1 For real-time updates on the ongoing outage, see MIT's [3down](http://3down.mit.edu/3down/#e) page. Below is the email sent around 4pm on July 23rd about the outage.
3 From: Christine Fitzgerald <cavanna@MIT.EDU>
4 To: "is&t@mit.edu" <is&t@mit.edu>,
5 "itpartners@mit.edu" <itpartners@mit.edu>,
6 "it-lead@mit.edu" <it-lead@mit.edu>,
7 "infogroup@mit.edu" <infogroup@mit.edu>
8 Subject: EMAIL OUTAGE: Issue with Incoming Email
9 Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:53:50 -0400
10 CC: "tmstone@mit.edu" <tmstone@mit.edu>,
11 "sharonp@mit.edu" <sharonp@mit.edu>
13 At approximately 6:00 am today, we experienced issues with the
14 delivery of incoming mail on five of our IMAP post office servers
15 (po9, po10, po11, po12, and po14). This affects users whose email is
16 running on the traditional IMAP email servers and does not impact
17 those who are running email using Microsoft Exchange.
19 The root cause of the problem was identified as damaged controller
20 cards on the SAN (which is our email storage system). These cards
21 were replaced this morning and we have been able to restore three
22 (po9, po12, po14) of the five post office servers.
24 The Network team continues to trouble shoot the remaining problems
25 with the post office servers (po10 and po11) and is working closely
26 with our vendor, SUN and their engineering experts for issues related
27 to the SAN storage device. Simultaneously, we are working to help
28 users effected by the outage get their incoming mail by bring up a
29 separate storage device. All inbound mail is being queued and will be
30 delivered once the servers are restored.
32 We realize that this outage has affected a number of users on campus
33 and we have been working throughout the day to restore this service
34 for you. Restoration is a complex process and is being closely
35 monitored every step of the way. Updates have been posted to the
36 3-DOWN website on a regular basis throughout the day and a message has
37 been posted to the Service Desk call center line to notify users of
40 We understand how important email is to all of you and we apologize
41 for the inconvenience this has caused.
43 Please direct any questions you may have to the Service Help Desk at
44 computing-help@mit.edu or 617.253.1101.
48 _______________________________________________________________________________
49 NOTE: IS&T will *NEVER* request passwords or other personal information via email.
50 Messages requesting such information are fraudulent.
51 _______________________________________________________________________________
52 Christine C. Fitzgerald
53 Manager of Strategic Communications
55 Informations Services and Technology (IS&T)
56 Massachusetts Institute of Technology
57 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Room N42-240N
58 Cambridge, MA 02139-4307