ITSC Digest

Issue 15, December 20, 2001. CUHK Digital Certificates Whenever you have to enter your password on an ITSC webpage (for example, the Electronic HelpDesk System at http://helpdesk.itsc.cuhk.edu.hk), your web browser (Netscape or Internet Explorer) should prompt you with a dialog box to accept a site certificate which claims to be issued by "The Chinese University of Hong Kong". It is because the browser does not automatically recognize this certificate. We suggest you to carefully examine whether the certificate is issued and signed by "The Chinese University of Hong Kong" before accepting it and proceeding to the other steps. Certificates like these are usually deployed by sites that use encryption to protect data in transit. Even though you may feel annoyed because a dialog box is always displayed during repeated visits to the same site, yet you should remember that digital certificates are very important to make sure that you get connected to an authentic site, such as the ITSC site, and not a site someone has put up that just looks like a real one. This implementation is also very popular in the e-business world especially in the e-banking and e-bid services. When you visit e-business sites, you will also be asked in a prompt whether you accept their site certificates. If in doubt, please contact your service provider for details. ITSC has been issuing site (or server) certificates, on behalf of the University, to CUHK departments since 1999. We also issue digital certificates for personal use to authenticate email messages. More information can be found at http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/ca. Certificate Course in IT Essentials for University Staff Members ITSC will offer a new 'Certificate Course in Information Technology Essentials' in January 2002. Composed of six modules, viz. (a) enterprise computing, (b) document management, (c) the Internet and its applications, (d) Web-based teaching, (e) smart cards and their applications, and (f) information security. the Course will be delivered by experienced Computer Officers of ITSC in both face-to-face seminars and Web-based tutorials. The Course is free of charge and is open to all administrative and support staff. Course participants will be awarded a certificate after passing an optional assessment examination (for a non-refundable examination fee of $500) at the completion of the Course. With a validity period of two years, the certificate will be recognised by the University as equivalent to passing the IT test for the Executive Officers and Executive Assistants promotion assessment. For detailed information and enrolment, please refer to our webpage http://accounts.itsc.cuhk.edu.hk/training/certinfo/. 2002 System and Network Services Maintenance Schedule Most of the centrally managed computer systems need to be shut down regularly for maintenance work, which includes user file back ups, system testing, software/hardware upgrades, and hardware preventive maintenance. Therefore, we suggest you avoid scheduling important computing activities during the maintenance periods. The 2002 maintenance schedule is now available at http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/itsc/announce. It can also be downloaded from directory "cuhk/itsc/maint/" of the CUHK anonymous FTP server, ftp.cuhk.edu.hk. In addition, a paper copy has been sent to departments and various college laboratories for posting. Reference Manuals for Collection Over two hundred computer reference manuals are now available for your collection for free. Most of them, published between 1995 and 1997, are of previous software versions. Now, you can collect them on a first-come-first-served basis at Venue: Corridor corner near Room 101-103 Pi Chiu Building Collection period: from now until the end of January. Uncollected manuals will be recycled. Regarding latest reference manuals, they can be accessed at the manual reading rooms of our computer laboratories at Room 132A of Pi Chiu Building and Room 103 of Wong Foo Yuan Building. For any enquiries, please contact the ITSC Electronic HelpDesk at http://helpdesk.itsc.cuhk.edu.hk or e-mail to useredu-help@cuhk.edu.hk. Computer Services During Christmas Holiday (Dec 24 2001 - Dec 26 2001) Consultation Room, Room 131A of Pi Chiu Bldg. Opening Hours: Closed Consultation Hotline Service, 2609 8845 Operating Hours: Closed Information Counter, G/F of Pi Chiu Bldg. Opening Hours: Closed User Area, 1/F of Pi Chiu Bldg. Opening Hours: Open 24 hours daily User Area, Room 103 of Wong Foo Yuan Bldg. Opening Hours: Closed Computer Services During New Year Holidays (Dec 31 2000 - Jan 1 2001) Consultation Room, Room 131A of Pi Chiu Bldg. Opening Hours: Closed Consultation Hotline Service, 2609 8845 Operating Hours: Closed Information Counter, G/F of Pi Chiu Bldg. Opening Hours: Closed User Area, 1/F of Pi Chiu Bldg. Opening Hours: Open 24 hours daily User Area, Room 103 of Wong Foo Yuan Bldg. Opening Hours: Closed During this period, other computer systems and network services will continue operating as normal.

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