PowerSchool back to normal

The PowerSchool server has returned to normal operations. PowerGrade users, please resume normal use.

Thank you to anybody running reports who stopped them. Please consider setting reports to be run during off hours such as evenings and weekends, when the server is not dealing with the regular workload of daily business.

PowerSchool support investigated, but could not find anything wrong with the server. They determined that it was just suffering from a huge number of requests at once. The busy handlers are back down to 1-3 now, so it should respond correctly to PowerGrade users. I asked about increasing the number of handlers, but they said doing so would reduce performance of the web server, which most people use to access the server.

Thanks for your patience.

PowerSchool overloaded

The PowerSchool server is way overloaded right now, causing PowerGrade users to get a "cannot connect to server" message. PowerGrade is designed to save your grades and send them up to the server the next time it can connect, but the best advice I can give right now would be to wait. If you are running any reports that can wait until later, please wait.

More info: The server has all 80 "handlers" being used. (On a regular day, it's about 4-6.) We are trying to increase the resources allocated to jobs, but there is a tradeoff between general system performance.

Monthly review, May 22, 2008

IT Monthly Review

May 22, 2008

The past month in IT:

• The IT department has closed 349 helpdesk tickets.
• Investigated a major security breach, and performed a wholesale password policy revision as a result.
  
• Investigated network management solutions for Linux computers.
• Began preliminary planning for Alternative High School phone, computer, and data needs.
  
• Troubleshot several cases of unexpected server performance degradation.
• Developed plan for elimination of roaming profiles on user accounts to decrease login times.
  
• Finalized hardware replacement plans for summer 2008.
• Resolved issue of fiber optic cabling being in path of ice rink- the rink will move 4' to accommodate the easement.
• Processed and uploaded MAP and WKCE test scores to Eclipse.
• Processed summer course registration for teachers.
• Created furniture plans for new Tech Resource offices in DSO tech area.
• Began work on a regular student data import into Naviance system for OHS guidance.
  

The past month of the Information and Technology Literacy Team:

• Discussed staff changes for next year.
• Identified ways to improve the summer series registration process in coming years.
• Began revising job descriptions of Tech and Library EAs to make sure schools have adequate support next year.
  
• Identified concerns with the new elementary schedule and began communicating those to principals.
  
• Designed three new versions of the TIP class to allow increased participation by staff.
• Facilitated the TIP showcase for the Board.
  

In the past month, Jon:

• Observed several high school classes using the ASUS EeePCs.
  
• Participated in A-Team meetings regarding staffing and program changes.
• Began planning summer NETS training for administrators.
  
• Presented report to the Board regarding the Technology Integration Project.
• Reached a tentative agreement for purchase of our surplus computers this summer.
• Attended the WiscNet Future Technologies Conference.
• Participated in labor management meeting.
• Tested PHPlist mailing list system.
• Coordinated installation of multiple projector and SmartBoards purchase with building and grant funds.
  

OHS logins slow; LDAP errors

UPDATE- Panther has been rebooted. Possible cause was a time synchronization issue. If you are still having errors, please log out and log back in, as this will reset the connection between the workstation and the server. If you had PowerGrade open when the server went down, you will likely have errors. Please call the helpdesk at x4025.

>>>
ALERT-

OHS is experiencing slow logins. We are aware of the problem and are working on it. Panther directory structure is being repaired.

People are experiencing LDAP failures when trying to log in to email, after successfully logging in to Novell. We are investigating the issue.

Middle school server is down

UPDATE 12:55 PM-
Server is now working normally. Users will have to re-login to Novell in order to access their home directories.

NOTICE- MIDDLE is not mounting VOL1, where user data is kept. Logins should still work, but data is not accessible. Error appears to be with the SAN device driver. SAN pool VOL1 not showing up under nss /pools.

Monthly review, April 22, 2008

IT Monthly Review

April 22, 2008

The past month in IT:

• The IT department has closed 265 helpdesk tickets.
• Got MAP testing working reasonably well, thanks to a week's worth of work by Doug and Zach.
  
• Deployed a new SPAM filter system that allows users to see the spam that got blocked and whitelist senders who should not have been blocked.
  
• Launched a pilot program of the EeePC at OHS that has attracted interest in several states. (Read description here.)
  
• Created a Datacast web-publishing wiki to share resources with other Wisconsin school districts.
• Developed a Linux-based live CD to install the datacast software onto any PC, and made it available publicly.
• Worked with the Educational Communications Board to educate other districts about the advantages of datacasting and the open-source software available to deploy it easily.
  
• Evaluated several computers for the 2008-2009 school year replacement cycle.
• Panicked about the new ice rink construction threatening to dig up our fiber optic cable feeding OMS and BKE.
• Prepared and submitted MAP test rosters.
• Developed online registration for summer series courses for teachers.
• Set up new parent liaison employees in the increasingly crowded DSO.
  

The past month of the Information and Technology Literacy Team:

• Coped with reorganization plan for next year.
• Coordinated our involvement with the SACs to incorporate ITL outcomes into curriculum.
• Reviewed summer course offerings.
• Assisted TIP participants with using new equipment.
• Helped with a little bit of MAP testing logistics.
  

In the past month, Jon:

• Developed recommendations for the board regarding Tech Resource, computer apps, and keyboarding staffing.
• Assisted principals with job change meetings with teachers.
• Co-presented OSD's Datacast web-publishing model with Zach at the WEMTA conference.
• Assisted with interviews for a Tech EA position.
• Developed 2008-2009 budget priorities and created a preliminary budget.
  

Web access and new filter

What:
The new SPAM filter that we are using for email also has the ability to filter web traffic. We will be implementing this functionality this afternoon at 3:00 PM.


What this means for you:
--Some sites that you used to be able to get to may be blocked.
--Some sites that were blocked may be unblocked.

The categories of sites are bound to be a little bit different than the filter that we are currently using. I have tried to match up the sites as closely as possible, but there will probably still be some differences.


Actions needed to be taken by you:
If you plan to use any web sites in your curriculum tomorrow or later this week, please check that they are unblocked before class time. While checking access please keep in mind that, as with the old system, staff are able to access more than students.

Normally when a site needs to be unblocked a request needs to be sent to the principal at your building and then they will forward it to Jon Tanner.
For the next two weeks, if the site was previously available, please send an email directly to me and I will get it changed ASAP.

Thank you for your patience while we try to improve our services and efficiency.


-Zach

“Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine.”
~Robert Gallagher