The Racquette

Issue date: 2/1/08 Section: News

Since the start of the new spring semester, the SUNY Potsdam community has come to a technological pause. Frequented sites on the Potsdam web page like Bearmail, Bearpaws and Blackboard are experiencing problems and often down. These malfunctions have many people frustrated or unable to remain in contact with others. The three web sites are used by students, professors, and staff and act as a vital means of communication.

Possibly the most heavily trafficked of the three log-in systems is Bearmail. When the system slows down - or stops working all together - it can cut off correspondence between large portions of people at Potsdam. Bearmail has encountered problems due to the big increase in volume in email that is coming to campus in the form of spam. For the college's Computing and Technology Services to continuously stay atop of spam with filtering, it burdens the email infrastructure. The infrastructure is comprised of the network, server and storage. According to Ali Shahidi, Director of Computing and Technology Services, the solution is twofold. The first part of the solution is underway. A new storage server was purchased and deployed on Sunday.

Now that the system is in place, CTS is working to fine tune it and remove any bugs. The second part of the solution entails migrating users over to the new infrastructure.

The process will be gradual and all Bearmail users should be transferred to the improved system in two weeks.

Bearpaws is also in line for a renovation. The difficulties it has had stem from an old server. Moving it over to a new server will prove difficult because of the complex banner and database. Bearpaws is written in a language that is not compatible with the new server. It chiefly operates on a legacy system, which no one uses anymore and would not be supported by another server. To rewrite the code for the new server is a time consuming procedure that is currently underway. Shahidi states the goal for Bearpaws is to have the new system in place during spring break. This would allow students to register for fall classes using the improved system.

The system with the least problems is Blackboard. Shahidi noted that while there was an issue with the communication system that allows professors to post information for students, it usually works well. Although Bearmail, Bearpaws and Blackboard are all on the same web domain, they operate on separate sectors and require different remedies. Blackboard will undergo an operating system upgrade in the near future which should fix any glitches.

As the SUNY Potsdam systems are receiving an overhaul, they are perpetually experiencing constant growth. Each semester, more people join the large user population consisting of existing students, alumni, and old faculty, further expanding the system. The school does not limit how many emails a user can store in their account. This feature is beneficial to users yet occasionally puts a noticeable strain on the system. The transfer to new systems, though a timely operation, should clear up any problems users have with accessing and logging into the sites.

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