This Notice is addressed to all those who use or are planning to use the Public Workstation Facility (PWF), including PWF machines in Departments and Colleges, to support their teaching, whether for organized courses or for other College or departmental teaching depending on the PWF. It is also addressed to those desiring to use PWF applications generally. It covers applications for all three PWF platforms (PWF Linux, Macintoshes, and Windows).
Requests for new applications or for new versions for the next academical year must reach the PWF Manager at the University Computing Service (UCS) by Friday, 13 March 2009. To submit a request, please fill in the form at http://www.cam.ac.uk/cs/pwf/swrequest.html, and include information on licensing and the date the application is required.
It is regretted that late requests are unlikely to be met. The list of software that the Computing Service expects to be available for the start of the Michaelmas Term will be announced at http://www.cam.ac.uk/cs/pwf/upgrades.html by the division of the Easter Term.
The programme of installation of new software will start immediately after the end of Full Easter Term. Those teaching during the Long Vacation should note that the installation of new versions of PWF software during that period may have implications for them as the version available may change.
The full set of applications for 2009-10 is intended to be available from Tuesday, 1 September 2009, so that those whose teaching depends on these applications can check that they work correctly and update course notes. This also allows for any necessary remedial action to be taken by UCS staff before the start of the Michaelmas Term.
For some applications the licence cost has to be borne by the institution requiring the software. The UCS can advise on costs; please enquire by email to pwf-manager@ucs.cam.ac.uk. Note also that a request for a new version from one institution may have cost implications for other institutions that also use the software. Consequently, those requesting software are asked to consider the financial implications of their requests for their institutions and for other institutions covered by the PWF Managed Cluster Service.