Xxxxxx County Office of Education

Internet Services Platform
Internet Remote User Specifications

Internet remote access is being provided by the Xxxxxx County Office of Education (XCOE) to full-time employees as an added benefit. As a remote user, you must read, understand and sign the XCOE Acceptable Use Policy form before your account will be issued.

Your home computer equipment must meet certain minimum standards to use the remote Internet services. Here is what you need to connect your home computer to the Xxxxxx County Office of Education Internet Services Platform (XCOE ISP).


I. System specifications.

A. General specifications.

1. Computer Memory. Your computer must have a minimum of 8 megabytes (MB) of Random-Access-Memory (RAM). 16 MB of RAM or more will help your computer run the Internet software faster and more efficiently.

2. Hard Drive. Your computer's hard drive must have a minimum of 20MB or more free space available before you install the Internet software.

3. Display. Your computer monitor must be a minimum of a VGA (640 x 480) or equivalent. Mono or color displays both work, but 256-color or better is preferred. A monitor with a "dot pitch" of .28mm or better is also preferred. Any size monitor (14" through 21") will work fine, but if your monitor is larger, more information will fit on your screen.


B. Computer platform specifications.

1. If you own a PC (IBM or clones), the minimum system is a Windows 3.1x capable computer. The XCOE ISP recommended minimum system is a PC with a 486 processor, 33 Mhz or better. Your computer must have the 32-bit extensions software installed (XCOE ISP will provide this software), Windows 3.10 (or better), or Windows 95 loaded. These issues will be discussed at the user training seminar.

2. If you own a Macintosh, the minimum Macintosh system must have System 7 OS or better on a Mac II or higher Macintosh. Your Macintosh should have a 68030 processor or better. The XCOE ISP recommended minimum Macintosh computer should have a 68040 processor or better.


II. Communications specifications.

A. Modem. You must have a modem available to your computer for remote
communications with the XCOE ISP. The modem that you plan on using must be
listed as 14,400 (14.4K) or better. It is our recommendation that a 28,800 (28.8K)
modem should be used to increase your transmission speed and efficiency. Your
modem can be an internal modem (card-type) or an external modem (contained in
its own case). There is no XCOE ISP preference as to which type of modem is
used for this service, but an external modem will be easier for you to set up since it
will simply plug into your computer's external serial port (at the back of your
computer). A "FAX/modem" is not a specific XCOE ISP recommendation, but if
you choose and install a modem of this type, it will give extra functionality to your
computer.

B. Phone line. Your phone connection must be set up with the local phone company before you can connect with the XCOE ISP. The phone line can be shared with a FAX machine, but the FAX machine and computer cannot be used simultaneously. To use the Internet via XCOE ISP, you can use your regular phone line, but due to the many services that local phone companies provide on their voice lines, it is preferable to keep them separate. This issue will be discussed during the XCOE ISP provided training.

III. Remote user instructions.

A. You must apply for a XCOE ISP user account on the XCOE ISP User Account
Request form. The user account forms may be picked up from Help Desk Services
(ext. xxxx) at the County Office of Education.

B. You must have a valid account number, password and access phone number
assigned by Information Resources and Technology Services before using any
Internet software to connect to the XCOE ISP.

C. You must read and sign the XCOE Acceptable Use Policy before your account
will be turned on. This Policy will be part of the set-up training seminar (see IV. A.,
below).

D. You must attend the XCOE ISP installation and set-up seminar. You can request
an account before attending this seminar, but no account will be turned on until
you have completed the training.

IV. Remote user training seminars.

A. Installation and Set-up Seminar. The Computer Training Services Center will
provide training for installing and setting up the XCOE ISP programs. Short
training sessions (approximately 90 minutes) will be scheduled in the evenings to
train you in the following areas:


B. Follow-up Training sessions. The Computer Training Services (CTS) Center is
also scheduling in-depth training in the areas below. You may obtain class
schedules listing the times, locations and cost of these sessions from Xxxxx Xxxxx
at the CTS office, xxx-xxxx.

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