Computer Lab Manual

Westminster Computer Lab Manual

Purpose

It is this author's belief in the importance of not only providing documentation for all aspects for Westminster United Church, but to have this documentation on-line, and be accessible and easily modifiable by its users...

This WIKI serves as an on-line resource to help the IT (Information Technology) administrator perform routine and non-routine tasks as they pertain to the operation of Westminster's Computer Lab. To invent "Re-inventing the Wheel", certain content has been linked to existing WIKIs.

I hope you find this WIKI useful, and if not, then "start contributing to make it better..."

>;)

Murray Saul

Contact Information

ATTENTION:

All Computer lab requests MUST be sent to the AVIT facilitator. The facilitator will then contact the lab administrators for follow-up or action. It is important to follow this method to prevent confusion, double-booking, and also provide a physical document trail to help in the church's information analysis.

Current AVIT Facilitator: Earl Williams
Current Lab Administrator: Murray Saul (AVIT department)
Backup Lab Administrators: N/A

Topics / Chapters

Purpose of Westminster Computer Lab

The purpose is to create and maintain (at minimal cost) a computer lab that will provide computer support for several groups including CE Youth & instructors, church staff, congregation members, special interest groups, and members of the Orangeville community.

For a more detailed explanation/purpose of the Westminster computer Lab, refer to this WIKI: [ Westminster Computer Lab WIKI ]

Here is a news-feed (May 2006) with explaining purpose of Westminster Computer Lab: [ html ]

Technical Overview of Computer Lab

• Where Computer Lab "fits into" AVIT structure (Getting the big picture): [ png ]
• Computer Lab Layout:

Installing Applications

Mechanism for Requesting Applications

Unless testing applications for future development, the computer lab administrator will assume that the users (either the action group facilitators, or clients) will make a request based on their needs. The computer lab administrator should research (eg. via Internet or discuss with colleagues or other system administration experts) on a list of applicable applications suitable for installation.

Remember that in IT, "Information" comes before "Technology" (and not the other way!). In other words, it is the user's needs and the applicable software that drives the technological requirements...

Here is a basic guideline that users may find useful in helping to determine their software needs:

Installation Basics

• Purpose of Repositories
• Installing (Preferred Methods ranked in order of appearance):

• Using Synaptic Package Manager or Ubuntu Software Center
• yum & rpms
• Zipped Tarballs