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\markright{CSPC 41 Minutes (6 pages)}
\title{{\bf Minutes of CSPC Meeting 41}}
\author{Held in room 433 at 11:30pm\\ 
       Wednesday 13th May 1992}
\date{Minutes by Duncan C. White}
\begin{document}
\maketitle

\section*{41.1.1 : Present}

\begin{flushleft}
MSS, DJH, CLH, TJS, JIM, SMC, RB, DCW.
\end{flushleft}

\section*{41.1.2 : Welcome}

MSS welcomed Stuart Cox (SMC) to CSPC.

\section*{41.1.3 : Apologies From YAC, DFG}

\section*{41.1.4 : Also Sent To}

\begin{flushleft}
SM, LMJM, SFG, DKB, KB, EAA, MRC, HK, CJH, SCD, SZA, GBT
\end{flushleft}

\section*{41.1.5 : Minutes of previous meeting}

The minutes of the previous meeting were accepted without change.
JIM requested that a short list of actions be prepared quickly, to
ensure that those actioned (especially him) did not forget anything.
DCW agreed to do so.

\section*{41.2 : Matters Arising}

\section*{41.2.1 : Access to Research Student Equipment}

Re: 40.3.1, JIM and DFG have discussed the possibility of a communal Reseach
Student room in which Departmentally funded equipment could be placed.
JIM reported that DFG had felt this to be impractical at present,
due to lack of office space.
Some members felt that this would be an important improvement,
and so it should be kept in mind.

\section*{41.2.2 : New Equipment for Research Students}

Re: 40.3.2, JIM reported that he had ordered 5 Mac LCs for research students.
He added that he had not yet ordered the six X terminals
\footnote{five for research students, and the sixth for the new TA, Wei Yi Fan}
agreed in CSPC 40 due to the later (inconclusive) email discussions
about what kind of X terminals to buy.
MSS reminded us that reconditioned mono Sun 3/50s are still
the cheapest option, at \pounds 588 including VAT.
Total cost for 6: \pounds 3.5K.
We therefore agreed to purchase 6 Sun 3/50s.
{\bf Action: JIM.}

Also re: 40.3.2, DCW pointed out that DKB had now received VLSI02, the Colour
Sun 3/60 with disk, and therefore his X terminal had been returned to CSG
for reallocation.

\section*{41.2.3 : Policy on Student Misuse of Resources}

Re: 40.4, {\bf TJS} agreed to look at integrating our new policy
statement into the conditions of use form that new students sign.
{\bf Action: TJS.}

\section*{41.2.4 : Mac Lab}

Re: 40.5, JIM reported that the 22 Mac 2si's have now arrived.
The Ethernet cards were delivered, but were found to be unsatisfactory - so
are being replaced.
It was agreed that CSG will put as many as possible of the new Macs
in the Mac Lab and HP Lab to increase the number of Macs available
for project report writing.
Some may have to be standalone, others may be Appletalked.
{\bf Action: JIM}

JIM also said that the high-end project Macs and the 2 extra Mac 2si's
(one for the TAs, one for HSG) have not yet been ordered.
{\bf Action: JIM}

\section*{41.2.5 : Unix Machine for Student Use}

Re: 40.6, JIM reported that there is a spare 300MB disk available that
could be connected to the old Kerberos server (a Sun 3/60) to provide a
student Unix machine.
It was agreed that such a machine should be placed in the PC Lab, when ready.
Network connectivity is still under consideration.

JIM added that LMJM is currently working on 386-BSD (a publicly available
version of BSD Unix for PCs) which is getting steadily more reliable
as he works on it.
One of the PC Lab machines may be configured to run 386-BSD after the
projects have finished.
This will provide a BSD Unix machine with full source code,
which might prove more attractive to students.

It was pointed out that currently students were busy with revision, exams
and projects, and that the real need will come in the Autumn term, when
a new batch of 2nd and 3rd year students may wish to become involved.
{\bf Action: JIM/LMJM}

\section*{41.2.6 : Upgrading TAs Mac}

Re: 40.7.6, {\bf JIM} reported that the TAs Mac
Plus would be upgraded shortly, to 4MB RAM and a 40MB hard disk.
{\bf Action: JIM}

\section*{41.2.7 : Miscellaneous updates}

JIM reported that:

\begin{itemize}

\item
All 12 machines in the PC lab now contain 8MB of RAM [SFG, 40.7.1].

\item
SFG has received the evaluation copy
\footnote{See 41.3.1 for more on this}
of Windows 3.1 [SFG, 40.7.2].

\item
All 12 PCs now have Word for Windows installed
[SFG, 40.7.3].

\item
A ``hot spare" Wren drive has been ordered,
arrived, and is now in service [SM, 40.7.7].

\item
The Pertec SCSI Tape Controller has been ordered [SM, 40.7.8].

\item
The TDR Cable Analyser has been ordered [SM, 40.7.9].

\item
The large A1 sheet plotter
is now on maintenance for this year [GBT, 40.7.10].

\item
The evaluation period on Eiffel has been
extended by 1 month [SCD, 40.7.11].

\item
5 sets of Mac Prolog 4.0 manuals have been ordered
[SZA, 40.7.12].

\item
A Sparcstation 1+ with 16MB RAM, a 1.2GB disk and 2 additional Ethernet cards
has been ordered to act as a backup Ethernet router and server for the Mac Lab
[SM, email].

\end{itemize}

\par\noindent
MSS reported that his discussions with DFG
about getting a laserwriter for the research students in the WPL
had not resulted in any progress [CJH, 40.7.13].
We decided to hold this request over for further consideration
{\bf Hold}

\section*{41.3 : Requests (Outstanding and New)}

\section*{41.3.1 : Windows 3.1 Upgrades (SFG/MHG/PSC)}

SFG had finished his evaluation of Windows 3.1
and reported that it is a considerable improvement on Windows 3.0,
and recommended that we upgrade all 17 machines
\footnote{12 in the PC lab, and 5 staff: SFG, PSC, MHG, EBH and PB}
at a cost of \pounds 35 + VAT per copy,
Total cost \pounds 730 including VAT.

\par\noindent
This was agreed.  {\bf Action: JIM/SFG}

\section*{41.3.2 : Desqview/X for evaluation (SFG)}

SFG had also reqested a single copy of Quarterdeck's new Desqview/X
for evaluation.  Cost \pounds 140 including VAT.
This was agreed.  {\bf Action: JIM/SFG}

\section*{41.3.3 : Hard Disk for Lab Sources (DCW)}

DCW requested a Wren 8 1.2GB hard disk, costing \pounds 1500 including VAT,
to replace the 80MB /vol/labsrc area used by the TAs to store Lab exercises,
automatic submissions, Lab-related packages etc.
Agreed.  {\bf Action: JIM}

\section*{41.3.4 : SICSTUS Prolog License (KB)}

Krysia (KB) requested that a \pounds 300 site license for
SICSTUS Prolog be purchased.
This is a full Edinburgh style Prolog system for Unix
from the Swedish Institute of Computer Science.
Agreed.  {\bf Action: JIM}

\section*{41.3.5 : Mac Powerbook 170 (HK)}

In his role as Schools Liaison Officer, Hessam (HK) requested
that a Powerbook 170 be purchased for use at school visits,
demos and trade fairs and the like.  Cost \pounds 3.2K.
It was pointed out that, when not in use at trade fairs etc,
this machine could be taken home and used by members of staff.
Of course, its primary purpose must take precedence over this.

\par\noindent
It was agreed that we should purchase one, but not until the next
financial year
(HK had stated he would not need it until after the summer).
{\bf Action: JIM}

\section*{41.3.6 : Replacing Level 4 Laserprinter (EAA/DFG/MRC)}

Liz Attree (EAA) requested that her elderly Laserwriter (used by herself,
DFG and Margaret Cunningham (MRC))
be replaced.

\par\noindent
MSS pointed out that there are several other laserwriters on level 4
that they can use, so we decided that this request should be reconsidered
in the next financial year!
{\bf Hold}

\section*{41.3.7 : Upgrading the Micro Development Lab (SMC)}

SMC requested that the Macs in his Micro Development Lab (room 315)
be upgraded, pointing out that a considerable amount of project work
is done on them.

In detail, he had requested:
an additional 4M Mac,
the allocation of Appletalk card to connect an ImageWriter II,
the purchase of 6x1MB SIMMs to upgrade the other 3 Macs up to 4M RAM,
the purchase of 3 Appletalk connector kits,
and the extension of the Appletalk into the Lab
(The exact cost of these upgrades is not known).

This was agreed.  {\bf Action: JIM}

\section*{41.3.8 : Exabyte with Compression Card (SM)}

SM had pointed out that total disk space had been growing faster than
backup capacity, and stressed the urgency of the situation.
He recommended the immediate purchase of an Exabyte 8500 8m drive with
data compression, which can store up to 5GB per tape, at a cost of
\pounds 2960 + VAT.
Agreed.  {\bf Action: JIM/SM}

\section*{41.4 : Major New Equipment}

As we are coming up to the end of the financial year, we spent some time
considering major new equipment expenditure for next year's budget.
MSS, JIM and SM had made several proposals, circulated with the agenda.

\section*{41.4.1 : X Terminals for 207}

As part of the continuing replacement of dumb serial terminals with X terminals
and workstations, it was proposed to spend about \pounds 35K to replace some
50 terminals from one of the main teaching labs.

After a brief discussion of options, we agreed to purchase about 35 mono
reconditioned Sun 3/50 X terminals (at a cost of about \pounds 21K)
and as many as possible cheap colour X terminals with the remaining
\pounds 14K.

SM recently estimated \pounds 1035 including VAT for the cheapest colour
solution, comprising a monitorless Sun 3/60 and a Hitachi colour screen.
He will investigate whether this or a similar offer may be available now,
and JIM will then purchase as many as possible.

{\bf Action: JIM/SM}

\section*{41.4.2 : Flamingo and Pelican replacement}

It was proposed that Flamingo and Pelican be replaced by two Sparcstation 10s
(each with 64MB RAM and a 1.2GB disk)
together costing \pounds 35K including VAT.
Flamingo and Pelican will not be traded in - we will keep them and use them
to serve the PC lab.
One may have to be cannabilised to keep the other running.
Agreed.  {\bf Action: JIM}

\section*{41.4.3 : 10 more IPXs for Sparc Lab}

It was proposed that another 10 colour Sparcstation IPXs be purchased
to fully populate the Sparc Lab, and the existing Oaks be upgraded to 32MB RAM.
Total cost \pounds 70K including VAT.
Agreed.  {\bf Action: JIM}

\section*{41.4.4 : Gandalf replacement with Annex}

It was proposed that our ageing Gandalf be replaced on level 4 and the WPL,
by 2 Ethernet based 16-port Micro Annex units, at a total cost of just over
3K including VAT.
This money would be recouped over the year by not having to maintain the
Gandalf in those areas!

\par\noindent
Agreed.  {\bf Action: JIM}

\section*{41.5 : Priorities for New Equipment}

MSS had prepared and circulated a suggested set of priorities for
new equipment with the agenda.
He pointed out that they are subject to change as the year progresses,
and are only a rough guide.
For the record, they are:

\begin{tabular}{||l|l|l||}
\hline
Priority & Description & Cost \\
\hline
(done) & Replacements for Pelican and Flamingo & 35K \\
(done) & 50 assorted X terminals & 35K \\
(done) & 10 more Sparc workstations & 60K \\
\hline
1 & Research Student Equipment & 40K \\
\hline
2 & New software & 20K \\
2 & 15 Macs for staff use & 40K \\
2 & 15 Macs for Lab & 40K \\
2 & Teaching Assistants Equipment & 10K \\
\hline
3 & 3 Laserwriters for staff use & 8K \\
\hline
\end{tabular}

\section*{41.6 : Any Other Business}

None.

\section*{41.7 : Date of next meeting}

To be decided by email.

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