By David R Cole

Workaround for HOD issue after Java update

February 24th, 2011 in Support Information

Problem:
When upgrading to Sun Java 6.0 update 15, 16, or 17, the IBM Host On-Demand cached client and download client no longer loads in any browser.
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Exchange maintenance – 2/24 to 3/6

February 24th, 2011 in Support Information

Some clients who read mail on Exchange will moved from a few large
databases to several smaller databases. This will improve performance and
improve backup and restore time. Clients will not be able to access their
mailbox while their mailbox is being moved. Systems would like to move
mailboxes in bulk between 11pm & 6am during the time frame in question.
Clients would not be scheduled on a specific date but rather could be
moved in a window of days. When specific clients are moved will in part
depend on how quickly Gene can move accounts each night. All clients are
notified at least 5 days in advance and told what their migration window
will be in case they need to opt-out.
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CSS workstations at Mugar

February 24th, 2011 in General News

Student employees should not be using the two CSS workstations at Mugar. Only the front counter and the other two student desks should be used. Additionally, you should never install software on any IT Help Center computers without first getting permission from a CSS.

Upgrade to Flash streaming server on 2/24

February 23rd, 2011 in Support Information

Tomorrow morning, Thursday 2/24, at 2:00 AM Systems will replace the "Flash Media Server 2.5" software with "Flash Streaming Server 3.5" software on one of two server systems that provides streaming video service at hostname flash.bu.edu.

This same change was put into production long ago on the other system in that cluster, so Systems isn't expecting any incidents related to client-end compatibility.

As always, create a ticket for any calls received about streaming video issues and assign them to "IS&T: Network Information Services".

ENG NetApp

February 13th, 2011 in Support Information

Just a reminder to everyone that CFA (along with all of ENG, LAW, and MET) have home directories on the ENG NetApp.

If one of these colleges has an issue with their Fileserver, we need to get Engineering IT involved quickly and make sure the NetApp is up and running.

When the NetApp is down, clients will experience 5-10min logon times to their desktop and/or ThinClient VDI station (including Mugar).

Multiple service outage planned for Sunday 2/13 12am-6am

February 10th, 2011 in General News, Service Interruptions

Date: Sunday February 13th, 2011
Duration: 12:00 AM to 6:00 AM
Services affected: Mainframe, Mainframe Applications, Mainframe Central Printing, Mainframe Local Printing, Mainframe Connection software, Mainframe Online reports, ADABAS, Alumni Systems Management, Batch Jobs, Business Intelligence, DB2 – Datacard, Document Imaging , Faculty Systems Management, Financial Systems Management, GALAXY, Graduate Systems Management, HR Systems Management, IBM Pseries, zLinux clusters, Microsoft SQL Server (SEVIS), Oracle (Document Imaging, iMedris, Portfolio Management), Reporting and Analytics, Ricoh Print services, Student Systems Management, BUWorks, The Links, Blackboard, Blackboard Vista, departmental file shares and applications, and backup services
Description of impact: All services will be unavailable for the duration of this change
Actions to be taken: Take 881 machine room power source off of generator/UPS and connect to utility power/UPS
Reason or benefit: Maintain the availability of the mainframe and all servers in 881 machine room

Web Conferencing unavailable on Saturday 2/12 7am-5pm

February 10th, 2011 in General News, Service Interruptions

Date: Saturday February 12th, 2011
Duration: 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Services affected: Web Conferencing
Description of impact: All services will be intermttently unavailable during this change
Actions to be taken: Adobe Connect will perform system maintenance

Forged check scam targeting BU students

February 10th, 2011 in General News, Support Information

A number of Boston University students have reported receiving the following email from an individual claiming to work for LinkShare Corporation, an ecommerce business:

Good Day, We received your resume from your university/college career services and we would like to know if you are still searching for a job/position. Any interested applicant can please get back to us with immediate effect. Thanks for your co-operation. Regards, Michael Ferguson.

While LinkShare Corporation is a legitimate online marketing service, the perpetrators of the fraud have set up a fraudulent Hotmail.com email account that uses the LinkShare business name.

The job/position involves the victim acting as a middleman whose job it is to receive business checks via Federal Express from a buyer and cash them using his or her own checking account and then to forward the money via Money Gram to a third party vendor. The victim is instructed via email to deduct 10% for their pay and then wire the remaining money to the third party. While the company name and banking information printed on the checks is real, the checks themselves are forgeries.

Any victim that deposits these checks into their personal bank account will be notified by their bank that the checks are forgeries and will then be required to reimburse their bank. Even though the forged checks are cleared through your bank, if they are returned by the issuing (payor) bank to your banking institution as forgeries you will be liable for the money.

There are numerous variations of this forged check scheme so you are strongly urged not to take part in any similar transactions. In particular, you should avoid taking part in any transaction in which you are requested to cash a check by anyone not personally known and trusted by you.

If we receive any tickets or call about this scam, please assign them to Sean Pfeiffer - sean@bu.edu.

Tech Status messages in One Help

February 9th, 2011 in General News

We will now receive a copy of any Tech Status email messages in One Help. If you see these messages arrive, please tag them as an FYI ticket. It should be helpful to have this information in One Help as a source of quickly communicating to all staff and student employees.

Telephone voice mail unavailable from 10PM on 2/5 until 10AM on 2/6

February 4th, 2011 in General News, Service Interruptions

Update: full information about this upgrade are available here:
http://www.bu.edu/tech/comm/phone/voicemail/conversion/

Date: Saturday February 5th and Sunday February 6th, 2011
Duration: 10:00 PM to 10:00 AM
Services affected: Telephone voice mail
Description of impact: Services will be unavailable throughout the duration of this change
Actions to be taken: Upgrade campus voice mail system