Minimum Hardware Guidelines

January 25, 2005
To: Faculty and Staff

From: Mike Zachar
Director of Computing Services

Re: Updated Minimum Hardware Requirements for Desktop Support (Effective January 2006)

The Faculty Advisory Committee on Social Science Computing (FACSSC) has considered the problems of disproportionate burdens by old computers and operating systems (OS) on services from Social Sciences Computing Services. Service calls on old machines and operating systems take relatively large amounts of time. Consequently, Computing Services increasingly struggles to provide satisfactory support for all clients. To help resolve this problem, the FACSSC supports a policy on minimum hardware requirements for desktop support that is driven by the introduction of new operating systems. This policy was initiated beginning January 1, 2001.

The division provides desktop support services only to those desktops that meet the minimum hardware requirements. Each machine, however, does not have to have the latest OS or applications. This policy extends to desktop computers bought with University funds (includes grants and gifts) that are kept at home. Computing Services supports these machines only if they are brought on-site to the University. The policy, however, does not extend to machines used as lab instruments, as they are not used in the traditional role of desktop computers.

Building new machines purchased without an OS will also not be supported. Individuals like to purchase such machines as they have low prices. However, the impact on SSCS can be several workdays per machine, thereby increasing costs for Computing Services and taking time away from other clients.

The most current operating systems and primary application for the PC is Windows XP running Microsoft Office 2003. The most current operating system and primary application for the Mac is OS 10.3 running Microsoft Office 2004. The minimum hardware requirements to run these configurations are as follows:

* Many early G3 did not have integrated USB.

There are two categories of upgrades to meet minimum systems requirements. The first is more RAM. The second is purchasing a new machine. In June 2005, SSD Computing Services will start working on the effected machines to bring them to the new standard. We intend to have the new standard installed and effective across the division by January 2006. Staff from Computing Services will consult with each department chair and each faculty member and staff affected by this policy. We wish to manage this change with as much comfort as possible.

Computing Services will make every attempt to complete the bulk of the work during the Summer Quarter. The Summer Quarter is the least disruptive to our clients and when demand for our other services is lowest. As for future minimum systems requirement, we anticipate that individuals would replace Macs and PCs every 3 to 4 years (shorter if used machines are bought) to comply with minimum systems requirements.

We believe that the policy on minimum systems requirements for desktop computers will provide stable and effective computing for the division.

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