Service availability during CERN annual closure 2015/2016

Please note that the Service Desk will be closed, however in case of urgent requests, you can call/contact (+41 22 76) 77777. Calls will be redirected to the relevant support groups.

 

General Services
As always, like the security service, the emergency and fire service remain operational 24/7 and reachable via 74444.

However, the services provided by the GS department requiring human presence (such as CERN hotel, the car sharing service, the shuttle service, etc.) will not be operational during the annual closure.

Services that do not depend on a continuous human presence will remain available offering a reduced level of support during this period. In general, the response time to normal problems will be a half day (no guarantee), but in case of serious failure, the reaction time will depend on the arrangements that have been made with the supported services.

Any incidents will be documented on the CERN Service Status Board.

For more information, please consult the CERN Services Portal.

Please also note that the heating of the Meyrin and Prévessin sites will be switched into a low mode. This reduced level will lead to a slight drop in temperature, in order to gain energy savings during this period of low occupancy.


Computing Services
Most of the services provided by the IT department - including WLCG production services - will remain available during the CERN annual closure. No interruptions are scheduled but in case of failure, the restoration of services cannot be guaranteed.

Problems will be dealt with on a best effort basis only.  However, please note:

  • Experts should be reachable to start investigations on the following services within about half a day except around Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (24 and 25 December) and New Year's Eve and New Year's Day (31 December and 1 January) –  Databases*, Linux, lxplus, lxbatch, Mail, Printing, Network & Telecoms, Vidyo, Windows & Windows Terminal Services, Web Services, Oracle web hosting (Apex), Java web hosting, Cloud Infrastructure, activation of accounts, resetting passwords, EOS, AFS, CDS, CERNBox, Castor, Indico, Inspire, TWiki, SVN, GIT, issue tracking, Configuration Management Service, JIRA, CVMFS, Dashboard Monitoring Service, CERN Grid Services and the room booking system.
     
  • Incidents will be listed on the CERN Service Status Board for Computing.
     
  • All network and telecom services will run as usual, the first-line support will operate normally, but other changes requiring human intervention will not be possible.
     
  • The backup service will remain operational, but backups cannot be guaranteed and file restores may not be possible.
     
  • For the Castor service, damaged tapes will not be processed.


*Availability, backup and restore limited by the availability of other services.

Please note that the operator service will be available and can be reached at 75011 or by email to computer.operations@cern.ch, where urgent problems may be reported.

Potential computer security incidents must be reported to Computer.Security@cern.ch or 70500 as usual.


Please remember to shutdown and power off any equipment in your office that is not required during the annual closure.