Updated: v3.0 @ Fri, 31 Aug 2018 17:02:46 SAST
During the Tuesday, September 4th maintenance window, maintenance work affecting a number of services will occur, starting at 5:30 PM and being completed before midnight.
A number of network outages are expected. If devices are not able to connect after the maintenance window, please restart the device in question, and if the problem persists, report to the service desk via support@ru.ac.za or 046 603 8288.
The following work is planned:
- Data centres distribution routers: software will be updated on the distribution routers serving the university data centres. Brief outages are expected, but should the update fail, there is a risk of widespread service disruption for around an hour. This work will not start before 9:30 PM.
- Server software updates: software on the servers which provide the following services will be updated, resulting in outages of up to 30 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
- 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)
- North campus distribution routers: software will be updated on the distribution routers for the area of campus north of Prince Alfred St and east of South St. Brief outages are expected, during which time no network services (including IP telephones and Wi-Fi access) will be available within that area.
- Access switches:software on a number of access switches will be updated, causing a network outage (including IP telephones and Wi-Fi access) of up to fifteen minutes in the following buildings:
- DIFS Stables
- Geography
- Geology
- HKE
- IWR
- Life Sciences
- RATT servers
- School of Languages
- Wireless links: software on point-to-point wireless link devices will be updated. This will cause network outages (including IP telephones and Wi-Fi access) of up to ten minutes in the following buildings:
- 1 and 3 On Luke
- 36 Somerset St
- 7 Croft St
- Duna, Fingo Village and Hill St Libraries
- New Holland
- The Provost
- VC's Lodge
- Core routers: software will be updated on the core network routers. As these routers operate as a redundant pair, no noticeable outage is expected during this maintenance.
- Firewalls: software will be updated on the firewalls which connect the Internet to the campus, SEALS and public networks. As the firewalls operate as a redundant pair, no noticeable outage is 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.