Author Archives: George Ross

It’s now more than three years since we implemented IPv6 for the School’s managed Linux (DICE) desktops and servers, and in that time we have seen very few issues which were specifically related to IPv6.  We were not, unfortunately, able … Continue reading →

The new OpenVPN configuration files which we have been beta-testing for the last month or so have now gone live, and our computing.help pages have been updated. These configuration files are intended to have essentially the same effect as the … Continue reading →

Several people have opened support tickets recently asking about warning messages being produced by OpenVPN when connecting to Informatics.  The reason for these warnings has been that the configuration syntax has gradually changed over time to accommodate new features, and … Continue reading →

We will shortly be upgrading the remaining Forum core network switch.  With this one there will be some (expected) visible effects, as follows: This switch is normally the “root bridge” for the entire Informatics network.  While we do have extensive … Continue reading →

Apologies for the short network disruption yesterday afternoon.  It was caused by a 10Gbps forwarding loop, which was created as the second-last fibre was being connected as part of our core switch upgrade programme.  As soon as we realised there … Continue reading →

We will shortly begin the process of upgrading the switches which form the core of the Informatics network in the Forum and Appleton Tower.  The network has enough resilience built into it that this can happen mostly transparently to users.  … Continue reading →

The Forum server rooms are covered by a pair of Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPSes), one of which has developed a fault in its interface to the outside world.  As a result we can neither query its status, nor expect it … Continue reading →

Informatics has been selected to host one of the first five sponsored RIPE atlas anchors!  The other four sites are in Macedonia, France, Romania and Albania. The RIPE atlas system consists of several thousand network “probes” dotted around the world.  … Continue reading →

Please take care when you type internet domain names, whether into an address box or at the command line! Domain-squatters are people who register internet domain names which are very similar to other “real” names.  They do this in the … Continue reading →

The “IPv6 investigation” project has made good progress since my previous post in January.  We have had global connectivity since February, and have been testing on a variety of subnets since then, including all of our “server” subnets, and most … Continue reading →