February 2002
ITC has in effect a policy governing the way we let you know about activities that have known potential to interrupt access to networks or systems. These would be things like upgrades to the Enterprise Server or a Research Computing cluster that require us to block user logins, server maintenance in a public lab that causes certain software or functions like printing to be unavailable, or planned activity by Facilities Management that affects electrical service to buildings where we have equipment. Some things, like thunderstorms or construction crews cutting powerlines, are beyond our control and definitely not planned. We will also be letting you know about these when they've interrupted our service and problems may be continuing.
The primary mechanism for notification about service interruptions will be a posting (notice) to the USENET newsgroup "uva.announce.downtime." Downtimes will also be posted to ITCWeb, ITC's comprehensive computing and communications website, at http://www.itc.virginia.edu/pubs/postnews/. If you need information about accessing USENET newsgroups or ITCWeb, please contact the ITC Computing Help Desk at 924-3731). These notices will be labeled on the first line as "ITC PLANNED DOWNTIME," "ITC UNPLANNED DOWNTIME," or "ITC NOTICE OF WORK." The third category is for activities that we do not anticipate will impact users of our machines or facilities, but which, nevertheless have that potential.
In the case of planned downtimes or work notices, we will be giving at least 48 hours' advance notice. As soon as possible after an unplanned outage, ITC staff will post an item to "uva.announce.downtime" which gives a brief description of the extent, duration, and cause of these interruptions and also indicates any ongoing problems that may have resulted. ITC staff will notify the ITC Computing Help Desk of all downtimes and will provide the Help Desk with information about possible problems caused by these situations along with suggested solutions. Unless otherwise specified, you should call the Help Desk at 924-3731 with any questions that you might have. (In the case of some mainframe products' unavailability (like ISIS), the number for the appropriate administrative department within ITC to call will be posted.)
In addition to postings in the newsgroup and on-line news systems, ITC staff in various areas will develop additional, targeted notification procedures, such as mailing and phone lists. Wherever practical we will make those of you on an affected system or network aware of the existence of these lists so that you can identify yourselves or colleagues who should be included as well.