IT Services for Researchers
As an SFU researcher, there are a number of information technology services you can use to support your research activities. Listed below are tools and services grouped by function.
We also offer consultation services. We can
- Assist you in migrating the IT services mentioned below.
- Offer you our expertise regarding specific software packages.
- Provide you with access to Westgrid and other high-performance computing installations (in cooperation with Westgrid).
- Offer you assistance in analyzing, designing, and procuring IT software and hardware for your project (subject to staff availability).
- Provide project management support (subject to staff availability).
Project management support is typically used for large IT projects, and it can be applied to any project large enough to benefit from IT best practices. - Help you prepare the IT section of your grant proposal.
Collaboration
| To |
Use |
Learn more |
| Send email or use a calendaring tool |
connect.sfu.ca | Find extensive documentation on the SFU Connect website. |
| Create and maintain email lists | maillist.sfu.ca | Mailist Setup Guidelines |
| Create a blog | blogs.sfu.ca | Information available on blog.sfu.ca |
| Create a wiki |
wiki.sfu.ca | Information available on wiki.sfu.ca |
| Create a protected group or collaborative space | sakai.sfu.ca or SharePoint |
Read the Sakai Quick Guide for Members |
| Send instant messages | jabber.sfu.ca | Read about Jabber setup and definitions. |
| To |
Use |
Learn more |
| Create a website using a content management system |
Adobe CQ |
Adobe CQ Web Publishing page |
| Access your personal web space |
www.sfu.ca/~<computing id> | Learn how to upload files to your personal website. |
Web Applications
| To |
Use |
Learn more |
| Create custom web applications that are hosted on a virtual machine |
LAMP | LAMP refers to the following software bundle: Linux, Apache, MySQL and PHP. |
| Create custom web applications | PHP/MySQL | This is no longer a preferred option. |
Did you know?
A virtual machine refers to software that replicates the functionality of an actual machine e.g. a computer. Several virtual machines can reside on one server or on one computer, each operating independently from one another.
Surveys
| To |
Use |
Learn more |
| Create, distribute anonymous surveys |
websurvey.sfu.ca | Instructions are available on the WebSurvey page. |
Storage
| To |
Use |
Learn more |
| Create and store documents you can access off campus |
The Briefcase space in SFU Connect. | Read the vendor's user guides. |
| Access your personal web space on fraser.sfu.ca | SFU's FTP service (SFTP) | Learn how to upload files to your personal website. |
| Access disk drive space | SFU's private storage cloud | Cost starts from $0.15/GB per year. Cost is dependent upon performance and backup features. |
| Access storage for MySQL, SQL, DB2 and Filemaker relational databases | ||
| Use a web-based document management system | Docushare | View the Docushare tutorial. |
Identity and Access Management
| To |
Use |
Learn more |
| Access wireless services at cooperating universities | Eduroam | Read the setup and configuration manual. |
| Provide single sign-on services for your project | Shibboleth/SAML | This services is offered in cooperation with the Canadian Access Federation. |
| Use single sign-on with your applications | CAS | Read our CAS for programmer's page. |
| Access information from private directories | LDAP | We support private LDAP directories. |
Did you know?
LDAP, Lightweight Directory Access Protocol, uses rules defined by a system administrator to grant or deny access to information directories. Access permissions are largely dependent upon the user's role. A student, staff, or faculty member will often have different access permissions because they have different user needs.
CAS stands for Central Authentication Service. It is a single sign-on protocol for the web.
Network Services
- We provide high-speed network access to BCNET, CANARIE and to other research networks around the world.
- We can offer you network infrastructure resources to build your own networks through the CANARIE Lightpath program. To learn more about Lightpath, visit the CANARIE website.
Computation Services
Here's what we support.
- Virtual machines from the SFU private compute cloud
- Windows, Red Hat, Solaris operating systems
- Various software configurations. Contact us for details.
- HPC computation and storage. Visit the IRMACS website to learn more.
- HPC software optimization support
- Non-standard servers and virtual machines for research
- Dedicated resource allocations on WestGrid/Compute Canada for SFU researchers