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Systems Support Users
Group Minutes |
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Systems Support Users
Group Minutes |
*Systems Support (SS) staff who rotate attending Users Group meetings.
A Chronicle of the Recent Server Crisis
What happened? Hodges explained the recent computer crash that occurred June 11-18. It was a catastrophic failure, especially considering the redundancy we have built into the system. Dell responded in a timely way on some things and not so timely on others. Dell’s advice to first do an initial CHKDSK (which took 12 hours) actually exacerbated the problem by corrupting data on the server. Microsoft was no help, either, and Systems Support had to clear the server and start rebuilding it, hoping the backup files would be successfully installed. They successfully restored 700,000 files, but University Advancement continued to have problems with corrupt data. Eventually, about a million files were restored, but the process took “forever” and a lot of bandwidth had to be used or “borrowed.”
Systems Support staff were commended for their diligence in working on the problems and for successfully returning files to normal. Hodges will continue to pursue the cause of the initial breakdown. For a complete written report of the server breakdown and the processes used to remedy it, contact Hodges. Hodges asked about staff sentiments and concerns about the system-wide failure.
What next? Systems Support if working with Dell to replace the existing storage system, and perhaps replace it with a unit with twice the capacity. Creating a large pool of storage will have to be done in increments, with data from Server 1 moved to Server 2 taking a lot of time, and will need to be a weekend project.
Anti-Spam Software
Roach reported that anti-spam software was installed June 16. It is free and checks known blacklisted addresses and a “personal” checklist SS made. The software also accommodates a whitelist of addresses that we always want to receive. So far the filter has caught 5,986 spam blacklisted e-mails.
Specific e-mails can be blocked or the content of e-mails can be scanned. Currently, Roach is monitoring the filtered e-mails; if you are expecting a specific e-mail and don’t receive it, check with him to see if it is one that was filtered and he can retrieve it.
Research shows that last year, spam e-mails were 20% of all e-mails, this year they are 50%, and AOL is reporting 80% spamming.
An agenda item for the next meeting will be to discuss user reactions to the anti-spam software and to consider buying the second part that filters for adult content. However, it will be difficult to create a universal filter for spam e-mails.
Possible Changes in the Standard Software Build
McCleskey explained that all SS users’ computers were initially installed with a standard build, with several kinds of software in the configuration. This year Itools for home will not include Netscape in the package. The choice, then, will be whether to eliminate Netscape entirely, continue to use the old version, or make a custom-built application. Users can get Netscape if they want, but this needs to be decided by the divisions before the next Users Group meeting. The main complaint about switching is the fear of losing bookmarks, but staff should be assured that bookmarks will import to Internet Explorer successfully.
SS also needs to know if users still want Real Player (which is getting to be a lot more obtrusive with new unwanted byproducts)—or if they are downloading Spinner. Real Player will not be included in the Itools package this year.
Members of the Users Group should poll their departments regarding which browser is being used and whether staff prefer to keep Real Player and get the feedback to McCleskey via e-mail before the next Users Group meeting.
1. At peak usage times (early a.m. and 4-5pm), e-mail is slowed somewhat; this is due to the Spam Filter.
2. Currently, there is storage for MP3 files, but backing it up takes a lot of time. The SS policy is to not have MP3 files on the server
3. Meeting Maker will remain the calendar to use for at least another year, when calendaring software will be revisited.
Meeting
brief prepared by
Cheryl Young
6-25-03