The Blackboard database backup completed successfully on Friday evening, so we will not now need to take the Blackboard service down on Sunday.
Blackboard database backup – 17th/18th/19th January
Following the move of Blackboard to the new SAN hardware, IT Services need to make an additional backup of the underlying database. This process can take up to 10 hours, during which time the responsiveness of Blackboard is significantly reduced.
Significant work has already been undertaken, and will be restarted at 21:00 tonight (Friday 17th). If the additional backup only requires a short time to finish it will be left to complete tonight. If the process could take up to 10 hours to complete it will be rescheduled, and start on Saturday 18th at 21:00.
While the additional backup is being made Blackboard users will notice performance degradation. If the backup process is still running at 07:30 on Sunday morning, Blackboard service will be withdrawn while it completes. This will make the backup quicker and will ensure that it finishes as soon as is possible on Sunday. As soon as the backup has finished, Blackboard will be brought back online.
If you or your students need access to Blackboard on Sunday morning please let us know by emailing TEL-help@bristol.ac.uk.
Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience this necessary maintenance causes you.
Drag and drop upload of files to content system – not working due to java version
Dear All
Recently Java released a new version for all webbrowsers, it has some security updates and one of these prevents people from uploading multiple files to blackboard content system.
Everything works fine while you open the upload and drag the files over. However when you click the submit button nothing happens. Blackboard corp have designed an update to resolve this problem – we will apply this update as soon as practical.
There are however ways that you can get around the problem now
- using single file upload (look in the top right when you are uploading and you can toggle from multiple to single file)
- Reduce the security level of your java (and then next week return it to its normal setting)
If you wish to reduce your java security level, click start, all programs, java, configure java. A box should appear called “Java Control Panel”, click the security tab and set the security level down to medium. Obviously this leaves your computer less secure and so you should return the setting to high when you have finished working with Blackboard.
Update – our Chrome browsers are set to auto update the workaround using the lowering of security setting might not work with Chrome version that was released Friday afternoon, however if you use IE it will work fine
Regards
Joseph Gliddon – Learning Technologist
QuestionMark Perception available, Friday 17th January
The work moving QuestionMark Perception to the new SAN has been completed as scheduled, and the system is now available and working normally.
QuestionMark Perception unavailable Friday 17th January 6:00-10:00 am
The ongoing problems with the Storage Area Network (SAN) are still adversely affecting the performance QuestionMark Perception (QMP). In order to permanently resolve these issues Information Services will be undertaking urgent work requiring downtime on Friday 17th January. More information on these issues can be located on the IT Services news page.
QMP will be unavailable on Friday morning (17th January) between 06:00 and 10:00am.
Apologies in advance for any inconvenience this will cause you or your students.
If you have any questions or concerns please email Hilary Griffiths, Deputy Director Technology Enhanced Learning.
Hilary.Griffiths@Bristol.ac.uk
TEL Systems Downtime – Blackboard 16th January – Update
Blackboard is now available for users following this morning’s work to move the database. Further information can be found in the IT Services update here.
Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused to you or your students.
If you have any questions, please email us at tel-help@bristol.ac.uk
TEL Systems Downtime – Blackboard (16th January) and QMP (17th January)
The ongoing problems with the Storage Area Network (SAN) are still adversely affecting the performance of both Blackboard and QuestionMark Perception (QMP). In order to permanently resolve these issues Information Services will be undertaking urgent work requiring downtime on Thursday 16th and Friday 17th January. More information on these issues can be located on the IT Services news page.
Blackboard will be unavailable tomorrow (Thursday 16th January) between 06:00 and 10:00am.
QMP will be unavailable on Friday morning (17th January) between 06:00 and 10:00am.
Apologies in advance for any inconvenience this will cause you or your students.
If you have any questions or concerns please email Hilary Griffiths, Deputy Director Technology Enhanced Learning.
Hilary.Griffiths@Bristol.ac.uk
Extension – 14431
SAN issues update, 14th Jan – Questionmark Perception unavailable
Ongoing issues with the Secure Area Network are impacting the Questionmark Perception service which is currently not available to users. IT services are investigating this problem – please check the IT Services new and updates page for further information.
SAN issues update, 14th Jan
IT Services are reporting that they believe they have resolved the issues affecting the Storage Area Network, which were having knock-on effects on Blackboard and QuestionMark Perception – see their news item here. Please check the IT Services News & Announcements page for future updates.
SAN issues, 13th Jan
Issues with the SAN (Storage Area Network) are causing several University systems, including Blackboard, to run slowly. The issues are being investigated by IT Services. We will post updates as we receive them.
Please accept our apologies for any problems this is causing.