Angell Hall Courtyard. (U-M Architecture, Engineering and Construction)

Campus Computing Sites and Virtual Sites perform routine updates each summer to prepare for the fall semester. Along with the usual changes, Sites computers will be upgraded to Windows 10 and the Campus Computing Sites website will be updated. But this year, Sites has some special improvements and added features that go beyond the ordinary. Some are already here and others will be coming soon!

Already here

• Customized Software Access – Software access is granted based on university affiliation: student, faculty, staff, sponsored affiliate, alumni, general public, etc. Each person will be able to access software that is permitted to be used by their affiliation when they log into a Sites computer or Virtual Sites session. Role-based access improves compliance with software licensing agreements, and ensures cost-effective campus computing solutions. Exceptions for access can be requested by contacting the ITS Service Center.
• New MPrint App & Follow Me Printing – The MPrint Mobile App, available for Android and iOS, works with the Follow Me print queue. When installed on a computer, the Follow Me print queue appears as a printer and will save documents for up to 24 hours. Using Bluetooth, the MPrint app detects which Campus Computing Sites printers you are near, and enables you to release your held documents to whichever printer you choose. Learn more about Follow Me Printing.

Coming soon

• Application Streaming – Software on Sites Windows computers and through Virtual Sites is be available via AppsAnywhere, an app store-like portal. Rather than launching software from the computer’s start menu, applications can be selected and launched using AppsAnywhere in a web browser. The technology also improves administration, monitoring, and control over the software.
• Access to U-M Box and U-M Google Drive Files – Files stored to U-M Box and U-M Google Drive will be available on Sites Windows computers and Virtual Sites as network drives. After signing into a Sites computer, a popup will appear to walk through the steps to authorize the new tool, Kumo. After granting access to Kumo, the files in U-M Box and U-M Google Drive can be used with applications on Campus Computing Sites computers—without downloading and uploading a new version after editing.  

“This fall, we’re taking an initial step to reach our vision of making Sites applications available to users on their personally managed computers,” says Bob Jones, interim executive director of support services for ITS. “We are excited to use a new technology called Cloudpaging to deliver applications to Sites computers. With the availability of Follow Me printing, application streaming to personally managed devices, and cloud storage services like Box and Google Drive, we aim to make many of the Sites capabilities available on most devices, anytime, anywhere.”

AppsAnywhere uses Cloudpaging, the same software-on-demand service as the College of Engineering’s CAEN Lab Software Environment. CLSE software will also be available via the AppsAnywhere software portal on Campus Computing Sites computers.

If you have questions or concerns about the software change, please contact the Campus Computing Sites team at sites.software@umich.edu. If you have general questions or need assistance with Sites computers or Virtual Sites, contact the ITS Service Center.