News

There is a new version of LabVIEW from NI.com, version 2022Q3. NI.com communicated that they will move to a subscription model for LabVIEW licencing starting with version 2022Q3. C&CZ manages a FlexNet license server for LabVIEW 2022Q3, with a limited number of licenses and a deadline in April for extension of the license. Earlier versions of LabVIEW work standalone and unlimited in terms of time. The software can be found on the C&CZ Install disc....

The license for Mathematica has been expanded temporarily to an unlimited campus license for the whole of 2023: all employees and students may use Mathematica unlimitedly in 2023 on the RU network. For home use, one must therefore use a VPN. The software can be found on the C&CZ Install disc. During the installation you must specify: License server: mathematica.science.ru.nl License: L4601-6478 The introductory course “Mathematica Basic Principles: An Introduction” can be taken for free at CANdiensten in Amsterdam....

RU ILS Connectivity is replacing network access switches in FNWI. This causes short disturbances of network connectivity for wired and wireless systems on several evenings between 19:00 and 23:00 hours for affected wings/locations, i.e. connected to a specific SER (Satellite Equipment Room). For wired network outlets, one can check whether they will be affected by looking at the outlet number (starting with the SER number for affected systems) or visiting FNWI ethergids....

Science Jitsi Security As of January 18th, 2023, starting a jitsi meeting room requires you to authenticate with your science login and password. Guests do not require any authentication once the session is running. Jitsi is a collection of free and open-source multiplatform voice (VoIP), video conferencing and instant messaging applications for the web platform, Windows, Linux, macOS, iOS and Android, of which Jitsi Meet videoconferencing is the most well-known.

A new version of Mathematica (13.2.0) has been installed on all C&CZ managed Linux systems, older versions can still be found in /vol/mathematica. The installation files for Windows, Linux and macOS can be found on the Install-disk, also for older versions of Mathematica. Installation and license info can be requested from C&CZ. According to the Mathematica Quick Revision History: “Version 13.2 introduces new functionality in astronomy and compilation, as well as substantially enhancing functions for machine learning, trees, mathematical computations, video and more....

Unfortunately, we have recently seen a strong increase in successful phishing attempts in the Science domain, a mailing about this issue was already sent last week. At the same time, we worked hard in collaboration with ILS to also deploy the centrally used anti-phishing tooling from Proofpoint for FNWI. The central RU mail environment has been supplemented with this highly effective anti-phishing measure for some time now. As soon as the Science mail domains are also placed ‘behind’ this anti-phishing tool, things will change for users who have not yet had to deal with this....

Last week we have seen a strong increase in phishing attempts targeting the Science domain. It is notable that these attempts use well-constructed Science environments such as Roundcube that are difficult to distinguish from the real environment. The phishing email often contains something about salary or a payment, which means that it is clicked a lot. C&CZ is doing everything it can to limit the nuisance as much as possible by blocking these phishing emails as much as possible....

The C&CZ administered “4 concurrent user” license for Maple has been continued until December 31, 2023. The latest version of Maple, Maple2022.2, for Windows/macOS/Linux can be found on the Install network share and has been installed on C&CZ managed Linux computers. License codes can be requested from C&CZ helpdesk or postmaster.

From now on it is possible to manage Science accounts under your control in DIY. The overview of Science accounts for which you are the contact can be found in the menu “My accounts”. Each of these accounts has a link to a form where you can perform one of the following actions: Postpone the check date. This date is used to send reminder emails. Block the account. Blocked accounts cannot be used to login into systems (like mail, login server, gitlab)....

C&CZ is pleased that recent vacancies have been filled. A year ago Eric Lieffers joined us as systems developer / sysadmin. For years, Eric worked as sysadmin at the Faculty of Social Sciences and at ISC/ILS. Last month, Miek Gieben joined the systems developer / sysadmin team and Alexander Greefhorst joined as developer. Miek studied Computer Science in Nijmegen and has now returned to Nijmegen after having worked for a.o. SIDN, Google and Goldman Sachs, most recent years as Site Reliability Engineer....