This is an informal update on some electronic mail related developments
as we approach the end of June.
If you're just tuning in, an Electronic Mail Working Group was convened
last summer / autumn at the suggestion of the Divisional Representatives &
Microcomputing Advisory Committee. (The DivRep/Micro committee consists
of computing-involved representatives of the various Schools, the College
of Arts & Science, the University Libraries, the Hamilton and Middletown
campus computing organizations, and MCIS.) The E-Mail Working Group is
open to all interested parties, and its meetings are announced (and often
summarized) in this list / newsgroup (MUEMail / mu.electronic-mail).
* During the course of the Spring Semester, the E-Mail Working Group
defined the functionality and features we feel are needed for an
enterprise-wide e-mail solution for Miami, and evaluated several
different protocol suites (IMAP, POP, etc.) and products (SoftSwitch,
Microsoft Mail, Emc2's Tao , etc.). (These discussions have
been documented on this list / newsgroup, and are archived by
LISTSERV for individual retrieval by anyone interested. Debi
Allison and I are happy to address any questions or concerns, also.)
* The E-Mail Working Group decided to pursue implementation of a
central directory server for the University, independent of and
in advance of any possible decision on an eventual overall e-mail
strategy for Miami. This decision was made on the basis that a
central directory server is solely needed by a University community
with a growing involvement with and dependence on electronic
communication within the institution and across the Internet.
* The public domain CSO ph/qi package, developed at the University of
Illinois, was selected, based on:
- superior functionality
- adherence to open standards (TCP/IP)
- ready availability of its server and client components for
multiple platforms
- widespread acceptance and enthusiastic use at institutions
worldwide
- anticipated ease of migration to an eventual X.500 directory
- local experience in implementing qi (in the person of
Peter Murray, Library Systems Manager, and Rob Pickering,
MCIS' first UNIX Support Specialist who was hired this spring)
* With the assistance and support of many MCIS staff (especially
John Kinne, Bill Miley, Joe Simpson and Steve Thole), Rob Pickering
has spearheaded the technical implementation of ph/qi since joining
MCIS this spring. Rob's experience in implementing ph/qi on the
School of Applied Science IBM RS/6000 influenced the decision to
host ph/qi on the IBM RS/6000 shared by MCIS' Instructional
Computing and Networking groups. (Specialized information included
in the qi database will directly support MCIS Networking activities.)
* Qi (the server portion of the package) is up and running in test
mode. It contains the same Miami and personal data included in the
hardcopy _Miami University Directory_ (i.e., the phone book), per
discussions last summer and autumn with Personnel and Publications.
* The qi database will minimally include an individual's Miami
information as published in the hardcopy _Directory_. It will also
include whatever personal information that individual has authorized
for publication in the hardcopy _Directory_ (such as home address
and phone number, spouse name, etc.).
* The qi directory server is accessible to the University through the
campus network via Miami Root: Miami University's Campus Information,
and/or via use of ph client software, which is available for DOS,
Macintosh, UNIX and Microsoft Windows desktop environments as well as
for multi-user systems such as IBM VM/ESA (MiamiU) and DEC OpenVMS
(MiaVX1 et al.). Ph client capability is also available within or
in close conjuction with POP client software (such as Eudora) and
desktop mail software already in use at Miami (specifically, Pegasus
Mail, which also has POP functionality). (Steve Thole has turned
up some interesting features in, and additional components for,
Pegasus Mail in the last week or so.)
* In addition to the traditional hardcopy information outlined above,
the qi database will eventually contain a "preferred electronic
mail address" designated by the individual. Existing e-mail addresses
will be available from the server using a query command option; in
the case of multi-user system addresses (i.e., accounts on MiamiU,
MiaVX1, MiaVX2 and MiaVX3), display of the date of last login will
accompany the address, as an indication of how frequently the account
is used. Microsoft Mail and Pegasus Mail addresses will also be
available using the query command option.
* Each individual included in the database will have the capability to
login to the database to enhance their entry by modifying optional
data elements. These elements could include additional address or
telephone information, office hours, projects, etc. (The University-
supplied data elements in the qi server will need to be revised as
they normally are, by contacting the appropriate office, such as
Personnel or the Registrar.)
* The test mode qi server can be accessed through Miami Root by
choosing the top-level menu item entitled Directories. It is
listed on the Directories menu as Miami University's Directory
Server [under construction]. Please play with it.
* There will be a demonstration of qi in Room 2, Hughes Labs, in July
(date and time to be determined). It will be announced on this list
/ newsgroup.
That's the (informal) scoop on e-mail that I can think of on a Friday
afternoon / evening :-)
John
--
John B Harlan
Campus Wide Information System (CWIS) Coordinator
Miami University (Ohio USA)
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