Abertay is one of the leading universities for its use of communications and information technologies in the support of teaching, learning and research and access to electronic and other information resources is central to every course at the University.
The University has invested substantially in information technology. Approximately 1000 networked PCs are now available for student use across the campus, and the ratio of over one PC for every four students is one of the best in any UK university.
We recognise the importance of providing our students with a PC environment that they can expect to meet in the workplace. An ongoing programme of enhancement has therefore been implemented to ensure that both hardware and software are industry-standard, and our students now have the benefit of one of the best common IT platforms of any university in Britain.
University staff are continually developing innovative ways of using the technological infrastructure in support of teaching and learning, on campus and beyond. Fibre-optic cables have linked all the major campus buildings for over eight years and connect them to a high-speed network backbone. Wireless networking is being progressively deployed across the campus.
Approximately 120 servers are managed by Information Services, all based on high speed Intel processors, and running either Microsoft Windows Server software or open-source Linux software. These servers operate as application, web and data servers to provide students with access to programmes, files, coursework and electronic mail discussion groups which relate to their course of study. These facilities allow our users to share information and documents more effectively, while links to the Fife and Tayside Metropolitan Area Network (FaTMAN), and ultimately to the UK's SuperJANET education network, provide extremely high quality data transmissions to and from other institutions, and globally across the internet. A video conferencing studio was opened in 1997, offering students the possibility of participating in shared live lectures and seminars with students of other universities.
Of course, all of these facilities would be worthless if our students were not trained in their use and supported thereafter. Use of computer facilities is an integral part of all courses, and additional help is always available as and when needed through a number of channels to our Information Services and the IT Helpdesk.
If you would like further details about the University's computing and information technology infrastructure, please contact:
IT Helpdesk
Information Services
University of Abertay Dundee
Bell Street
Dundee, DD1 1HG
E-mail: itdesk@abertay.ac.uk
The JANET Roaming Service (JRS, also known as eduroam) is a free wireless Internet service that allows users from any participating institution (mostly in UK higher education) to log on at any other participating institution using their home credentials such as username and password.
Eduroam separates the network connection from authentication. You gain access through the wireless network where you are, but must be authorised by your home institution. The local network equipment passes your username and password through to your home institution which can choose to accept or reject them.
Visitors to Abertay from other institutions
The eduroam service forwards any authentication request to your home institution (such as another UK university) so you should be able to get onto the Internet from Abertay if that home institution is a member of the JRS scheme.
The only requirement when connecting to eduroam locally is a wireless network client which supports the authentication protocol required by your home institution (such as EAP/TTLS or EAP/PEAP). Most recent Windows and Macintosh and Linux systems should work, as will some other devices. The domain name of your home institution must also be specified when authenticating.
Before you try to log on to the Internet at Abertay you should find out if your home institution supports authentication from external institutions participating in the JRS eduroam service.
Abertay students and staff visiting other institutions
You will need to connect to their wireless network but then use your Abertay username, password and domain name (UAD) to get access to the Internet.
It might be helpful to set up your laptop or other mobile device to use the eduroam service here first, so that you are sure you can connect and know which username and password to use. If you can connect to one JRS organisation you should be able to connect to all of them.
JRS guest network services will offer the following access to services:
