Note:  5 People Attended

Release Ball Project Update:  Patrick McNeal

• Looking at the pain points in the software release process and the entire service release process
• Team has representatives from all directorates
• CSS is Oliver and Chris
• Team drafted proposal for different process steps and presented to directors this week
• Patrick did not have the directors feedback yet

Some findings so far:

• Previous model was heavy and did not fit all versions (sizes)
• Would like a model with different sizes: small (update links), medium, large (operating system)
• Will pilot the process if directors approve

Problems identified: Ownership, Funding, Support

• Funding
• Ownership - owners are not identified such as Microsoft office, current state of Linux
• Some current owners do not want to remain as owners
• Documentation and relying on vendors
• Need to re-visit support model - what does support mean
• Need to look at portfolio of software
• Nice to have metrics to make decisions
• Should we customize less and is it better to go with vendor installs

Virtual Project:  Jonathan Hunt

Please see project wiki: https://wikis.mit.edu/confluence/display/fsx/The+Virtual+Project

This project will bring together 3 separate related projects across IS&T involving the deployment of virtual machines (VMs) to the community into one shared framework and base that can be leveraged for each need and supported and maintained effectively by IS&T.

• Looking at VM as a service effort in CSS
• Collaborative effort that involves ISDA & OIS
• Admin VM will include Outlook 2007
• Working on color coded backgrounds based on Admin or Student VM images with versions - will help with support
• Goal is to create an industry standard technique
• Jonathan did a demo for the group
• Will start limited trials this summer
• Fall available to students and maybe earlier for Admin Staff
• Will have a Welcome Page, baseline requirements, instructions, warnings

General Meeting Feedback:

• Liked the project presentations, would like to continue with that type of sharing
• The group felt that we need the managers in the room for input and discussion
• If the managers have a conflict, we should reschedule