Network Connection Management System to Replace NAMS
By Rita Lam

The Network Connection Management System (NCMS) is a Web-based system that provides a single-stop for registration and maintenance of the network connection database of the campus network. The database contains both data (wired and wireless) and voice (PBX and VoIP) network connections in the Main Campus and the Student Residences. The NCMS was installed to replace the previous NAMS system which was mentioned in the Network Computing article published at http://www.cityu.edu.hk/csc/netcomp/sep2002-6.htm

The followings are the advantages of the NCMS over NAMS:

Provides up-to-date information for maintaining a healthy networking environment

In addition to the data stored in the NAMS, the NCMS keeps track of network outlets or ports used by all computers on the network. This information is needed to maintain a healthy network environment on the CTNET III. For example, the network administrator can easily detect IP spoofing if an IP address comes from an outlet that is not registered with the particular IP. In the case of virus outbreak, the infected machines can be isolated from the network at the designated network outlets to prevent further spreading of the virus. Users can also check whether a machine has been blocked from using the network.

This information is also important for the university-wide IT planning including the provision of software upgrades and support, and requisition for software site licenses etc. The information of the operating systems of the computers on the network is also necessary for the CSC to notify system administrators about software patches and security alerts.
Streamlining of the registration process

The following features of the NCMS streamline the registration process:
- Individual staff member or student can now register or cancel their wireless LAN cards with instant approval
- Students in the Student Residences can now apply for network connections in their rooms
- Departmental Network Administrators (DNA) can approve new applications or applications for changes of network connections on Staff LAN, Staff only Internet or Student LAN in one step
- Departmental Phone Administrator (DPA) can approve the installation or requests for changes of phone connections raised by staff members in one step

More flexible roles and privileges

The NCMS has the following features that make the definition of roles and privileges more flexible
- More than one person can take up the role as DNA
- A DNA can be assigned to serve more than one department
- After a user logs on the NCMS with his Electronic ID, the NCMS will show the role and privileges assigned to him/her

Prior to using the NCMS, please check out the following requirements:

A valid Electronic ID (email ID)
MS Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher with JavaScript and cookie enabled
For best viewing effect, set the display resolution to 1024X768

When the above requirements are met, click Software & Services on the e-Portal logon page. Under the Tools & Utilities for Windows 2000/XP menu, choose Network Connection Management System. A more detailed operation and procedure guide of NCMS can also be found under the same menu.

In conclusion, the NCMS has been designed to give staff members and students a single-stop for registering network connections with more ease and flexibility. This in turn will provide a healthier network environment for the entire university.

Go to Top

Also in this issue...
How Can We Stop E-mail Viruses?
Network Management System: What's It All About?
Enhancement of PC Security Through Microsoft's Software Update Service
Firewall in Place to Protect Our Network
Abuse Curbed by Print Quota System
Tech Terms: Do You Know What They Mean?