Campus Software Images FAQ
What is a software image and what types of images are used at Metropolitan State University of Denver?
A software image is created when campus computing technicians build the "standard" computer with all of the software and links that are needed for the Academic Lab computers and Administrative/Faculty computers and then transfer this information to all like computers. Special software helps technicians transfer, or "clone" this image to the hundreds of other computers that are needed on campus.
Academic Lab Image:
Each year, requests are made by technical services to department chairs, deans, and faulty for software that will need to be made available in the Academic Computing Labs. Software used in the Academic labs is reviewed and approved by a team of people from each department and technical services to ensure that it should be made available to all students with an Academic computing login.
The current Academic image is now running Windows 7 64 bit.
Current Academic Computing Lab Software List
Departmental Lab Image:
These are department specific labs that often use special purpose software and have limited access to students within that department. The image for these labs is often limited to software titles that will serve the specialized needs for students and staff within a selected course of study. Departmental labs may use software covered under general college agreements, but other software is usually restricted to those labs.
Administrative Desktop Image:
The Administrative desktop image is a basic software package designed to support campus faculty and administration employees at their office desk. The Administrative Desktop image is only installed on faculty/staff office computers and consists of basic software such as Symantec anti-virus, Microsoft Office, Putty, FileZilla, Adobe Reader, Windows Media Player, Quicktime and Banner Application Extender. The basic list of software is regularly updated with additional software as needed by faculty/staff in their field of work.
How do I request software to be added to the Academic or Administrative computing images?
Software that has been included on the Administrative and Academic images meets the requirements of most faculty, students, and staff at MSU Denver
IT is aware that unique software is often needed in support of the academic mission or support services. To ensure the integrity of campus computing it is necessary that additional software be submitted to your department technician or directly to the Service Center in the form of a help call request. Once the request is submitted it will be reviewed by the appropriate IT support teams to ensure that it meets basic standards for install.
When I request software, what are the standards used during the review and approval process?
- All software requests must provide a MSU Denver Business or Educational justification and must be in support of the MSU Denver mission.
- IT or the customer must be in possession of a legal version of installation software and a valid license. Software purchases must be approved by software services before purchase.
- Software must be proven to work with existing hardware to ensure that RAM and processor are adequate.
- Must be tested and approved to avoid conflict with existing software.
- Software, when used for its intended purpose, may not facilitate the violation of university policies, copyright infringement, federal or state regulations, or be used in the course of other committing illegal activities.
- Software that is being installed on the Academic image must be approved by Department Chairs, Deans, and receive final approval by the Provost.
- Software may not introduce new un-managed risks to the university computing or communications network.
Who is eligible to make software requests?
Software may only be requested by full time faculty, staff, department chairs, and deans.
Can I request free or open source software for my computer or lab computers?
- Free or open source software must be reviewed by technology support services before installation.
- Initial request must be screened by Software Services to determine if it warrants additional review for approval.
- Must be reviewed by Security Team to see if it represents any risk to the campus computing systems.
- Must be approved by Desktop Support/Academic Labs Director.
