What does this upgrade mean?

Banner is a software application written by SungardHE that uses an Oracle database to gather, store and present information through forms (Banner INB), reports and web self service (Self Service Banner). Every 18-24 months the vendor (SungardHE) releases a new major version to deliver functional and technical improvements to Banner. Plymouth State must implement these versions to retain support from the vendor and to remain in compliance with Federal Regulations (i.e. Financial Aid, Tax Laws).  On September 10, 2010, SunGardHE will stop supporting our current version (Banner 7).

Why does Banner need to be down for so long?

Banner has a number of modules, General, Student, Financial Aid, Accounts Receivable, and Advancement. Each of these modules contains 100’s of forms (screens) that store data in 100’s of tables. With the change from Banner 7 to Banner 8, the underlying Oracle Database moves to a new “character set”. This requires that over 100 million of rows of data in thousands of tables be converted to the new “character set”. A number of forms are changing, and a number of other tables and programs are being updated. This work must be performed while no one is logged into the system.

By taking Banner down at 5:00PM on Friday, IT staff can work around the clock over the weekend to implement the changes and run the character set conversion. Then IT staff must verify that a number of related systems properly re-connect to the updated environment. These systems include:  myPlymouth, Blackboard, Workflow, Document Imaging, InfiNET Payment Gateway and more.

All of this work over the weekend is to prepare the system for Client Acceptance Testing on Monday by a designated set of client representatives. Once they verify that all critical aspects of Banner 8 are functioning, Banner (and Banner based services) will be made available to the campus by 8am Tuesday morning.

Will Blackboard/myPlymouth/myMail be down during this time?

No.  Blackboard, myPlymouth, and myMail (Zimbra) will all remain available during the Banner upgrade.  Some integrations and components presented through myPlymouth will be unavailable or limited in use, including: myProfile, Self Service, registration, grades, course query, and student query.

If you experience difficulty with a service during the upgrade window that is not listed, please contact the Help Desk at 535-2929 for assistance.

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Offices with digital telephones (gray or black handsets) may see their phones “lit up like a Christmas tree” when they return to work this morning.  This sometimes occurs when there is a loss of communication between the phone and the telephone switch.  This is easily cleared by unplugging the telephone line form the back of the phone and then plugging it back in again.

Voice mail users should notice very little difference to their service.  Voice mail greetings and existing messages were carried over to the new system.  However, voice mail passwords could not be ported over into the new system.   Instructions for initial log-on into the new voice mail system are as follows:

Instructions for Initial Voice Mail Log-on

Dial into voicemail 5-2700 from campus, or 535-2700 from off-campus.

The system will ask for your initial password.  Enter the number “one” (1) followed by the pound key (#).

The System will request that you enter a NEW password, and then press the pound key (#).

Passwords must met the following requirements:

• cannot begin with a zero
• cannot match your voicemail/telephone extension number
• cannot be an ascending sequence of digits (12345)
• cannot be a descending sequence of digits (54321)
• cannot be repeating digits (1111)

If the password you entered meets the requirements above, the System will then ask you to confirm you new password by re-entering it, and then pressing the pound key (#).

Existing voice mail names and greetings will be migrated over from the old system. However, if your old voice mail mailbox did not have a recorded name you will be prompted to record one.

The System will then ask you to record your name. At the tone, clearly state your name and then press pound key (#).

The System will ask you confirm that you wish to use this recording by requesting –  “To accept this name press 1;  to re-record press 2”

You have now logged onto your mailbox

You have now initialized your Mailbox

For Help, press *4

To exit the voice mail system, press **9 or Hang-up

If you are experiencing any problems with your telephone or your voicemail on the new system ,please contact Telecom Office at 535-2222 or via email at networking@plymouth.edu

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During the upgrade, all telephone and voice mail services will be unavailable.  Therefore no calls will be coming into campus or going out.  The emergency telephones (blue phones outside, red phones in the residence halls, and elevator telephones) will not be operational.  This includes the ability to make emergency 911 calls.

The outage period has been carefully selected to minimize the impact on the campus.  However, for safety and emergency purposes, Telecom advises anyone who will be on campus during this planned telephone service outage to carry a cell phone, as cellular services will still be available.

This upgrade will allow Telecom to offer several customer-requested feature enhancements in the near future.  After the upgrade is complete:

1)       Voicemail users will notice very little difference to their service.  Voicemail greetings and existing messages will be carried over to the new system.  However, the upgrade will go quicker if unwanted saved voice mail messages are deleted from accounts before the 31^st.

2)      Voicemail passwords cannot be ported over into the new system.  The first time you access your voice mail after the upgrade you will need to use “1” as your voice mail password.  Upon log-in you will be prompted to reset the password to something with 5 digits.  If you like, you may change the password back to your old voicemail password.

3)      Offices with digital telephones (gray or black handsets) may see their phones “lit up like a Christmas tree” when they return to work.  This sometimes occurs when there is a loss of communication between the phone and the telephone switch.  This is easily cleared by unplugging the telephone line and then plugging it back in.

4)      Offices with complex automatic call distribution services will be contacted by Telecom in advance with information specific to their operations.  We are fully cognizant that your system of handing incoming calls is vital to the way your office functions and while we do not anticipate any problems, we will make every effort to minimize the impact on these critical systems.

Telecom anticipates a smooth transition to the new telephone switch.  However, as with changes to any system, minor problems may occur.  If they do, they will be addressed immediately.  Members of the Telecom Team will be on site until the upgrade is complete.

After the upgrade is complete, if you experience trouble with your telephone or voice mail, please report it to 535-2222 or via email to networking@plymouth.edu .  We appreciate your patience and understanding during this upgrade.

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This Sunday, July 12th, the Networking Team will be replacing the Hyde Hall Core Network Router which manages all PSU network traffic, including internet access.  The upgrade is expected to last the entire Sunday maintenance window from 6 am to 10 am.  This upgrade is part of the on-going 5-year campus network infrastructure replacement cycle and is necessary in order to replace aging equipment.

During the upgrade, all campus Internet access will be down.  This includes all internet traffic in and out of the campus and in all campus buildings.

Should you encounter any problems accessing network services after 10 am, please contact the Helpdesk for assistance.  We can be reached at (603)535-2929. or via email at helpdesk@plymouth.edu

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On Sunday, June 21^st the MIS team will be performing an Oracle upgrade to the servers which host various PSU databases.   This upgrade is part of the preparations taking place for the Banner 8  upgrade scheduled for mid-October.

During the upgrade, access to myPlymouth and Zimbra mail will be intermittent.  Access to the various services which reside within myPlymouth will be unavailable.  This includes access to services such as Banner INB, PSC1, Banner Courtyard, Banner Student, Blackboard and R-25.

The entire upgrade is planned to occur within the normal  Sunday maintenance window from 6 am – 10 am.  Should you encounter any problems accessing these services after 10 am, please contact the Helpdesk for assistance.  We can be reached at (603)535-2929 or via email at helpdesk@plymouth.edu

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This outage will impact all on-campus connections as well as off-campus connections trying to get to PSU resources such myPlymouth, Blackboard, email and other PSU on-line services.

Internet access is expected to be fully restored by 6:30 am.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Help desk at (603) 535-2929 or via email at helpdesk@plymouth.edu

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Email will be unavailable this Sunday morning between 6 am – 10am, so that ITS can perform preventative maintenance. Email is expected to be fully functional by 10 am.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Help desk at (603) 535-2929 or via email at helpdesk@plymouth.edu

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If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the helpdesk at 535-2929 or via email at helpdesk@plymouth.edu

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This Sunday, January 11, 2009, ITS will be upgrading the way we manage print jobs sent to network printers on campus. This upgrade is in preparation for a change we will implementing to public printers over the course of the Spring Semester.

Although we do not anticipate that the upgrade will impact your ability to print, please contact the helpdesk at 535-2929 or via email at helpdesk@plymouth.edu if you experience any problems.

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Full access to myPlymouth is expected to be restored by 4 am on Thursday morning. Please contact the ITS helpdesk at 535-2929 or via email at helpdesk@plymouth.edu if you have any questions.

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