Updates for Smith Computing Devices and Software
Updates for Smith Computing Devices and Software
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When new computer models are released by Dell or Apple, or new software is released by our approved vendors, Information Technology Services (ITS) makes the new hardware or software available to Smith faculty and staff only after it has been thoroughly tested for compatibility with the Smith computing environment. See below for specific contexts.
New Apple and Dell Computing Devices (Desktops, Laptops, Tablets)
ITS needs two to three months to test each major new hardware configuration and the corresponding management setup (called imaging). New hardware will be added to the list of available options for new or replacement computers after this testing is completed.
Major New Apple or Microsoft Operating System (OS) Releases
ITS needs two to three months to test major operating system upgrades or releases in the Smith environment. Once this testing is completed successfully, one or more of the following things may happen:
New operating system versions may be added to the next planned software update for Smith-managed computers. (In some cases this may be automated, and in other cases, this will be a more hands on process, depending on the specifics of the upgrade.)
Newly purchased computing devices may include the new operating system versions.
ITS may choose to defer adoption of, or even skip, a new operating system version for faculty and staff computers, depending on the time of year the new version is released and the feature set of the new version.
Other Software Updates
Smith licenses a range of software and applications for use by the Smith community. Some of these tools have frequent updates (e.g. Zoom, which is part of the managed software patching program), others have defined times of year for updates (e.g. usually May for Moodle and September/March for Workday). As a general rule, ITS does not update academic software (e.g. software licensed specifically for course use) during regular academic terms, unless the update must be implemented quickly to address a critical security issue.
Managed Software Patching
Automated software patching of Smith-managed computers occurs overnight from Wednesday into Thursday. Users of Smith computers are asked to leave their devices on and plugged in every Wednesday night (Northampton time), to allow these updates to run successfully. For more information, see Computer Management and Software Updates.
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