EXP384 Systems Manager Report

Owned by JR Mike Cannon (Unlicensed)
Last updated: Sep 03, 2020
3 min read

EXP384 System Manager's Report

Michael Cannon and Minh Huynh

Servers (Microsoft):

  • A systems monitoring server was provisioned to host the HP Insight Manager monitoring application. The HP Insight Manager application, once fully implemented, will allow the systems administrators to monitor and control remotely shipboard servers. Some shipboard servers are configured to send system status data to the Insight Manager application by the end of Expedition 384.

  • TAMU requires a legal message banner to display prior to login to University computers. An updated banner was deployed to the ship's Windows servers.

  • Applied Windows updates to servers as they became available.

Servers (Linux):

  • Work to create a Change Management page in the Confluence application has begun.

  • A plan for file server re-configuration is submitted to management for approval. The plan includes adding new shared drives to reduce the impact to users when a shared drive becomes full.

  • TAMU requires a login legal message banner to display prior to login to University computers. An updated banner was deployed to the ship's Linux servers. Banners were updated on graphical interface login and the SSH login.

  • A server was provisioned for GEODESC testing. The server Fogo is was a clone of Uluru. The server was in use during Expedition 384 and is now offline after the sailing developer left the ship.

Servers (ODA):

  • Oracle servers worked as expected. There were no configuration changes.

Servers (VMware):

  • VMWare hosts and application worked as expected. There were no configuration changes.

3PAR SAN:

  • The HP 3Par storage unit worked as expected. There were no configuration changes.

Network:

  • A new virtual network, VLAN 110, is configured on the ship's network switches to accommodate SnapTV set top boxes. In some cases network drops needed to be patched to the closest switch.

  • A new switch was deployed to UT43 network locker to increase the number of available ports for future SnapTV deployments.

  • Deployed a new fiber optic converter to connect the LT50 router to Siem's network in the core deck network locker for SnapTV connectivity.

  • Updated collector premise wiring maps to accommodate for recent changes in network wiring.

PC Workstations:

  • Microsoft Office 2019 was deployed to shipboard Windows workstations, instrument hosts, and RigWatch stations using the ZENWorks system configuration application.

  • TAMU requires a login legal message banner to display prior to login to University computers. An updated banner was deployed to the ship's PCs.

  • Firefox browser was updated to the latest available version.

MAC Workstations:

  • TAMU requires a login legal message banner to display prior to login to University computers. An updated banner was deployed to the ship's Macs.

  • Firefox browser was updated to the latest available version.

Printers:

  • The Forecastle hallway printer displayed an error message stating that paper of incorrect size was in the paper trays. A sensor detecting paper width that had dislodged from its mount caused the error.

Satellite/Internet/Phones:

  • Unplanned Internet service outages occurred while at sea and in port. Causes included Siem crew's failure to communicate route information to Marlink, a fire at a point of presence location in London, and multiple weather-related incidents.

  • Two planned service interruptions occurred as expected.

Other Equipment/Projects:

  • Shore-based management requested assistance in gathering information on systems configuration including asset inventory, network diagrams, and software versions.

  • The marine computer specialists assisted Siem electronic technicians to provide network connectivity to the SnapTV set top boxes that they deployed to individual staterooms.

  • Drobo storage disk array in the imaging office has been packed for shipping to shore.

  • Siem crew ran a new Ethernet drop to IODP Ops Superintendent stateroom (7-C1).

  • A compiled list of specifications for replacement TVs to display shipboard information was sent to shore management for purchasing.

  • A compiled list of specifications were sent to shore management to purchase a replacement display for the Drill Shack RigWatch PC.

  • Relocated the

    management computers in the MCS office to under desk locations and removed the shelf that formerly held the computers as it presented a hazard.