Latest Announcements

PAWS for Students, PAWS for Employees, Banner (both INB and self-service) will be unavailable beginning at Noon on Friday (June 27th) till Sunday night (June 29th). During this time ITS will be upgrading Banner General module, Banner Student module, and DARS. Thanks for your patience and cooperation.

PAWS for Student, PAWS for Employees, Banner (both INB and self-service) will be unavailable Sunday, June 22nd, 8:00 a.m. – noon. During this time, the ITS department will test disaster recovery procedures. Thanks for your cooperation and patience.

If you RETIRE from Eastern Illinois University, you can continue to use your E-mail via PantherMail. If you are on Exchange, you need to call Cheryl Crowdson at 581-7999 to get your data off of the Exchange Server and on the PantherMail Server. If you RESIGN from EIU, you cannot keep your E-mail address or the Exchange Account if you have one. If you are resigning from EIU and want your E-mail messages, please be sure you call the HelpDesk at 581-help (4357) a WEEK BEFORE YOU LEAVE to setup an appointment to request help getting the data. You will need a USB drive to copy the file on. Thank you!

There are several software packages that could conflict with the Banner software. Here they are: Google Desktop including Google Toolbar MySearch Toolbar Yahoo Toolbar If you load the following software, they could significantly slow down your computer. Weather Bug Web Shots If you have a conflict you may have to uninstall that software until the issue is resolved. Then you can reinstall it if it doesn’t cause more problems. For instance, Banner required the Java plug-in be updated. The above mentioned software could prevent the installation of that update.

Last week, Adobe released a security bulletin concerning critical security vulnerabilities discovered in all versions of Adobe Reader and Adobe Acrobat prior to 8.1.2. These vulnerabilities can cause application crashes and could potentially allow an attacker to take control of an affected computer. Adobe recommends the immediate update of Acrobat and Reader applications to 8.1.2. Anyone running Adobe Acrobat 7 is also vulnerable and should update to version 7.1.0. Please note that this problem affects both the Windows and Macintosh versions of Adobe products. If you require assistance with upgrading your Adobe products, please contact the Help Desk at 581-HELP. ADAM D. DODGE, ITS

As many of you noticed this morning, almost all computer systems were unavailable, some till mid-morning. The problem was due to a 4:30 a.m. generator/electrical failure of a self-timed auto-test of the backup power system. The battery-backed transition system (UPS) subsequently depleted and caused many critical gateway systems to shut down. We believe that due to the ungraceful shutdown and subsequent switch to unfiltered Ameren power caused spikes and damage to network switching equipment and servers. Spares were put into service and we were back to full service by mid-morning. We apologize for the inconvenience. Facilities are looking into the matter and are repairing the generator and/or related electrical switchgear. -ITS and FPM P.S. Reminder: As previously announced, most computer subsystems will be unavailable from Friday evening to Saturday morning of this week, for upgrades and maintenance. Please plan accordingly.

Due to a power outage scheduled for the ITS computer room, Banner INB and PAWS (Banner Self-service) will be unavailable after 5:30p.m. on Friday, May 9th. Plans are to have the systems available at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 10th. If you have any questions please call the Help Desk at 581-HELP

There are several mailboxes on the Exchange server over the quota, which is slowing down the Exchange server for everyone. Please have people delete everything and empty their deleted items OR archive. Cheryl Crowdson will start contacting people who are over the quota on Monday and assist them.

This is a friendly reminder that your EIU system passwords will be expiring on April 10, 2008. If you have changed your password since March 10, 2008, you will not need to change your password at this time. This is the password that you use for accessing Windows PC Login (if you are a Windows Domain User), WebCT, Banner, Modem Dial- up, VPN, the EIU e-mail system and personal web space. If you have any questions or concerns please contact the ITS Help Desk at 217-581-HELP(4357) Instructions for changing your password: Please use the following rules when determining a new strong password. Once you have determined a new strong password follow the steps below. Strong Password Rules: * The first character of your password must be alphabetic * Your password must be a mix of upper and lower case letters * Your password must contain AT LEAST one number * Your password must be AT LEAST eight characters long * Your password must contain AT LEAST one special character (from the following list): ! % * + - / ? : * Your password MAY NOT be longer than fifteen characters total Recommended method for Mac, Linux, Windows Users: * Open your web browser and enter https://www.ezreset.eiu.edu in the address bar at the top of the browser window. * Click on the box \"English\". * Leave the drop down box at P-Synch and enter your user name in the box to the right of the drop down box. * If you remember your current password choose \"Use a password\". * Enter your password on the next page and choose \"verify password\". * Click \"Pick a new password\" * Enter a new password using the Strong Password Rules into the \"new password\" box and enter it again in the \"confirm\" box below and click \"change password\". An option for Windows Domain Users: *An optional way to change your password at anytime on supported Windows computers on the EIU Windows network is press the Ctrl - ALT- Delete keys and click on Change Password. Your old password is your current password. Then please choose a new strong password and re-enter it a second time. Or All Users: *Call the ITS Help Desk at 217-581-HELP(4357)

PAWS for students and employees will not be available Sunday (Mar. 30th), 6:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Production BANNER (INB and self-service) will also not be available. ITS will perform maintenance tasks during this time. If you have any questions, please call the help desk at 581-HELP