Thanks to all those people who responded to the survey. Of the population of around 200 staff and 250 postgraduate students, there were 73 replies, the large majority of whom were research/teaching staff. The key points that seem to arise from the survey are given below with some elaboration on the major issues.

Commodity support

Q.01a: Would the proposed system satisfy the commodity computing needs?

* Not all the replies stated a percentage.

Responses suggested that for some people it is not clear how/why commodity services will be provided. Hopefully these points will clarify that.

• for the vast majority of users, commodity services---namely email, web access, text editing, filespace, printing, backups, etc---are not related to the actual platform being used.
• the goal for commodity services is to provide the best level of service possible for the great majority of users, in order to make the best use of resources.
• basing the commodity services on a standard platform of PCs running Linux will serve the majority well by being inexpensive in hardware terms and easy to configure, install and maintain once the DICE system is operational.
• there will be a very high degree of uniformity between these systems which will make transition for users between different sites much easier.
• the standard platform will also support a very large proportion of the other requirements of users within the Division. See below for discussion on those who have other needs.
• the important point is that it is not possible with limited resources to provide effective support for commodity services on *every* platform that gets used throughout the Division, even if that currently is the only machine a user has on their desk.
• the resource limit is cost/availability of support people, not the cost of hardware. If we can make one platform provide these services very effectively for the majority of users then additional central resources can be focussed on provision of a wider range of services including better general support for specific teaching and research activities.

Users with specific needs

Q.01b: Do you have any special computing needs?

Q.01c: Are there special computing needs that could not to be satisfied by the proposed system?

There are a range of users who:

a) have more specific needs, which typically come under their research role, *and*

b) their commodity computing needs are closely integrated with that specific environment, *either* out of choice or necessity.

It may be possible that their commodity needs can be easily separated out from their research needs and be supported on the standard platform with no loss of functionality. If that is practical that route will be adopted.

In general though, where integration of the commodity services with research platform is required (by user choice or out of necessity), support for those commodity services will not come from central support but instead need to come under the area of research support, and be resourced accordingly.

Support for Windows OS under commodity platforms

There are a number of staff (typically admin) who will need to have regular access to a wider range of Windows-related applications and where it will not be adequate to substitute alternatives (such as StarOffice). Special arrangements will be made for them and supported under 'commodity' support.

Although there will be an option on the commodity platform to make use of standard Windows-based applications (through VMware) this approach should not be expected to be equivalent to running them full-time on dedicated Windows machine. There are issues about overall performance and compatibility that are not expected to be solved immediately.

If your research needs are extensively for Windows-based services they will come under research support.

Q.02: Current work allocation in the Division

# replies analysed: 55
* Most users stated more than one option

Q.03: Proportion of time that users spent on a computer

# replies analysed: 58
* Most users stated more than one option

Q.04a: Current computing work which is done using a laptop

* Not all the users stated a percentage.

Q.04b: Purpose of the Laptop

# replies analysed: 35
* Some users stated more than one purpose.

Q.05: Laptop use if it were well integrated with Divisional services/facilities

Q.06: If you use a laptop:

Q.06a: What operating system(s) do you use on it?

# replies analysed: 38
* Some users stated more than one operating system.

Q.06b: Is this laptop dedicated to your personal use or borrowed?

# replies analysed: 38

Q.06c: To what extent do you take a laptop with you?

# replies analysed: 18
* Some users stated more than one purpose.

Q.07a: Are there specific needs for security of information or restricted access

Q.07b: Are you familiar with what protection your data has at the moment and how to alter that protection?

Q.08a: Do you use a personal organiser?

# replies analysed: 61
* Some users stated more than one organiser.

Q.08b: If so, is this integrated with your current computing facilities?

# replies analysed: 21
* Some users stated both office & home computer.

Q.09: What proportion of your research projects involve direct external collaboration?

 : Development : Doc 

Please contact us with any comments or corrections. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, all material is copyright The University of Edinburgh