What is ACS Software Distribution?

ACS Software Distribution is more like a wholesale business than anything else. We get the UCSD campus the lowest price for bulk purchases of software in almost any category we can. All these programs from DEC, to Sun, to Eudora, to Microsoft must be self supporting.

This does not replace the purchase of software by individuals from the UCSD bookstore, but rather supplements it for the bulk quantity purchasers.

Most of the programs are quantity purchase agreements with a single contact per department. A few allow individuals to participate. Almost none of the ACS distribution programs are Site Licenses. In any of these programs, there is no requirement that departments participate in the programs. Almost any software vendor will be more than willing to individually sell products, and many at a substantial educational discount.

The ACS programs are aimed at the rock bottom price... with minimal support if any, minimal service, quite often only providing the bit we refer to as "licenses", as a piece of paper, and nothing else.

We suggest that anyone wishing to use Microsoft, or Claris products specifically, purchase a shrinkwrapped package from the UCSD Bookstore for their initial license and distribution disks. This will ensure you have the disks, the manuals, and more importantly access to the company support. ACS Software Distribution is a good source of additional new licenses, and maintenance of existing licenses.

Complete information on the programs, and their terms is online. HTTP or gopher to: userserve.ucsd.edu, or use Appleshare to look in the zone ACC, Machine UserServe, folder public in the folder ACS Software Lib Info. Also you can modem to x44487 for the same information.

ACS Software Distribution operates the campus central software archives on UserServe, NTServe, and acsftp.ucsd.edu. These hold freely distributable shareware, freeware and some site licensed software packages. This includes shareware and freeware current antiviral programs.

ACS Software Distribution Agreements:
BSDi (Unix on PC's)
Claris/Apple (Mac and Windows)
Digital Equipment Corporation
(VMS, Ultrix, OSF/1, Digital Unix, PC, software)
Dr. Solomon's Anti-Virus Toolkit
(Windows, Mac, DOS, Windows NT
OS/2, SCO Unix)
Eudora by Qualcomm (Mac and Windows
with supporting net software package)
Franz Allegro Common Lisp
Hewlett Packard (Some university
workstations)
IBM (Some university workstations)
Lotus (Most products in quantity 20)
Macintosh-other (MacHTTP, Macping)
Maple from Waterloo (Most Platforms)
Matlab from the Mathworks (Workstations)
MicroSoft (Most Windows, Mac, DOS, and
Windows NT products)
OS/F Motif
PC Software- other (like MKS ToolKit)
SAS Institute (SAS for most platforms)
Silicon Graphics Inc. (University
Workstations)
Sun Microsystems (University Workstations)
Systat by SPSS (PC, Macintosh, Windows)
True Basic (PC and Macintosh)
UC Letterhead (Macintosh format - to
department heads only)

Email to swdist@ucsd.edu or call x49676 for additional information.
4/11/97 mws .