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+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.
+
+ From: Christine Fitzgerald <cavanna@MIT.EDU>
+ To: "is&t@mit.edu" <is&t@mit.edu>,
+ "itpartners@mit.edu" <itpartners@mit.edu>,
+ "it-lead@mit.edu" <it-lead@mit.edu>,
+ "infogroup@mit.edu" <infogroup@mit.edu>
+ Subject: EMAIL OUTAGE: Issue with Incoming Email
+ Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:53:50 -0400
+ CC: "tmstone@mit.edu" <tmstone@mit.edu>,
+ "sharonp@mit.edu" <sharonp@mit.edu>
+
+ At approximately 6:00 am today, we experienced issues with the
+ delivery of incoming mail on five of our IMAP post office servers
+ (po9, po10, po11, po12, and po14). This affects users whose email is
+ running on the traditional IMAP email servers and does not impact
+ those who are running email using Microsoft Exchange.
+
+ The root cause of the problem was identified as damaged controller
+ cards on the SAN (which is our email storage system). These cards
+ were replaced this morning and we have been able to restore three
+ (po9, po12, po14) of the five post office servers.
+
+ The Network team continues to trouble shoot the remaining problems
+ with the post office servers (po10 and po11) and is working closely
+ with our vendor, SUN and their engineering experts for issues related
+ to the SAN storage device. Simultaneously, we are working to help
+ users effected by the outage get their incoming mail by bring up a
+ separate storage device. All inbound mail is being queued and will be
+ delivered once the servers are restored.
+
+ We realize that this outage has affected a number of users on campus
+ and we have been working throughout the day to restore this service
+ for you. Restoration is a complex process and is being closely
+ monitored every step of the way. Updates have been posted to the
+ 3-DOWN website on a regular basis throughout the day and a message has
+ been posted to the Service Desk call center line to notify users of
+ the situation.
+
+ We understand how important email is to all of you and we apologize
+ for the inconvenience this has caused.
+
+ Please direct any questions you may have to the Service Help Desk at
+ computing-help@mit.edu or 617.253.1101.
+
+ Best,
+ Christine
+ _______________________________________________________________________________
+ NOTE: IS&T will *NEVER* request passwords or other personal information via email.
+ Messages requesting such information are fraudulent.
+ _______________________________________________________________________________
+ Christine C. Fitzgerald
+ Manager of Strategic Communications
+
+ Informations Services and Technology (IS&T)
+ Massachusetts Institute of Technology
+ 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Room N42-240N
+ Cambridge, MA 02139-4307
+
+ cavanna@mit.edu
+ 617.253.9814
+