noticeboard.ru.ac.za

During the Tuesday, November 6th 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
  • 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)
• Access switches: software on a number of access switches will be updated, causing a network outage (including IP telephones and Wi-Fi access) of around an hour in the following buildings. 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 on Wednesday.
  
  • Bangor House
  • Barratt Lecture Complex
  • Botany Building
• 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.