This article explains how to request software by completing and submitting the Academic Software Requests form.

Background

iSolutions delivers over 1000 applications for teaching and research to

• Windows, Mac and Linux desktops and laptops
• The Southampton Virtual Environment
• The Software download site

Faculties can request software for teaching and research by their students for the next academic year (2024-2025) through the Academic Software Requests form.

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Requesting Software

The form is split into two main sections:

• Software Usage Information: to provide general information about who will be using the software you request and where and when it will be required.
• Software Types: broken up into sections to help build up the list of the software required.

Please provide as much information as possible. Although you may not know all the information at this time, the more detail provided enables iSolutions to better:

• Collate and analyse the requests
• Undertake negotiations with suppliers
• Provide feedback to the Faculties
• Liaise with relevant academics for application configuration and testing
• Ensure that the relevant software is available when and where it is required

Please note: to ensure your requests are available at the start of the academic year please make sure you submit your requests by Friday 28 / 06/ 2024.

Please note we will accept requests after this deadline date but they will be a lower priority and may not be ready for the start of the academic year.

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How to Complete the Form

If you have any issues with using the form or any enquiries please contact ServiceLine. Our technicians will refer your query to your Faculty Business Partner or to the Software Team.

The form itself contains hints and tips to guide you through the process. Details are provided below on how to access this feature.

 

Login

Access the Faculty Software Provision form within ServiceNow. If you have not previously authenticated, you will have to login with your university username and password.

The form itself contains hints and tips to guide you through the process. Where you see an arrow and highlighted text, clicking on it will display further guidance. For example, select the question mark icon (?) by the course codes to display more information:

 

Software usage information

Please fill out the four boxes in this section with as much information as possible. Click on the Arrows for more guidance.

 

Software types

This gives the opportunity to build up the list of software you need. There are 5 sections:

1. ‘Core’
2. ‘Departmental’
3. ‘Mac’
4. 'Linux'
5. ‘New’

The Core and Dept sections are the most widely used and are automatically displayed. If you wish to request Mac items or New items, click in the tick boxes to display those sections.

 

Making software selections

If you completed a form last year, your previously selected items should automatically appear in the ‘selected list’. Please review the software and make sure it is still required for next academic year.

To remove an item, select the X next to the Name. To add another item, select the field and either scroll down the list of applications or start typing the application’s name.

An example - how to add Matlab

1. After typing a few letters ('mat', in the example shown in the following picture), you should see the application you require.
2. In this case the Matlab 64 bit (Numerical Modelling) entry is displayed as shown below.
3. By selecting the application, it will be added to your chosen software list.

If the item is not listed, please select the New Software option from the Software types section. Enter the software name in the 'Complete Software list' field and select it if available.

If it is not available fill in the New Software Required fields.

 

Core software

These applications are industry leading in their fields and are used by staff and students across a number of Faculties.

The categories in the brackets refer to the function of the application.

To streamline the lists, some common items (such as Microsoft Office) do not appear in the lists. These items will be provided and do not need to be re-requested.

 

Departmental software

These applications are more specialised and specific to a smaller group of users in one or more academic units.

The categories in brackets refer to the academic unit. The list will only display items relevant to your Faculty but you can narrow the list further to your academic unit by typing in the Search box.

 

Mac software

If you wish to request software for the use of students or researchers on MacOS, please check the MacOS Software box under Software Type. Then select the relevant software required from the list picker.

 

Linux software

If you wish to request software for the use of students or researchers on Red Hat, please check the LinuxOS Software box under Software Type. Then select the relevant software required from the list picker.

 

New software

If you wish to request software that was not displayed in the other lists, please check the New Software box under Software Types. This displays a list of all currently available software: please use the Search box to check that the item is not already available or was not visible in the other lists.

If you cannot find the software in the list, please use the check box to select the number of new items you require. Complete then the relevant boxes for each one.

 

Additional resources

Please use this box to give any extra information. We are particularly interested in capturing information about online resources that students may be using that are not captured elsewhere.

Please also use this box to give details of any particular requirements for:

• The software (particular versions or configuration required)
• Any particular hardware requirements
• Remote teaching or research requirements
• Suggestions for improvements to the workstation and software provision

 

Submit form

Once you have completed the form, please click the Submit button (at the top or bottom of form). When submitted, you will receive a confirmation email. We may contact you for further information in due course.

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What happens next?

• June 2024: Request Period. All requests must be completed by June 28th 2024. Any requests received after this date will not be prioritised and cannot be guaranteed for delivery for the start of Academic Year
• July 2024: iSolutions collates and analyses the requests
• August 2024: The summer upgrade is planned and Faculties contacted to confirm the software portfolio and costs for the next academic year
• August – October 2024: Technical delivery of the required software upgrades to the workstations and the SVE. Tutors contacted to arrange for testing of the applications prior to their use.

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Notes

Adobe CS6 Removal

Adobe Creative Suite, version 6 will no longer be available on the Common Learning Spaces. Alternatives are available, for further information please see the article "Removal of Adobe CS6 from university computers."

 

ArcGIS Pro replacing ArcGIS Desktop

ArcGIS Desktop is being deprecated by ESRI.  ArcGIS Pro will be the version installed on Common Learning Spaces for next Academic Year. Please see the article "How to log in to ArcGIS Online accounts" for further information.

 

Windows 10 / Windows 11

The Common Learning Spaces will be a mixture of Windows 10 and Windows 11 for academic year 2024/2025. The user experience, accessing and using the required software applications is very similar between the two operating systems.

 

Apple macOS

MacOS 13 (Ventura) is the current supported OS. MacOS 14 (Sonoma) is being tested and developed with a view to being in place for the start of next academic year 2024/2025.

 

Linux

The current supported Linux desktop for researchers is Red Hat 8. Red Hat 9 is in the final stages of testing before release.

 

Southampton Virtual Environment

The applications currently provided on SVE will be updated to the same version as on the university desktop systems.  The number of applications available on the SVE will continue to be increased (depending on licensing and technical considerations).