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Y2K

Y2K Bug is a No-Show at NACS

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Thanks to preparations and planning, NACS is pleased to report that no Y2K-related problems occurred on the campus network, in the campus telephone system, or on NACS computing systems on January 1. Only minor Y2K problems had been anticipated, but we were concerned about possible threats to network and computer security by those attempting to exploit holiday absences and Y2K confusion.

NACS had staff standing by during the holiday to deal with potential Y2K problems or security attacks. Our goal was to be sure the UCI community could depend on NACS services upon their return to campus.

During the break, about a half-dozen different attempts to find or exploit weaknesses in UCI systems were detected and handled. In addition, several network and computing problems of a routine nature were fielded, and some key installation projections completed. Many thanks to the NACS computing and communications staff who worked or were on call during the holiday.

NACS-DCS Y2K Efforts

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UCI System Administrators have been busy getting ready for year 2000 (Y2K) and the associated software “bugs” we have all been hearing about in the media. NACS’ Distributed Computing Support (DCS) group is no exception.

DCS has reviewed the 260+ UNIX systems and servers it supports and has identified those that are not considered “Y2K compliant” by their Operating System (OS) vendors. Approximately one-third of DCS-supported systems still require an OS upgrade to make them Y2K compliant (about 30 others have been upgraded in recent months). It is hard to say whether or not an upgrade of a given system is absolutely required, as some Y2K problems have limited impact and may not affect a work-group’s particular use. However, vendors make no promises unless compliant software versions are installed.

Systems running Digital UNIX (DU) 4.0d, DU 4.0e, Irix 6.5.3, Red Hat Intel Linux 5.1, Solaris 2.6, or Solaris 7 are compliant. DU 4.0d and Solaris 2.6 are compliant with the patches that DCS has already applied. DCS is working on upgrading systems running other OS versions, but it is a large task that DCS will be busy with for the rest of the year or longer. If you are the owner of a system that needs to be upgraded, you may contact DCS to review your upgrade schedule.

In addition to Y2K issues in operating systems, application software that is important to end-users must be checked for Y2K compliance. Contact your software vendor for more information, or DCS for general advice.

For more information on Y2K efforts, contact DCS (DCS@UCI.EDU), or see:

http://www.nacs.uci.edu/support/sysadmin/Y2K/

UCI Computing Supporters and Y2K

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NACS hosts monthly meetings of campus computing supporters: the CSCs (Computer Support Coordinators) and CLCs (Computing Lab Coordinators). NACS staff and others will present on Y2K topics during two summer meetings of these groups:

Meeting agendas, schedules, and locations are announced and discussed on the UCICSCG@UCI.EDU LISTSERV mailing list, which anyone may join.