Month Notice Downtime Notification Checklist

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

Lead TimeDate Done
Tools AvailableOne Month or More Ahead
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 out on the Friday two weeks prior to the date of the anticipated downtime. Should be used if the event is a major event that would affect user services outside normally scheduled downtimes.
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 DailyOnly to be used when the information is rock solid as this is a cost item.
ByITS Newsletter ArticleTo be used only when the lead time allows it (general projects, confirmed dates well in advance in the next quarter, etc.).
Cal Poly ReportMust be turned in to the Communications office by the Friday one week prior to the desired Friday of publication. The desired publication date should be two weeks prior to the Friday before the anticipated downtime.
Help Desk Information SessionDetails of the proposed downtime ASAP after the dates are confirmed.
Flyers posted in labs, outside Help Desk, in LibraryPrepare flyer for posting. Should be posted by terminal lab monitors in terminal labs and in all other IAS managed labs.
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.
Internal TrainingCheck schedule of events that might be affected. Inform U.S.S.
Revised by: George Westlund (gwestlun@calpoly.edu)
Revised: March 21, 1997

Back to the Main Table of Contents

Back to the Cal Poly Home Page