Managed Cluster Service (MCS, formerly PWF)
The MCS provides networked Windows PC and Apple Macintosh computers for the use of all staff and students, running a wide range of software, together with printers and scanners.
The Faculty has three designated IT Suites located in the Donald McIntyre Building – 1S4 and 1S7 are Windows based whilst 1S5 has Apple Macintosh machines installed. Additionally each Teaching Room has a MCS machine, a projector and an interactive screen installed. All rooms are available during opening hours, but are used (particularly in Michaelmas Term) for some timetabled teaching.
There are additional machines in the Library and a small IT Room is located in the Science Education Centre, which includes printing facilities.
For a comprehensive list of the Departments, Faculties and Colleges that operate Managed Cluster Services, please see: [Managed Cluster Service]
MCS Software
Below is a selection of specialist software and room availability on the MCS:
- Nvivo – Qualitative Data Analysis (Installed in 1S4 only)
- SMARTBoard & Promethean ActivStudio – Interactive Whiteboard Software (Only available on MCS machines directly connected to an IWB and ALL machines in 1S4)
- EndNote – Reference Management Software (Installed in rooms 1S4, 1S5 and 1S7 only)
- SPSS – Statistical Analysis Software (Installed in 1S4 and 1S7, version 16)
- ArcGIS – Geographic Information Systems (Installed in 1S4 and in GS1)
For a full list of software on the MCS network, please see: [Macintosh] [Windows]
Printing
The Faculty has a variety of printers: A4 Black & White and Colour printers are available in 1S4 and 1S5. A3 Colour printing is available in 1S7 (and 2N9).
The charges for printing are:
- Black and white A4: 5p per sheet (whether double- or single-sided)
- Colour A4: 25p per side (i.e. 50p for an A4 sheet printed on both sides)
- Black and white A3: 10p per sheet (whether double- or single-sided)
- Colour A3: 50p per side (i.e. £1 for an A3 sheet printed on both sides)
(Please note that printing prices may be subject to change.)
Which printers you can print to depends on which room you are printing from, the table below explains this.
| Printer Model | Building/Room | Printer Name | Can be printed to from |
|---|---|---|---|
| HP LaserJet 4350 (Black & White) |
DMB 1S4 | EDUC_1S4_LP1 | DMB 1S4 DMB 1S5 DMB 1S7 DMB 2S6 |
| HP LaserJet 2605dtn (Colour) |
DMB 1S4 | EDUC_1S4_CLP | DMB 1S4 DMB 1S5 DMB 1S7 DMB 2S6 |
| HP LaserJet 4350 (Black & White) |
DMB 1S5 | EDUC_1S5_LP | DMB 1S4 DMB 1S5 DMB 1S7 DMB 2S6 |
| OKI-C9600 (Colour A3) |
DMB 1S7 | EDUC_1S7_CLP | DMB 1S4 DMB 1S5 DMB 1S7 DMB 2S6 |
| OKI-C9600 (Colour A3) |
DMB 2N9 | EDUC_2N9_CLP | DMB 2N9 |
| HP LaserJet 4250 (Black & White) |
DMB 2S6 | EDUC_2S6_LP | DMB 2S6 |
| HP LaserJet 2420 (Black & White) |
MAB G04 | EDUC_MABG04_LP | MAB G04 |
| HP LaserJet 4250 (Black & White) |
DMB 2N7 | EDUC_2N7_LP | DMB 2N7 |
| HP LaserJet 4250 (Black & White) |
SEC Computer Room | EDUC_SBWk_LP | All MCS Machines in SEC |
For information of how to pay, please see: [Paying for printing from the MCS and checking your balance]
TIP: To make an online payment, launch the "DS-Print eCredit" application from the Windows Start Menu (Start –> All Programs –> Utilities –> DS-Print eCredit).
Temporary MCS Accounts
The IT Office are able to provide temporary MCS accounts. Typically accounts range for 1 day accounts to a maximum of 3 months. Please ensure that the IT Office are given as much notice as possible prior to any requests. Late requests may not able to be processed.
Please ensure you read and sign the form provided prior to using a temporary MCS account.
Off-Site Access to MCS Files
It is possible to access your MCS files from elsewhere, for instance from a College room or from home.
For further information, please see: [Access to your Desktop Services filespace]
Printing to DS-Print printers from non-MCS machines
The iPrint service is progressively (Spring 2011) being replaced by a similar service using PaperCut. Details will be published on the UCS News Service.
It is possible to print to a DS-Print printer from a non-MCS Windows machine with our iPrint service. For example, a student with a Windows system in their own room, in a College with a Managed Cluster or using the UCS Managed Print Service, can send a print job to a printer in the College computer room (and be charged for it as normal for the College). You need to have a Desktop Services account to use this service.
For information, a list of Education printers and instructions, please see: [iPrint at Education].