Networked PC Service

Service description

The University’s Networked PC service (NPCS) is a computing service based on PC systems. It provides a Microsoft Windows desktop and access to a wide range of applications. Each user of the NPCS is provided with a minimum of 200MB of managed file storage on the NPCS file server system. Tools are provided to enable users to manage their files and to check their filespace for possible virus infection. The available applications include personal productivity tools, (Microsoft Office etc.), WWW and email facilities, data analysis applications, programming languages, and specialist subject-based applications (e.g. CAD facilities) to support teaching and learning. Applications and data are made available on the NPCS to support the University’s teaching activities. The NPCS may also be used to access other University IT systems, including the CIS UNIX services and Library service.

Access is provided from the NPCS to the CIS printing and plotting service and to the CD-ROM service.

How to access the NPCS

Access to the service is by your username and password.

The NPCS is set up and configured so that it may be used from any PC system provided by CIS located throughout the University (including Queens Campus Stockton) in some 15 open access areas and in computer classrooms. At present there are about 2000 public access systems which can access the NPCS. The service may also be used from departmental and college computer rooms.

The present service is based on Windows. All NPCS classroom systems present a standard desktop to the user and authentication for their filespace access is provided as part of the logon process.

The NPCS user file store is provided by Netapps servers, which provide a single authentication and file serving domain for both the NPCS and Unix using Microsofts Active Directory.

High performance access to popular items of software is provided by three cluster servers each servicing local NPCS systems. Metering software is installed to monitor the usage of licensed software to ensure that the University neither breaches the licensing terms for software nor buys more licenses than are required.