[AG-TECH] LSU (U.S.) AG node achieves QA Status

Tue Nov 4 13:49:52 CST 2008

Thanks Jason.

I'll comment that despite our LSU node being in use since it's installation
in 2002 (has it been that long?) and i'm probably above average in knowing
how to set things up, the process actually helped me improve the node even
more, I thank Jason for his time (16 hours ahead of mine!).

I'll be working to get all the Louisiana nodes up to this status now, then
will see if I can help anyone else. The process generates fantastic feedback
(pardon the puns!), which I can¹t imagine any site not wanting some
objective comments and insight  often improving something on the spot if it
isn¹t already good. Sites can use this to probably get improvements made
they've been needing, how often is the tool not a priority for improvement
and yet it¹s a critical system for communication.... In most cases it will
reassure the site that they'll be meeting with a node that is... Good, if
not Great. and the least of your worries will be the technology.

I heartily recommend everyone to do this, I regret not doing it sooner.

Like many, I¹ve been intending to do this and hadn¹t gotten it done. Despite
that, I really do recommend sites take the time to get this done  I
challenge anyone to do this before the next AG Retreat timeframe. I think it
really means something to confirm this status on your nodes that meet the
requirements easily already. For those who are ³afraid² they¹ll ³fail² -
it¹s an excellent opportunity to improve your node. The ³tester² has a great
deal of experience and will be able to help you. I was nervous, but that
just served for me to review all my procedures, functions, capabilities, and
I think honestly that just makes it better. All nodes have ³weak spots² -
mine certainly does. So does Jason¹s. It¹s recognizing them and fixing them
where they can be fixed and compensating for them where needed or dealing
with it. Identifying these officially may help you get what you need to fix
them, otherwise  why do you have an Access Grid node if you¹re not going to
have a good communication/collaboration tool? Too many of us have suffered
by joining nodes who weren¹t ³up to par²  and the frustration involved.

In our state, it¹s probably one of the most productive, long distance,
collaborative, tool used over the span of time we¹ve been using this
technology and we will be continuing to use it  if our NIH grant can be
renewed for 5 more years after 2010, we¹ll be looking at ways of enhancing
the quality and ease of use, of course, but quality assurance means a great
deal to know our nodes are ³good² ones. Louisiana now boasts over 20 room
installations and we¹re starting to bridge the gap with IOCOM nodes
(although something needs to be done about compatibility on the h.264 video
issue between AG and IOCOM.... As they don¹t seem to be compatible 
separate thread!) I¹m not sure exactly where the desktop nodes will fit in
in the future meetings, as I have many admins (not computer admins!) who
want to simply join from their office now that they¹re getting better
network connections there.

I¹m rambling now, so I¹ll leave it at that for now!

Cheers,

-John Q.
-- 
John I. Quebedeaux, Jr.; Louisiana State University
Computer Manager LBRN; 131 Life Sciences Bldg.
e-mail: johnq at lsu.edu; web: http://lbrn.lsu.edu
phone: 225-578-0062 / fax: 225-578-2597

From: Jason Bell <j.bell at cqu.edu.au>
Date: Tue, 4 Nov 2008 20:57:37 +1000
To: <ag-tech at mcs.anl.gov>
Subject: [AG-TECH] LSU (U.S.) AG node achieves QA Status

Dear Colleagues

I am delighted to inform you that today the "Louisiana State University,
Biological Sciences Access Grid Node" achieveed Quality Assurance Status.
It should be node that this is the first Access Grid node in the United
States to achieve the Global Quality Assurance status.

More importantly, John I Quebedeaux Jr has accepted the position for QA
tester for the region of Louisiana State within the United States.

A current list of Regional testers can be found at
http://www.accessgrid.org/qatesters <http://www.accessgrid.org/qatesters> .
I would invite anyone else considering  becoming a Regional QA Tester for
the Access Grid to consider the following prerequisites:

€       Your node must be ³Quality Assured² (this is generally done by me);

€       You would need to undergo some basic training (about an hour¹s
worth); and

€       It would be preferable if you have been using Access Grids on a
regular basis for some time.

If you are interested, please don¹t hesitate to contact me!!!

For those who wish to obtain Quality Assured Status, it is recommended that
you:

€       Read http://www.accessgrid.org/node/493
<http://www.accessgrid.org/node/493>  to find out the test requirements for
the quality assurance process.

€       Read http://www.accessgrid.org/node/352
<http://www.accessgrid.org/node/352>  to obtain hints and tips on getting
your Access Grid Node up to the required high standard.

€       The website http://www.accessgrid.org/node/705
<http://www.accessgrid.org/node/705>  highlights the marking sheets.  These
are the same marking sheets that "we" as QA testers will use.

€       Contact your local regional QA AG tester, as a list of QA testers
can be found at http://www.accessgrid.org/qatesters
<http://www.accessgrid.org/qatesters> .

Once again, congratulations to the work of " Louisiana State University,
Biological Sciences Access Grid Node² in its effort for achieving such a
high quality standard.

Thanks for your time,

Jason

--------------------------------------------

Jason Bell, B.I.T. (Honours)

Research Systems Support Officer

Information Technology Division

CQ University Australia

Australian Research Collaboration Service

http://www.arcs.org.au/ <http://www.arcs.org.au/>

E-mail : j.bell at cqu.edu.au <mailto:j.bell at cqu.edu.au>

         jason.bell at arcs.org.au <mailto:jason.bell at arcs.org.au>

Work   : +61 7 4930 9229

Mobile : 0409 630897

Postal : Building 19

         Central Queensland University

         Bruce Highway

         Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia, 4702

--------------------------------------------

Patience is a virtue.

But if I wanted Patience,

I would have become a Doctor.

--------------------------------------------

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