MyTeam Service Information

 

What is MyTeam?

MyTeam is a web-based file collaboration service that utilizes Microsoft's SharePoint Portal Server 2003 and the Windows SharePoint Services component to enable project-oriented teams to create web sites for information sharing, document collaboration and team organization.

What MyTeam is not:

MyTeam is not intended as a replacement for shared drives or other types of traditional network-based file storage nor should it be used to store the only existing copy of a file or files (see the Backup and Restore Policy below).

What can MyTeam offer your department or project team?

MyTeam allows individuals within a department and/or those involved in a project a central, web-based area to store and collaborate on documents as well as post announcements, meeting times and other information.  Additional features include; document versioning and searching, threaded discussions by topic and/or within documents, team member surveys and photo libraries/slideshows.

The bottom line is that MyTeam can enable users to locate distributed information quickly and efficiently, as well as connect to and work with others more productively.

Other Major Features:

How do I use the MyTeam service?

For your department or team to use MyTeam most effectively you will need to meet with Dan Dirks of Campus Services - Web Technology Services to assess your department’s needs. Please contact Dan via e-mail at: daniel-dirks@uiowa.edu

What are the client requirements for using MyTeam?

MyTeam, being a Microsoft technology-based service, works optimally using Internet Explorer 6.0 or later on Windows XP SP2.  That said, Firefox on both the Windows and the Macintosh platforms appears to be compatible with most site functions, however, administrative tasks (creating subsites, adding user permissions) is hit and miss on non-IE browsers.  Safari has proven to be incompatible with SharePoint-based sites.

Browser Security:

Authenticating (i.e. "logging in") to a MyTeam site with your HawkID/password using Internet Explorer is inherently secure.  However, when using Netscape, Firefox or other browsers it is important to access a site using the available SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) protocol. Invoking SSL encrypts and protects your HawkID and password.  To authenticate using SSL simply preface the URL of your site with https (note the s) instead of http.

Example: https://myteam.uiowa.edu/sites/myteaminfo

To add a MyTeam site as a Trusted Site in Internet Explorer:

Adding a site hosted on the MyTeam service as a "Trusted Site" in a local copy of Internet Explorer allows a user to leverage their domain log-in credentials (i.e. an individuals HawkID/password) for their local machine and pass them on to a MyTeam site. In practice this allows a user to avoid authentication prompts when accessing a SharePoint site to which they have permissions. This setting only works on systems located on campus that are within an Active Directory domain.

Note: Setting a MyTeam site as a Trusted Site in IE should only be done if an individual has a secure workstation as this setting allows a user to forego entering their HawkID/password to gain access to a MyTeam site. This practice should be avoided on shared or otherwise non-secure computers.

To set MyTeam as a trusted site in IE 6.0:

Backup and Restore Policy:

The backup and restore policy of the MyTeam service is dictated by the limitations and capabilities of the technology.

Specifically, each individual top site (myteam.uiowa.edu/sites/Top-Site-Name) and any subsites created under the top site are backed up en masse for disaster recovery only. Note: Top level sites (along with any subsites) are segregated and are backed up individually and can be restored separately from other top sites for purposes of disaster recovery.

A subsite created under a top site and the files/documents it may contain cannot be segregated and backed up individually or separately from its parent site or restored separately on the server. Essentially, there is no granular method of file-level backup and restoration available on the service provided by ITS.

What size of file(s) can be uploaded to a MyTeam site?

The maximum file size allowed when uploading is 50mb. This could be a single 50mb file or multiple files that combined are 50mb.

What is the cost for the service?