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In this issue:

FRONT PAGE

FEATURES

• Kavli Construction Begins

• 2005 International Linear Collider Workshop Comes to Stanford

• SPEAR3 ‘Breathes’ in Response to Temperature Changes

• Policy for Staff Guided Tours Keeps Security Informed

POLICIES & PROCEDURES

• Windows XP Service Pack 2 to be Installed on All Centrally-Managed Windows Computers

• Important Changes to the SLAC Summer Student Program

• Katherine E. Pope Summer Fellowship Application Due March 11

ANNOUNCEMENTS & UPDATES

• Computer Coordinating Committee Resumes Meetings

• Handling Radioactive Waste

• Be Safe When You are Biking

• ES&H Safety Tip: Safe Running

• Read SLAC Today!

• Milestones

EVENTS

• Help SLAC Stage a Great Stanford Community Day

• New Certification in Supervision Class Begins March 31

• Chinese New Year Celebration

• Upcoming Events

ABOUT TIP

• Staff/Contact

• Submission Guidelines

By Andrea Chan

Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) will be installed on all centrally-managed Windows computers within the next few months. SP2 has several security enhancements that will benefit SLAC Windows machines. Most noticeable to users are the security enhancements to the built-in Windows Firewall and to Internet Explorer. Some users have already installed SP2 on their home computers. In an enterprise environment, however, it is more complicated.

The strategy is to deploy SP2 to centrally-managed Windows computers with the built-in Windows Firewall configured to protect the computer as much as possible, while allowing central management (e.g., for scans, automatic patching and software upgrades) and allowing users flexibility in adjusting the firewall settings for their software as needed for their jobs.

Currently we are in the phase of testing SP2 with this configuration. If you would like to be a tester, please contact your local administrator. Within the next few weeks, SP2 will be rolled out to a pilot group (SCS), and if all goes well then the roll out of SP2 to the rest of SLAC will begin during the month of March 2005.

There are several steps required for your local administrators to prepare your computer for the SP2 rollout:
1) Ensure that your C drive has sufficient free space.
2) Upgrade BIOS and drivers as necessary.
3) Upgrade OpenAFS/AFS client for Windows to 1.3.72 or above (read carefully the un-install steps at http://xweb.slac.stanford.edu/default.asp).
4) Scan for spyware (involves several steps, more details from your local admin later).
5) Un-install any existing third party firewalls (e.g., BlackIce, Zone Alarm) just before the rollout of SP2.

Your local administrators will provide you with details on the preparations needed, the testing and the schedule. Please refer your questions to them.

For a list of local administrators, see:http://www2.slac.stanford.edu/comp/winnt/local-administrators.html

For more information on Windows XP SP2 resources and project documentation, see: https://www-internal.slac.stanford.edu/comp/windows/admin/Documentation/projects/WindowsXPSP2/index.htm