Date:         Tue, 21 Oct 1997 09:31:57 -0700
Reply-To:     "Christopher M. Smith" <csmith@SDSC.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon mailing list <Vanagon@Gerry.SDSC.EDU>
From:         "Christopher M. Smith" <csmith@SDSC.EDU>
Subject:      VANAGON LIST WARNING - YOUR ADMIN - READ!
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

To one-n-all':

For those unaware, our list server ('gerry') is located on a table in the
operations center at SDSC. Apparently, last Friday someone
decided that they wanted to put two other machines (computers) on gerry's
table and move gerry to another table. Moving computers at SDSC
is as common as flies on cow poop, but crashing systems in the process is
a big No-No! From what I've been able to gather so far, to make
the move the "movers" unplugged the machine ... this is what we
call "sudden death" to most, if not all Microsoft Windows/NT
machines. Some of you noticed the interuption in service over
the weekend. Monday, I was a bit dismayed (putting it lightly)
at what had happened to gerry. I was able to bring the server
back up, but service seems to be intermitent, and there are
some other minor problems with gerry that will need to be
addressed. The list is working, not perfect, but working. That's all I
can say for the moment. Most of us admin types are pretty anal about
the "perfect" computer system (like the "perfect" VW), so I guess I'm bit
twice by the "anal" bug.

Why am I telling you this ?  In lieu of shutting gerry down completely
today (Tuesday, October 21st) and tomorrow (Wednesday, October 22nd), I'm
going to leave the list running today, BUT please realize that you'll get
intermitent service (worse than yesterday). I'll be shutting down the
system occassionally to do some diagnosics, reconfiguration, etc., etc.,
but will bring the server up ASAP. I'm taking this approach so
I can test the server in the "real mode". I'm still planning for a
complete shutdown tomorrow morning, between 5-9 am (Pacific Time) to do
some scheduled maintenenance. If all is well gerry and I are going to
meditate for a bit, if not the system could be down for the day. If the
server doesn't appear to be working, please see Ron Lussiers WWW
page at www.vanagon.com for an updated report on the list server.

Chris
Vanagon List Co-Admin

P.S. I've taken measures to let the "movers" know in no uncertain terms
that I'm to be notified whenever they even want to glance at gerry.