Emergency Downtime Notification Checklist

The following table is used to establish procedures to be followed in notifying users of system downtimes:.

Lead TimeDate Done
Tools AvailableEmergency
Messages posted on other systemsInform system managers of other systems that may be affected.
Check Lab schedules for conflicting reservationsCheck schedule for classes that may be affected. Inform U.S.S.
System Message of the Day (MOTD)Point to the relevant System News article
System News articlePosted as soon as possible after the downtime has been scheduled.
"nicemail" to all users (NOTE: Takes about 13 hours on a idle system.)Message should be mailed as soon as possible prior to the date of the anticipated downtime.
POP Bulletins for POP usersDO NOT use if "nicemail" is used.. If used, the text of the system news article is used with a special header added to indicate that it is a POP bulletin.
NETNews article (also email CSc Faculty, NetAdmin, unix-admins, Help Desk, IAS Staff, UNIXMgt, lan-coords)Posted as soon as possible after the downtime has been scheduled.
Web PagesPosted as soon as possible after the downtime has been scheduled.
Article in the Mustang Daily
ByITS Newsletter Article
Cal Poly Report
Help Desk Information SessionDetails of the proposed downtime ASAP after the dates are confirmed. ETA of system being fully available again.
Flyers posted in labs, outside Help Desk, in Library
Training ClassesCheck schedule of events that might be affected. Inform U.S.S.
Demos and TalksCheck schedule of events that might be affected. Inform U.S.S.
COB & Library Training PersonnelInform these entities that downtime may affect their training schedules.
Mailing Lists (internal to ITS, UNIX Admins, Lan Coordinators)Details of the proposed downtime ASAP after the dates are confirmed. ETA of system being fully available again.
Internal TrainingCheck schedule of events that might be affected. Inform U.S.S.
Revised by: George Westlund (gwestlun@calpoly.edu)
Revised: March 14, 1997

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