New switch will help reduce campus computing, network services interruptions during power outages

New switch will help reduce campus computing, network services interruptions during power outagesOctober 15, 2007Judy Holmesjlholmes@syr.edu

Information Technology and Services is working with the Office of Campus Planning, Design & Construction to install new power transfer switches in Machinery Hall that will help insure continued operation of the University’s computer network in the instance of a power failure. Installing the switch is a complicated task — estimated to take 18 hours — and will require ITS staff members to power down some of the University’s central computing services at various times during the process.

Work to install the power transfer switches will be done on Saturday, Oct. 27, and Sunday, Oct. 28. During the installation, ITS anticipates no interruption in Internet connectivity on the wired or wireless networks, e-mail service, Blackberry service, voice mail or Blackboard, all of which should be available the entire weekend.

However, the electrical work will cause the services listed below to be interrupted for about four hours each day. On Oct. 27, the services will be interrupted from 4-8 a.m.; on Oct. 28, the services will be interrupted from 6-11 a.m.

Services that will not be available during the interruptions are the MySlice portal and all the services accessed through MySlice, including:

• HRSA;
• Financials, Accounting and Budget System (FAB);
• MyReports;
• all services offered under the student services pagelet in MySlice, including advising, enrollment and account information services, holds, grades, SUpercard points, share my access, course catalog and class search; and
• all services offered under the employee and faculty pagelets in MySlice.

In addition, NetID activation services will not be available.

For responses to questions about the power transfer switch installation, e-mail ITS at consult@syr.edu or call the ITS help desk at 443-2677.