Engineering Computing
Major System Maintenance Procedures
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Scope
These procedures apply to operating system upgrades, memory upgrades,
disk replacement, and other hardware replacements etc. on major systems
such as the Network Appliance file server, e-mail server, web server,
network switches connecting such servers, and network switches/routers
which provide service to a large user or computer base.
Scheduling the work
The preferred time for major system maintenance operations is
Tuesday to Thursday morning, with the work scheduled to
complete before 7:30am. For work performed from offsite,
it should be scheduled to complete before 7:00am to allow
travel time to come onsite if problems arise.
Before performing the work
- Provide 2 working days notice to esag@engmail mailling list
- Verify that device console is functional (for systems with a permanent
console like servers) and ensure laptop computer and cable are functional
(for systems without a permanent console like switches)
- Verify that you have a userid and password which works on the
console, and provides highest level access
- Verify that correct vendor support contract number and phone number
are available, if applicable. Don't rely on online copies
which may be inaccessible if networks/servers are down
- Verify that you have keys required to obtain physical access to
the device.
- Verify that you have an up to date printout of switch/router
configuration available, if applicable
- Develop a contingency plan should problems arise. For example,
if the upgrade of a major switch fails, another switch could
be borrowed from a lab (making the lab unavailable) but that
would be preferred to having a whole building down. Verify
that you have tools, keys, alarm codes etc to borrow replacement
hardware.
- Ensure you know the procedure to revert to a previous
operating system, if applicable.
- Ensure that you know the procedure and have the software
tools to perform a cold install of the complete switch/router
configuration, if applicable.
After performing the work
- Announce details to esag@engmail mailling list
