[MCN-L] Reasons for providing public wi-fi

[David Salovesh]

If bandwidth is a concern, the addition of public wi-fi can help justify 
upgrades.  The relative cost of increased bandwidth is hard to understand in 
the abstract, but if you can get buy-in from communications, education, etc., 
the actual cost is pretty easy to swallow.

I provide public wi-fi at our Memorial (a three acre outdoor setting).  The 
initial order was simply to provide data service for guide staff, but I got 
lots of additional support once I suggested using a captive portal on public 
wi-fi to communicate about our mission and activities.  The portal page also 
includes a link to make free-will donations, both for our general operations 
and to defray the costs of providing the service.

In addition, the extra utility allowed us to sign on with a service that can be 
throttled up if necessary.  That's made it possible to webcast certain events 
directly on our own, saving us content distribution costs that previously made 
webcasting difficult.


Dave Salovesh 
Information Technology Manager
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund

-Original Message-
From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:mcn-l-boun...@mcn.edu] On Behalf Of 
Christina DePaolo
Sent: Thursday, April 29, 2010 1:09 PM
To: Museum Computer Network Listserv
Subject: Re: [MCN-L] Reasons for providing public wi-fi

Hi,
For those of you who offer public wi-fi, do mind sharing how you made it 
happen? What were the barriers you had to address? Visitors are asking for free 
wi-fi at SAM but our IT department is holding back because of resource issues, 
I think it has to do with bandwidth.

[MCN-L] Sitemap generators?

[David Salovesh]

I've gotten good base results from "Xenu's Link Sleuth".  At its core it's a 
broken link finder, but you can customize the reporting to just generate a site 
map if you wish.

It won't spit out a map in the absolute final format you'll want to put on your 
site, but it's easy to polish up the report (delivered in html) into something 
you can use.

http://home.snafu.de/tilman/xenulink.html

(Yes, it's free.  No, it's not a $cientology front.)

Dave Salovesh 
Information Technology Manager
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund

-Original Message-
From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:mcn-l-boun...@mcn.edu] On Behalf Of 
Perian Sully
Sent: Monday, June 29, 2009 6:13 PM
To: Museum Computer Network Listserv
Subject: [MCN-L] Sitemap generators?

I've a question for you web folks:

 

I need to generate a sitemap for our website (unbelievably, we don't
have one yet). The site is currently just running HTML with a Wordpress
blog attached to it. The free sitemap generator I've downloaded is
getting all of the pages, including the blog. So I'm wondering if
there's a better utility I could be using (preferably free), which would
allow me to define exactly which pages I want included in the sitemap,
and then save the options for use later.

 

I do have Dreamweaver 8 which I'm using to work on the site, but I
haven't quite figured out how/if I can use it to generate an HTML
output.

 

Any pointers would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

 

Perian Sully

Collections Information Manager

Web Programs Strategist

The Magnes

2911 Russell St.

Berkeley, CA 94705

Work: 510-549-6950 x 357

Fax: 510-849-3673

http://www.magnes.org

http://www.musematic.org

http://www.mediaandtechnology.org

 

___
You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum Computer 
Network (http://www.mcn.edu)

To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu

To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit:
http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l

The MCN-L archives can be found at:
http://toronto.mediatrope.com/pipermail/mcn-l/

[MCN-L] do you Skype?

[David Salovesh]

I probably misspoke in saying each user donates spare capacity.

The role of a Skype "supernode" is to serve as the directory and router for 
other users, in lieu of Skype operating their own centrally managed servers.  
Any Skype user ("node") can become a supernode given the right conditions which 
are supposed to include spare processor and connection capacity and a routable 
public IP address.  That didn't apply to us, but I still saw outrageous 
bandwidth consumption that correlated with the presence of Skype.

I guess I can't explain why Skype was so bandwidth-hungry for us, but removing 
it and banning its re-installation resolved the problem.  I suppose that - like 
anything else - if you are considering using it you might want to do thorough 
testing before committing to its adoption.

Dave Salovesh 
Information Technology Manager
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund


-Original Message-
From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:mcn-l-boun...@mcn.edu] On Behalf Of 
Thomas Deliduka
Sent: Friday, May 29, 2009 2:43 PM
To: Museum Computer Network Listserv
Subject: Re: [MCN-L] do you Skype?

I'm a little confused. Why would Skype need to run down someone's pipe only to 
jump back out again in a way of utilizing bandwidth for other calls? That seems 
quite inefficient to take a detour in routing of a telephone call.

Thomas Deliduka
Director of Information Technology
Columbus Museum of Art
480 East Broad Street
Columbus, OH 43215
ph 614/629-0345 fax 614/629-0950
thomas.deliduka at cmaohio.org
?
ART SPEAKS. JOIN THE CONVERSATION


-Original Message-
From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:mcn-l-boun...@mcn.edu] On Behalf Of 
David Salovesh
Sent: Friday, May 29, 2009 11:51 AM
To: Museum Computer Network Listserv
Subject: Re: [MCN-L] do you Skype?

Ad-hoc Skype is explicitly banned here.  It may return someday as an 
organizational initiative, but we're still trying to figure out what the 
benefit would be for us.  (We have sponsored phone service and have virtually 
no international communication requirements, so our economics may not be 
typical.)

It wasn't always this way - I allowed it for a while.  I originally had to ban 
it because we were short on bandwidth, and some folks couldn't resist using it 
in ways that completely overwhelmed our connection.  That led to a temporary 
suspension of Skype use pending system analysis, improvements, and re-analysis. 
 After we upgraded our connection I discovered the more troubling property of 
Skype traffic that led to the current outright ban:

As I understand it, Skype can exist as a "free" service because each user 
donates spare bandwidth to carrying calls for other users.  For home or 
home-like use that's probably okay since the bandwidth Skype sees as idle is 
probably actually so.  In an enterprise or enterprise-like setting, the 
individual Skype clients don't do as good a job at measuring excess capacity.

My previous service was SDSL at 1.5 mbps, and with 45 people in the office our 
utilization was over 95% at all times.  My second site users were essentially 
unable to work, and even main site users were losing patience.  After the 
upgrade to 10 mbps (metro-Ethernet), my typical utilization went to 20% 
(peaking at 90%, but only occasionally and briefly - as it should be) and my 
remote users were very satisfied.  But after installing Skype, even with no 
active calls and the software sitting "idle", my utilization went back up to 
90%.

I searched for workarounds or ways to manage its bandwidth consumption, but 
it's not really designed for managed operation - or may even be designed to 
work AROUND management.  It definitely is designed to work around firewall 
restrictions, so my technological means to block the traffic were somewhat 
limited.

On the bright side, this sequence of events raised the consequences of 
installing software without approval from "it'll piss off the IT department" to 
"you could get fired for it".  ;-)

Dave Salovesh 
Information Technology Manager
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund


-Original Message-
From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:mcn-l-boun...@mcn.edu] On Behalf Of 
Dowden, Robin
Sent: Thursday, May 28, 2009 10:31 PM
To: Museum Computer Network Listserv
Subject: [MCN-L] do you Skype?

Do you allow Skype in your institution? I've been arguing for its legitimacy as 
a business tool but our IT department is concerned about misuse and security 
issues. I'm interested in hearing how/if others are using it, policies, tales 
of compromised networks as a result of peer-to-peer apps, any relevant or 
related info you're willing to share.

Robin Dowden
Director, New Media Initiatives
Walker Art Center
1750 Hennepin Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55403
USA

T: 612.375.7541
F: 612.375.7575
walkerart.org


CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE:  This transmission (inc

[MCN-L] do you Skype?

[David Salovesh]

Ad-hoc Skype is explicitly banned here.  It may return someday as an 
organizational initiative, but we're still trying to figure out what the 
benefit would be for us.  (We have sponsored phone service and have virtually 
no international communication requirements, so our economics may not be 
typical.)

It wasn't always this way - I allowed it for a while.  I originally had to ban 
it because we were short on bandwidth, and some folks couldn't resist using it 
in ways that completely overwhelmed our connection.  That led to a temporary 
suspension of Skype use pending system analysis, improvements, and re-analysis. 
 After we upgraded our connection I discovered the more troubling property of 
Skype traffic that led to the current outright ban:

As I understand it, Skype can exist as a "free" service because each user 
donates spare bandwidth to carrying calls for other users.  For home or 
home-like use that's probably okay since the bandwidth Skype sees as idle is 
probably actually so.  In an enterprise or enterprise-like setting, the 
individual Skype clients don't do as good a job at measuring excess capacity.

My previous service was SDSL at 1.5 mbps, and with 45 people in the office our 
utilization was over 95% at all times.  My second site users were essentially 
unable to work, and even main site users were losing patience.  After the 
upgrade to 10 mbps (metro-Ethernet), my typical utilization went to 20% 
(peaking at 90%, but only occasionally and briefly - as it should be) and my 
remote users were very satisfied.  But after installing Skype, even with no 
active calls and the software sitting "idle", my utilization went back up to 
90%.

I searched for workarounds or ways to manage its bandwidth consumption, but 
it's not really designed for managed operation - or may even be designed to 
work AROUND management.  It definitely is designed to work around firewall 
restrictions, so my technological means to block the traffic were somewhat 
limited.

On the bright side, this sequence of events raised the consequences of 
installing software without approval from "it'll piss off the IT department" to 
"you could get fired for it".  ;-)

Dave Salovesh 
Information Technology Manager
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund


-Original Message-
From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:mcn-l-boun...@mcn.edu] On Behalf Of 
Dowden, Robin
Sent: Thursday, May 28, 2009 10:31 PM
To: Museum Computer Network Listserv
Subject: [MCN-L] do you Skype?

Do you allow Skype in your institution? I've been arguing for its legitimacy as 
a business tool but our IT department is concerned about misuse and security 
issues. I'm interested in hearing how/if others are using it, policies, tales 
of compromised networks as a result of peer-to-peer apps, any relevant or 
related info you're willing to share.

Robin Dowden
Director, New Media Initiatives
Walker Art Center
1750 Hennepin Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55403
USA

T: 612.375.7541
F: 612.375.7575
walkerart.org


CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE:  This transmission (including any accompanying 
attachments) is confidential, is intended only for the individual or entity 
named above, and may contain privileged, work product, proprietary and/or 
confidential information that is exempt from disclosure under applicable law. 
If you are not the intended recipient or otherwise believe you have received 
this message in error, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, 
distribution, use of or reliance upon any of the information contained in this 
transmission is strictly prohibited. Any inadvertent or unauthorized disclosure 
shall not compromise or waive the confidentiality of this transmission or any 
applicable attorney-client privilege.

If you have received this transmission in error, please immediately notify us 
at mail1 at walkerart.org and delete this transmission from your computer.
___
You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum Computer 
Network (http://www.mcn.edu)

To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu

To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit:
http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l

The MCN-L archives can be found at:
http://toronto.mediatrope.com/pipermail/mcn-l/

[MCN-L] Virtualization

[David Salovesh]

Ooooh - test that TS virtualization a lot before you commit to it.  I've labbed 
it and found it wanting, and the folks I know who have put it into production 
have been somewhat less than happy.

TS runs great on minimal hardware, but because it's virtualizing the user 
sessions anyway it benefits a lot from having real resources to manage.


Dave Salovesh 
Information Technology Manager
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
202.737.8521 (phone) | 202.737.3405 (fax) | www.nleomf.org

Help Build the National Law Enforcement Museum
www.LawEnforcementMuseum.org - 866.446.NLEM (446.6536)

-Original Message-
From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:mcn-l-boun...@mcn.edu] On Behalf Of Jeff 
L. La Clair
Sent: Thursday, April 02, 2009 1:36 PM
To: Museum Computer Network Listserv
Subject: Re: [MCN-L] Virtualization

We are looking to virtual two to 3 servers.  
Our (intranet\TS server and backup DC Server) with a possibility of vir. Our 
software distribution\Counterspy\Diskeeper\WSUS server.

Jeff


-Original Message-
From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:mcn-l-boun...@mcn.edu] On Behalf Of 
Sandy Moore
Sent: Thursday, April 02, 2009 1:16 PM
To: Museum Computer Network Listserv
Subject: [MCN-L] Virtualization

A Quick Poll by responding to this e-mail:
 
What Museum's have a virtualized server environment and how many are
looking toward virtualization?  
 
Sandra J. Moore
The Toledo Museum of Art
 
 
___
You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum Computer 
Network (http://www.mcn.edu)

To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu

To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit:
http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l

The MCN-L archives can be found at:
http://toronto.mediatrope.com/pipermail/mcn-l/
___
You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum Computer 
Network (http://www.mcn.edu)

To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu

To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit:
http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l

The MCN-L archives can be found at:
http://toronto.mediatrope.com/pipermail/mcn-l/

[MCN-L] Conference announcement and logictics question - almost OT

[David Salovesh]

First I wanted to make sure everyone is aware of a specialist conference that's 
right around the corner, the "Mutual Concerns of Air and Space Museums".

>From the overview on their web site:

Mutual Concerns is a unique international meeting specifically focused on the 
needs of the air and space museum community. The conference features general 
sessions, panel discussions, and presentations, with topics covering air and 
space history, conservation, exhibit design, fundraising, and marketing. 
Sessions offer everything from practical, in-depth information to timely tricks 
of the trade. The conference is also an opportunity to network with colleagues 
from around the world. Join us this year and help your organization soar.

This year's conference runs April 18-21 in Ottawa, Ontario, and there is still 
time to register.  The conference is open to any museum or collection that 
includes air or space artifacts.  Full details are at:

http://www.nasm.si.edu/getinvolved/mutualconcerns/

The logistics question comes from my wife, who is the coordinator of this 
conference for the SI's NASM:

What customs arrangements need to be made for conference materials that will be 
taken from Washington DC to Ottawa for distribution to attendees, things such 
as programs and Powerpoint CDs?  Please reply off-list if you'd like.

Thanks.

-- Dave


Dave Salovesh
Information Technology Manager
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
202.737.8521 (phone) | 202.737.3405 (fax) | 
www.nleomf.org

Help Build the National Law Enforcement Museum
www.LawEnforcementMuseum.org - 
866.446.NLEM (446.6536)

[MCN-L] Terminology question

[David Salovesh]

(I have no particular cataloging expertise, but I'm not too bad at searches, 
semantics, and taxonomies.  And I play at photography in my spare time...)

The most appropriate word - and you used it in the question - seems to be 
"sequence":

http://www.getty.edu/vow/AATFullDisplay?find=&logic=AND¬e=&subjectid=300192339


In the hierarchy () there are several 
close words that might also apply, such as "set" and "series", but they seem to 
apply better to diverse works with a unifying theme.  However, sequence implies 
order and if that's not reliably known it might be best to use a less ordered 
word.
 
And the AAT uses "reversal film" for negatives.

Dave Salovesh 
Information Technology Manager
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
202.737.8521 (phone) | 202.737.3405 (fax) | www.nleomf.org

Help Build the National Law Enforcement Museum
www.LawEnforcementMuseum.org - 866.446.NLEM (446.6536)

-Original Message-
From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:mcn-l-boun...@mcn.edu] On Behalf Of 
Real, Will
Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2008 2:47 PM
To: Museum Computer Network Listserv
Subject: [MCN-L] Terminology question

On the more esoteric end of things:

We are cataloguing a collection of black and white negatives. In many
cases there are groups of negatives depicting the same subject. In some
of these cases the depictions are very close (for example, multiple
takes of a posed studio portrait, multiple takes of a wedding party) and
in other cases the relationship is more distant (for example, multiple
exposures taken in sequence during the same event). 

We have been using the term "version" to refer to these. We looked in
AAT and found the term "version" under the derivative objects section,
and discovered that it is meant to refer to objects that are based on an
original, which is really not applicable in our situation since no
single negative in these cases can be called the original or primary
negative.

We are wondering if there is another term we should consider using to
describe these relationships and particularly if there are two terms
that would permit us to distinguish between the relationships that are
very close from those that are looser. 

Thanks,

Will Real
Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh
___
You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum Computer 
Network (http://www.mcn.edu)

To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu

To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit:
http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l

[MCN-L] DC Dance studios recommendations please

[David Salovesh]

http://www.danceplace.org/
http://www.joyofmotion.org/
http://danceinstitute.org/

Joy of Motion holds class in several area locations, and offers some drop-ins 
but mostly does enrollment classes.  Dance Place has a single location (Metro 
accessible) and most if not all classes are drop-in.  The Dance Institute of 
Washington has limited adult drop-in classes but good hours.

For all, style and quality varies a lot.  You will probably want to call ahead 
to verify schedules and perhaps even talk to the instructor.

Dave Salovesh 
Information Technology Manager
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
202.737.8521 (phone) | 202.737.3405 (fax) | www.nleomf.org

Help Build the National Law Enforcement Museum
www.LawEnforcementMuseum.org - 866.446.NLEM (446.6536)


-Original Message-
From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:mcn-l-boun...@mcn.edu] On Behalf Of 
Christina DePaolo
Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2008 1:11 PM
To: Museum Computer Network Listserv
Subject: [MCN-L] DC Dance studios recommendations please

Hi,
Can any of you local DC folks recommend a dance studio that offers adult drop 
in classes? It would be great to take a dance class while I am at the 
conference next week. Also, if anyone can make Baltimore dance studio 
recommendations, that would be helpful too.

Thanks. Christina
___
You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum Computer 
Network (http://www.mcn.edu)

To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu

To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit:
http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l

[MCN-L] [MCN L] - Style guide for technical terms

[David Salovesh]

I'm not exactly a technical writer, but I've read a lot of technical writing.  
Some good, even.

"Be conservative in what you do; be liberal in what you accept from others."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postel%27s_law

The conservative format for URLs in documents (ca. 1993) was to start in the 
leftmost column, delimit the URL within angle brackets, prefix using URL or URI 
labels, always include the /scheme/ (e.g., the "http://"; part), include 
trailing slashes where no specific resource is named, and provide a line break 
after, e.g.,
http://www.nleomf.org/>

Many electrons were given in service to arguing the merits of that format.  
Software has gotten somewhat better at discerning URLs mixed into text, but not 
yet to a point where it's to be relied upon, so some of those conventions are 
no longer as important.  Starting on a new line, including the scheme, and 
excluding extraneous text on the same line are still best practices though.

People have gotten better at seeing URLs too, but I'm still surprised when I 
write user instructions that are very specific about every aspect and I include 
an address like http://mail.example.com.  People frequently assume I've omitted 
the "www" part, and are stumped about why http://www.mail.example.com doesn't 
actually work.

In most other regards, I treat technical terms like foreign language terms not 
found in an English dictionary; italicizing them (or otherwise setting them 
apart) upon first use and including a definition or explanation immediately 
after.  I've never had to write my own formal style guide or addendum because 
most of my writing is short and stands on its own, but that's always an option.

(In this message, my preferred format is the one I used first.  The 
conservative format is too fussy for anything outside of CS thesis work, and 
the inline examples are specifically NOT intended to work so the format doesn't 
matter as much.  I also included one way of implying italics where font 
variants may not be available.  Semantic markup, anyone?)

Dave Salovesh
Information Technology Manager
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
202.737.8521 (phone) | 202.737.3405 (fax) | www.nleomf.org

Help Build the National Law Enforcement Museum
www.LawEnforcementMuseum.org - 866.446.NLEM (446.6536)

-Original Message-
From: mcn-l-bounces at mcn.edu [mailto:mcn-l-boun...@mcn.edu] On Behalf Of 
Morgan, Matt
Sent: Thursday, September 25, 2008 12:50 PM
To: Museum Computer Network Listserv
Cc: Jennifer Boynton
Subject: Re: [MCN-L] [MCN L] - Style guide for technical terms

On 9/25/08 12:14 PM, "Folsom, Diana"  wrote:

> The "period following the URL" issue is addressed in 17.10 ("URLs and
> punctuation"), where they recommend including the period because: "Other
> punctuation marks used following a URL will be readily perceived as
> belonging to the surrounding text. It is therefore unnecessary to omit
> appropriate punctuation after the URL..."
>
> In other words, readers will understand that the period (or comma, or
> whatever) is part of the sentence, not part of the URL.

Human readers will, but will their email readers or other apps? I.e., what
about clickability when you're depending on some interpretation by an
unknown, unthinking software application? I don't think there's a lot of
standardization here, so I bet that a period can cause trouble.

I always end up writing my sentences so that I can include URLs on their own
lines without needing a period right there. For example, this URL:

http://www.metmuseum.org/

points to the Met's splash page and artwork of the day. Semi-informal, yes,
but it works for humans and machines. Putting URLs in parentheses seems to
work most of the time, too, but I don't know if it works all of the time.
How often do we end up cutting and pasting URLs into our web browsers, and
even recommend it to users of email we send out? I don't think most people
are very likely to do that very often.

Clearly this is not relevant when you are writing web pages and control the
HREF. In that case use a period (but you're probably not writing out URLs on
web pages anyway, rather you're linking from related text).

Matt

___
You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum Computer 
Network (http://www.mcn.edu)

To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu

To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit:
http://toronto.mediatrope.com/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l