In view of the increasing importance of computer facilities and the complexity of networking in the University, ensuring smooth running of the computer systems and networks have become a high priority issue in departments as well as in the Computing Services Centre (CSC).

Since many departmental computer facilities are managed and supported by departments’ technical staff, close cooperations between technical staff of various departments and of the CSC are therefore essential in order to achieve a reliable and seamless integration of computer network. This kind of cooperation is crucial as we are aiming at maintaining effective distributed management while mastering the complexities of the computer network. Moreover, standards, compatibility and consistency in set-up, good practices in operations, etc. across the entire campus network will also have to be agreed and adopted.

The CSC has therefore invited departments to nominate one or two of their staff who are responsible for managing their departmental computing facilities to join the newly formed Systems and Network Technical Group as members. The objectives of the group are:

• Exchange information on access to departmental and central computer facilities with an aim to improving existing facilities and establishing new ones.
• Exchange ideas on resource planning, management, and monitoring as well as on policy formulation for central and departmental facilities.
• Issue and collect timely alerts on service interruption, virus, security, and performance.
• Discuss technical issues such as: standards, common practices, configurations, settings, compatibility, etc. and their subsequent adoption and implementation.
• Discuss and resolve problems of systems and networks encountered.
• Assist in deploying and evaluating pilot tests on new departmental and central services.