Monday, December 28, 2015

Network Maintenance - Tuesday 12/29


UPDATE 11:00AM
Connectivity to Overlook Manor restored.

UPDATE 8:45AM
ITS is aware of an issue affecting Overlook Manor after the maintenance.  We are investigating.  Overlook is currently OFFLINE.

UPDATE 7:30AM
Most systems back ONLINE including Internet access and JasperNet WIFI.  The planned maintenance has been completed, however, ITS will continue to monitor and test systems to verify that all systems affected are back online.

UPDATE 6:45AM
Maintenance continues and is expected to exceed the initial 7:00AM projected end time.  ITS will post updates as they become available.  We are expecting maintenance to be completed by 9:00AM.

REMINDER:  ITS will be performing network maintenance on Tuesday 12/29 starting at 4:00AM.  During this period, some JasperNet services will be OFFLINE and Internet access from campus locations will be unavailable.  We anticipate the maintenance will be completed by 7:00AM.




Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Planned Outage - Banner & Self-Service Applications

Information Technology Services will be performing system maintenance upgrades to the database and the Banner administrative systems.  This scheduled maintenance will require that Banner and Self-Service will be offline on December 27th between 7:30am - 1:30pm.  

Thank you for your patience during this outage.


Information Technology Services

Friday, December 18, 2015

Network Maintenance - Tuesday 12/29

ITS will be performing network maintenance on Tuesday December 29th from approximately 4:00AM-7:00AM.  During this time, access to campus network services will be OFFLINE.  This includes ALL JasperNet services as well as campus network access to external resources.

Sunday, December 13, 2015

SERVICE RESTORED: Overlook Manor

Network service has been restored to Overlook Manor.  Services started coming back online between 5:00-5:30PM.  All services were restored by 5:30PM including JASPERNET WIFI.  The cause of the issue was a failed fiberoptic transceiver.  A replacement part was obtained from another network location on campus and installed around 4:30PM.

Residents of Overlook Manor who are still unable to connect to JASPERNET WIFI should contact ITS by emailing ITS@manhattan.edu with the subject "Overlook WIFI".  ITS will be monitoring correspondence for the remainder of the evening.


UPDATE: Overlook Manor OFFLINE

ITS has identified a hardware failure in overlook manor.  A fiber optic transceiver that connects the Overlook network to main campus has failed resulting in overlook losing connection to JasperNet.

ITS is in the process of procuring a replacement part.  We anticipate having the part later this afternoon and replacing the failed overlook component by 5pm.


Overlook Manor OFFLINE

ITS has received reports that network connectivity to Overlook Manor is OFFLINE.  We have confirmed the reports and have identified that the uplink to Overlook has been disrupted.  ITS has staff onsite and are working towards repairing the uplink to Overlook.

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

WIFI Capacity added to Library

ITS has been working in the library all week adding additional capacity as usage increases toward the end of the semester.  You may see ITS staff throughout the library monitoring WIFI through midnight and installing additional hotspots based on WIFI testing and student feedback.  Students experiencing WIFI issues in the library should report locations to ITS by calling x7973 or emailing its@manhattan.edu

On a related note, you'll find power strips and extention cords distributed throughout the library to help students charge their devices while studying...

Friday, December 4, 2015

Additional WIFI Capacity Added to Library #TellITS

As we approach the end of the semester and finals, ITS has added additional WIFI capacity to the Library to handle the anticipated needs of students.  ITS has received reports that WIFI coverage and capacity in the lIbrary has been problematic and has taken steps to deploy supplemental coverage for the busiest weeks of the semester.  A WIFI upgrade is planned for winter break and will make these temporary enhancements permanent.

IMG_5257.JPG
You Spoke - We Listened!
This is a TEMPORARY WIFI HotSpot.   ITS has installed 16 additional WIFI HotSpots throughout the Library to provide extra capacity as the Library gets busier for the last few weeks of the semester.  ITS will be upgrading existing HotSpots and permanently adding new WIFI HotSpots throughout the Library over the winter break to provide far more capacity.

Problems connecting?
Contact us by calling x7973, emailing its@manhattan.edu or through the links below.


Thursday, December 3, 2015

NETWORK OUTAGE - ITS Investigating

ITS is aware of a major network outage affecting most of campus.  We are investigating and will post more information shortly.

UPDATE 11:45AM - The issue has been resolved and all network systems are functioning normally.  The issue was identified as a loss of power to key network equipment located in Horan Hall.  All systems came back online as expected when power was restored.

Monday, November 30, 2015

Library WIFI Issue - ITS Investigating

#TellITS - Several users have reported issues with Library WIFI.  ITS STARs have been dispatched to the library to investigate.  We will provide an update shortly.

UPDATE:  9:20PM
Temporary fix applied in Library by ITS STARs.  JASPERNET is the preferred network, however, if you cannot see JASPERNET (your device may not support 5GHz), you can connect to JASPERNET-legacy.  ITS will investigate further in the AM to work towards a permanent solution.

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

JasperNet WIFI Changes - Added Capacity, Apple Fix, 2016 Planning

ITS has applied a number of updates to JasperNet WIFI this morning to add additional capacity in residence halls including Horan, apply a permanent fix to a known issue previously affecting Apple OSX devices, and implement a configuration to prepare for the next generation of WIFI deployments (802.11ac).

After this mornings update, there are now 3 WIFI networks available to faculty and students:

JASPERNET - the preferred high-performance WIFI network providing access to both 5GHz (802.11n & 802.11a) and 2.4GHz (802.11n & 802.11g) devices.  JASPERNET is available in all campus locations.  The 2.4GHz frequency range will be removed over the winter break in preparation for future upgrades (in locations that support 5GHz).

JASPERNET5 - this temporary network #High5 was deployed in Horan Hall to help mitigate WIFI performance issues reported during the fall semester.  JASPERNET5 will be removed over the winter break.

JASPERNET-legacy - this NEW network has been deployed across campus to provide connectivity to legacy devices that are not equipped with WIFI hardware that cannot connect to 5GHz networks.  This network will operate solely on the 2.4GHz frequency range and support 802.11n and 802.11g devices.


These changes have been made as a reaction to the increasingly crowded 2.4GHz spectrum as well as preparing for the next-generation of 802.11ac WIFI devices that will operate on the less-crowded and better-performing 5GHz spectrum.  Over time, we expect to see devices that can currently only connect to the 2.4GHz spectrum being replaced by newer devices that support both 2.4GHz and 5GHz WIFI with a preference for the higher-performing 5GHz WIFI spectrum.  Be on the lookout for an update at the end of the semester.

Please report any issues to ITS #TellITS by emailing its@manhattan.edu or calling x7973.  You can send your speedtest results to @MC_ITS on Twitter.

Happy Thanksgiving!!


Dell Certificate Blunder

ITS is aware of the recent Dell certificate blunder.  Dell's official solution is already running as a background process on all impacted Dell computers since November 24th.

Please remember to always practice safe web surfing.  This means avoiding untrustworthy websites, never download & execute random programs, know who uses your computer, etc.

As always contact ITS, its@manhattan.edu, with your IT concerns.

Monday, November 23, 2015

Overlook WIFI Maintenance

ITS will be applying software updates to Overlook WIFI this AM to resolve a configuration issue affecting the wired ports on the side of the personal hotspots installed in each room.  We do not expect the maintenance to cause any interruptions in service.  As a result of the update, the wired ports labelled "1-3" on the side the of the personal hotspot device should provide 100Mbps connectivity to connected devices.  Please note that the "Passthrough Port" does NOT provide connectivity.  More information on the personal hotspot device installed in each Overlook residence can be found here:

https://manhattan.teamdynamix.com/TDClient/KB/ArticleDet?ID=8610



Sunday, November 22, 2015

RESOLVED - Licensing issue with AspenTech Products (HYSYS)

Update:

The licensing issue with AspenTech products has been resolved. The AspenTech products that were functioning properly before Saturday, November 21st, 2015 are now functioning properly again. Specifically, AspenTech products are usable in the RLC 102 and OMAL 206 computer labs.

A second issue with AspenTech products crashing on startup in RLC 103 is not yet resolved, but it will be resolved when the lab is reimaged. The installation is corrupt and, therefore, resolving the licensing issue did not prevent the program from crashing on startup.

If there are other labs besides RLC 102 and OMAL 206 that were functioning properly before Saturday, November 21st, 2015, but are not functioning properly at this time, please notify its@manhattan.edu.

Original post:


There is a licensing issue with AspenTech products. The programs will not function until the issue is resolved. We are working diligently to fix the issue as soon as possible. This blog post will be updated when the issue has been resolved.

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Network Maintenance - Wednesday November 25th 5:00-7:00AM

ITS will be performing network maintenance on Wednesday November 25th from 5:00-7:00AM.  As a result, a number of JasperNet services - as well as access to off-campus services - will be offline for a portion of the maintenance window.

UPDATE:
7:20 AM - Network services online
7:40 AM - IP Phone service online
7:40 AM - Horan Hall online
7:45AM - Lee Hall online

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

System Maintenance - JasperNet SSO 10PM Wednesday

ITS will be performing a system update to the JasperNet SSO system tonight from 10:00-10:30PM.  During this time, authentication (login) to some JasperNet services may be interrupted for a brief period - including self-service.  Users already connected to JasperNet services will be unaffected.

Update:  Maintenance completed.  Additional steps planned for future date,

JasperNet Bandwidth Upgraded to 10Gigabits

Students and Faculty now have access to virtually unlimited bandwidth when connected to JasperNet.  An upgrade to our Internet connection to 10 Gigabits was completed on 11/18 - which represents a 10x increase from the beginning of the semester.

ITS has seen an unprecedented increase in the amount of traffic on JasperNet over the past 6 months.  Students and Faculty are accessing more online content including a significant increase in HD video.  Providing quality connectivity to these resources is a top priority, and with this upgrade, we now have the capacity for students and faculty to consume a virtually unlimited amount of content.

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

JasperNet Bandwidth Upgrade - Maintenance Wednesday 6:00-6:30AM

ITS will be performing a bandwidth upgrade to JasperNet on Wednesday 11/18 at 6:00AM.  During this time, we expect a brief period where access to off-campus network services will be unavailable.   The planned upgrade is the 2nd and final phase of the bandwidth upgrade performed on 10/1:
http://itsblog.manhattan.edu/2015/10/jaspernet-receives-bandwidth-upgrade.html


After the upgrade, JasperNet will support total bandwidth capacity of 10Gbps - an increase from 2Gbps since October 1st (and 1Gbps since the beginning of the semester).

UPDATE 6:11AM - Maintenance completed with no downtime.

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Network Maintenance - Friday 11/13 5:30-6:30AM

ITS will be performing network maintenance with our Internet Service Provider (ISP) from 5:30-6:30AM Friday 11/13.  During this time, there will periods of network interruption between campus and Internet services.

UPDATE:  Maintenance completed.  Actual downtime 6:07AM-6:50AM.

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Updates in Horan providing Significant Improvement in WIFI

#high5 #TellITS - Recent updates to Horan WIFI are providing residents with better access to JasperNet.  Since the beginning of the semester, ITS has been working with students to address concerns with JasperNet WIFI in Horan Hall.  The addition of dedicated access points to the 17 10-man suites as well as the deployment of a separate WIFI band (5GHz) has enabled much better JasperNet connectivity for residents of Horan.

ITS needs your feedback while we continue to optimize of Horan WIFI configuration.  During this time, we have created a TEMPORARY WIFI network named JASPERNET5 (which identified the 5GHz 802.11 WIFI band).  Residents of Horan who wish to test the new configuration should connect to JASPERNET5.  We ask that residents connecting to JASPERNET5 provide feedback by tweeting speed test results to @MC_ITS  You can also provide feedback on the #TellITS form here:
http://www.manhattan.edu/tellits

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Hey Horan - Gimme a #High5

#TellITS - As part of ITS's efforts to enhance WIFI in Horan Hall,
we have implemented a temporary network called JASPERNET5.  The new JASPERNET5 network operates on the 802.11n 5GHz band which is not prone to the same level of interference that is ordinarily present on the 802.11n 2.4GHz band.  On this higher frequency 5GHz band, there is more capacity (more channels) resulting in what we hope to be a better WIFI experience for students in Horan.

Additionally, work is already underway to install 17 NEW hotspots in all of the 10-man suites in Horan - resulting in better coverage and more capacity for WIFI.  You may spot contractors installing these devices early this week - with expected completion Wednesday or Thursday.

The combination of these 2 efforts are already showing vast improvements is our testing.  We want to hear from you!! #TellITS

Tweet the results of your speed tests on JASPERNET5 to @MC_ITS on Twitter with the hashtag #high5

Once we have confirmed that the updated Horan WIFI is working well, we will transition to a more permanent solution.  Please note that not all devices are capable of connecting to WIFI at 5GHz and should continue to operate on JASPERNET (at 2.4GHz).

Monday, November 9, 2015

Computer Lab Software Request Deadline for the Spring 2016 Semester is Friday November 13

If you would like to Upgrade a Software already installed in the computer labs or if you would like to install a new software in the computer labs on campus, please fill out the Jaspernet Software Request form. The Jaspernet Software Request form can be found here.

Note that fully completed forms are required for any change to the labs, even for free software.  All software media and licenses are also required by the due date.

Requests should be submitted by Friday November 13th.  Software for forms submitted after the deadline may not be installed in the labs for the Spring 2016 semester. This is because we need time to install, test and deploy the software before classes start.

Thursday, November 5, 2015

Improvements are coming to the campus-wide wifi network

ITS will be improving campus-wide Wifi service throughout the semester.


We are aware of improvements that the Manhattan College community needs urgently. We receive frustrated complaints about inadequate coverage in various parts of the campus. We know how this seriously hampers your work at Manhattan College, and we take it seriously. One way we are addressing this is by actively working to recruit a new employee to work in the Networking group. This new person would plan and build the network as needed. We have posted the job opening on the Manhattan College Job Openings page.

Wifi coverage has increased sharply in recent years. While frustration is high, it is also worth pointing out that it's now better than ever. That's not enough for some of us who are in various parts of the campus, particularly some dormitory areas, so we plan to improve those as soon as possible.

Please continue to report problems and coverage dead spots. Please be as detailed as you can be, for instance, include the sites you try to reach, where you are when you try, and what time of day the problem happens. We welcome suggestions, and this includes areas which you feel need most improvement. Call 718-862-7973 or email its@manhattan.edu. Also follow us on Twitter @MC_ITS for announcements and updates.

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Online Registration Improvements

ITS had received reports from students on Monday 11/2 that online registration for Spring 2016 operated slower than expected.  ITS has confirmed that the self-service system had experienced higher-than-expected load which likely resulted in students experiencing longer-than-expected delays when attempting to register for classes at 7AM on Monday.

ITS immediately reviewed the configuration of the self-service system on Monday 11/2 after the 7AM rush.  Since the system had been upgraded over the summer, we identified a few new configuration settings to be optimized before the next online registration (for Juniors) on Wednesday 11/4.  The new configuration was completed prior to Wednesday and ITS added additional monitoring of the self-service system during Wednesday's 7AM rush.

The chart on this page shows the number of online registrations over time for the Monday 11/2 (BLUE) and Wednesday 11/4 (RED) sessions.  As you can see, the Wednesday (RED) session for Juniors shows a significantly higher number of registrations completed as soon as registration opens at 7AM - a significant improvement over the same period on Monday 11/2 (BLUE).

Despite experiencing minor delays on Monday, over 1000 students successfully registered for classes.  On Wednesday, approximately 550 students completed registration.


Tuesday, October 20, 2015

JasperNet Login Page Maintenance - TONIGHT 9:00-10:00PM

ITS will be applying an update to the JasperNet login page tonight between 9:00-10:00PM.  During this time, we expect a brief interruption of only a few minutes.  During the brief interruption, new login attempts to JasperNet services will be unavailable.  Users already connected to JasperNet services will be unaffected.


Monday, October 19, 2015

Overlook WIFI - Unplanned Maintenance

ITS is currently working to update a configuration in Overlook to resolve an issue affecting wired and wireless connectivity.  Residents of Overlook may experience intermittent interruptions to service as updates are applied.  We expect interruptions in service to be completed prior to 6:00PM.

Saturday, October 17, 2015

Updates to Horan WIFI - Monday 10/19

ITS will be updating WIFI coverage in Horan Hall on Monday 10/19.  Additional coverage will be added to each floor.  Residents of Horan may experience brief interruptions to WIFI service as additional capacity is also added to networks that connect Horan WIFI.

Work in Horan is expected to start around 10:00AM on Monday 10/19.  Any brief interruptions to service may happen between 10:00AM and 3:00PM.


Thursday, October 15, 2015

Global Handwashing Day - Technology Hygiene

Join ITS in celebrating Global Handwashing Day and promoting good hygiene when using computing devices.   As we approach the winter months and the end of the fall semester, it's important to stay healthy and productive.  One way to prevent getting sick is to practice good hygiene when using shared computers and devices.

Global Handwashing Day is an internationally celebrated day to promote good hygiene through handwashing with soap. At Manhattan College, we are doing our part to extend the concepts of Global Handwashing Day and apply them to the ways that we operate in ITS and handle electronic devices and computers.  One way that we are promoting good hygiene is by providing hand sanitizer dispenser in all campus computer labs.  Personal computer keyboards, mice, and cell phones can be a hotbed for germs as well.  Besides disinfecting these surfaces between uses, handwashing before and after use can significantly reduce the spread of germs when using these devices. For information on cleaning your electronic devices:  http://www.cleaninginstitute.org/assets/1/Page/Computer%20Cleaning.pdf



Global Handwashing Day website:
http://globalhandwashing.org/global-handwashing-day/

Computer Hygiene Information (UK)
http://www.it-care.co.uk/information.htm

Computer Keyboard Hygiene (Healthcare)
http://www.jbsa.mil/News/News/tabid/11890/Article/599128/hand-hygiene-whats-lurking-on-your-computer-keyboard.aspx


Wednesday, October 14, 2015

JsaperNet SignOn Page - Intermittent Interruptions

JasperNet users access the new JasperNet SignOn page may experience intermittent interruptions during periods of peak utilization while we continue to tune the new system.  ITS has been made aware that some users experienced a temporary error on Tuesday during peak periods of usage.  In the case that you receive an error accessing the new SignOn page, please refresh the page until a permanent solution is implemented.   This issue does not affect JasperNet users AFTER they have successfully signed in to the new page.  Thank you for your patience as we fine-tune this new enhancement.

Update:
ITS has identified the cause of the issue.  We have moved Banner services (INB, SSB, and Workflow) back to the "old" login page as a temporary measure to avoid further interruptions.  A fix has been deployed and is currently being tested.  We hope to move Banner services back to the new login page the week of 10/19.

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Updates to JasperNet SignOn Page #GreenMeansGo

You may have noticed that the JasperNet SignOn page looked different this morning.  That's because a major update to the JasperNet SSO (Single SignOn) system was implemented over the weekend.

The updates applied to the JasperNet SignOn page are part of an effort to raise awareness of phishing attacks and provide JasperNet users a more secure way to access their accounts.

Over the course of the coming weeks, you will see more information about the updates applied to the new signon page and ways to keep you account information safe - including only providing your JasperNet username and password when you see the green Manhattan College bar in the URL #GreenMeansGo .

For more information about the upgrade, please see the project page on ITSBlog:
http://itsblog.manhattan.edu/p/jaspernet-sso.html



Sunday, October 11, 2015

TONIGHT: Updates to JasperNet Signin Page #GreenMeansGo

The JasperNet Signin page will receive a major update Sunday evening 10/11/2015.  After the update, JasperNet users will be presented with new signin page with the following updates:

New Address (URL) - secure.manhattan.edu #GreenMeansGo

Possibly the most important aspect of the update is that the new login system will be hosted on a site providing "Extended Validation" to web browsers - which means a more secure experience for you....  After the upgrade, look for the green "Manhattan College" in the address bar to know that you are entering your JasperNet username and password on a secure site.

New Look and Feel

The updaated page also comes with a new format that has been streamlined for mobile browsers and includes more information anout important campus events.  The login box has been optimized to include helpful inforamtion when accessing your account.  In addtion, a new events column has been added to the right side of the page to highlight major campus events.

Friday, October 9, 2015

Google Drive Outage 10/9/15

There is currently an outage of the Google Drive System.  Google is aware of the outage.  When the issue is resolved, it will be listed on the Google Apps Dashboard.

Remember that should you ever notice an issue with a Google service, you can check the status of that service at the Google Apps Dashboard.

This outage is affecting Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides.

UPDATE 5:30PM 10/9/15: Issue resolved by Google.

Thursday, October 8, 2015

Network Maintenance - Overlook Manor - Friday 10/9


ITS is will be performing network maintenance in Overlook Manor on Friday 10/9.  The first part of the maintenance will take place from 6:00AM-7:00AM.  During this time wired and wireless services will be OFFLINE for an extended duration while new network hardware is installed.  

For the remainder of the day (7:00AM-3:00PM), ITS will be working to upgrade connectivity to each room in preparation for a wide-spread WIFI upgrade over the next few weeks.  During this time residents of Overlook may experience very brief interruptions to wired and wireless network connectivity.


UPDATE 7:30AM - The first part of the maintenance has been completed.  Wired and wireless services in Overlook are back online.  WIFI connectivity was fully restored by approximately 7:10AM and wired connectivity fully restored by 7:30AM.

For the remainder of the day, residents of Overlook Manor may experience brief interruptions until 3:00PM while network ports are upgraded.  Residents can also expect to see ITS STARS throughout the building upgrading WIFI hotspots. 

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Unplanned Network Maintenance - Overlook Manor

ITS is currently performing unplanned network maintenance in Overlook Manor.  As a result, residents of Overlook Manor may experience brief interruptions to wired and wireless service for the next few hours.  We anticipate the unplanned network maintenance to be completed by 5:00PM.

Updates to JasperNet SignOn Page #GreenMeansGo

The JasperNet SignOn page will be updated the week of 10/12 and will receive a new name - https://secure.manhattan.edu

Accompanying the new name is a new way to identify the JasperNet SignOn page as a secure site to provide your password.  The new site will take advantage of "Extended Validation" (EV) SSL certificate technology.  By using an EV certificate, secure.manhattan.edu will turn the URL bar of your browser green and display the name "Manhattan College".

What does EV Look like?

EV trusted sites will display a green section in the address bar that may look slightly different on different browsers, but always look for the green "lock" icon.  #GreenMeansGo


Going forward, ITS will be working to move ALL JasperNet services to the new #GreenMeansGo login page on secure.manhattan.edu.  ALL sites that ask for your JasperNet password will eventually be moved to the new login page.



Monday, October 5, 2015

Coming Soon... Updates to JasperNet Signon Page

Changes are coming to the JasperNet Single Signon (SSO) page.  The first thing that users will notice is a more streamlined design that will now include a preview of featured campus events as well as important notifications.  In addition to the new design, a number of underlying security enhancements will be included to help prevent "phishing" attempts and provide a more secure experience.



Updates will be rolled out gradually throughout the week of 10/12.  As a result, you may see both the old and the new login page while we transition JasperNet services from the old page to the new page.

If you've accessed any of our TEST environments since August,  you've already been using the new page!

Be on the lookout for additional announcements in the coming days!!




Friday, October 2, 2015

Computer Lab Software Request Deadline for the Spring 2016 Semester is Friday November 13

If you would like to Upgrade a Software already installed in the computer labs or if you would like to install a new software in the computer labs on campus, please fill out the Jaspernet Software Request form. The Jaspernet Software Request form can be found here.

Note that fully completed forms are required for any change to the labs, even for free software.  All software media and licenses are also required by the due date.

Requests should be submitted by Friday November 13th.  Software for forms submitted after the deadline may not be installed in the labs for the Spring 2016 semester. This is because we need time to install, test and deploy the software before classes start.

Attention Apple Users: Fixes applied to JASPERNET WIFI

ITS has received numerous reports from owners of Apple products related to WIFI issues since the beginning of the semester.  Reports have consistently included issues accessing JASPERNET WIFI from an Apple device running recent versions of OSX including Yosemite.  Apple devices were not able to connect although other devices were functioning properly in the same location.  Apple devices would show the WIFI symbol with an exclamation point.

The issue that has been identified has been confirmed with multiple wireless vendors as a known issue with recent versions of OSX - most notably Yosemite.  The issue occurs most frequently when Apple devices roam from a 2.4GHz WIFI hotspot to a 5GHz WIFI hotspot.  While there are benefits of operating overlapping 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks, ITS has opted to temporarily discontinue the use of the 5GHz WIFI spectrum until a confirmed fixed is released from Apple.

We welcome your feedback related to this issue:  #TellITS
http://www.manhattan.edu/tellits


Thursday, October 1, 2015

JasperNet Receives Bandwidth Upgrade

A network update performed on 10/1/2015 has increased the amount of bandwidth available to JasperNet users from 1Gbps to up to 2Gbps.  This is the first phase of an upgrade that is expected to be completed later this month that will expand connectivity even more.

When students returned to campus for the fall semester, ITS observed an unprecedented demand for network resources - especially rich media content such as streaming video from YouTube and Netflix.  The increased demand resulted was slower-than-normal download speeds and videos that sometimes buffered.  With the recent and planned upgrades in October, ITS will deliver significantly more capacity to support the increased demand for network connectivity from faculty and students.

Below is a network traffic chart showing 100% utilization throughout most of the day, then the utilization after capacity was increased:

The graph shows network utilization at our Internet Service Provider's connection point.  The connection previously operated at maximum capacity from approximately 10AM-2AM since the beginning of the semester.  The peaks at the right of the graph show the time that the additional capacity was added.  Enjoy!






Issue RESOLVED: Email Notifications

An issue that we recently identified regarding email notifications from campus services has been resolved.  We have confirmed that email notifications are now being reliably sent and received from the Moodle and 25Live systems.  You can find the original notification here:  http://itsblog.manhattan.edu/2015/09/identified-issue-email-notifications.html

If you continue to experience issues receiving email, please contact ITS Client Services at x7973 or its@manhattan.edu #TellITS


Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Network Maintenance Thursday 5:00AM-6:00AM

ITS will be performing network maintenance Thursday 10/1/2015 to implement the first phase of an upgrade to increase the amount of bandwidth available to campus users.  Network access to off-campus services will be inaccessible for a brief period sometime between 5:00AM-6:00AM.  After the maintenance, users should expect to experience faster access to off-campus services.  A second phase of this upgrade is planned for later in October.

UPDATE 6:00AM:  Maintenance completed with no interruption of service.

Brief Internet Outage Thursday Oct 1st 5am-6am

ITS will be installing new network routing hardware at our internet connection in order to make the Jaspernet faster and more stable.

We expect several sporadic outages between the hours of 5am and 6am as we move new hardware into place and perform system tests.

Thank you for your patience as we work to make Jaspernet better for everyone.

Monday, September 28, 2015

Identified Issue: Email Notifications from Some Campus Services Not Being Received

ITS has identified an issue where email messages from campus systems such as Moodle, 25Live, and others are not being forwarded to their intended recipients.  ITS has opened a support ticket with Google (Gmail) and has taken steps to update email configurations to mitigate the issue.  To date, these steps have not resolved the issue and we continue to work with Google and others to implement a solution that allows all campus systems to reliably send email messages.

If you are experiencing similar issues with JasperNet services not listed above, please inform ITS by emailing its@manhattan.edu


UPDATE:
Despite email notifications not being received, all systems are functioning normally.  Until this issue is resolved, it is recommended that users connect to the affected systems to retrieve information.

Sunday, September 27, 2015

Network Maintenance: Horan and Lee Residence Halls

ITS will be performing network maintenance in the Lee and Horan Residence Halls the week of 9/28.  As a result, residents of Lee and Horan may experience intermittent interruptions to network (wired and wireless) connectivity during short identified maintenance periods between 6:00AM and 2:00PM.  Updates will be provided throughout the week with changes to times of the planned maintenance.  The following tentative schedule has been established:

Monday 9/28
6:00AM-7:30AM - Lee Hall wired and wireless
Completed without interruption

Wednesday 9/30
6:00AM-7:30AM - Lee Hall wired and wireless (floors 1-5,6-10)
Completed.  WIFI accessible by 7:15AM.  Wired connections restored 8:30AM.

Friday 10/2
6:00AM-7:30AM - Horan Hall wireless (floors 1-5)
11:00AM-2:00PM - Horan Hall wireless (floors 5-8, 8-11)
Postponed.  

The scheduled maintenance will add capacity to JasperNet WIFI in Lee and Horan Residence Halls.



Updated:
2015-09-27 - added Lee wired to 9/30 maintenance
2015-10-01 - Horan wifi maintenance postponed

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Emergency Network Maintenance - Horan Hall

ITS will be performing network maintenance in Horan Hall from 6:00AM-7:00AM on Wednesday 9/23 to replace a problematic network switch.  As a result, wired and wireless network connectivity in Horan will be unavailable for periods between 6:00AM-7:00AM.

Monday, September 21, 2015

Wireless Projection - Campus Classrooms Receive AirPlay Upgrade

Airplay technology has been added to 85 campus classrooms
(and counting...) as well as a number of conference and meeting rooms to enable wireless connectivity to the room projector.  Airplay works natively with any Apple laptop or IOS (iPhone and iPad) device as well as any Faculty laptop received through recent FLI cycles (enabled by the use of AirParrot software installed on Faculty laptops).  ** Faculty with a laptop older than 1-2 years should contact ITS to enable Airplay on their device (requires installation of AirParrot software).

A list of campus spaces with Airplay technology can be found online in the new 25Live Event planning system by selecting the room feature "Tech-Airplay Connector".  Airplay upgrades were completed over the summer by a team of ITS student interns that worked together of various aspects of the project.

Airplay enables audio and video signals to be sent wirelessly to devices such as projectors, speakers, and/or TVs.  To learn more about Airplay, and how to access Airplay enabled devices on campus, visit the ITS Knowledge Base

ITS Interns showcase summer ACHIEVEMENTS!

Our eight ITS student interns presented their summer projects to the Manhattan College community at "The Research and Scholars Presentation Day" held on 9/18.






The poster presentations were displayed at the Kelly Commons and highlighted over 60 other student research projects Campus wide.


It was a unique opportunity to engage with the student scholars and view their posters showcasing their achievements, what bright minds we have here at Manhattan College.



To read more about the experiences of the ITS summer interns, check out their internship blog:









Friday, September 18, 2015

UPDATE 2: Network Maintenance Friday 9/18 [RESOLVED]

Lingering WIFI issues associated with this AM's upgrade have been resolved.  The last building to come back online was the student commons at approximately 9:50AM.

If you continue to experience WIFI issues, please contact ITS by calling x7973 or email its@manhattan.edu

TODAY: ITS Interns Present Summer Projects

Eight student interns worked together within ITS over the summer to help deliver a number of campus projects.  These projects will be presented along with over 60 other research projects performed by student summer research scholars.

Poster Session Presentation:

Friday 9/18  -  1:00-2:00PM
Kelly Student Commons - Room 5B & 5C


To read more about the experiences of the ITS summer interns, check out their internship blog:
http://manhattanitsinternship.blogspot.com/


UPDATE 1: Network Maintenance Friday 9/18

7:30AM UPDATE
ITS has identified the issue affecting campus WIFI and a solution has been implemented.  Expect WIFI to be available before 8:00AM.

Network Maintenance Friday 9/18

Planned Network Maintenance in RLC has been completed.  ITS is currently investigating a WIFI issue related to the planned maintenance.  WIFI is currently OFFLINE across campus.  An update will be provided before 7:30AM.

Thursday, September 17, 2015

ITSBlog surpasses 50,000 pageviews

#50000 #TellITS - Earlier today, itsblog.manhattan.edu surpassed 50,000 pageviews since our first post in 2012.  Since then, we have seen a steady increase in the amount of readers of our blog.  ITSBlog has been a way to communicate important information about technology to the campus community.  ITSBlog is also displayed on various JasperNet sites (including the login page for service alerts).

We hope that you continue to find the information posted here informative and useful.
http://itsblog.manhattan.edu

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Internet and Jaspernet Wireless outage Friday September 18 6am to 6:45m

There will be an internet and Jaspernet wireless outage Friday September 18 from 6:00am to 6:45am while we upgrade a critical piece of network infrastructure.


Monday, September 14, 2015

Free install of Microsoft Office 365 for up to 5 personal devices.

Are you still running a really old version of Microsoft Office on your personal device? Have you been avoiding an upgrade to avoid having to pay for it? Well now you no longer have an excuse for not upgrading.

We've worked with our Microsoft representatives to make Office 365 available to you for free on up to 5 personal devices.


The Knowledge Base Article linked to below walks you through the process of creating an account on Microsoft's portal. The entire process takes about 5 minutes. It's simple and quick. Once you've created an account, you can install Office 365 on up to 5 personal devices for free.


Enjoy!

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Problem identified on Moodle system

ITS received reports of database errors when using the moodle system this morning.
We believe that we have identified and corrected the issue.

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Jaspernet Wireless and RLC Network Maintenance Friday 9/11 6:00am to 6:30am

ITS will perform maintenance on the Jaspernet wireless system and RLC network Friday September 11 from 6am to 6:30 am. 

During this time Jaspernet wireless and the RLC wired network will be unavailable. Thank you for your patience and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Friday, September 4, 2015

Banner Chrome NPAPI Issue

Effective immediately, Banner and other Ellucian products will no longer work with the Chrome Browser.  Chrome no longer supports the NPAPI plugin and because of this, will not allow it to work with Banner forms and other Ellucian products.

Ellucian is recommending to customers to use alternative browsers.

Good choices are:
Internet Explorer (Not Edge - Windows 10, it has not yet been certified).
For Mac user,  the latest versions of either Safari or Firefox.

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

ITS Spotlight

New App, Better Wi-Fi and Other Upgrades with Help of ITS Interns!!

The Quadrangle has a very interesting read on the initiatives that ITS took on over the summer.





Monday, August 31, 2015

New Moodle Course Servers, New Moodle Features Now Available

The Moodle course server: https://lms.manhattan.edu was recently upgraded from Version 2.7 to 2.9, a 2-part upgrade in release functionality.

In addition, to reduce the number of courses on the course server and to reduce the size of the database to improve performance, the oldest courses are being moved from the course server to a new course archive server:

https://lms2015.manhattan.edu

Our Infrastructure group is still in the process of completing that move.  When complete, you will notice a link to the Archive Server in the Moodle server navigation menu.

New Features of Moodle

For a quick guide illustrating the biggest new features with screenshots, visit the Moodle 2.8 New Features and the Moodle 2.9 New Features pages.



Watch Screencasts of Moodle 2.8 Release Highlights:





Watch Screencasts of Moodle 2.9 Release Highlights:






For more in-depth technical info on the new features introduced in each release, please visit the Moodle 2.8 Release Notes and the Moodle 2.9 Release Notes pages.


Welcome Back

Welcome Back
_____________________________________________________

We want to take a minute to welcome everyone back for a new semester. Please take a minute to read through the following Reminders and Announcements:

Kick off the New School Year Right!
____________________________________________________________________

Keep everything.  Share anything.  Get Drive today.  Click here to find out more.

Security is important. Passwords should never be hand-written/visible to the public. In an effort to maximize security and minimize the number of post-it notes with passwords on them, we recently added SSO (Single Sign-On) to Banner Forms.

Add to your professional network. Below are some sites that you might find relevant and interesting:

ITS Summer Updates
_________________________________________________________________

The Rodriguez Room now has a new Pixie Plus A/V Control Unit.  No Remote needed!

Airplay device installations have expanded to more classrooms.  We expect to have Airplay devices in all classrooms by the beginning of the Spring semester.  Check out our Airplay Knowledge Base Articles to find out more.

WiFi improvements in the dorms have been occurring throughout the summer.  If you are experiencing any WiFi issues, we want to know about them.  Please email its@manhattan.edu or call 718-862-7973 to let us know. 

Aging Web Kiosks in the O'Malley Library Internet Cafe and by the elevator on each floor have been replaced with new Dell Chromebox computers.

Audio Visual Technology enhancements have been made in the Chancellors Room and the O'Malley Library Teleconference room.  Both rooms have been outfitted with new Crestron control units and Airplay devices.  The Teleconference has also been outfitted with a Chromebox for meetings.

The following rooms have been outfitted with a Mini Displayport cable.  This precludes the need for a Mac VGA adapter.  To access the Mini Displayport input, click "INP2".  List of rooms:
  • DLS 307
  • DLS 312
  • MGL 307
  • MGL 312
  • HAY 201
  • HAY 202
  • MGL 305
The Proactive Projector Replacement Initiative has made much progress through the summer and will continue throughout the year.  We have added new mounting brackets to this initiative.  These new mounts fit into the existing ceiling tile grid, making them much more seamless.  Also, they have a quick swap secure mount, making projector replacements quicker and offering a high level of security.

An effort to secure all projectors on campus was initiated this summer.  This effort is a combination of a secure mounts and network monitoring.

Summer 2015 Classroom Renovations
The following rooms have have been renovated this summer.  Renovations include installation of a new Crestron control unit.
  • Miguel 304
  • Miguel 306
  • Miguel 308
  • Miguel 314
  • Leo 242
  • Leo 330
  • Leo 333
  • Leo 318
  • Hayden 306
  • Hayden 404
  • Hayden 406

Leo 102 is now a brand new engineering computer lab.

The Teacher's Station in DLS 314 has been replaced with a wooden podium.

Summer 2015 Computer Lab Upgrades
The following Computer Labs received new computers this summer.

  • RLC 102 (Expanded to 33 stations)
  • RLC 208
  • RLC 102A
  • RLC 104
  • MGL 305
  • DLS 309

Please keep informed by checking our Known Issues page.

Reminders
____________________________________________________________________

Have a question?  Check out our Knowledge Base first.

The best way to get in touch with a Client Services representative is an email to its@manhattan.edu or a phone call to x7973 (718-862-7973). Note that email and voicemail for this line go to our ticketing system so we encourage you to leave a message.

Remember that we will never ask you for your password. We encourage you all to please reset your computer and provide the temporary password to ITS prior to dropping it off at Client Services. If you do not do this prior, please allocate an extra 5 minutes to work with a Client Services representative so that they can assist you in changing your password when working with us. Upon completion of work on your computer, please allocate another 5 minutes so that a Client Services representative can assist you in changing your password back to its original state. This is necessary in order to safeguard your password. Remember that you should never give your password out to anyone under any circumstances. Note that the same procedure holds true when you are requesting assistance with one of your Manhattan College accounts.

Client Services can NOT lend out equipment to students. If a student needs equipment for a project, they must have a Manhattan College employee sign out equipment on their behalf. Note that the Manhattan College employee is responsible for that equipment.

Client Services can provide short-term loaner equipment such as laptops and projectors by reservation. Note that if equipment is needed long term, it should be purchased via your department.

In lieu of loaning certain cables and remotes, Client Services has installed commonly used VGA and Audio cables as well as projector remotes in all yet-to-be-renovated classrooms. Network cables will be provided to faculty upon request. Faculty requiring other specialty cables or adapters (such as Apple VGA adapters) should contact Client Services for assistance purchasing this equipment as they are not stocked or provided by Client Services.

The Client Services office does not work on personal computers. We will train employees and students and instruct them on how to fix their computers, but personal computers cannot be dropped off for service. No personal items should ever be left in any of the Client Services offices.

Please remember to plan event setups in advance. We work with limited resources so we cannot always complete last minute requests.  You can reserve rooms here.

Client Services currently has 3 convenient locations: Jasper Basement, LIB 502/504, & RLC 103. Please stop by the location closest to you. We encourage you to call first to be sure that someone is available as we are constantly assisting the Manhattan College community.

Client Services Hours of Operations can be found here.

Computer Lab Hours can be found here.

Campus-owned computers are purchased with hardware support provided by the manufacturer. ITS will diagnose and determine whether manufacturer hardware support is needed. For the fastest service, users are also able to contact the manufacturer directly to access hardware support and replacement.

Your feedback helps us improve our service and should be sent to http://manhattan.edu/tellits

Don't forget to add us to your Google+ circles +ITS and follow us on Twitter @MC_ITS

Check out our Blog: http://itsblog.manhattan.edu/

Check out our known issues page: http://itsblog.manhattan.edu/p/known-issues.html

Thank you for your attention.

Saturday, August 29, 2015

Move-In Weekend - Technology Support

ITS (Information Technology Services) will be providing technology assistance to new and returning students from 12:00Noon to 5PM on Saturday and Sunday during move-in weekend.

- Need help connecting to JasperNet WIFI?
- Need a network cable?
- Have questions about JasperNet services?
- Need to reset your JasperNet password?

Look for ITS staff in residence halls (we're wearing the bright green shirts with "ITS" on the back) or call the ITS Client Services office at x7973 or 718-862-7973.  Even better, email us at its@manhattan.edu

Calling after 5PM?  Leave a message and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.


Welcome back Jaspers!!

Thursday, August 27, 2015

RESOLVED: Sporatic mymc portal outage 8/27/2015

RESOLVED:  ITS is currently working to resolve an issue causing sporadic outages of the portal mymc.manhattan.edu.




Wednesday, August 26, 2015

WIFI Updates to Jasper Hall and Overlook Manor

New network devices to be installed in all resident rooms of Jasper Hall and Overlook Manor.

Students arriving to their dorm rooms will notice a new addition in the form of a JasperNet WIFI network device (shown to the right).  Each dorm room will be provided with the device to provide enhanced 802.11n WIFI connectivity to the room as well as additional wired network ports.

Jasper Hall has already received over 130 of these devices (1 per room) and work is already underway in Overlook Manor to install another 100.

More information detailing this device can be found in our knowledgebase:  

https://manhattan.teamdynamix.com/TDClient/KB/ArticleDet?ID=8610


Tuesday, August 25, 2015

25Live Training: Week of 8/24

25Live training TODAY 8/25 at 3:30PM in O'Malley Library 410

Access to 25Live is now available to all campus users via the college calendar website (http://manhattan.edu/calendar) by clicking on the green “Reserve a Room” button.

In person training sessions are available every Tuesday and Wednesday through September.  See the 25Live training schedule here.  No sign up is needed, just come to any scheduled session.

Additionally, see this website for written instructions on how to use 25Live.