Workstation Support Services is the lead support group for Linux/Unix platforms on campus. We support both Client/workstations and servers.

Client/workstations are differentiated from servers based on the numbers and types of services running on the machine. Client/workstation machines are typically used by single or a limited number of multiple people that physically log onto the machine in order to run productivity applications, email clients, web browsers, SSH clients, and/or analytical applications. Client workstations are often used in lab or cluster settings where users share machines. Servers are used to run applications that are accessed by multiple client/workstations. For example, if you run an email or web server, POP, IMAP, ftp, NIS, NFS, Samba, Tomcat, License, LDAP, and/or mailing lists- your machine falls into the server class.

This document outlines our configuration standards for client/workstations and servers.

Clients/Workstations
There are a number of Linux/Unix based operating systems that have come and gone over the years. The rate of change is expected to continue as new developments are made and the use *nix operating systems proliferate. In order to provide adequate levels of support we have standardized on SuSE and Red Hat Linux operating systems. These two platforms account for over 95% of the workstations/clients supported by WSS.

The following versions of Red Hat and SuSE are currently supported:

SuSE 10.x
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 4

If you are interested in running one of the other Unix variants such as Fedora, Solaris, IRIX, AIX, BSD or Tru64, we would be happy to discuss your support needs and to develop a fee-based support structure for your facility.

Servers
Workstation Support Services provides support for a number of departmental servers on campus on a charge-back basis. We do not provide support for servers in labs without first developing a comprehensive service level agreement (SLA).

Servers currently supported by WSS include:

SuSE Linux and SuSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES)
Red Hat Linux Enterprise (RHEL) Academic Server

Getting support for your Linux/Unix environment
Under the guidelines of the FAS IT Support Program, all faculty in the arts and sciences have one fully supported machine. This is the machine that is used primarily for applications related to the faculty members role as an instructor, such as email and desktop productivity applications. If your primary desktop or laptop machine runs Linux or Unix, your support is provided under the technology plan for your department.

If you have Linux or Unix machines located in a research laboratory or other facility, support is available under the FAS IT Support Program for research environments. For more information on this support program, click here.