· Caution is the best approach
As with any major software upgrade, caution is the best approach. Not everyone needs to move to Mac OS 8 right away, and you should certainly wait before upgrading mission-critical machines. If you are a university staff member working in a departmental environment, you should not upgrade to Mac OS 8 without first consulting your local system or network administrator.
· Upgrading -- who can and can't
Mac OS 8 requires a 68040 or PowerPC-based computer. If you own an earlier Macintosh model with a 68000, 68020 or 68030 processor, you will not be able to upgrade to the new system software.
According to Apple, Mac OS 8 requires a computer with at least 8 MB of RAM (random-access memory) installed and virtual memory set to increase the amount of available memory to 16 MB. CIT recommends that your system have at least 16 MB of built-in RAM, with 32 MB preferable.
To install the new system software, you will need to have about 100 MB of free space on your hard drive.
· Obtaining the software
Mac OS is freely available to current student, faculty and staff at Cornell under a volume license agreement with Claris Corporation. The Mac OS 8 installation package can be downloaded from the CIT Public AppleShare server (_CU.MAIL&INFO zone, CIT Public Volume 1, Guest login), which can also be accessed via anonymous FTP to <public.cit. cornell.edu>. You can purchase copies of the system software, on CD or diskettes, from the Technology Connection at the Cornell Campus Store.
· More information
Before attempting to install Mac OS 8, please review the information on the CIT Public AppleShare server, starting with the file called "Read Me First."
If you encounter problems installing or working with Mac OS 8, contact the ATS HelpDesk, <helpdesk@ cornell.edu>, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., 119 CCC, 255-8990.
Shared and group EZ-Remote available
Shared and Group subscription for EZ Remote, CIT's service that allows remote access to the campus network are available.
If you would like to subscribe for high-speed EZ-Remote service with a work group or with roommates, you have the following options:
· Group subscription:
Primarily for departmental use, the group subscription allows a group of people to share access to the Cornell Campus Network. The group decides how many simultaneous modem connections ("connection privileges") it wants to fund, based on how many members will want to use EZ-Remote at the same time.
One member of the group, designated as the primary member, pays all fees. Everyone who intends to use EZ-Remote must be registered as a group-subscription member. There is a one-time, $60 registration fee. The monthly fee is $25 per connection privilege. For example, a 50-person group with three connection privileges would pay $75 per month. With individual subscriptions, those people would pay $425 a month. The group subscription saves $350 a month.
· Shared subscription:
The shared subscription is for small groups of students sharing an apartment, or for households. The group shares one EZ-Remote connection privilege. One member of the group, designated as the primary member, pays all fees. Everyone who intends to use EZ-Remote must be registered as a shared-subscription member. The fee is the same as that for an individual subscription.
Additional information about these EZ-Remote subscription options can be found at http://www.cit.cornell.edu/cit-pubs/ezr/pb-12.html.
This column is compiled and edited by Daisy Dailey of CIT. For more campus technology news, see the CIT News Web site at http://www.cit.cornell.edu/cit-pubs/news