Natal University deploys Novell technology to benefit students

The University of Natal has a unique approach to using Novell`s networking technology. All students are able to log into the university`s network, desktop applications, e-mail and access the Internet from the first day they arrive.

Previously it would take about an hour per student to create their user accounts. Considering that about 15 000 students start at the beginning of the university`s calendar year and a further 6 000 during the course of the year, that translates to an enormous saving of 21 000 man-hours. "Making use of this latest technology plays an important role in attracting new students as they become productive from the day they start," says Farouk Docrat, who heads the university`s technical services division. "Each student is given a card which is swiped through a device in the computer laboratory, identifies the student`s unique identity and automatically and instantly creates a user account."

The next step is to link the system into a financial application thereby debiting student accounts when they print documents. This is currently effected through a program called e-Works.

Implemented jointly with the university`s technology partner, Corporate Network Systems (CNS), a Novell Business Expert, the technologies used are a combination of Novell`s BorderManager (Internet access), GroupWise (messaging) and Directory Services (user profiles).

Chris Cleator, MD at CNS, says each student is given 5MBs of Internet surfing space per month, which forms part of their university fees. Once the space is used up, the system notifies BorderManager and e-Works notifies the student as well as the local area network (LAN) supervisor.

Docrat says a routine has been developed with BorderManager identifying the highest rate of Internet and e-mail usage by 100 students. It tells them what sites they have visited and screens their e-mails. This has resulted in a 25% drop in Internet surfing and the nature of e-mails sent.

"Not that we are lacking in bandwidth," he says. "We are the only university in SA with a 4MB line that has been arranged through Tenet (Tertiary Education Network), a joint venture with Telkom. We have been fortunate that Telkom has installed 700 metres of fibre optic cabling from the central PABX to the computer room resulting in truly amazing response times."

Docrat adds that through BorderManager about 70 percent of Internet downloads are cached and saved on the server thus alleviating bandwidth issues. If this technology was not implemented, the university would have to double its capacity to maintain the same rate of throughput. However, this would not be financially feasible. "We`re very fortunate to have the technologies provided by Novell at very cost effective rates and to have CNS provide the technical support we require. This enables us to offer superior technology to our students making us a very popular tertiary institution," says Docrat.

"It`s refreshing to find a tertiary institution that makes optimum benefit of the technologies we offer. Not only does it give students productive tools but it also streamlines the university`s administrative responsibilities," says Siddique Satar, systems engineer at Novell in KwaZulu-Natal.