The software SOE is made up of:

• A Base Operating system (e.g. Windows "x" / Mac OS "x" / Centos "x")
• Security Software (e.g. Anti-Virus)
• Applications (e.g. MS Office, Adobe Creative Cloud and Reader)
• Base desktop customisations and configurations for IMB services

The operating system and security software are part of a base system ('Tier 0').

• Applications and custom settings are then installed and applied as follows:
• 'Tier 1' – Applications common to all computers (eg. MS Office);
• 'Tier 1.5' – Applications common to a Group or Division (eg. ChemOffice, Prism)
• 'Tier 2' – Application specific to users (eg. MS Visio)

For additional information about available software through UQ, visit here. (ITS, Software)

What Tier 1 software comes as standard?

Windows 7

Mac OS X v10.x

CentOS v.x

7zip

4Peaks

Firefox

Irfanview

Acrobat Reader

Pidgin

Java

Adobe Creative Cloud

Evolution Mail

VNC

Adobe Flash Player

LibreOffice Suite

Prism

ChemDraw

Brasero Disc Burner

Firefox

Cyberduck

Cheese Webcam Booth

MS Office

Firefox

Movie Maker

Endnote

Fraise

Rhythmbox Music Player

Adobe Creative Cloud

ImageJ

gThumb Image Viewer

Adobe Reader

iMol

Archive Manager

Rsync.net

iRNAi

Gedit

Vector NTI

MacVector

Gnote

Adobe Flash Player

MS Office

Xvid Codec

Endnote

VLC Media Player

Perian

SCCM 2012 Endpoint AV

Skype

The Unarchiver

Why are some packaged applications not the current version?
IMB groups have very diverse needs resulting in many unique applications the Desktop team ‘package’ and deploy. We endeavor to keep the more commonly requested applications up to date but request that any specific application updates required are submitted via a service desk ticket.


How do I get other software installed on my computer?  Who pays for it?
Requesting additional software either specifically for an individual or for a group is actioned through a normal service desk ticket. Software requests will be assessed individually to determine if a license is required for use; if so and there are no existing licenses available, charges incurred for the additional software will be parsed directly to the group of the originating request. These will be charged annually.

What is ‘software packaging’ and when might I need it?
IMB IT staff use ‘packages’ as the primary method of application deployment. Once a package has been built for a specific application, it is then able to be either scheduled or dynamically pushed to a user’s computer. Employing this method of software management also provides the ability to scale across multiple groups quickly and controlled removal of the application when needed for updates or end of lifecycle.
 

Can I install software myself?
Users are required to install software only by request from IT support staff; this ensures not only a suitable expectation of timeline for the user’s request, but also accountability and risk management for the Institute. Specific staff who require the frequent addition of software on a trial basis only, are encouraged to discuss their needs with IT support staff who can determine eligibility for the user to self-install as needed.

Can I use and install IMB software on my home computer for personal use?
Please refer to the UQ software information page for additional information.

Am I able to use another person’s computer using my log in?
Yes. Staff are able to login to any IMB computers and access your personal and group network drives. Note: Your local data will not be replicated to this secondary location; your account will reflect the default (new) state.

Is software on SOE computers automatically updated?
Any planned rollout of new software versions will go through a Change Management process including ample warning and announcements to all staff. Updates are released in a scheduled cycle following critical patch timelines released by software vendors; these typically include latest updates for commonly used applications (Adobe Reader, iTunes, Skype, Chrome) and critical security updates for your base operating system.

Do I need to download patches or update my anti-virus?
All Desktops and Notebooks will receive their anti-virus and SOE security patches automatically. In the event a major (large) security patch is released by a vendor (e.g. Microsoft/Apple), the automated deployment system may be unavailable to accommodate for the off-site Notebook users; these computes will self-apply the patch when next connected to the network on-site.

Will I have administrative access to my SOE computer?
The SOE is provided to the majority of staff on desktops with user-level access as the default. When a user is required to travel with their laptop, they are provided with elevated privileges; this means the user only leverages the Administrator privileges when performing certain actions (e.g. Adding a printer or installing s/w). While this is a safer method of operating than running with Administrator privileges all the time, caution must still be taken to avoid security threats.

Elevated Privileges are provided to some Desktop users based on their business needs, and can be requested through the Service Desk.

Can I change my Desktop background (wallpaper)
Yes. The SOE allows you to change your wallpaper to suit your own preferences.