UPDATE: The VCU SecureNet network segment is fully functional again. The problem was related to the changes made last night for the trusted link between the VCUHS and VCU networks. The problem with SecureNet was resolved at 1:30pm but it introduced another problem for the VCUHS network users. The changes were then backed out and testing conducted to verify that everything was working. Again, please contact the Technology Services Help Desk with any questions at 828-2227.

MCV campus users on the SecureNet VCU network segment are having trouble accessing network resources this morning. The issue appears to be related to Domain Name Serving (DNS) from SecureNet. Users that left their computers on overnight are continuing to access the VCU resource they were attached to like the central VCU Novell server. However, any new server access requests are not being allowed. Both VCU and VCUHS networks staff are working on this issue. The problem is apparently related to the new "trusted link" that was setup last night between the VCU and VCUHS networks. For questions please contact the Technology Services Help Desk at 828-2227.

Posted by Sam Kennedy at 11:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Scheduled maintenance will be performed on the E-mail system Saturday, June 2, between 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. During this maintenance window, access to e-mail may be unavailable on your primary server. Access to your e-mail via your alternate server should be available automatically when accessing through VCU Mail Anywhere, or via your alternate server using an IMAP connection or the Notes client.

Posted by Connie Lowery at 8:00 AM | Permalink

Some students were not able to access their Blackboard courses between 10:00am and 4:45pm on Monday, May 28.

There was an issue with the daily enrollment feeds to Blackboard.

A fix is being put in place in an effort to avoid this problem in the future.

Posted by Sheila Chandler at 10:20 AM | Permalink

The Monroe Park campus is currently experiencing a network connectivity problem due to a DHCP server failure. Network Services is working to resolve the problem. If you have any questions please call the Help Desk at 828-2227.

Posted by Sam Kennedy at 3:43 PM | Permalink

The eDirectory governs authentication to systems such as Lotus Notes, Blackboard, myVCU portal and various web servers at VCU. This system will be updated on Sunday, May 20. Users should not be affected by this change. If users do experience issues with logging into systems please contact the Technology Services Help Desk at help@vcu.edu or by calling 828-2227.

Posted by Sam Kennedy at 12:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Scheduled maintenance will be performed on the E-mail system Sunday, May 20, between 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. During this maintenance window, access to e-mail may be unavailable on your primary server. Access to your e-mail via your alternate server should be available automatically when accessing through VCU Mail Anywhere, or via your alternate server using an IMAP connection or the Notes client.

Posted by Connie Lowery at 11:39 AM | Permalink

The Production Banner systems (Banner INB Forms and Self-Service Banner) will not be available starting at 6:00 pm this Friday May 18th; user access should be restored approximately 2 hours later, 8:00 pm Friday evening. Required database maintenance will be applied during this time.

Posted by Sam Kennedy at 9:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The portal will be down for maintenance from 5:30am to 7:00am on Monday May 14th, 2007.

Posted by Hugh Eaves at 9:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Effective May 11th, all Mail1/Mail2 accounts will be inactive. The Webmail interface for Mail1/Mail2 access will be discontinued as of May 16th. All VCU e-mail users should use either VCU Mail Anywhere, myVCU portal, IMAP, or the Lotus Notes client for e-mail access. For additional assistance, please contact the Technology Services Help Desk at 828-2227 or send an e-mail to Doctor Notes at dnotes@vcu.edu

Posted by Connie Lowery at 1:40 PM | Permalink

Blackboard will be unavailable May 14-18 during an upgrade to version 7.
Check progress at http://blog.vcu.edu/blackboard.

For further assistance contact:
Technology Services Help Desk Contact Information
Phone: 828-2227
Email: help@vcu.edu
Help ticket: http://www.ts.vcu.edu/helpdesk/

Bb Training/Instructional Assistance
http://www.pubinfo.vcu.edu/training/it/search.asp (enter Keyword: Blackboard)
Center for Teaching Excellence - http://www.vcu.edu/cte/

Posted by Eric Harvey at 1:34 PM | Permalink

The Mobile Computing Initiative program, also known as G2GMobile@VCU, has selected the award winning Lenovo Thinkpad laptop as the signature product for the program. Thinkpad laptops have been setting the standard for mobile computing since their introduction by IBM in 1992. Lenovo purchased IBM's consumer PC business unit in 2005. In 2006 the Lenovo Thinkpad was awarded the PC Magazine 2006 Reader's Choice Award (August 2006 issue) for PC-based laptops. The same survey found Lenovo was tops in support for PC-based laptops as well. To learn more about the G2GMobile@VCU program click here.

Posted by Sam Kennedy at 12:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Technology Services begins installation of VCU's new phone system in the VCUHS Medical Center buildings. Occupants of these buildings may click here for information regarding training sessions or to download training materials. If any problems should occur after installation, dial *90 or 827-8353 for assistance. Group 30 of the ePhones project has started with 12 groups remaining to complete the ePhones implementation at VCU.

Posted by Sam Kennedy at 12:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last year a Standard for Strong Passwords requirement was established for the VCU eID to better secure the personal data of the VCU community. The first users to be required to meet this standard were the fiscal and personnel administrators at the University. This past spring students were required to set their eID passwords to meet this new standard before they were able to register for classes. Beginning in October 2007 all faculty and staff who have not set eID passwords to meet this new standard will be required to do so. This will be a phased process so that not everyone will be required to change their password at the same time. Faculty and staff will receive three email notifications that informs them on what date their current password will expire and how to set their new password. If you have questions about this process please contact the Technology Services Help Desk at 828-2227.

Posted by Sam Kennedy at 12:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The areas surrounding VCU are currently experiencing a power outage. As a result there will be periodic network connection disruptions for some users on campus. Once power is restored the network should come back online as well. Please contact the Technology Services Help Desk at 828-2227 with any questions. Thank you.

Posted by Sam Kennedy at 10:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Student accounts receivable will be loaded into Banner on May 4th, another significant project milestone. While Banner will be available for use, you may see slower performance than usual, especially Friday afternoon. Thank you for your patience. (Processing 1.6 million student transaction records, followed by a complex application of payments routine that is expected to run 8-10 hours, will utilize a substantial portion of our processing power.)

Posted by Sam Kennedy at 10:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

E-Mail Services staff are currently working on student e-mail server VRAM12C. Students should be automatically connected to their mailfile via a web browser or can connect to their alternate server, vramimap12.vcu.edu via an IMAP connection.

Posted by Connie Lowery at 9:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Oak3 is currently available. E-Mail Services staff will continue to monitor throughout the night. For further assistance, please contact the Technology Services Helpdesk at 828-2227.

Posted by Connie Lowery at 8:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

E-Mail Services is working to bring student e-mail server VRAM12C on-line. Students should automatically connect to their alternate server via a web browser or connect to their alternate IMAP service, vramimap12.vcu.edu.

Posted by Connie Lowery at 8:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

E-Mail Services continues to work with Lotus Support to resolve issues with Oak3. Once the server is brought back on-line, replication between servers will run to synchronize documents automatically.

If you cannot connect to your alternate server, Aspen3, please contact the Technology Services Helpdesk at 828-2227 for further assistance.

Posted by Connie Lowery at 1:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

E-mail Services is currently working to resolve slow response time on faculty staff server Aspen, as well as outage conditions on Oak3. Users can switch to their alternate servers, Oak or Aspen3. Please call the Technology Services Helpdesk at 828-2227 for further assistance.

Posted by Connie Lowery at 10:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)