1 For real-time updates on the ongoing outage, see the "E-mail" section of MIT's [3down](http://3down.mit.edu/3down/#e) page, or [this](http://web.mit.edu/network/email_outage_20090723.html) page about the incident.
3 Below is the email sent around 4pm on July 23rd about the outage.
5 From: Christine Fitzgerald <cavanna@MIT.EDU>
6 To: "is&t@mit.edu" <is&t@mit.edu>,
7 "itpartners@mit.edu" <itpartners@mit.edu>,
8 "it-lead@mit.edu" <it-lead@mit.edu>,
9 "infogroup@mit.edu" <infogroup@mit.edu>
10 Subject: EMAIL OUTAGE: Issue with Incoming Email
11 Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:53:50 -0400
12 CC: "tmstone@mit.edu" <tmstone@mit.edu>,
13 "sharonp@mit.edu" <sharonp@mit.edu>
15 At approximately 6:00 am today, we experienced issues with the
16 delivery of incoming mail on five of our IMAP post office servers
17 (po9, po10, po11, po12, and po14). This affects users whose email is
18 running on the traditional IMAP email servers and does not impact
19 those who are running email using Microsoft Exchange.
21 The root cause of the problem was identified as damaged controller
22 cards on the SAN (which is our email storage system). These cards
23 were replaced this morning and we have been able to restore three
24 (po9, po12, po14) of the five post office servers.
26 The Network team continues to trouble shoot the remaining problems
27 with the post office servers (po10 and po11) and is working closely
28 with our vendor, SUN and their engineering experts for issues related
29 to the SAN storage device. Simultaneously, we are working to help
30 users effected by the outage get their incoming mail by bring up a
31 separate storage device. All inbound mail is being queued and will be
32 delivered once the servers are restored.
34 We realize that this outage has affected a number of users on campus
35 and we have been working throughout the day to restore this service
36 for you. Restoration is a complex process and is being closely
37 monitored every step of the way. Updates have been posted to the
38 3-DOWN website on a regular basis throughout the day and a message has
39 been posted to the Service Desk call center line to notify users of
42 We understand how important email is to all of you and we apologize
43 for the inconvenience this has caused.
45 Please direct any questions you may have to the Service Help Desk at
46 computing-help@mit.edu or 617.253.1101.
50 _______________________________________________________________________________
51 NOTE: IS&T will *NEVER* request passwords or other personal information via email.
52 Messages requesting such information are fraudulent.
53 _______________________________________________________________________________
54 Christine C. Fitzgerald
55 Manager of Strategic Communications
57 Informations Services and Technology (IS&T)
58 Massachusetts Institute of Technology
59 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Room N42-240N
60 Cambridge, MA 02139-4307