Poseidon Charter Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Transcription

1 2009 Poseidon Charter Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne Rights and duties of institutions taking part in the Poseidon project Michel MENGIS EPFL 17/09/2009

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3 Introduction Poseidon is a set of services for students and employees (PSDN clients). Through its will to promote the use of nomadic IT tools for students, EPFL has decided to develop the Poseidon project. This project has become an official service of EPFL s IT department. It is now available for other institutions. Poseidon s services are diverse and complex implement : - Offer a support service of excellent quality for PSDN clients. - Offer a set of free softwares, preferably open-source. - Offer the possibility to deploy «professional» softwares. - Offer the best prices for selected professional laptops. - Offer purchase financing solutions. - Offer advice. Through its availability to other institutions, Poseidon offers a number of services, but asks in exchange for a certain amount of services. This document aims at clarifying relations between the diverse parties of Poseidon. It establishes a list of rights and duties for each participant. This document is evolutive. Definitions Definition of the commitment of Poseidon s partner institutions This document defines the three categories of Poseidon partnership. Each institution chooses the category that suits it best in terms of the commitment it wishes to honour, and the advantages it wishes to receive. At any time, an institution may choose to change its category. In this case, it is required to inform EPFL s Poseidon manager. At any time, EPFL may cancel, in accordance to this charter, the partnership with one, or all partner institutions. In return, Poseidon commits itself to respect, to the best of its ability, the services described in this charter charte_poseidon_finale - EN.doc 3 of 17

4 The following list of commitment criteria defines Poseidon s three categories. This ranking assigns a certain amount of «penguins», which symbolize the category level. Definition of Poseidon «penguin» categories Criteria for category Carrying out an official demand from a manager of the institution. The demand must be addressed to EPFL s Poseidon manager. Having a local Poseidon representative. Updating the Poseidon manager s contact information. The local representative will have to answer any inquiry from its institution s PSDN clients. Handing out the domain names to EPFL s Poseidon manager. Making sure these domain names correspond to Poseidon criteria. Updating these informations Updating the last page of the Poseidon booklet according to the institution s informations. Promoting Poseidon offers to its students through students-dedicated websites, s annoucing new offers, sending the Poseidon booklet to every new student, and making it available through the institution. Promoting, as much as possible, the use of free software, even open-source. Promoting, as much as possible, the use of GNU/Linux. Critères régissant la catégorie Respecting the above category s criteria. Participating, as much as possible, in the packaging of applications. Promoting the use of the Poseidon Installer. Making available a local server of software distributions (optional). Promoting the use of open-source software. Inciting professors to use these softwares, as much as possible. Promoting the use of GNU/Linux. Participating in the documentation of this project. Creating and maintaining a page (or more) dedicated to the institution on the website Critères régissant la catégorie charte_poseidon_finale - EN.doc 4 of 17

5 Respecting the above category s criteria. Making available, if possible, an authentication system based on SHIBBOLETH/Tequila. Organising a local support based on «helpdesk» section s description. Having an Apple-certified person («Certified Support Professional 10.5», the simplest certification. Cf Appendix I) Definition of the Poseidon commission The Poseidon commission in made up of a representative from each institution (EPFL, HES-SO, UNiL, UNiGE, UNiNe, UNiFr) of category. Definition of the suppliers selection process The suppliers selection process is initiated by EPFL s Poseidon manager according to hardware evolutions. The suppliers selection process is based on the the Poseidon commission. Each member of the Poseidon commission may suggest one or more suppliers, as well as one or more models. The drafting of specifications sent to the supplier is done by the Poseidon commission. These specifications have to be approved by the majority of the Poseidon commission s members and by EPFL s Poseidon manager. It is necessary that the supplier commits itself to the following points : - Impossible to find the same model cheaper with the same services than those offered during the commitment. - Having a 3-year hardware warranty. This warranty has to be international. - Reasonnable shipping delays. - Making an online store available. - No increase in price of more than 2% from the original price during the model s life. - No increase in price of more than 5% if the model is changed. - Making spare hardware available for helpdesks of institutions of category. These criteria are defined in the «helpdesk» section. - Handing out a detailled sales reporting to EPFL s Poseidon manager. - Participating in Poseidon Day by being present and by offering a number of laptops according to the lottery. (cf. «Poseidon Day» section) - Offering laptops with and without operating systems. Every insitution which is a member of the Poseidon commission may participate in the testing of hardware made available by those who answered the tender charte_poseidon_finale - EN.doc 5 of 17

6 Negociations happen only between the supplier and EPFL s Poseidon manager. EPFL s Poseidon manager may ask for the presence of one or more member of the Poseidon commission. Minutes from these negociations will be sent to all member of the Poseidon commission. The final selection of suppliers will be done by a majority vote of Poseidon commission members and validated by EPFL s Poseidon manager. Definition of the decision-making responsibility Poseidon is an EPFL project, who is the leader. EPFL s Poseidon manager is the head of Poseidon, and is under the control of the DIT-SB group s manager, of the DIT director, and of the EPFL s Direction Informatique et Stratégie. EPFL s Poseidon manager gives the decision-making responsiblility to the Poseidon commission for the drafting of specifications for supplier, the testing of machines, and the suppliers selection. Definition of this document s evolution This charter may be modified at any moment through a partner institution s proposal, based on the definition of the decision-making responsibility. This modification will be validated by a majority vote of the Poseidon commission. EPFL s Poseidon manager will then ratify the vote. Definition of the suppliers relations responsibility EPFL s Poseidon manager is the only one responsible for relations with Poseidon suppliers. No other partner institution may emit requests in Poseidon s name to suppliers without the EPFL s Poseidon manager s written permission. However, if there is an escalation of problems with the supplier s services, each Poseidon representative may contact the supplier s diverse respondants. The representatives are then requested to inform EPFL s Poseidon manager. Poseidon Helpdesk Objectives and applications Poseidon, through its services, aims to promote the availability of local helpdesks for EPFL clients. These Helpdesks goals are to offer support for hardware and software issues. The Poseidon Helpdesk s quality manual describes a certain amount of process necessary to realise such a support charte_poseidon_finale - EN.doc 6 of 17

7 Operating systems In order to reduce costs, Poseidon aims to promote purchases without operating systems, allowing the PSDN client to install whichever system they desire. Therefore, with Windows operating systems, Poseidon promotes the use of MSDN-AA. EPFL, through its Helpdesk, prepares a modified version of Windows operating systems. This version contains all the drivers for Poseidon laptops. This image is made available by EPFL to institutions of category having subscribed to MSDN-AA. Each institution may choose the GNU/Linux it intends to support, if it wants to support a distribution. Spare hardware Only institutions of category may benefit from this service. Through its service for students, Poseidon negotiates a special purchase price for its helpdesks s laptops. Therefore, in order for these laptops to be used as spare, or for development, Poseidon requests that suppliers make those laptops available at 50% of the official Poseidon price. The amount of laptops per institutions depends on the amount of acquisitions made by the institutions students. (Exact conditions in Appendix II) In order to create a working capital, certain elements (hard drive, DVD reader, charger ) may be acquired at preferential prices through Poseidon suppliers. Any use of this service must be made by an explicit request to a Poseidon manager for each objet. Training Only institutions of category may benefit from this service. EPFL negotiates (very) attractive rates for training and recognised certifications by selected suppliers for Poseidon helpdesks employees. The rate of these trainings is charged prorate to the institutions participants. EPFL may make available its premises and necessary hardware (if it does not stop Poseidon helpdesks services for over 24h) in order to complete these trainings. The premises and hardware are graciously made available. For the sake of transparency, EPFL will present the supplier s bill during the training s charging to the institution. Signage In order to provide a uniform image of Poseidon helpdesks, EPFL graciously makes available, while stocks last, signage panels to institutions of category charte_poseidon_finale - EN.doc 7 of 17

8 Support students of other schools participating in Poseidon When a partner institution chooses category, it is required to accept any students from an institution of the same category possessing a Poseidon laptop. When an institution of category EPFL helpdesk s quality manual. wants to open a helpdesk, they can base their work on However, the best-effort approach is the minimum required from PSDN clients charte_poseidon_finale - EN.doc 8 of 17

9 Poseidon Day(s) Only institutions of category may benefit from this service. In order to develop information and promotion, Poseidon organises every year one or more Poseidon Day. This designation may not be used without EPFL Poseidon manager s permission. These events aim to present the service, the offers, to promote the concept and to encourage the use of free software solutions. Through them, students from partner institutions may directly discuss with representatives of Poseidon and of Poseidon suppliers. These events always end with EFPL s Poseidon Day. Poseidon organises a free draw at the end of these days. It takes place at EPFL and may, if possible, be retransmitted in other institutions participating in Poseidon Day. Participation to the draw is only for students from an institution participating in Poseidon Day who sign up at the Poseidon stand during the day. The suppliers are required to make available a certain amount of laptops from the Poseidon offer. EPFL commits itself to support institutions organising these events as much as possible by making a certain amount of laptops available. Moreover, if possible, EPFL may make members of the EPFL Poseidon team available in order to help local partners. Poseidon events This term describes any event that an institution from category decides to organise, outside of Poseidon Days. The institution may then ask for the presence of Poseidon suppliers. EPFL provides help through presentation hardware, as much as possible. No solicitation for prizes may be asked to Poseidon suppliers. Marketing Participating in Poseidon implies that institutions must promote Poseidon offers. Through the use of , advertising, presentation day, the mention of Poseidon, as well as the use of the Poseidon logo ( ) are conditioned to the following conditions: - Only the selected Poseidon suppliers may be mentioned charte_poseidon_finale - EN.doc 9 of 17

10 - Only selected Poseidon suppliers and laptops from the Poseidon offer may be showed. - EPFL Poseidon manager must be informed first. - The solicitation of a Poseidon supplier by a partner institution necessarily implies the respect of category rules of this charter. Promotion of Poseidon offers and services may be done according to the following: From category : - Website. Information for students on the website is required. The use of the Poseidon logo is necessary. EPFL makes it available by a simple request from a participating institution. A link to the Poseidon main page is required, visible on the institution s information page ( only!) - Poseidon booklet. EPFL makes a booklet available, which explains the Poseidon concept. This booklet must be adapted to each partner institution, preserving the original design. It should be placed in areas most visited by students During promotions, start of academic year, an information should be sent to all students. - Acceptation of Poseidon suppliers promotional campaigns. Suppliers may, if they wish to do so, organise, at their expense and without repercussions on sales prices, marketing campaigns in partner institutions. Premises, as well as minimum logistics help (electricity) must be made available. - Posters. Poseidon makes available.ai or.pdf files announcing promotional offers and diverse information. Every partner institution is required to print them out and to place them in visible areas. If they have no means to print those documents, Poseidon-EPFL will print them at the Reprographie and will send them the bill, with no added costs. From category : - Participating in Poseidon Days is required, with the help of the EPFL Poseidon team, if possible. (cf. Poseidon Day) - Limit, as much as possible, offers which are not from Poseidon. Poseidon development - Distribution Poseidon aims at offering the most free services to students. Therefore, Poseidon tries to offer free, or even better open-source, alternatives to every classic software that students may need during their scholarship. To achieve this, development work and applications distribution is absolutely necessary. Only institutions of category may benefit from this service. To achieve this collaboration between institutions of category without limits:, Poseidon-EPFL makes available charte_poseidon_finale - EN.doc 10 of 17

11 - its compilation servers - its packaging servers - the use of packaging software licenses retained by Poseidon. (limited supplies) The purchase of these software licenses is taken care of by EPFL, and made available for free while stocks last. If possible, Poseidon-EPFL provides support and a level 3 helpdesk to institutions from category for development and application packaging relevant to Poseidon. The standardisation of this service on different platforms is the primary goal of these steps. However, the improvements of those solutions, the participation in new versions of operating systems are core elements to the adhesion to the Poseidon development group. In order to concentrate the efforts in one location, EPFL only supports solutions it uses to help students. Software support In order to promote free, or open-source, solutions, Poseidon has made available the Poseidon Installer software (version 3.1 actually). This software offers easy installation for a certain amount of software. Its use allows a complete rollback of the installation. The coherence of application made available by EPFL is certified by tests made by EPFL s packager and by those done by EPFL Poseidon helpdesk. There are different levels of use for this software. Firstly, it is necessary to realise that Poseidon Installer (PI) is a network-oriented tool. It is based on the use of http protocol made available by web servers (apache, IIS ). The following lines describe the operation of PI: 1. Each time PI is run, it connects to an EPFL central server to download the list of institutions having a dedicated server. 2. During the installation and configuration, PI asks for the institution to which the student is from (cf. below to find conditions for this list) a. If the institution is not on the list, the student must choose autre. PI will automatically try to connect to all of the servers of institution of category, in order to consolidate the public offer of software. It will always offer the latest version available, regardless of sources. b. If the institution is in the list, the student must choose it. PI will act as described in section 2.a, but will also consolidate the software list with the specific offer of this institution. Access to these particular resources is the responsibility of the web server distributing the resources charte_poseidon_finale - EN.doc 11 of 17

12 3. After the selection of software to install, PI downloads them from the most up-to-date server (in case the versions are the same, EPFL server is preferred, due to the bandwidth of switch). 4. PI installs software one by one, eventually executing pre-scripts, made available by the packager. From category : - Use of Poseidon Installer - Possibility to suggest the addition of a free or open-source application From category : - Services from above category - Possibility to make an institution-dedicated server available - Possibility to deploy institution-specific applications via Poseidon Installer charte_poseidon_finale - EN.doc 12 of 17

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14 Institutional commitment I, undersigned., as.., acting on behalf of.. commits my institution to respect category О О О I design Mr./Mrs./Ms., local Poseidon representative in my institution. address of the local Poseidon representative :.. PSDN clients domain from my institution :... Date and place :.. Signature :.. (Stamp of the institution) charte_poseidon_finale - EN.doc 14 of 17

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16 APPENDIX I : Certifications Apple Access to Apple online store is made possible by having an Apple certified person in the institution. This certification is the following: Test : Mac OS X Support Essentials v10.5 Exam (9L0-402) Preparation to this test may be done by purchasing the AppleCare Technician Training documentation. DELL It is possible to benefit from a Dell technician formation at a reduced cost. Moreover, with regards to the number of Dell computers in the institution, it is possible to benefit from the FastTrack system for free, allowing the triggering of an intervention via the Web, without calling the hotline, for free. To benefit from this, one has to pass an online exam. Lenovo It is possible, with regards to the number of Lenovo computers in the institution, to benefit from the ESC+ program charte_poseidon_finale - EN.doc 16 of 17

17 APPENDIX II : Conditions for acquiring spare hardware Each category laptops it needs. helpdesk is authorised to acquire, through Poseidon pricing, the amount of However, depending on suppliers, more beneficial solutions may be obtained. DELL : Every 100 machine sold in the institution, its helpdesk may buy a machine at 50% off the Poseidon price. LENOVO : Every 100 machine sold in the institution, its helpdesk may obtain a machine for free when buying a machine at Poseidon price. Apple : No beneficial solution is available charte_poseidon_finale - EN.doc 17 of 17