Last Update: 1/11/19
Contract Suppliers
USC Purchasing Services has established numerous contract computer suppliers. Contract Suppliers are suppliers which the university has a negotiated or bid agreement that could include price discounts, simplified ordering methods, set delivery arrangements, specialized customer service requirements, and billing payment methods.
Bidding is not required when a purchase is made with a Contract Supplier. Partial listing of contract computer suppliers below:
For a complete listing of contract computer suppliers, please consult: https://procurement.usc.edu/purchases/buying-goods/
What brand should I buy?
Viterbi IT does not recommend specific brands of computers. However, we recommend that you investigate via computer publications or websites such as PC Magazine’s at www.pcmag.com. You can also view ITS Computing Recommendations for helpful hardware comparison tables. Typically, your choices will come down to Microsoft Windows PCs, Apple OS X computers or Linux.
PC: Currently Microsoft Windows 10 Enterprise is installed on computers managed by Viterbi IT.
Apple: Apple Mac computers work fine with the existing Viterbi IT infrastructure. However, please keep in mind that software choices may not be as plentiful and varied as on the PC. You may need to consider the following software options for a Mac if you would like to run Windows software.
- Bootcamp (which comes installed and lets the user install Windows on Intel-based Mac computer) needs at least a 5GB partition on the computer to work.
- Parallels, an additional piece of software, requires only 100MB plus space to allocate to your virtual machine.
- VMFusion, similar to Parallels, requires 275MB plus 1GB (minimum) per virtual machine.
- Virtualbox, free from Sun.
Please note: All the options require the additional purchase of the Windows Operating System.
Should I get a desktop or a laptop?
We suggest visiting your local electronics store to shop around for laptops with different screens for your personal preferences.
If you plan to run Virtual Machine software you should get at least 4GB of memory.
Extended Warranty – Laptops experience much more wear and tear than desktops, and can be very expensive to fix. Getting on-site repair reduces the time you will spend without your computer.
Last Update: 3/27/20
Adobe Creative Cloud
Viterbi School provides at no cost Adobe Creative Cloud license subscription for full time tenured/tenure-track, teaching, and research faculty on primary appointment in the Viterbi School. Creative Cloud is Adobe’s suite of creative software, which includes Acrobat, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Premiere, and some cloud services. Click Adobe Creative Cloud to find out more.
Microsoft Azure Dev Tools for Teaching
Prior to February, 2019, this was known as Microsoft Imagine. It is now known as Microsoft Azure Dev Tools for Teaching. Please use the Microsoft Edge browser to access Microsoft Dev Tools for Azure. It does not include Microsoft Office. Faculty and staff have access to Office via USC ITS' Office365. Click here for more info.
Oracle Academy
Oracle Academy advances computer science education globally to drive knowledge, innovation, skills development, and diversity in technology fields. Click Oracle Academy to find out more.
Overleaf
Viterbi School now provides free Overleaf Professional accounts for all Viterbi faculty, students, and staff who would like to use a collaborative, online LaTeX editor for their projects. Click Overleaf to find out more.
VMWare Academic Program
The VMware Academic Program (VMAP) provides students and faculty members with no-cost VMware software for educational/instructional purposes. Click VMAP to find out more.
Software List Installed in Various Viterbi School Locations.
Please note that many of the software listed may not be distributed due to licensing agreements. Click Viterbi Software for the list.
KACE
The Viterbi School uses KACE to manage OS and Software updates and patches. Click KACE OS and Software Patches – FAQ to find out more.
Last Update: 5/1/20
Contact colo-mgmt@vsoe.usc.edu if you would like to be placed on the Server Co-location Waiting List.
Introduction
The Viterbi School has a limited amount of space available to host colocated servers at no charge for university-tagged, rack-mountable server-class systems that are used by VSoE faculty, program or research unit (collectively referred to as VSoE Unit) in support of research funded through VSoE. These servers typically have space, power, or cooling requirements that are not compatible with placement in regular VSoE office space.
Individuals interested in Viterbi IT Server Colocation Service should contact colo-mgmt@vsoe.usc.edu for service details and procedures to request for the use of the colocation facilities.
Viterbi IT Server Colocation Service provides an alternative to the fee‐based ITS colocation services. ITS charges a fee on a per rack basis. Any kind of servers may be placed in these ITS racks. VSoE Unit with high-availability requirements in terms of backup power, power conditioning, advanced fire suppression system, and redundant HVACs should consider fee-based ITS facilities in CAL building on 3434 Grand Avenue. Please refer to ITS website for details.
Service Description
- Viterbi IT will assign rack space. The VSoE Unit is responsible for hardware installation into the rack.
- The VSoE Unit is responsible for payment of the installation of power circuits if the existing power circuits are unavailable or inadequate.
- The VSoE Unit is responsible for UPS backup power, all systems management, monitoring, and hardware and software maintenance of the servers in the Viterbi IT colocation space.
- The VSoE Unit is responsibile for payment of the installation of Ethernet ports for each server housed in Viterbi IT colocation space.
- This cost is assessed by USC ITS. Please refer to ITS Ethernet Port Installation web page for current pricing information. http://itservices.usc.edu/ethernet-port/
- The VSoE Unit must agree to controlled access for a designated number of individuals in the colocation space and provide updates as necessary to Viterbi IT.
- The VSoE Unit must designate a member of their unit as the point for contact for Viterbi IT Colocation Services. Viterbi IT will contact the designated contact in the event of planned or unplanned outages affecting the colocated servers.
Requirements for a Colocated Server
Because of the space and architecture of Viterbi IT colocation space, servers to be colocated must meet strict conditions.
- Servers placed in colocation space should be accessed remotely by users – Colocation space is not suitable for systems that require frequent access or are routinely used as a desktop system, or for tower-style desktop systems that are being used as a server.
- Servers must be rack-mountable in a standard 19” rack. Servers must capable of being remotely monitored and maintained; locally-attached keyboards and monitors cannot be accommodated.
The VSoE Unit wishing to supply their own rack must discuss the requirements with VIterbi IT Colocation Service before obtaining the rack.
Co-location Approval Process
- Viterbi IT rack space, power (outlets), and network ports are managed and assigned on approved equipment only. Viterbi IT rack space, power (outlets), and network ports are limited and we highly suggest submitting Viterbi IT Server Colocation Service application form and receive approval prior to purchasing equipment. There may not be adequate resources in the facility to host your equipment.
Approval Process:
- Submit Viterbi IT Server Colocation Application Form
- If approved, Viterbi IT staff will communicate assigned resources for your equipment. Rack space location, power outlet, and network ports will be labeled and assigned.
About the VSoE Colocation Facilities
The school has two server colocation facilities on UPC available at no charge for VSoE Unit to house servers funded through VSoE.
The facilities are connected to the USC ITS backbone network via two separate 10-Gigabit trunks for high availability. If the existing power circuits are not available, the VSoE Unit is responsible to install new appropriate power circuits as necessary.
VSoE Unit that has research contracts with high availability requirements for their servers should contact colo-mgmt@vsoe.usc.edu to see how those requirements may be met. Servers are allocated space in a rack that may be shared with other VSoE research servers.
Server racks in Viterbi IT colo spaces are designed for rack-mount servers and are not suitable for placement of tower-style servers. Servers are installed in the rack in a uniform way to ensure cool air intake faces the front of the room (toward the entrance), and warm air exhaust faces the rear of the room.
Resources:
