INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES
August 2006
return to Information Technology Services

Announcements from the Bulletin, Today, Notification-L

08/31/06, Academic, Admin Maintenance Friday 9/1
The Academic and Admin servers will be briefly taken down Friday, September 1, beginning at 5:00 PM to perform upgrades. Both servers will be back on-line by 5:30 PM the same day. We will be installing more memory and some remote management tools, which will enable us to respond more quickly to problems with less downtime. Your shared volumes on these servers will not be accessible during the downtime. These include your G: and H: drives, faculty Web pages and course folders. This may also affect departmental Web pages. E-mail, printing services, the College's main Web server and Internet access will not be affected. If you have questions, please contact Gabe Stitzel, stitzel@macalester.edu, x.6823. [Notification-L]

08/28/06, Power Interruption Tonight
Hi all,

Tonight at approximately 6:30 PM, a power interruption affected one of our server racks. Among the systems affected were the Web server, Novell Admin server, Novell Academic server, Odyssey PCS, Corporate Time and Recruitment Plus.

Power was restored and these systems were brought up again within approximately 1 hour. We apologize for the inconvenience. We have reconnected some of the systems to different circuits to help minimize the impact, should this problem happen again.

Thank you,
Ted Fines [Notification-L]

08/26/06, Moodle Server Restored
ITS Staff have restored the Moodle server and it is again available at moodle.macalester.edu. We are sorry for the outage this morning. If you have any questions, please contact Barron Koralesky (koralesky@macalester.edu). Thank you. [Notification-L]

08/26/06, Moodle Server Maintenance in Progress
The Moodle server is down for an apparent hardware issue. ITS staff are currently working on it and it will be back online as soon as possible. [Notification-L]

08/25/06, Apple Battery Recalls
This message gives information about TWO (2) Apple battery recalls, affecting different laptop and battery models. If you own or use any Apple laptop computer, please read all the way to the end.

Battery Recall #1 ("Safety")

Apple Computer Corporation has announced that some batteries shipped with some laptop computers from October 2003 to August 2006 are being recalled. There is a chance that defective batteries could overheat and could potentially start fires. As with the Dell battery recall earlier this month, the faulty batteries were manufactured by Sony Corporation. If your battery is affected, Apple will ship you a replacement at no charge. Full details may be found on Apple's Web pages, beginning here:

http://support.apple.com/batteryprogram

Here are the computers and batteries affected by the recall:

Computer model Battery model number Battery serial number range
12-inch iBook G4 A1061 ZZ338 - ZZ427
3K429 - 3K611
6C519 - 6C552
12-inch PowerBook G4 A1079 ZZ411 - ZZ427
3K428 - 3K611
15-inch PowerBook G4 A1078 and A1148 3K425 - 3K601
6N530 - 6N551
6N601

Macalester has purchased laptops from all of these model lines.

To determine whether your laptop battery might be recalled, please remove the battery from the laptop. Flip it over and look for the battery's serial number. If the first five digits of your battery's twelve-digit serial number fall within these ranges, please order a replacement from Apple immediately, through this Web page:

http://support.apple.com/batteryprogram.

If your battery qualifies for replacement, Apple will also ask for your computer's serial number and your shipping address. After verifying your computer's serial number, they will ship you a replacement battery free of charge. Don't throw the bad battery away. The shipment will include a pre-paid postage label so that you can return the defective battery to Apple in the same package.

Until your replacement battery arrives, you should leave the defective battery out of the laptop, and power your computer using the regular adapter.

If any of the above information is not clear, or if you want to make doubly sure that your battery is or is not affected, please bring your Apple laptop and battery to the ITS Help Desk in Humanities 314. We'll look it over and do all the checking for you. If your battery is being recalled we'll assist you in filling out the shipping information.

Battery Recall #2 ("Performance")

Apple has initiated a battery recall for some rechargeable batteries that were sold for use with 15-inch MacBook Pro computers from February 2006 through May 2006. Apple reports that these batteries do NOT pose a risk of overheating; they simply fail to meet Apple's battery performance standards. Macalester has purchased some MacBook Pro laptops that may contain recalled batteries. Full details may be found on Apple's Web pages, here:

https://support.apple.com/macbookpro15/batteryexchange/

Affected MacBook Pro batteries all have model number A1175 and a twelve-digit serial number that ends with U7SA, U7SB or U7SC. As above, you will need to remove the battery from the computer to verify its model and serial numbers. Replacement and return procedures are the same as noted above.

If any of the above information is not clear, or if you want to make doubly sure that your battery is or is not affected, please bring your Apple laptop and battery to the ITS Help Desk in Humanities 314. We'll look it over and do all the checking for you. If your battery is being recalled we'll assist you in filling out the shipping information. [Notification-L]

08/23/06, New Student E-Mail Account Change
Macalester e-mail accounts for new students were created earlier this summer, and new students were informed by direct mail. An error was made in that account creation. Usernames for new students under the alphanumeric convention (e.g. smit0001) are being replaced with usernames that follow the existing convention (e.g. jsmith). With the change in usernames, e-mail addresses for new students are also changing (e.g. smit0001@macalester.edu will become jsmith@macalester.edu). Please update your mailing lists and begin using these new e-mail addresses now.

E-mail messages that have already been sent to new students at their alphanumeric addresses will not be lost, and will be moved to the new accounts. To ease the transition, messages you send to new students will continue to go through, whichever address you use for them.

Although new student usernames and e-mail addresses will change, their e-mail passwords will not change. New students are being advised of this change both beforehand and afterwards.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you. If you have difficulty or need assistance with new student usernames and/or e-mail addresses, please contact the ITS Help Desk (phone 651-696-6525, e-mail helpdesk@macalester.edu, walk-in service in Humanities 314). [Notification-L]

08/22/06, Moodle Server Maintenance - REMINDER
The Moodle server will be taken off-line Wednesday, August 23 between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM. This planned outage will allow us to make a duplicate Moodle server, which can be used as a backup in case of problems with the original. We apologize for any inconvenience. Please direct questions to Adam Nave (nave@macalester.edu) or Marisa Brandt (brandtm@macalester.edu). [Notification-L]

08/18/06, Academic Server Reboot
The Academic server will be rebooted at 1:00 PM on Friday, August 18. It will be down for about 15 minutes. Please save any files you have open on the server before that time. [Notification-L]

08/18/06, Moodle Server Maintenance Wednesday 8/23
The Moodle server will be taken off-line Wednesday, August 23 between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM. This planned outage will allow us to make a duplicate Moodle server, which can be used as a backup in case of problems with the original. We apologize for any inconvenience. Please direct questions to Adam Nave (nave@macalester.edu) or Marisa Brandt (brandtm@macalester.edu). [Notification-L]

08/17/06, Announcing a Teaching with Technology Workshop:
Using Course Management Software (Moodle) to Support Student Learning
Thursday August 24th, 2006, 9:00 AM - noon (+ lunch)

Sponsored by Information Services & the Center for Scholarship and Teaching

Do you wish that:

Then this workshop is for you! Workshop format:

Overview of pedagogical tools - Karl Wirth
Hands-on session to develop activities for your course - IS staff

August 24th 9:00 AM - noon, starting in Humanities 401
We will provide lunch (noon - 1:00 PM) for anyone who wishes to stay and continue the conversation

Please RSVP to Theresa Klauer (klauer@macalester.edu) by Thursday August 17th, indicating whether you will come for the workshop only, or the workshop plus lunch

Course management systems such as Moodle can do many of the things described above, and more. They essentially consist of a bundle of pedagogical tools that can be used to facilitate and enhance a variety of course activities and functions, including:
[Bulletin, also 8/24]

08/15/06, Dell Laptop Battery Recall
Dell Computer Corporation has announced that some batteries shipped with some laptop computers between April 1, 2004 and July 18, 2006 are being recalled. There is a chance that defective batteries could overheat and could potentially start fires. Full details may be found on Dell's Web pages, beginning here:

https://www.dellbatteryprogram.com/Default.aspx

Batteries shipped with the following laptops are potentially affected:

*Latitude: D410, D500, D505, D510, D520, D600, D610, D620, D800, D810

*Inspiron: 500M, 510M, 600M, 700M, 710M, 6000, 6400, 8500, 8600, 9100, 9200, 9300, 9400, E1505, E1705

*Precision: M20, M60, M70, M90

*XPS: XPS, XPS Gen2, XPS M170, XPS M1710

Of these lines, Macalester has purchased only Latitude laptops.

To determine whether your laptop battery might be recalled, please remove the battery from the laptop. Flip it over and look for any of the following text: 'DELL,' 'Made in Japan,' 'Made in China' or 'Battery cell made in Japan, Assembled in China.' If your battery does not reflect one of these markings it is not part of this recall.

If your battery does match one of those texts, there is a two-step discovery process to determine whether the battery is being recalled. First, check the battery's model number. (Not all batteries within a specific model number are affected.) These are the affected battery model numbers:

1K055 C5340 D6024 JD616 U5867 X5333
3K590 C5446 D6025 JD617 U5882 X5875
59474 C6269 F2100 KD494 W5915 X5877
6P922 C6270 F5132 M3006 X5308 Y1333
C2603 D2961 GD785 RD857 X5329 Y4500
C5339 D5555 H3191 TD349 X5332 Y5466

The model number is printed on the back of the battery pack, using this format:

JP - X 1K055 - XXXXX - XXX - 0123

Only the boldfaced text matters.

Second, if your battery's model number matches any of the above model numbers, Dell has a Web checker that guides you toward further identification information printed directly on the battery. If that information matches, you're eligible for a replacement battery under the terms of the recall. Here's the URL for Dell's on-line checker:

https://www.dellbatteryprogram.com/batterymodels.aspx

This page asks for more information from the back of your battery - basically all the text printed there. If your battery matches Dell's recall criteria, you will be asked to give your name and mailing address. After you enter that information, Dell promises to ship a replacement battery directly to you within 20 business days. In the meantime, they recommend running the laptop off the power adapter with the battery removed. Don't throw the bad battery away: Dell will send prepaid shipping materials along with the replacement battery so that the recalled battery can be returned.

If any of the above information is not clear, or if you want to make doubly sure that your battery is or is not affected, please bring your battery to the ITS Help Desk in Humanities 314. We'll look it over and do all the checking for you. If your battery is being recalled we'll assist you in filling out the shipping information. [Notification-L, also Bulletin 8/17, 8/24]

08/09/06, Possible OCS Update Tonight
Hi all,

We have a new tape drive unit for the OCS servers which needs to be installed to ensure continued backups of the system. We will be installing it tonight, just after 6:00 PM. There may be a brief interruption of e-mail service during the installation. We don't think there will be, but we wanted to send a quick note so that if there is an interruption you'll know why.

Thank you,
Ted Fines [Notification-L]

08/09/06, Novell Servers to be Rebooted Saturday 8/12
Three of our Novell servers need to be rebooted in order to make some needed updates. These are Academic, Admin and the Novell Web server - the server that contains departmental Web pages. The systems will be rebooted on Saturday, August 12, between 5:00 and 6:00 PM. Each is expected to be back up within approximately fifteen minutes. During the reboot, users will not be able to access Novell directories (your G: and H: drives, also personal and departmental Web pages). No information will be altered or lost. E-mail, top-level College Web pages and Internet access will not be affected. If you have questions, please contact Geri Olson at x.6171 or olson(at)macalester.edu. [Notification-L]

08/08/06, Staying on OCS 9
Because of unresolved problems and the approaching start of the fall semester, we have decided not to implement OCS 10g at this time.

We will continue to use OCS 9 at least through the end of the fall semester. The stability problems that plagued OCS 9 last year have largely been resolved, and staying on that system for now is the better option for stable e-mail this semester. Stability is our number one priority for e-mail, and we believe that OCS 9 can do a better job of delivering a reliable system at the present time.

Additionally, we have been able to acquire additional CorporateTime licenses for students on the OCS 9 system, so all users will now be able to use CorporateTime calendaring (please see our documentation at www.macalester.edu/its/docs/ for installation and usage instructions).

Thank you to everyone who helped us with the testing, implementation, etc. of OCS 10. Your assistance has been invaluable. [Notification-L, also Bulletin 8/10, 8/17]

[return to Information Technology Services current announcements ] [ITS homepage]