Micro Focus Filr Upgrade Coming Up

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We utilize Micro Focus Filr here at MLC for remote access to files located on our file servers. This weekend (July 21-23, 2017) we will be upgrading our Filr instances to the latest version and this will require some downtime over the course of the weekend. During the downtime, if you are utilizing the Filr Desktop Client, it may appear like you are missing files. Do not worry, those files are still safely stored on our file servers and will appear again after the upgrade is complete and everything is running again.

After the upgrade, you may be prompted to upgrade your Filr Desktop Client. Please do so when it is convenient, and if you have any issues, contact Network Services.

Campus Bandwidth Improvements

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Before Thanksgiving break, Network Services received word that our connection to the internet, hosted by Comcast, had been expanded from 200 Mbps to 1 Gpbs (or 1000 Mbps). This five-fold increase in available bandwidth for the campus is in response to the bandwidth crunch we have been feeling since students appeared on campus at the start of 2016-17 Semester 1.

Traffic shaping protocols for the internet connection have also been removed. You might have noticed that streaming video providers have been working much better since Thanksgiving (as an example).

If you are still noticing issues with the internet being slow, please email Network Services at support@mlc-wels.edu so that we can make certain to take a look and attempt to alleviate that issue for you.

Thank you for your patience, and God’s blessings this Christmas season!

New Filr Updates!

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Filr HeaderFilr is the way for your to be able to gain access to your network files while on or off campus (and connected to the internet). Today we have deployed an update which brings a couple of really important improvements. Here are the three highlights:

  • Using Save As should be much faster than before. In the past there were some hangs when attempting to use Save As with the Filr Desktop Client and there have been some fixes specific to that use case.
  • You are now able to save SMART Notebook files directly to the Filr folder utilizing the Filr Desktop Client. There was a bug in the past that stopped this from happening, but now it works as designed (and desired).
  • Many performance improvements, especially for those on Microsoft Windows.

Also, if you are running macOS Sierra (released on September 20, 2016), you will want to upgrade to the latest client. If you have the Filr Desktop Client installed on your machine, you should receive a notification at some point. Please upgrade as soon as possible.

If you have not tried our Filr yet, you can login with your MLC Account username and password at http://filr.mlc-wels.edu and start playing around with that is offered. As always, if you have any questions, please contact Network Services!

Introducing Client for Open Enterprise Server

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Micro Focus Client for OESIn 2014, the parent company of Novell, NetIQ, and SUSE was purchased and merged with Micro Focus, a UK-based technology company. In the intervening time, that merger has continued with the changes one would expect when two companies with vast portfolios are combined. Martin Luther College has made use of Novell’s software products since the campus was opened in 1995 and many have heard the phrase “Novell network” used in various contexts when working with Network Services.

However, that is about to change. The merger has seen the combined company be narrowed down to two distinct product lines: Micro Focus and SUSE. This summer, the software product formerly known as Novell Client is now known as Client for Open Enterprise Server (OES). While many of us are familiar with the “red N,” we will now be greeted by a distinctly blue logo on startup and login on machines around campus. There is a picture of the new login screen attached o this post.

The functions of the client software are not different, but the terminology used and icons you are looking for will. The rollout of the new version of Client for OES will coincide with our switch from Windows 7 and 8 to Windows 10. As we continue with that work, you will see the new imagery more often.

New Wireless Networks Documentation

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ControllerThis summer some changes have been made to the configuration of the wireless networks on campus. These changes are intended to make it easier for students, faculty, and staff to connect to secure, encrypted wireless networks while on campus.

With that in mind, we have updated the documentation on how to connect to the wireless networks on campus. You can find the updated documentation at https://kb.mlc-wels.edu/network-services/wireless and changes and updated will continue to be published there in the future.

As always, if you run into any issues with the wireless networks here on campus, please contact Network Services.

Small Wireless Network Update

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This morning we upgraded the firmware on our wireless controller to the latest provided by Fortinet. While this upgrade brings about the normal run of bug fixes and software tweaks for the controller and access points, it also brings about a couple of new features which we hope will help to alleviate some wireless congestion in the buildings around campus.

Our wireless system will now do two things automatically:

  • Periodically scan the wireless network channels to find which channels are open and then move the entire network to those open channels.
  • Monitor how many devices are connected to each access point and move devices to nearby access points which are not as heavily utilized.

These two changes will hopefully help to balance out the network and alleviate congestion, especially in high-use areas around campus. However, as these are new settings, we are aware that there might be issues as bug fixes are applied and changes are made. If you are having issues connecting to the wireless network on campus, please file a support request with Network Services so that we can look into it.

First Batch of Website Tweaks Released

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The redesign of the MLC website was released to the public just a few short weeks ago and already we are back with some tweaks to improve your experience while using the site. This post will highlight a few of those changes, give you a taste for how changes will continue in the future, and also thank a very special person who will be leaving our team at the end of the month.

Website 2016.1

While the redesign project was happening, Website 2016 was used as a codename for the project because the launch was planned at the very beginning of the 2016 calendar year. This first batch of tweaks was thus codenamed Website 2016.1 for fun. Here is a rundown of the changes you might notice:

  • The standard font color on pages has been darkened considerably to increase both contrast and readability. You should notice this across the entire site. The light gray text has been replaced by dark gray!
  • Some links in the footer have been changed to reflect the website URL instead of the beta site URL, which should mean less broken links when attempting to use links in the footer.
  • Various small tweaks have been made to the links available in the footer Resources and Tools menus.
  • The main navigation has been tweaked to better include tappable links on mobile devices (so you will see some duplication, link changes, title tweaks, etc.) and also not duplicate names within submenus to help with clarity.
  • The Calendar link that was formally in the footer’s Tools menu has now been changed to Master Calendar and links to a combined public master calendar for the campus housed on the website, but the calendar pulls data from Google Calendar.
  • A Feedback link has been added to the very bottom-right of the website (when viewing on a desktop browser). You can use that link to provide feedback about parts of the website so that we can continue to make tweaks in the future.

As a small aside, the Master Calendar is a combination of various calendars maintained by various people and entities around campus. It includes music events, athletic events, and other events around campus that might (or might not) be interesting to everyone. The Event Calendar (which includes the listing of events found on the homepage) is a curated list of events usually of more interest to the public and involve MLC or members of MLC in some way. Usually the Event Calendar will include additional information for each event.

Future Tweaks

The changes listed above required that each subsite be edited, which is a time-consuming task. Changes that require that sort of effort will be accumulated over time and then done in a “flurry of activity” to get them out as quickly as possible. Smaller changes that need to be applied to just a single area or can be applied globally (easily and quickly) will continue to just be rolled out and released when needed.

The idea is to keep the website as fluid as possible, to constantly be thinking, talking, and implementing changes that are improvements to what is being done right now. Part of that process is the feedback form discussed above. Gathering feedback from constituents about changes, improvements, ideas, or issues allows our team to hone in on those things that need to be changed and then start the entire process of thinking, talking, and implementing over again. Your feedback is encouraged and greatly appreciated!

A Fond Farewell

Mrs. Sallie Draper has been with our team for 2.5 years and has been integral in moving the Website 2016 project to launch along with maintaining the web properties and training countless people on campus at the same time. At the end of the month she is leaving our team to move into full-time work with WELS, and we wish her nothing but God’s richest blessings as she transitions to her expanded role there!