Software Available
We provide hardware and software resources in support of the Computer Science and Information Systems curricula in a lab of 30 Windows PCs and a lab of 20 Linux PCs. These labs are supervised by the network administrator. BR161 is a teaching lab but is open to campus users 35 hours per week. The Linux lab is the only Linux lab on campus and is open 75 hours per week.
MSDNAA
Microsoft products may be downloaded for free if you are enrolled in one credit in the CSIS department. This software is made available by a contract between educational institutions and Microsoft called the Microsoft Developer Network Academic Alliance (MSDNAA) license program. MSDNAA is a Microsoft corporation program which provides some Microsoft developer tools for free to students and faculty in technology and related fields.
One of the benefits of MSDNAA is that the participating department can acquire free copies of Microsoft Windows Server, Visual Studio, Microsoft Windows Vista, and other Microsoft products for lab computers. The program also allows students and faculty to obtain free copies of select Microsoft products, including Windows Vista Business and Visual Studio 2005 Professional, for use in coursework and personal non-commercial projects. Students may continue to use the products even after they graduate for non-commercial purposes.
To request access to download MSDNAA products, e-mail the CSIS department at csis@mnstate.edu and, in order to receive access to Microsoft products to download, you must give your mnstate.edu e-mail address. If you do not have a mnstate.edu e-mail account, go to Information Technology's home page, http://www.mnstate.edu/it, to find how you get an e-mail account. You must be enrolled in at least one CSIS credit for the semester. Accounts expire at the end of each semester.
Lab Policies
The policies for the computer labs are similar to other computer labs: consideration of other lab users by not talking loudly or not playing audible video games or music. No beverages or food are allowed in the campus labs to avoid damaging equipment and carpet.
eSoftware
You can purchase applications at greatly reduced prices including Microsoft Office 2007, Microsoft Windows Vista, Adobe products, and many other programs generally used on campus using eSoftware here.