Students' e-mail capacity increases

Winston-Salem State students will be using a new e-mail server and will no longer see the message ‘Your mailbox is over its size limit' in their inbox.

It has been five years since there has been a significant change to the school's e-mail server.

The new e-mail server WSSU will be using is Microsoft Live@Edu. The conversion will take place the week of March 7.

the new system will consist of a larger mailbox capacity of 10 gigabytes. Gigabytes are units of data storage on the server that will allow more room for incoming e-mails. The current server only holds .145 megabytes.

The server will have a 25-gigabyte storage space using Windows Live Skydrive.

Skydrive is used to back up and share files online. Applications will be available to use on Live@Edu such as Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel. Windows Live Writer and Windows Instant messaging will also be accessible on the server.

Students will be able to store files online and share them with teachers and other students. Students can recover deleted items for up to 30 days.

"Through interactions with SGA, the Information Technology administration decided to change the server," said Terry Harmon, the director of IT Infrastructure and Client Services.

The new e-mail addresses will have the domain of rams.wssu.edu. The IT administration will be evaluating whether to keep the old server for a limited time after Live@Edu is available.

Evon Crooks, the technology support specialist says any e-mails that are on the old server will be moved to the new server.

"We will synchronize the old server with the new server," Crooks said.

"It will take an estimated four-to-six days to complete."

"With using Live@Edu, we can make sure service is up and running properly," Harmon said.

SGA president Jonathan Jackson says that he is grateful that Harmon and the IT administration worked closely with SGA to meet the needs of the students involving the e-mail server.

"Student Government Association has been piloting the new system, playing with the many features to ensure the students are getting all they want out the system," Jackson said.

"The simple fact that students will not be getting that ‘System Administrator' e-mail every night is reason enough to celebrate the e-mail server."

The new server will only be available to students and WSSU alumni. It will be available to faculty and staff toward to end of the calendar year.