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College of Business Administration

Portfolio

Virtual Computing

How We're Using Flexible Computing

We are using Citrix XenDesktop Provisioning Services to deliver a streamed operating system image to our lab and classroom PCs. This technology, which is also known as Dell On Demand Desktop Streaming (ODDS), was originally developed by Ardence. One image is shared across an entire lab of computers in a read-only mode, eliminating the need for anti-virus or Deep Freeze. The image is streamed as needed, which helps keep network traffic low.

We are also using Citrix XenApp to stream applications to our virtualized lab and classroom desktops. This allows us to have a shortcut to specialized software available on every computer, while using software metering tools to keep in compliance with licensing. New software can be deployed in a matter of minutes, and it automatically publishes to every computer without the need to install it one-by-one.

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For more information on why virtual computing may be valuable to you, visit our enterprise solutions offering.

Hosting & Development

Conference Registration
Conference Registration

The CBA IT Services team hosts a variety of conference registration applications. The Nebraska Summer Writers Workshop, UNL Great Plains conference, UNL College of Architecture Job and Internship Fair, and several other similar activities are all hosted by our group.

We provide a detailed level of conference options for our clients and also handle some of the customer service needs that go along with online registration.

Surplus Sales Enterprise Solution for UNL
Surplus Sales Enterprise Solution for UNL

One of CBA IT Services more successful online applications is our online auction style listings that we developed to help sell UNL surplus items online. The site is used to provide on-campus transfer of surplus merchandise. If the goods do not sell they are then placed on Ebay.

In addition to setting up an administrative side that allows users to easily transfer local auctions to Ebay style listings, we are also working with outside Universities who would like to have the site customized for their institution.

EconChallenge and Finance Challenge
EconChallenge and Finance Challenge

The CBA IT Services group has developed a variety of online testing tools in the Economics arena to provide a setting for students across America to compete with their peers. The online system facilitates student learning at a distance and has been used by over 20 states nationwide.

Administration of the system by teachers throughout the country lets them customize their tests and gives students a more individual experience as they compete.

Careers and Internships Database for UNL Students
Careers and Internships Database for UNL Students

UNL students can now login to a system developed by CBA IT Services and look for employment targeted exclusively to them. Administration of the site by UNL staff is easily updated by either manual entries or by entering detailed spreadsheets into the system.

The student login system is authenticated with the student's blackboard accounts and helps ensure that only UNL students have access to the jobs. Our group has a variety of applications that have been built with similar authentication.

UNL College of Business Administration Research Library Application
UNL College of Business Administration Research Library Application

When the UNL College of Business prioritized their faculty research as needing to have more public exposure, the CBA IT Services group created the first online Research Library of its kind on campus. The current Research Library allows faculty or administrative staff to easily update new research into the system.

The system also allows outside users to easily search or browse through the materials to locate the latest offerings from the College. In addition to traditional research papers, the Research Libary also highlights conference papers and books authored by CBA faculty.

UNL College of Business Administration Website
UNL College of Business Administration Website

The UNL College of Business Administration web site is the most comprehensive college web site at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The site contains information specific to the college and is also home to the college's five core departments. Additionally, the web site features student pages, special programs, centers and additional resources.

Although designed within the university-wide web template, the CBA site expands upon the template by integrating content management tools that allow faculty and staff the flexibility to update their own web profiles and research. The site dynamically pulls and facilitates quick updates of social media, news feeds, upcoming events, and other key content pieces to enhance the experience for both content providers and visitors to the site.

Server Virtualization

Hyper-V

The CBA IT Services team currently utilizes Microsoft's Hyper-V R2 for server virtualization.

Some of the key features of support with Hyper-V include high availability, live migration, a clustered file system, VM management through a web browser, physical to virtual migration, as well as supporting both Windows and Linux virtual machines.

Our system runs a 2 node Hyper-V R2 cluster connected to a Equalogic SAN. The nodes are managed with the Virtual Machine Manager.

The image provided on this page presents a model of the basic elements in a Hyper-V environment.

For a more detailed analysis of Microsoft Hyper-V vs. VMware vSphere check out the following white paper which also contains general information regarding virtualized server environments.