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Communication

Why the (Ex)change?Hoekom verander na `n nuwe Exchange?

Friday, July 27th, 2012

We recently upgraded all Stellenbosch University users from Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 to Exchange Server 2010. Many of you wanted to know why there was a need to change from the previous version to something different and new. Believe it or not, the new version has quite a few advantages – at the back end and for you as a regular Outlook user. 

The most obvious difference between the old and new versions can be seen in Webmail. The new Webmail (otherwise knows as the Outlook WebApp) has a new look and feel and some handy new functionality.

Webmail 2010 provides the same conversation view and experience as your Outlook 2010.

Messages are displayed in threads so that all the messages on a particular topic are grouped. No more searching for a previous message to check what the response is referring to. When a new message in a thread comes in, the whole thread gets moved chronologically to the date/time of the new message. Conversation view has its benefits and drawbacks, but if you don’t like it, you can turn it off. Just right-click Arrange By, scroll down to Conversations, and deselect Show Messages In Conversations.

With 2010, you can forward an email message as an attachment. This can come in handy if you need to forward a message to someone but don’t necessarily want the person to open it immediately. You can create an original message where you can tell the person about the attachment.

Previously Internet Explorer was the preferred browser for Webmail. With Firefox you got a “light” version of Webmail instead. 2010 supports the complete, premium experience on Mac OS X with Safari as well as with Firefox.

Another feature is the ability to open up a shared calendar and view it side by side with your own calendar. This is invaluable if you need to make plans that include coordinating your schedule with someone else’s. You can share your calendar with other users of your Exchange 2010 server.

Other advantages in Outlook 2010 are mail tips. This feature will warn you if you use “reply all” to a very large group or if you send sensitive material. Mail tips will also let you know if you are sending an email to someone who has his or her “Out of office” or email auto-reply on.

Moderated transport allows allows distribution lists and mailboxes to be moderated by a non-admin user such as a manager who has to approve messages before they are delivered.

One of the biggest advantage of all these is the lower storage cost. The Exchange Server 2010 database engine is up to 70% more efficient than Exchange Server 2007 in terms of disk read/write performance.  This makes it possible to deploy much larger databases, with much larger mailbox quotas, on much larger disks.

This in turn means more space for you.  All staff members now have a mailbox limit of 1GB, effectively doubling the space available to you from your Exchange 2007 mailbox.

Want to know more? 

Informasie Tegnologie het onlangs alle Stellenbosch Universiteit gebruikers opgradeer van Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 na Exchange Server 2010. Baie van julle wou weet  hoekom dit nodig was om te verander van die bestaande weergawe na iets anders en nuut.  Glo dit of nie, die nuutste Exchange het `n hele paar voordele – tegnies en ook vir jou as gereelde Outlook-gebruiker.  

Die duidelikste verskille tussen die twee weergawes kan gesien word in Webmail. Die nuwe Webmail (ook bekend as die Outlook WebApp) het `n nuwe ontwerp en ook `n paar handige nuwe funksies.

Webmail 2010 gebruik dieselfde  “gesprek”-uitleg as jou Outlook 2010.

Boodskappe word gewys in stringe sodat alle boodskappe oor `n spesifieke onderwerp logies saam gegroepeer word. Jy hoef nie meer te soek vir `n boodskap om te verstaan wat die konteks van iemand se antwoord is nie. As `n nuwe boodskap ontvang word, skuif die hele string chronologies na die tyd en datum van die nuutste boodskap.

Hierdie uitleg het voordele en nadele. As dit nie vir jou werk nie, kan jy dit maklik afskakel. Kliek net op Arrange By, rol af na  Conversations, en deselekteer Show Messages In Conversations.

Met 2010 kan jy ook `n e-pos aanstuur as aanhegsel. Dit kan handig te pas kom as jy `n boodskap vir iemand wil aanstuur, maar eers wil hê die persoon moet jou kommentaar lees voor hy die boodskap oopmaak.

Voorheen was die voorkeur webblaaier vir Webmail Internet Explorer. As jy Firefox gebruik het, het jy die afgewaterde weergawe van Webmail gekry. Nou kry jy die volledige Webmail as jy Safari (Mac OS X) of Firefox gebruik.

2010 beskik oor die vermoë om `n gedeelde kalender oop te maak en langs jou eie te sien –  handig as jy ook iemand anders se kalender moet koördineer.

E-pos wenke is ook geaktiveer in Oulook 2010. Hierdie funksie sal jou waarsku as jy “reply all” gebruik vir `n groot groep mense of as jy sensitiewe materiaal wil aanstuur. Dit sal jou ook in kennis stel as iemand vir wie jy e-pos stuur sy/haar “Out of office” of  “auto-reply” aangesit het.

Gereguleerde verkeer laat toe dat verspreidingslyste en posbusse gemodereer word deur `n nie-admin gebruiker soos `n bestuurder wat boodskappe eers moet goedkeur voordat dit afgelewer word.

Waarskynlik die grootste voordeel is die lae stoorkoste. Exchange Server 2010 se databasis-enjin is tot 70% meer effektief as Exchange Server 2007 in terme van sy skyf lees- en skryfvermoeë.  Dit maak die uitrol van groter databasisse, met baie groter posbuskwotas op baie groter skywe, moontlik.

Dit beteken meer spasie vir jou. Alle personeellede het nou `n posbus-beperking van 1GB – dubbeld soveel as met Exchange 2007, die vorige weergawe.

Wil jy meer weet?

All IT news now also available on TwitterAlle nuutste IT-nuus nou ook beskikbaar op Twitter

Thursday, July 19th, 2012

Information Technology has always been a fast paced, ever developing environment and the same goes for Stellenbosch University’s IT department. The past few months we’ve been trying to improve communication with you, our clients to keep you updated with IT developments on campus. We’ve started a fortnightly newsletter, started to utilise our blog more effectively and at the moment we’re streamlining our self help wiki page to make your life  easier. However to keep up with our fast paced environment, we needed something more interactive to give instantaneous updates to users. So at last, we’re happy to announce that IT can now also be found on Twitter. Follow us at @ITStellenUni, retweet and let us know what you think.

Informasie Tegnologie was nog altyd `n vinnige, dinamiese omgewing en Stellenbosch Universiteit se IT-afdeling is geensins anders nie.

Die afgelope paar maande het ons probeer om kommunikasie met jou, die gebruiker, te verbeter en jou op hoogte te hou van alles wat ons doen en die nuutste IT-verwikkelinge op kampus. Ons het `n tweeweeklikse nuusbrief, Bits & Bytes, begin, ons blog aktief begin gebruik en ons is ook besig om te werk aan `n selfhelp wiki om die lewe vir jou makliker te probeer maak.

Om egter by te hou by ons vinnige omgewing was dit nodig om `n meer interaktiewe kanaal te gebruik om gebruikers onmiddellik in te lig. Ons is dus bly om te kan sê dat IT ook nou op Twitter is. Volg ons by @ITStellenUni, lewer kommentaar en retwiet – ons wil graag hoor wat julle dink.


Warning for 3G users: Risk of overspending on data accountsWaarskuwing aan 3G-gebruikers: Risiko vir oorspandering op datakontrakte

Tuesday, February 14th, 2012

Users are warned to practice caution when using certain providers’ 3G bundles on laptops. Some of these do not protect the user against overspending.

The risk of overspending occurs when users are under the false impression that their 3G package is safe to use until the package runs out. This is not necessarily the case. Higher costs can occur when the initial bundle’s capacity is exceeded and a much higher tariff kicks in. The user will then, without knowing, pay the higher tariff.

The risk of overspending is increased by software updating automatically and therefore generating more traffic. To avoid overspending ensure that the settings of your software updates are set to manual.

Another risk 3G users need to be aware of is the excessive cost of data overseas. Wireless in hotels is usually much more affordable than the local service provider’s roaming data options.

Users are strongly advised to limit the amount they want to spend or traffic they want to allow. (All this information can be found on your service provider’s website.) Also activate sms and email notifications when your data bundle is close to its limit. In this instance prepaid data is a considerably safer option.

3G users are encouraged to monitor their traffic and data usage on the 3G control programme, as well as the service provider’s website. Preferably switch off the 3G facility when it’s not being used.

Gebruikers word gewaarsku om versigtig die 3G-databundel, veral op skootrekenaars, te gebruik. Sommige pakkette van diensverskaffers se 3G-databundels beskerm nie die gebruiker teen oorspandering nie.

Hierdie risiko kom veral voor by gebruikers wat ‘n besigheidskontrak met ‘n diensverskaffer gesluit het en onder die indruk is dat, indien ‘n databundel teen die kontrak gekoop is, dit veilig is om maar die datadiens te gebruik “tot dit op” is.

Daar is egter ‘n groot risiko dat indien die databundel oorskry word, ‘n baie hoër “buite-bundel” tarief inskop en die gebruiker onvermoedelik ʼn baie hoër uitgawe verpligting aangaan.

Die risiko word verhoog deur programmatuur wat outomaties, sonder die gebruiker se wete, opdateer en gevolglik hoë volumes verkeer genereer. Let dus veral op sagteware se verstellings en maak seker dat opdaterings eerder met die hand gedoen word i.p.v. outomaties.

ʼn Verdere groot risiko is die buitensporige koste van data in die buiteland. “Wireless” binne die hotel is gewoonlik meer bekostigbaar as plaaslike diensverskaffers se “roaming” data opsies.

Gebruikers word sterk aangeraai om limiete op die bedrag of verkeer te plaas (kyk na u diensverskaffer se webblad), asook om sms of epos boodskappe te aktiveer wanneer die verkeer naby die limiet van die kontrak kom. Voorafbetaalde data is in die opsig baie veiliger.

Verder word gebruikers aangemoedig om die volume verkeer op die 3G beheerprogram self deeglik dop te hou. Die meeste verskaffers gee aan hul kliënte die opsie op datagebruik op hulle webwerf te monitor en IT raai gebruikers aan om van hierdie fasiliteit gebruik te maak. Skakel ook die 3G-fasiliteit af indien dit nie benodig word nie.