Network & Systems

This week was short due to Hollidays but a lot was accomplished. CEC (our wiring contractors) pulled the backbone voice and fiber from the new building to Union for voice and fiber to Main. As a cost savings we also pulled in the voice backbone for the eventual remodel of existing Valders. Both Voice/Fiber will be terminated in Union and Main next week. All 3 Voice and Data closets in S-H are sheetrocked, taped with paint to be applied mid week. We will begin Voice/Data wiring to individual jack locations on 3rd flr next week as well.

This is an update after the fact.....Yesterday 12/26 I changed out a bad CLI card in the Phone Switch starting at about 10:00 A.M. The process required me to transfer from Core 0 to Core 1. The campus had a momentary loss of dial tone while the transfer occuried. Once everything was restored I began receiveing complants of Can't call long distance. The Long Distance Cards were all synced up (no alarms). I contacted Qwest Long Distance and it was determined no functional problems existed with them. I then ran a Switch query and Long Distance Loop 51 was disabled. The Card itself showed normal.

Since my last update the new Valders building is progressing rapidly. The building is heated, and windows are being installed on the Ylvisaker side of the building... 3rd flr continues to be the focas, sheetrock is being hung in most every space on 3rd flr. Plumbers are working on installing critical lab ammenities. 2nd flr has some sheetrock hung. Stairways are now complete on both sides of the building and Shumacker is installing the elevator.

Effective 12/04/07 LIS has taken over the assignment and maintenance of all Long Distance Codes for Faculty and Staff. This function was previously done by Campus Services and most recently Human Resources. Cindy Hansmeier will act as the single point of contact for the newly acquired function.

Since my last building update on Nov 3 many items with-in the building are taking shape. The elevator shaft is completely enclosed and awaiting the car etc. The rush for an operational elevator is to allow for the buildings 2nd and 3rd flrs to get enclosed yet still get materials too those floors.Some windows have been installed with more locations being prepared to receive glass.

Friday I took a walk around the new Valders Science Building and am providing the following.

1. Third flr has 90% interior walls in place (studs).

2. Second flr 75% interior walls in place (studs)

3. 1st flr just rough plumbing in place no walls.

Windows arrived and will be put in place starting in the next two weeks.

Exterior brick facing being applied 70% complete.

As of 2007-10-23 Desk Top Messaging is now available with G-Mail. The only apparent draw back is with G-Mail that Message Indicator lights will not work, this is due to G-Mail not supporting return receipt. Based on Adam's discovery that G-Mail will support IMAP people can keep there Thunderbird account which will still allow lights to work,,,,

I am currently working with Nortel Networks to set up Desktop Messaging so it will forward voicemails to G-mail as well as other accounts. It appears in discussion with Nortel once calls are forwarded to G-mail users will lose visual indication of a call ie: lights / blinky.

Also there are 2 students who want to trial Desktop at this time. 

On Thursday, we received both an upgrade and battery refresh on our main UPS supporting our server room in Main. This was a critical upgrade for a couple reasons, but most notably because we had met the capacity of the system and were unable to add additional servers or expanded functionality to existing servers and have the UPS support the machines. This has now been addressed allowing us to move forward with several other projects. A side note to the upgrade is that for several hours yesterday afternoon the server room ran entirely off generator power while the work took place.

The position has been posted to HR’s website. The full job ad is available online at http://lis.luther.edu/recruiting/sysadmin