During this summer CIS was able to successfully accomplish the following projects:

1. Establishing a new data center in a more secure location within the campus having more reliability, resilience and scalability features. A new set of server s from Sun were deployed for server consolidation in a new VMWare virtualization architecture. This gives better business continuity and flexibility.

1. Computing teaching labs in building 8 were refurnished and provided with better AV equipments for better user experience.

1. A new high quality digital color printing machine was added to the printing press to take booklets, broachers and small size text books printing jobs. The printing press location will be moved as soon as the new classroom building 2 is completed.

1. The IP Telephony system was upgraded with a new version of CISCO call manager and have more servers for redundancy and added features. Currently we reached close to 500 extensions. Another IP Telephony system was deployed at Al-Kuwair office with a VPN connectivity channel between the two systems to allow easier communication between the main campus and Al-Kuwair office.

1. Upgraded the wireless coverage to include all meeting rooms, office building, classrooms, hostels, and most of the open area inside the campus.

1. Installed a new Unified Broadcasting System to broadcast messages and announcements through plasma screens as well as to all computers connected to the university network.

1. Completed the project of installing an ITIL compliant helpdesk and calls logging system.

1. Introducing SMS services to push information to university community via mobile phone network. Soon this will be upgraded to allow on demand pulling information such as grades information from the students’ information system.

1. Reorganizing the center structure and changing the Helpdesk and Networking sections and recruiting new members to provide the university community with better services.

There are few ongoing projects that we expect to close by November this year:

1. eCampus project which uses a unified campus identity card for services covering printing, photocopying, access control, attendance and at restaurants.

1. Windows 7 rollout to all computers at campus.

1. SunRay project which is replacing 8 computer labs with thin client computers from Oracle/Sun systems. Following benefits are expected from this project.

• Increased Internet Bandwidth