14-Dec-2020

Scientific Linux 7.9 Upgrade: Tuesday, 15-Dec-2020

On Tuesday, we will be updating all CLASSE Scientific Linux (SL) 7 systems from SL 7.8 to SL 7.9 as follows:

• On Tuesday, 15-Dec-2020, all SL7 client systems (e.g. desktops and Compute Farm nodes) will be updated in the morning. New kernels are included in this update, but they will not be be used until the computer is rebooted. There are no scheduled reboots, and they can be done as requested or at your conveninece.
• Starting at 10:00 AM, the central infrastructure and control system clusters will be updated. During this time, there might be brief pauses in file access and service availability while individual servers are upgraded.

This minor release update should be mostly transparent. Release notes are available at https://access.redhat.com/documentation/en-US/Red_Hat_Enterprise_Linux/7/html/7.9_Release_Notes/

Timesheet News

• We are receiving an extra holiday on 24-Dec-2020 this year! However, Timesheet will not automatically create this holiday for you. Please update your Timesheet with a Holiday on 24-Dec-2020.
• We have introduced a new time entry interface for users who wish to record their effort one day at a time. In Timesheet, go to the "Time Entry" menu at the top of the page, and select "Daily". To return to the previous grid style entry form, select "Grid".

macOS Big Sur: Wait To Upgrade

Apple has recently released macOS version 11, known as Big Sur. CLASSE-IT and CIT are both recommending that Mac users should wait to upgrade their personal computers to macOS Big Sur. CLASSE-managed Macs will be upgraded only after we have thoroughly tested Big Sur and resolved any compatibility issues. In particular, Big Sur requires a new VPN solution for CLASSE (see here for details), which is currently under development.

New Mac VPN with Two-Step Login: Tuesday, 15-Dec-2020

For Mac users who have already upgraded to macOS Big Sur (see above), starting this Tuesday, 15-Dec-2020, we will be offering a trial version of our new Big-Sur-compatible VPN service, known as Pritunl (pronounced Pre-Tunnel). For enhanced security, our Pritunl deployment will include two-step login via Duo, which should be familiar to Cornell users (although a separate CLASSE registration will be required). To get started with this trial version, please submit a ServiceRequest.

Pritunl will be deployed to CLASSE-managed Macs when they are upgraded to Big Sur next year. For Windows and Linux users, there are no immediate plans to disable the current VPN server (OpenVPN).

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General network and server maintenance will occur every Tuesday from 12:00 noon to 2:00 PM. The CLASSE-IT group will always announce any expected disruptions in our NewsLetter and via CLASSE-IT-NEWS-L, but with the size and complexity of our network there is always the potential for something to go wrong. We will do our best to contain all network maintenance and planned outages to Tuesdays from 12:00 noon to 2:00 PM.

Unless other arrangements have been made, CLASSE-managed Windows systems may be updated and rebooted on Tuesday morning at 2:00 AM, so please avoid critical or lengthy operations at that time. For more details, please see SystemExpectations.

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Questions or problems? Submit a service request.

Other resources:

• CLASSE IT Home Page
• Previous newsletters

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