About this page

This page is a record of major changes only; the many minor changes, patches and updates might not be listed.

The change of cables for displaying on all workstations in CSIL Burnaby and MPCS Labs

Now all workstations have the onboard DisplayPort for displaying. This is to give users universal experience and reduce the load on discrete GPU. (2024.07.12)

Windows 11 on all workstations in CSIL Burnaby and MPCS Labs

The upgrade completed at 2024.04.26.

New workstations in ASB 9838N

This area now has total of 71 Dell OptiPlex Tower Plus 7010 workstations. These workstations dualboot Ubuntu 22.04.3 LTS (Jammy Jellyfish) with Windows 11 Feature update 23H2. (2024.03.26)

"New" GPU workstations in ASB 9820, TA spots and Team rooms

These areas now have total of 24 Precision 3630 Tower Workstations. Each workstation is equiped with one Nvidia RTX  2080. These workstations dualboot Ubuntu 22.04.3 LTS (Jammy Jellyfish) with Windows 11 Feature update 23H2. (2024.03.01)

New GPU workstations in MPCS Labs (SECB1010)

19 new workstations are in service in SECB 1010. Each workstation is Dell Precision 3660 with one Nvidia RTX A2000. These workstations dualboot Ubuntu 22.04.3 LTS (Jammy Jellyfish) with Windows 11 Feature Update 23H2. (2024.02.23)

New GPU workstations in ASB 9804

31 new workstations are in service in ASB 9804. Each workstation is Dell Precision 3660 with one Nvidia RTX A2000. These workstations dualboot Ubuntu 22.04.3 LTS (Jammy Jellyfish) with Windows 11 Feature Update 23H2. (2024.02.20)

New GPU workstations in MPCS Labs (SECB1010 & SECB1013)

18 new workstations are in service in SECB 1010 and SECB 1013. Each workstation is Dell Precision 3660 with one Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090. These workstations soleboot Ubuntu 22.04.3 LTS (Jammy Jellyfish) only. (2024.02.02)

ASB 9804 has new monitors

Each workstation in ASB 9804 is now equipped with a Dell SE2721DS LCD monitor. (2024.01.18)

All workstations in ASB9700 and ASB 9840 now have Ubuntu 22.04

All the workstations in ASB9700, ASB9840 are now dualboot Ubuntu 22.04.1 LTS (Jammy Jellyfish) with Windows 10. (2023.12)

CSIL VDI is in service

Now we provide CSIL VDI for people to remote access to. (2023.09)

guacamole service is no longer supported

Please use SFU VPN if you need remote access to CSIL resources. (2023.04)

CSIL SSH Gateway server is decommissioned

Please use SFU VPN if you need remote access to CSIL resources. (2023.04)

CSIL Gitlab server is retiring - migrate away before Friday December 15th, 2023

Please use SFU ITS' Github server instead. (2023.04)

SRYE 4013 has new workstations

The workstations in SYRE 4013 are now Dell Optiplex 7000s. (2023.03)

CSIL@Burnaby renovation

Renovation of ASB 9700 and ASB 9838N had started on Friday April 12th, 2023.

This project is planed to finish before Thursday August 31st, 2023.

10 workstations will be offline during the renovation.

SRYE 4013 has new workstations

The workstations in SRYE 4013 are now all Dell Optiplex 7000s. (2023.03)

The General office of the School has moved

Looking for the general office of the School of Computing Science? It has a new address: ASB 10700. (2022.07.15)

ASB 9700 has new monitors

Each workstation in ASB 9700 is now equipped with a Dell P2723DE LCD monitor. (2022.05.13)

All workstations in MPCS labs (SECB) now have proper names

All the workstations in SECB 1010 now are named as SECB1010-?##.csil.sfu.ca.

All the workstations in SECB 1013 now are named as SECB1013-?##.csil.sfu.ca.

(2022.05)

ASB 9840 has new workstations

The workstations in ASB 9840 are now all Dell Optiplex 7090s. (2022.05)

Each workstation in this room is equipped with a Nvidia Geforce GTX 1050 Ti.

MPCS labs (SECB 1010 & SECB 1013) haVE new workstations

All the workstations in SECB 1013 are now all Dell Precision 3650 Tower; each with an Nvidia Quadro RTX 4000 GPU card. (2022.03)

9 new workstations (Dell Precision 3650 Tower) are now in SECB 1013; each with an Nvidia Quadro RTX 4000 GPU card. (2022.03)

Please note: these new systems have names reflect the current room numbers.

new furniture in secb 1013 & secb 1010

Now we have new furniture for 2 MPCS labs: SECB 1013 & SECB 1010. (2022.01.11)

FINISHED: CSIL@Burnaby renovation

Renovation of ASB 9700 and ASB 9804 had finished befor the Fall, 2021.

The workstations are back in service in these rooms.

All CSIL workstations and MPCS workstations are running Windows 10 Feature update 21H2

All systems are upgraded. (2022.01)

MPSC - Master of Science in Professional Computer Science

Formerly known as PMP (Professional Master of Science in Computer Science) now has a new name: MPCS (Master of Science in Professional Computer Science). (2021.10.20)

New Location for Professional Master's Program in Computing Science is in service!

We now have a new building for "Professional Master's Program in Computing Science": SECB (South East Classroom Block).

All 36 BLU9402 workstations are in SECB 1010.

All 35 ASB10928 workstations are in SECB 1013.

- (2021.09.08)

All workstations in CSIL now have Ubuntu 20.04

All the workstations in ASB 9700, 9804, 9838N, 9820, 9840 (part of CSIL@Burnaby) are now dualboot Ubuntu 20.04.1 LTS (Focal Fossa) with Windows 10. (2021.09)

(decommissioned) New CSIL SSH Gateway server

We have built a CSIL SSH Gateway Server for CMPT undergraduate students. (2021.05)

This server is a must if the user has no SFU VPN access yet needs SSH to a CSIL Linux system.

New CSIL Windows profile server

We have built a new CSIL Windows profile Server for CSIL Windows users. (2021.05)

This server runs the latest Windows Server 2019.

All workstations in ASB 9804 now have Ubuntu 20.04

All the workstations in ASB 9804 (part of CSIL@Burnaby) are now dualboot Ubuntu 20.04.1 LTS (Focal Fossa) with Windows 10. (2021.05)

All workstations in SRYE 4013 now have Ubuntu 20.04

All the workstations in SRYE 4013 (part of CSIL@Surrey) are now dualboot Ubuntu 20.04.1 LTS (Focal Fossa) with Windows 10. (2021.01)

New SQL Server in CSIL

We have built a new CSIL SQL Server for database courses. (2020.05)

This server is only available for CMPT 354 students for current semester.

CSIL@Burnaby renovation

Renovation of ASB 9700 and ASB 9804 had started on Friday April 24th, 2020.

This project is planed to finish before Monday August 31st, 2020. (It is postponed to August 31st, 2021.)

ASB 9700 has new workstations

The workstations in ASB 9700 are now all Dell Optiplex 7071s. (2020.04)

The old workstations are still available for remote access.

ASB 9820 has new workstations

The workstations in ASB 9820 are now all Dell Optiplex 7071s. (2020.04)

The old workstations are still available for remote access.

New way to remote into CSIL Windows Terminal Server.

To strengthen the network security, SFU IT have implemented a new way for people to Remote Desktop into Windows systems on SFU network. Please check out our CSIL Windows Terminal Server FAQ page to know more. (2020.01.09)

New Lab for Professional Master's Program in Computing Science is in service!

We now have a new lab for "Professional Master's Program in Computing Science - Visual Computing Specialization” in service. It is in the BLU 9402.

we have 36 Dell Precision workstations. Each has 1 Geforce RTX 2080 GPU. (2019.09)

CSIL@Surrey is now located in rooms 3024, 4013, 4024 in the new SRYE building!

Please check the new facilities out when you are taking CMPT courses on Surrey campus.(2019.09)

New CSIL Windows Terminal Server in service!

We now have a new CSIL Windows Terminal Server in service - running Windows Server 2016 on new hardware. (2019.06.28)

New CSIL Linux CPU Servers in service!

We now have 10 CSIL Linux CPU servers in service (2019.05), up from 5 we had before.

All CSIL@Burnaby workstations now have Ubuntu 18.04

All the workstations in CSIL@Burnaby are now dualboot Windows 10 with Ubuntu 18.04 LTS (Bionic Beaver). (2019.05)

ASB 9838N has new workstations

The workstations in ASB9838N are now all Dell Optiplex 7060s. (2019.05)

New Cardless Release Print Station

CSIL is now equipped with the new cardless print release system.  Please refer to CSIL Printing FAQ for details. (2018.08)

New Software!

We now have Adobe Creative Cloud on all computers in CSIL@Burnaby (since year 2018).

ASB 9804 has new workstations

The workstations in ASB 9804 are now all Dell Optiplex 7050s with wtih 27" LCD panels. (2018.06)

New Lab for Professional Master's Program in Computing Science is in service!

We now have a new lab for "Professional Master's Program in Computing Science - Big Data Specialization” in service. It is in the ASB 10928. (2017.10.11)

* Renovation in CSIL@Burnaby *

Renovations are completed in room ASB 9838! Details here. (2015.09)

* The Renovated CSIL@Burnaby *

In summer 2015, we renovated the south end of room ASB 9838.  This was done to improve ASB 9838 as a teaching room and to provide some closed meeting rooms for group project work in order to cut down on noise levels in the labs.   The renovation has been completed.  

Here are the changes:

1. ASB 9838: new doors separate it from other rooms.  If these doors are closed and a class is in session, please do not enter the room.
2. ASB 9700:  New card access door near the coffee shop to allow access when room 9838 is in use.
   
3. ASB 9820:  A new presentation room with 15 workstations.
4. TA Cubicles in room ASB 9838:  Intended for TAs to hold office hours, which can be booked via TA Booking. When not booked can be used by students on a first come basis, maximum 2 hours per day per student or group of students. - Please work quietly. Note: TAs may also book office hours in the other labs; your TA should announce the location of their office hours in advance.
5. CSIL OFFICES:  Instructor and TA office hours. which can be booked via TA Booking. When not booked can be used by students on a first come basis, maximum of two hours per day for any student or group of students.
6. Team Rooms: Intended for meetings of teams from CMPT courses with assigned team projects.  TAs can allocate specific time slots for teams via TA Booking.  When not booked can be used on first come basis, maximum 2 hours per day per person or group.   CMPT course project teams have priority over other users.

Please check out our current CSIL Burnaby rooms for the details.

New workstations!

We deployed 71 new workstations in ASB 9838 North - along wtih 27" LCD panels. (2015.03)

All LCD panels in CSIL@BBY are now height adjustable.

New Projector!

We have a new projector for ASB 9838 North East in CSIL@Burnaby. (2013)

New speakers!

We have installed new ceiling speakers in ASB 9838 North to better serve the lectures be held in CSIL.

The wireless microphone is reserved for instructors only and can be booked from ASB 9971. (2013)

Customized Linux environment: the "roaming profile"

All of the Linux workstations in CSIL are now providing "roaming profiles" so that the user's desktop settings follow the user between the workstations.

CSIL Linux now depends on user authentication against SFU Active Directory. If you can't login, please go to the MySFU tab in SFU Connect and change your password.  This will update SFU AD settings related to your account so your login can be recognized from Linux.

Windows

Our Windows workstations in CSIL all run Windows 10 64bit (with latest updates). Our Windows servers run Windows Server 2008 R2 w/sp1 or Windows Server 2012 R2.

Dualboot: OS choice at your finger tips

We have introduced dualboot systems in CSIL to increase the flexibility and utilization of the lab. All the computers in CSIL are dualboot now.  You may reboot the system and select the OS you need to use for your course work.

Please note: the instructor determines which OS should be used for a specific course. If you are not sure which OS to use, contact the instructor.

How to remote access to CSIL Linux (Ubuntu) systems via ssh

Use one of our CSIL Linux CPU servers.

User's home folder on CSIL Linux systems

When you login to Unix/Linux machines in CSIL, your default home folder is in /home/{username}. But, you should not use this folder or its sub-folders to save any data, it is not backed up and it will not be preserved during system maintenance.

You should alaway save files on your SFU campus home folder, which is mounted as:

/home/{username}/sfuhome

You could access SFU campus home folder by the command "mount.sfuhome" from Linux terminal session.

User's home folder on CSIL Windows systems

U: is now mapped as the user's home folder when you logon to any CSIL Windows system. This is equivalent to your sfuhome on CSIL Linux systems.

Please save all your files to U: drive.

Hardware in CSIL

We standardize on Dell workstations for most of our student accessible workstations, with a goal of continuous replacement. Our objective is to selectively replace older, less-viable machines with newer models every few years. All of our displays are low-power consumption LCD panels. Click here for more details.

Linux Terminal Server in CSIL

CS Students can access our Linux applications from off-campus via our (beta) Linux Terminal Server. Click here for more information.

Windows Terminal Server in CSIL

CS Students can access our Windows applications from off-campus via our Windows Terminal Server. Click here for more information.

Central Authentication Service (CAS)

Most of our secure services are accessible through CAS. What this means for you is that our secure services accept only your SFU ID and password, making the goal of a university-wide single sign-on closer.

CS Portal

We are actively writing applications for our students, staff, and faculty, offering them to our community through our CS Portal. These applications will be able to provide you with current information about classes and other administrative information.

Wikis for CS classes

SFU hosts wikis for both undergraduate and graduate courses. Course instructors may request that wikis be set up for their classes.  Wiki.sfu.ca for more.

Subversion code repository server

Course Subversion repositories are created automatically for everyone.  In addition, CS undergrad students can be set up by their instructors to access one or more group-access subversion repositories (think 2 or more team members working on a project together).  See subversion FAQ for details.

CS graduate students can create their own repositoriesby following the intructions on the page: CS Personal and Course Subversion Repositories.

CSIL Virtualization

We are now taking advantage of virtualization technology for many of our CSIL servers, both on the Windows side and on Linux. Most of CSIL servers are virtualized. We are using advanced VMWare products.

The hardware updates history of CSIL

We have changed the cables for displaying in CSIL@Burnaby and MPCS labs (2024.07.12)

We have deployed brand new Dell Optiplex 7000 workstations for SRYE 4013 of CSIL@Surrey (2023)

Each workstation in ASB 9700 is now equipped with a Dell P2723DE LCD monitor. (2022.05.13)

We have retired 46 Dell Optiplex 9020s off ASB 9700 and ASB 9820 of CSIL@Burnaby (2021.08.25).

We have deployed total of 31 brand new Dell Optiplex 7071 workstations for ASB 9700 of CSIL@Burnaby (2020.04.28) (They are now in ASB 9700 - 2021.08.15)

We have deployed total of 15 brand new Dell Optiplex 7071 workstations in ASB 9820 of CSIL@Burnaby (2020.04.24)

We have deployed total of 36 brand new sets of Dell Precision 3630 workstation with Dell P2719H in BLU 9402 of Burnaby campus for Professional Master's Program in Computing Science (2019.09.30)

We have deployed total of 73 brand new Dell Optiplex 7060 workstations in ASB 9838N of CSIL@Burnaby (2019.04.30)

We have deployed total of 15 brand new Dell Optiplex 7060 workstations in ASB 9820 of CSIL@Burnaby (2019.03.01); during the semester break, they were moved to ASB 9838N.

We have deployed many powerbars in CSIL@Burnaby; now every 4 desks share 1 powerbar (2018.12.22)

We have deployed total of 33 brand new Dell Optiplex 7050 workstations in CSIL@Burnaby (2018.06.22)

We have removed 9 old video cards (NVidia Geforce GT 720, MSI N720-2GD3LP) out of workstations in ASB 9838 North-East side (2017.12.12)

We have deployed total of 35 brand new sets of Dell Optiplex 7050 workstation with Dell P2715Q and Geforce 1050Ti  in ASB10928 of Burnaby campus for Professional Master's Program in Computing Science (2017.10.11)

We have deployed total of 45 brand new Dell Optiplex 7040 workstations with new 27" LCDs in CSIL@Burnaby (2017.02.10)

We also deployed total of 15 ZOTAC NVIDIA Geforce GTX 1050 Ti graphics cards (GPU) in room ASB 9840 in CSIL@Burnaby (2017.02.10)

We have added mDP-VGA (Mini DisplayPort to VGA) adapters to all projector connections (2016.04.01)

We have deployed total of 43 brand new Dell Optiplex 9020 workstations with 27" LCDs in CSIL@Burnaby (2015.12.04)

We have put total of 43 brand new Dell Optiplex 9020 workstations with 27" LCDs in CSIL@Burnaby. (@2015.12.04)

We have 9 NVidia GT720 video cards configured at ASB 9838 North East. (2015.10.01)

We have put total of 71 brand new Dell Optiplex 9020 workstations with 27" LCDs in CSIL@Burnaby. (@2015.03.26)

We have put a new project in ASB9838 North East in CSIL@Burnaby. (@2014.11.06)

We have put total of 40 brand new Dell Optiplex 7010 workstations with 27" LCDs in CSIL@Burnaby. (@2014.04.25)

We have put a total of 38 Dell Optiplex 7010 workstations in CSIL@Burnaby. (@2013.12.16)

We have installed a sound system in the study area of ASB 9838 North in CSIL@Burnaby. (@2013.05.05)

We have put a total of 21 powerbars for people's personal computing devices in CSIL@Burnaby. (@2012.05.05)

We have put extra VGA (video) cables to computers in many study areas in CSIL@Burnaby. (@2012.05.05)

We have put a total of 102 Dell OptiPlex 790 workstations in CSIL@Burnaby. (@2012.05.04)

We have put a total of 32 Dell Precision T3500 workstations in CSIL@Burnaby. (@2012.03.28)

We have put a total of 134 24" LCDs in CSIL@Burnaby. All of the computers in CSIL@Burnaby are currently using 24" flat screen monitors. (@2012.03.02)

The logos of the School of Computing Science

The logo in service in 1990s.

The logo in service in year 2000s.

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Last updated @ 2024.12.18