Update:

The Google Apps Status Dashboard reports the problem resolved as of 3:23PM today.

Update 2:30PM:

The Google Apps support line recording confirms that Gmail is aware of reports of issues and is investigating.  (Note:  Google maintains an “Apps Status Dashboard” with system status information.)

Original Post:

A number of individuals have reported issues connecting to Denison Apps Mail (Gmail) and Chat.  When trying to log in, a “Temporary Error (500)” appears”.  For individuals already logged in, the screen indicates it is trying to reload.

Please note, IMAP connections to Denison Apps Mail are functioning (i.e., mobile device apps and desktop mail applications like Mac Mail are working).

Other Denison Apps products (like Drive, Calendar, and Sites) appear to be functioning normally.

ITS is investigating and will post updates as soon as more information is available.  If you would like a call back when service is restored, please contact the ITS Help Desk at 740-587-6395.

Updates will be posted here as soon as more information is available.

Update 12/5/13 4PM: Details re: Resolution of Blackboard Slowness

As indicated in the update posted on 12/4, the slow performance of Blackboard that many of students, faculty & staff experienced with Blackboard was resolved yesterday late afternoon.  Today’s reports confirm that faculty, staff, and students are not experiencing slowdowns today.

Read on if you would like further details on the issue and action taken ….  

Denison’s Internet Service Provider, OARnet, provides three types of connectivity.  They are:

• Internet2 (Non-profit, national network dedicated to research and education. OARnet is Ohio’s access point to Internet2. Most expensive bandwidth.  Denison has 10 mbps)
• IntraOhio (Network traffic that stays within the state of Ohio. Least expensive bandwidth. Denison has access to unlimited supply as an OARnet member)
• Commodity Internet, also called Internet1 (General public connection. Serves the lion’s share of Denison’s Internet needs.  Denison has 600 mbps for faculty, staff, and student use)

OARnet routes Denison’s network traffic effectively to ensure the best performance (fastest path) using an appropriate connectivity level.

Denison’s Blackboard platform is hosted by the University of Cincinnati.  Blackboard traffic to/from Denison’s network should be connected via IntraOhio for obvious reasons. While Denison’s outbound Blackboard traffic was indeed connected through IntraOhio, Oarnet found a problem in their routing configuration that resulted in the inbound traffic being connected via Internet2. With unlimited bandwidth capacity for IntraOhio, but only 10 mbps for Internet2 traffic, the I2 pipe became saturated very quickly which resulted in severely slow response times.

The positive news is that Oarnet has properly diagnosed the problem.  While they have not permanently fixed the configuration to route Denison’s Blackboard traffic both inbound and outbound as IntraOhio, they did remove the 10 mbps cap on Internet2 traffic allowing for increased capacity.  Blackboard’s performance is now significantly improved.

Please contact the ITS Help Desk at 740-587-6395 or helpdesk@denison.edu if you have questions or would like to discuss further.

 Update 12/4/13 5:15PM: Blackboard Slowness Resolved

Our Internet Service Provider (OARnet) found a problem with how our Internet traffic was being routed.  This change has resulted in a substantial improvement in the performance of Blackboard.

Original Post:

ITS has received several reports of significant slowness in Blackboard.  Work is ongoing to diagnose and correct the issue but as of yet the cause of the slowness has not been identified.  ITS is working with our Internet Service Provider and others to resolve this issue as soon as possible.

In the meantime, you may wish to save materials you are using in your class on the network or on the eclassroom computer to minimize the impact of this slowness on your class. If you need assistance, please contact your Instructional Technologist.

If you experience slowness, please report it to the ITS Help Desk at 740-587-6395 or helpdesk@denison.edu.  Understanding the breadth of the problem will assist in diagnosing and resolving it.

Due to vendor maintenance, the denison.onthehub.com site used for distribution of Microsoft software for student/faculty/staff personal computers will be unavailable on 11/26 starting at 7AM.  It is expected to return to service by 9AM at the latest.  If you have any problems accessing the site after this time, please check back here for updates or contact the ITS Help Desk at 740-587-6395 or helpdesk@denison.edu.

Update 11/18/13 2:55pm

The change at 1:45 worked to a degree, but we have made another adjustment at 2:55 to address the issue. If you continue to experience wireless problems, please contact the ITS Help Desk at 740-587-6395 or helpdesk@denison.edu.

Update 11/18/13 1:45PM

A configuration change which should address this issue has just been made. We will continue to monitor the situation. If you continue to experience wireless problems, please contact the ITS Help Desk at 740-587-6395 or helpdesk@denison.edu.

Original Post:

ITS has received a number of reports of issues with wireless service in academic and administrative buildings.  Network engineers are working to correct the problem and updates will be posted here.

Update:

Blackboard performance appears to have returned to normal. If you experience any problems, please notify the ITS Help Desk at helpdesk@denison.edu or 740-587-6395.

Original Post:

ITS has received reports of problems with Blackboard including extreme slowness or inability to log in.  Technicians are investigating and updates will be posted here as soon as more information is available.

UPDATE 2013/11/10 10:00pm – We found a server that was down.  The server is back up and running, both wired and wireless should be functioning normally.

Original Post:

ITS has received a number of reports of network connectivity problems in residence halls and academic buildings. Technicians are working to diagnose and correct the problems. Updates will be posted here.

Google has updated the interface for Denison’s Google Apps .  In order to access your Google calendar, drive, sites, contacts and search, you need to click on the icon of small squares next to your email account name in the upper right corner of the screen.  If you click on the squares, a window will open and you have the option of opening a window for one of the other Google tools.

See http://techcrunch.com/2013/09/19/google-makes-its-new-flat-logo-and-app-launcher-style-nav-menu-official-will-roll-out-over-the-next-few-weeks/ for more information.

Kivuto, the vendor who provides denison.onthehub.com for Microsoft software downloads through Denison’s Microsoft agreement for student, faculty and staff personal computers, has announced that site maintenance will take place on Wed. 10/23 at 7AM. The site will be unavailable while maintenance occurs (anticipated to be 2 hours or less). If you experience problems accessing the site after 9AM, please contact the ITS Help Desk at 740-587-6395 or helpdesk@denison.edu.