SYSTEM UPGRADE AT MALAWI
SDNP
================================
I am pleased to inform you that Malawi SDNP has embarked on a system
upgrade during this weekend of 19-20 August 2000. We expect that
there will be no major break in services although small sections of the
network will be pulled down for brief periods of time during the upgrade.
The system upgrade is in two parts:
-
Upgrading the computer operating systems and server software
-
Upgrading the telephone connections in collaboration with MTL
The operating system upgrade will affect and improve the following major
services:
-
Web or WWW services
- our web site will remain functional
-
E-mail Services - there will be no interruption
-
Cache
Services - see below for effects
-
DNS services - there will be no interruption
The web cache and software that assist us to speed up the serving of web
pages to you will be cleared and upgraded during this time. Due to the
clearing of the cache, you will see a temporary reduction in speed on web
page downloading as the web cache gets populated again within the following
week. The speed will get back to normal and improve towards the end of
the week due to more efficient caching from new software.
The telephone system upgrade will affect the following services:
-
The international connections. We have two independent such connections
so that if one fails we can use the other one. This ensures continuity
of service during difficult times.
-
The dial-in connections. We have agreed with MTL that only one connection
may be interrupted at any one time as they upgrade the circuits
-
We will be adding 18 more dial-in lines during the next one to two weeks
to avoid you getting a busy signal. At any one time we add just enough
lines to satisfy demand without generating the need to increase prices.
Following our recent complaints, MTL agreed to give us more secure cabling
and connections so that we have fewer line problems on both our leased
lines and dial-in lines. This is being implemented during this upgrade. We
expect the quality of our lines to improve with this upgrade and we also
expect that we will have more room for growth as MTL gives us a bigger
pipe.
Our undertaking is that we expect to be providing you better and more
secure services after the upgrade. Please contact
us anytime during this time if you face any major inconvenience.
Regards,
Paulos
===================================
Dr. Paulos B. Nyirenda,
Malawi SDNP Coordinator,
P/B 303, Chichiri,
Blantyre 3,
MALAWI.
Tel: +265-674979 / 675872 / 824787
Fax: +265-673944
E-mail: paulos@sdnp.org.mw
Web: http://www.sdnp.org.mw