Email notifications from IT Services will continue to inform you of the status of your service requests. Changes to these notifications include:

• A new message format
• A different sender address (From: ualr@service-now.com)

Need help?

Please continue to request service or support from our assistance center.

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As of January 7, 2013, all spam filtering for @ualr.edu mail is now handled by Gmail. This change significantly improved the speed of mail delivery.

Last semester UALR started to experience slow or delayed email delivery. All @ualr.edu mail was being checked for spam and viruses by the on-campus mail filtering service at mailfilter.ualr.edu. Increased amounts of traffic eventually overburdened that system and caused mail delivery times to slow down. Recent changes in Google’s features enabled IT Services to address this issue by removing the on-campus mail filter and delivering all mail directly to Gmail.

Most users will only notice the increase in mail delivery speed. Users who managed email whitelists in the on-campus mail filtering service may wish to recreate those filters in Gmail.

On-campus mail filtering service to be retired

Messages marked as spam are no longer being quarantined by the on-campus mail filter. Instead, the messages will now be placed in the Gmail Spam folder. Any whitelist or custom filtering rules created within this service no longer apply to @ualr.edu mail accounts.

The service will remain online (though it is no longer checking new mail) until February 20, 2013, to allow users time to deliver any legitimate messages and make a note of any whitelisted addresses.

Managing spam with Google

Gmail Spam folder

With the removal of the on-campus mail filter service, all spam management will be handled solely by Gmail’s spam features. If a message does not arrive in your inbox as expected, it may have been delivered to the Gmail Spam folder.

Report Spam button

If you receive a message you believe to be spam, use the Report Spam button. This will help to train Gmail to treat similar messages like spam in the future.

If you would like to create whitelists or further customize which messages are delivered to your inbox, you may use the Gmail mail filter tool. Visit the Gmail Help Center for more information about managing spam.

Need help?

If you need help with spam or mail filters, or encounter problems with mail delivery, please contact the IT Services Assistance Center.

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IT Services is upgrading the supporting hardware for the Banner systems (including BOSS). While we are replacing the hardware, Banner and BOSS will not be available during the following scheduled downtime:

Please be aware that the affected systems may become temporarily available throughout the scheduled downtime period. You should not attempt to log-in until we have sent a message (or updated this page) instructing you that the downtime is complete.

Because the Banner database will be down, several of our third-party, Banner-dependent products such as Argos, Astra, and ImageNow will have limited access and functionality.

We apologize for the inconvenience. Your satisfaction is our top priority, so please contact the IT Services Assistance Center (501-916-3011) if you have any questions.

We will update this page with additional information as it becomes available.

The post Banner upgrade means system down for users starting Oct. 12, 6 a.m. appeared first on Information Technology <br />Services.

The myUALR redesign keeps UALR Mail, Blackboard, and BOSS front and center while adding links to other Blackboard services. In addition to the latest campus news, myUALR will display the academic calendar and important announcements.

The redesigned log-in screen features a pared-down and mobile-friendly layout. Just like before, you will be able to log in using your UALR NetID. Single sign-on will continue to function the same as before, allowing you to log in once and then access other services without logging in again.

The IT Services Assistance Center is available to help with any questions at itservices-help@ualr.edu or 501.916.3011.

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The following services may be unavailable during this time.

• Internet Access
• UALR Wireless network
• Banner/BOSS
• E-mail
• Blackboard

We regret any inconvenience caused by the interruption of service.

Please contact IT Serivces Assistance Center at (501) 916-3011 for additional information.

The post Network Outage appeared first on Information Technology <br />Services.

• Banner
• BOSS

We regret any inconvenience, but these services must be down to perform necessary maintenance.

Please help us inform students in your area.

Please contact Information Technology Services Assistance Center at 501.916.3011 if you have any questions.

The post Planned Outage appeared first on Information Technology <br />Services.

• Banner
• BOSS
• Blackboard
• UALR email
• UALR website
• UALR Internet and wireless network

We regret any inconvenience, but these services must be down to perform necessary maintenance. Please help us inform students in your area.

Please contact Information Technology Services Assistance Center at
501.916.3011 if you have any questions.

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Each campus system currently has its own login information (username and password). A single campus user could have as many as a dozen usernames and passwords to remember. We are working to consolidate as many of these as we can into a single username and password: the NetID.

You might already be familiar with the NetID.  If you’ve ever used Blackboard or the campus wireless network, you’ve probably typed in your NetID and password.  If not, we have information on how to obtain your NetID and set or reset your password.

What’s Changing?

Mail

The biggest change will be for email users who use the web to check their email accounts. The current login process involves using your email username (like “adbaker”). This login page is completely going away.  Instead, users will log into the myUALR portal using their NetID and then select either the Mail icon or one of the Google Apps shortlinks.

Other than web login, there are no changes to Google Apps.  Access to email using a desktop client (such as Outlook, Mac Mail, or Thunderbird), or mobile devices (such as iPhone, Android, Blackberry), will not change at this time.

Blackboard

Blackboard users already use the NetID to log in, so that is the same. Most links to Blackboard will be redirected to myUALR.

BOSS

At this time BOSS will still be available via https://boss.ualr.edu/ as well as via myUALR.

Information Sessions

Three Q&A information sessions will be available for anyone with questions about myUALR or the email login transition process:

• Monday, February 20, 2012 at 1:30 p.m. Bowen School of Law Friday Courtroom
• Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 3 p.m. Dickinson Auditorium
• Friday, February 24, 2012 at 3 p.m. Dickinson Auditorium

Additional information may be obtained by contacting the IT Services Assistance Center at (501) 916-3011.

The post Introducing myUALR appeared first on Information Technology <br />Services.

Once we receive your request it is placed in an alert status for review. You will receive a confirmation email with a tracking number.

During normal business hours, we will respond to each email request within two hours after the message is received. Messages received after normal business hours, weekends, and holidays will be responded to by 10 a.m. the next business day.

We look forward to serving you.

Employees (Faculty and Staff)

If your department has its own IT technical support personnel, please make them your first contact. If necessary, your departmental technical support personnel will direct you to the IT Services Assistance Center.

The post New email address for IT Services Assistance Center (formerly Help Desk) appeared first on Information Technology <br />Services.

UALR faculty and staff will be receiving Kaspersky Anti-virus software beginning in January 2012. IT Services and campus technical support personnel have been working together to ensure a smooth transition.

The deployment of the new software will begin with computers running Microsoft Windows. IT Services asks that all employees verify that each UALR-owned Windows computer is turned on and connected to the university network directory (FACSTAFF and STUDENTS domains). The new software will be automatically installed on each computer starting on January 20 and continuing through January 31 (download the detailed schedule).

After the update, your computer may be required to restart.

If you have any questions or encounter any issues with the new anti-virus software, please contact the IT Services Assistance Center (Help Desk) by calling 501-916-3011 or sending a message to itservices-help@ualr.edu.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does everyone have to use Kaspersky?

Faculty and staff who use UALR-owned computers including Macs, PCs, or other devices that access the campus network must have Kaspersky. The IT Services Assistance Center will assist with installation of the anti-virus software.

Students may use an anti-virus application of their own choosing, with the caveat that it must be up-to-date with current virus signatures.

Why is the university changing anti-virus programs from McAfee to Kaspersky?

Several factors played a part in making the decision to replace McAfee with Kaspersky. First and foremost was the ineffectiveness of McAfee to prevent UALR-owned computers from becoming infected with viruses, gbots, malware, and other infectious executables causing performance degradation and in many instances complete failure. Kaspersky will dramatically improve the overall anti-virus protection/prevention for the UALR campus network and UALR-owned computers.

How does the university benefit from changing anti-virus programs?

Kaspersky provides UALR with the centralized management of anti-virus protection services including installation, trouble and repair, tracking and recovery of assigned licenses to individual UALR-owned computers. This positions IT Services to take proactive steps in addressing software vulnerabilities which put the UALR network at risk for intrusions and allows IT Services to take steps necessary in preventing infections before they happen. IT Services can also measure key performance indicators to determine the effectiveness of anti-virus protection.

Employees (Faculty and Staff)

What is the cost to get Kaspersky?

IT Services is responsible for providing campus wide anti-virus protection of all UALR-owned computers. There is no cost to staff or faculty to install the software.

Can I get a University provided copy of Kaspersky for my personal machine?

No, the university does not provide free copies of Kaspersky for individually-owned personal computers. There are many good anti-virus programs on the market (some are free). Staff and faculty with UALR-owned computers at home should get a copy of Kaspersky from IT Services.

Does my computer have to be on the FACSTAFF or STUDENTS domain?

Yes, based on the Network Security Policy, all UALR-owned Windows computers used by staff and faculty, existing or new, should be joined to the university network directory (FACSTAFF or STUDENTS domains). This places IT Services in the best position to protect the integrity and security of UALR-owned data. Exceptions to this policy may be requested.

Students

Do I need to get Kaspersky anti-virus or can I use what I have?

No, students are not required to get Kaspersky. UALR does require that students have anti-virus software that is up-to-date with current virus signatures before accessing the UALR network, wirelessly or otherwise. Network access is disabled during the connection process if the UALR network does not detect updated anti-virus.

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