Potential UofT Network Disruption on Aug 17, 2011

Due to transformer work starting at 5pm on August 17, 2011 there is a small possibility that some UofT email and network service may be disrupted.

Here is the advisory that was issued:

Notice of potential disruption to central email and network services

Construction of the new central administrative data centre in the McLennan Physics building will include a transformer replacement.  In preparation, it is necessary to re-feed one of the three Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) units in the existing data centre from a different power source.

While we have undertaken extensive preparatory work in advance of the cutover, there nevertheless remains an element of risk in the event that the UPS does not automatically switch to battery power as it should.  If that were to occur, devices powered solely from this UPS would lose power.  Some of the services that could be affected include:  UTORmail, Exchange, Campus Wireless & GTAnet access. To increase the amount of battery backup time available for the electricians to do their work, we may also need to shutdown some customer-facing components of UTORmail during the cutover and in order to reduce the risks associated with an uncontrolled shutdown.

We will be conducting the electrical cutover on Wednesday August 17th starting at 5pm.

 

Although everything will be done to reduce the chance of users experiencing any service interruption at all, we wish to give you advance notice to permit you to make scheduling adjustments that would reduce the impact if an outage occurred.    We will send out a follow-up message to advise when the electrical work is complete.

If you have any questions or concerns about this work, please send an email to the Network Operations Centre:  net-ops@noc.utoronto.ca