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| Mission |
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As a unit, Computer Services provides a broad Information Technology service to the Polytechnic community. Some of the duties include:
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The operation of a central computer system providing information processing for the
following departments: Students records, academic administration, finance,
personnel, space management, asset control, library and the transport sections.
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Personal computers, peripherals, Network operation and software support/acquisition.
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Technical validation of purchases for information technology related equipment.
Implementation of the latest information technology products. |
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| Information technology situation at the Polytechnic |
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The Polytechnic has always acquired the most reliable technology on the market. The central administrative system, called the ITS system, allows students and staff to register, to consult marks, financial statements,
examination timetables among others, via any computer connected to the Internet. |
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| Namibia’s first Gigabit Ethernet network was implemented in 1998 at the Polytechnic. In 2010, more than 3 000 devices were connected to the network. Africa’s only full Tucows mirror at this time (including all the available modules) started its operations in the year 2000. It can be reached via the following URL: http://www.tucows.com. |
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| The Bureau of Computer Services is also hosting one the largest public download servers in Africa, which can be reached at http://download.polytechnic.edu.na. This server contains very useful and popular Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) packages. In November 2010, the server contained more than 8 Tb of programs, operating systems, application frameworks. Not less than four proxy servers ensure reliable access to the internet. |
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| Other sites of interest hosted at the Polytechnic: |
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A mirror of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's OpenCourseWare program, located at http://ocw.polytechnic.edu.na/OcwWeb/index.htm |
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A mirror of the Gutenberg project, with free books offered for e-consulation, located at
http://gutenberg.polytechnic.edu.na |
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A free GIS software, GRASS, located at: http://grass.polytechnic.edu.na |
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A complete repository of Ubuntu Linux, including updates, programs and installation CD's, located at http://download.polytechnic.edu.na |
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Lots of other operating systems, application frameworks and other programs, such as Sourceforge, Fedora, RedHat, Suse, OpenSUSE, FreeBSD, Gentoo, Mozilla, OpenOffice, Apache, and many more availble at http://download.polytechnic.edu.na |
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| Many computer laboratories are reserved for IT classes. Each lab boosts, in average, about 25 PCs and all of them are linked to the campus Gigabit Ethernet network. The library is also well equipped and contains free access labs, an open source lab and an internet café where we do not serve café, since no food / beverages are allowed in labs. |
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| Wireless services are available everywhere on campus since 2008. Access is free of charge for all registered students and staff members. |
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| IT Services for students |
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| A centralised printing solution for all students is in place. |
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| Internet/E-mail is present through two internet links, one of 3Mbits / sec and one of 1 Mbits / second, thus
giving redundancy. Internet access is open to students from the computer labs. Apple and Open Source based
computers are available in the Library for student use. |
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| Two very helpful IT services available to registered students: |
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Free web-based e-mail and
student web. The web-based e-mail service is not only very similar to other web-based services, it also scans all
mails against viruses, and it also filters most spam. The student web allows each student to access their student
records, financial statement, examination timetable and other very useful information.
For instructions on how
to access these two services, log on to the site: http://students.polytechnic.edu.na from any computer
connected to the Internet. Please take note that forgotten passwords shall be replaced subject to the payment
of a fee. |
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| Wireless services are used in the student hostel since 2007 |
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| Student cards are provided by the card system’s office on the lower ground of the Office Building. Please take note that previously registered students have to return their student cards during first semester registration
before being issued with a new one. Failure to return the previously issued student card shall lead to the
payment of the prescribed replacement fee. |
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