Workshop on ELearning in Higher Education

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Infrastructure and eServices Support at ITC Dr.
Sadiq M. Sait, Director Information Technology
Center


Workshop on E-Learning in Higher Education
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Infrastructure Definition (and what does it
comprise?)

• Underlying base or foundation (hidden) systems of
  an organization essential for enabling
  productivity, by providing services and
  facilities that support day to day activity, and
  require large initial investment.
• Infrastructure may also involve a set of
  interconnected structural elements that provide
  the framework for supporting the entire
  structure, employing physical equipment
  (computers, cases, racks, cabling, etc.) and
  local components of a network (typically includes
  wiring, connections, attachment devices,
  network nodes and stations, interconnectivity
  devices such as hubs, routers, gateways, and
  switches, operating environment software, and
  software applications.

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So what does it include?

• Resources (Including People)
• Hardware (Servers, WorkStations, etc)
• Software (Programs, Applications, Configuration,
  Deployment, and Support)
• Services
• Connectivity (Networking, Switches, Cables,
  Routers, etc)

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Making IT Happen Some Interesting Numbers
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Making IT Happen Some More Interesting Numbers
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Notes about our infrastructure

• WiFi for indoors, student activity areas, and
  some outdoor areas (largest in the region)
• WiMax for outdoors
• ADSL for homes (can also be made wireless)
• Rapid increase in utilization expected in current
  semester due laptop distribution and awareness
  campaigns

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WiFi Technology Specs

• WiFi Specifications
• IEEE 802.11a/g standard
• Uses available/unlicensed 2.4/5 GHz ISM Band
• Provides higher data rate (up to 54 Mbps)
• Backward compatible to IEEE 802.11b
• Technology Features
• Scalable Enterprise Solution
• Highly Secure
• Enterprise Network Management
• State-of-the-Art Equipment from Cisco

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Future with Wireless -- WiMAX

• Planned extension with WiMAX
• Objective is to cover the entire campus, and add
  life to our quadrangle (in addition to mobility,
  flexibility)
• Will be integrated with current WiFi
  infrastructure
• Laptops and the wireless network (WiFi and WiMAX)
  will help improve academic programs
• Faculty has enhanced support for eLearning
  technologies inside classrooms and everywhere
• Effective teaching methods and learning
  experiences

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Laptop Selection

• Selection criteria included
• Desktop replacement category with native wireless
  support
• Standard benchmark and number crunching tests (pi
  to 2 million decimal places)
• 3-year full onsite hardware replacement warranty
• Advanced model as desktop replacement
• Docking station interface to desktop
• Connection to desktop LCD monitor, local printers
  other devices such as scanners etc.
• Student Laptop Program
• ICDL qualification ensures notebook usage and
  competency of students
• Delivered directly at KFUPM and ready to go

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Laptop Docking Stations - Base Configurations
HP Notebook
HP Docking Station
PA 287A

• NC 8230

Pentium M 1.86GHZ, 2 MB Cache 15.4 SXGA
display ATI Radeon X600 (64MB) 512 MB RAM (1
DIMM) 80 GB Hard drive Wireless, 10/100/1000
Ethernet, Bluetooth, 56k Modem DVD/CD-RW 3 year
warranty and premier level service
Advanced docking station Multi Bay II bay
supports 80GB HDD, DVD/-RW, DVD/CD-RW
DVD-ROM Express Card slot Ethernet modem
pass-through 6 USB 2.0 ports,2 PS/2 ports for
mouse keyboard Serial parallel connectors
S-Video, VGA, DVI audio ports
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Notebook Deployment Schedule
December January
February
March April
May
July
June
August
November
October
Frame Agreement Signed
ICDL Students (1) Notebooks Deployed
All Faculty Covered
Faculty (PhD) Laptops Deployed
Faculty (incl. Insts Lecs.) Laptops Deployed
ICDL Students (2) Notebooks Deployed
Ongoing University Laptop Program
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KFUPM On The WebFaculty Information System (FIS)

• One of the major strengths of the new website
  (http//www.kfupm.edu.sa) is the introduction of
  a new FIS (faculty information system)
• faculty profiles
• details the biography
• research interests
• publications

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What can you do with all this support?

• Plan your teaching/learning and content delivery
  as if you are already in the campus of the
  future
• Request for training and learning (monitor the
  projects at ITC)
• Try remote desktop from home, laptop (it is
  addictive)
• Keep the LapTop in its place (on the lap, not on
  the table)
• Use the Wireless Network intensively (try it in
  the KFUPM Library)
• Read/Send eMail with PDAs
• Try VOIP using Smart Phones
• Use it for Intranet Services and Internet Access
• Library (just updated)
• Registration System
• etc.,
• Update your profile on the web (at least start
  with your pic)

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Snapshot of KFUPM eServices

• IP-TV
• WWW, Email
• Video conferencing
• Online journals access
• Student Information System, Registration
• Web Courses
• Smart Classrooms
• Active Directory, LDAP

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ITC Projects And Other Activities

• Enterprise Database Implementation (ERP)
• Document Management System (DMS) Implementation
• Community College Support
• Server Consolidation
• Online Help Desk, Change Management IT Assets
  Management
• Network Systems Management
• KFUPM Portal
• High Performance Computing (HPC)
• Awareness for Faculty/Administration
• Curriculum Delivery Systems Enhancements (Centra)
• The Raed Project
• Enterprise Storage Backup
• IT Security

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RAS Utilization
Max 174 connections (72.5)
Avg 84 connections (35.0)
Current 68 connections (28.3.5)
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Internet Bandwidth usage statistics (Campus)
Internet Bandwidth Usage Statistics (KFUPM-KACST)
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Internet Bandwidth Usage Statistics (ADSL)
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Thank you