I would like to provide what Leica Microsystems recommends to its confocal
users regarding networking and third party software:
Computers used by multiple users or with connections to the internet are
often targeted by viruses and other harmful exploits from intruders. The
installation and regular update of virus scanners, firewalls and operating
system upgrades and hotfixes is a good practice to avoid system damages and
loss or corruption of data.
The confocal software, LAS AF, installed from Leica Microsystems does not
require any particular protection software. Although we do not recommend
installation of third party software, the confocal software will run with
most of the commonly available antivirus and third party software products.
The variety of third party software is large and updates and hotfixes for
the third party software are provided regularly. A guarantee that each
available update, virus scanner or firewall will be compatible with
software from Leica Microsystems cannot be given and we therefore recommend
the following:
The confocal workstation is designed and built to drive the confocal
hardware attached. It is not designed to be a personal PC.
We recommend that you do not connect to the Internet (WWW) with the
confocal system workstation. However, the system can be networked to
allow data transfer from the workstation to peripheral workstations.
Networks vary with regard to structure and configuration. If you
need further information on networking your confocal system
workstation please contact your network administrator.
We do not recommend installation of third party software on the
confocal workstation. We can not test the compatibility of all third
party software and updates of hotfixes with the software driving the
confocal system.
From Leica Microsystems CMS GmbH there will be the recommendation to
install all available updates and hotfixes from Microsoft. Upgrades
like “Service Packs” should only be installed after confirmation from
Leica Microsystems. Virus scanners and firewalls must be tried out;
we have no special recommendation for preference.
The confocal system is guaranteed to perform to specifications only
in the original state it was delivered and installed. If third party
software (image analysis, antivirus, etc) is required we can not
guarantee that the system will perform to specifications. In case of
unacceptable results to the confocal system after installation of a
third party software we recommend removal of the software or
update/hotfix separately to restore functionality to the system.
All antivirus software installed must be prevented from “Live”
scanning the confocal system working directories:
Firewalls must allow full access for the confocal system network
connection.
If you have further questions regarding networking or third party software
installation, please contact your local Leica Microsystems Sales or Service
Representative.
____________________________________________
Scott Young
Product Manager SP5 Confocal Systems
Leica Microsystems CMS GmbH
Am Friedensplatz 3 | 68165 Mannheim (Germany)
Phone : +49 621 7028 1151 | Fax : +49 621 7028 2780
Cell: +49 172 729 34 17
Leica Microsystems CMS GmbH | GmbH mit Sitz in Wetzlar | Amtsgericht
Wetzlar HRB 2432
Geschäftsführer : Dr. Stefan Traeger | Dr. David R. Martyr | Colin Davis |
Dr. Wolf-Otto Reuter
E-Mail: [log in to unmask]
Confocal Microscopy List <[log in to unmask]> wrote on
15.08.2008 09:29:13:
> Search the CONFOCAL archive at
> http://listserv.acsu.buffalo.edu/cgi-bin/wa?S1=confocal
>
> I have received many replies to this -- most of them off list. So
> first, thank
> you to the many Leica users who replied. There are too many (and
> more coming
> in, to reply personally to everyone who wrote, but it is greatly
appreciated.
>
> The consensus of the replies (so far about a dozen replies) is that one
must
> exercise care, but most everyone who wrote has added something to
> their system
> (usually ImageJ, admin utilities, and similar). Most have their computer
> networked, with some antivirus. None appear to have been ordered by
> Leica not to
> put anything on their machine, but Leica did recommend (at least
> to some)that
> other programs not be added.
>
> One responder asked why we would want to add anything. We of course do
not
> intend to turn this into a general use computer, but there are some
additions
> that I consider important. I should add that we have not yet received
the
> machine -- the rep had visited to inspect the installation site, and
> apparently
> he wanted to "lay down the law". So I am not sure exactly what it
included in
> the Leica software installation.
>
> 1. A compression utility, such as WINZIP. Last time I saw the Leica image
> format, it was uncompressed. Lossless LZW compression can save
> 30-50%, depending
> on the images, and even more if you have two channels stored in
> uncompressed RGB
> (becasue the third channel is identically zero). The datasets can be
very
> large, and transferring compressed files can save time.
>
> 2. ImageJ + bioformats plugin. We prefer this to the utilities that the
> manufacturers sometimes provide to read their special formats. We often
put
> ImageJ+appropriate plugins onto data DVDs that we burn. It saves
> time because
> the users have something with which they can read their files. We
> can tell them
> to install ImageJ at their end until we are blue in the face -- it
> is easier to
> just give them a working copy.
>
> 3. Network -- I prefer to leave a machine which is dedicated to
> running hardware
> off of the network. However, if Leica is anyway going to make us
> connect it to
> the network, then I want to use that to transfer intermediate sized data
sets
> (too small to justify burning a DVD, too large for a flashdisk). I
> know DVDs are
> cheap, but there are ecological considerations... BTW -- a few responses
> mentioned that they are running antivirus software without problems.
>
> 4. Someone warned against installing Microscoft office on the system. I
would
> extend this warning any Microsoft software. They apparently believe
> that it is
> ok for software to fiddle with system files, drivers, whatever. However,
> OpenOffice would be nice, mainly for being able to conveniently make
> notes about
> the system or the experiment.
>
> 5. Finally, we may want to put some tracking or auditing software on
> the system.
>
> Someone asked if we were talking about an SPE, because that system has
real
> restrictions on its OS. I can assure you all that are talking about an
SP5.
>
> --aryeh
> --
> Aryeh Weiss
> School of Engineering
> Bar Ilan University
> Ramat Gan 52900 Israel
>
> Ph: 972-3-5317638
> FAX: 972-3-7384050
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