Spring Break
The Daily OrangeNew power switch to prevent network failures during blackouts
By Katie Papo
Posted: 10/17/07, 1:49 AM EST Section: News
A single computer suddenly seems far less complicated once you set foot inside Machinery Hall. The rooms are filled with tall columns containing hundreds of servers, wires and storage systems. It is almost like walking through a city lined with miniature buildings - buildings with a lot of buttons.
All of these systems within the building collectively operate Syracuse University's computer network system. This includes everything from MySlice to the SU Web site to e-mail services.
And if those systems in this room shut down, the school is in a lot of trouble.
This is why Information Technology and Services and the Office of Campus Planning, Design and Construction are working together to install power transfer switches in the hall. In case of a power failure, these switches will keep SU's computer network running smoothly.
Susan Watts, process manager at Machinery Hall, said it would be beneficial to install the new power transfer switches. If power were cut from the room, no one on campus would be able to use the computer network system.
"The goal is to leave enough of this building running so people can do basic computer functions in case of a power outage," she said.
Steve Bonomo, an information technology analyst at SU, said there is currently a large machine in Machinery Hall that provides enough power to allow the computer systems to progressively shut off if there were a power outage.
"As opposed to letting the systems slam off, this allows them to gradually shut down," he said.
"Think of it as a big battery," Watts said. "It recognizes when we lose power from the street, and it provides battery power, but right now it only lasts for 31 minutes. Then it sends a signal to all things in the room, and it gradually starts shutting things down."
Installing the new power transfer switches in Machinery Hall is good for students, said Judy Holmes, tech writing and publications specialist for Information Technology.
All of these systems within the building collectively operate Syracuse University's computer network system. This includes everything from MySlice to the SU Web site to e-mail services.
And if those systems in this room shut down, the school is in a lot of trouble.
This is why Information Technology and Services and the Office of Campus Planning, Design and Construction are working together to install power transfer switches in the hall. In case of a power failure, these switches will keep SU's computer network running smoothly.
Susan Watts, process manager at Machinery Hall, said it would be beneficial to install the new power transfer switches. If power were cut from the room, no one on campus would be able to use the computer network system.
"The goal is to leave enough of this building running so people can do basic computer functions in case of a power outage," she said.
Steve Bonomo, an information technology analyst at SU, said there is currently a large machine in Machinery Hall that provides enough power to allow the computer systems to progressively shut off if there were a power outage.
"As opposed to letting the systems slam off, this allows them to gradually shut down," he said.
"Think of it as a big battery," Watts said. "It recognizes when we lose power from the street, and it provides battery power, but right now it only lasts for 31 minutes. Then it sends a signal to all things in the room, and it gradually starts shutting things down."
Installing the new power transfer switches in Machinery Hall is good for students, said Judy Holmes, tech writing and publications specialist for Information Technology.
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