noticeboard.ru.ac.za

During the Tuesday, June 7th maintenance window, maintenance work affecting a number of services will occur, starting at 5:30 PM and being completed before midnight. The following work is planned:

• Server software updates: software on the servers which provide the following services will be updated, resulting in outages of up to 15 minutes per server:
  • DNS
  • DHCP
  • NTP
  • RT
  • Web proxies
  • Registration system
  • Incoming e-mail
  • Outgoing e-mail
  • E-mail mailboxes
  • Webmail
  • Mailing lists
  • SMS
  • Apple Software Update Server
  • Provisioning (web proxy autodiscovery, telephone provisioning)
  • Wi-Fi and VPN authentication
  • CHERTL Evaluation Assistant
  • Network graphs
  • Guest network access
  • Network monitoring
  • Terminal Four content management system
  • RU Single Sign-On system
  • Main web server (www.ru.ac.za, etc)
  • University administration and meal booking systems
  • SEALS Library consortium services
  • Network printing services (iPrint / PaperCut)
  • Home directories (gnu, jackal)
• Distribution routers: software on the distribution routers for the north campus and mid campus sectors will be updated.  Outages of around fifteen minutes are expected, during which time no network services (including IP telephones and Wi-Fi access) will be available within the affected sectors.
• Access switches: software on a number of access switches will be updated, causing a network outage of up to ten minutes in the following buildings:
  
  • Main library (new PC lab)
• Firewalls: software on the firewalls which connect the Internet to the campus, SEALS and public networks will be updated. As the firewalls operate as a redundant pair, no noticeable outages are expected during this maintenance.
• VPN service: software on the router which provides VPN services will be updated. An outage of up to an hour is expected.
• Core router: software on one of the core routers will be updated. As the core routers operate as a redundant pair, no noticeable outages are expected during this maintenance.

While we try to publish a list of all service-affecting work here in advance, the list should not be considered exhaustive and other low impact work may also be undertaken during the maintenance window.

This maintenance work is being undertaken in the ITSC-approved scheduled maintenance window. More information about maintenance windows and maintenance periods.