RE: PG&E outage announcement to campus...
This page last updated 2:15 p.m. on Nov. 19, information subject to change. Please refer to Berkeley News, WarnMe alerts and other official campus communications for the latest guidance.
How will the power outage impact campus IT services and systems?
- Network & Wi-Fi Access - Campus network access and Wi-Fi will be down in campus locations where power is down.
- IT Systems - All IT systems and services hosted in the campus data center, as well as all systems and services hosted external to the campus data center, in geographic areas that have not lost power,are expected to be available during the PG&E planned power outage. The data center will be up as long as there is generator power so we expect core network services to continue to function (border/internet connectivity, DNS, etc.). Systems and services we expect will be available include: Caltime, bCourses, Cal Central, SIS, Cal Answers, bConnected (bMail, bCal, Drive), Box, BFS, Bearbuy, Zoom, Hangouts, Docusign, ServiceNow, Pantheon/Open Berkeley, berkeley.edu, news.berkeley.edu, and all other websites. For the most up-to-date information please visit System Status
- Instructor Support - Instructors looking for additional support around digital course delivery options: Digital Learning Services support staff will be at the Academic Innovation Studio (Dwinelle 117, Floor D) to provide consultations for Instructors and GSIs on the use of bCourses, the creation and sharing of voice-over lectures, or other options for remote instruction. If possible, please book a consultation by using the DLS Consultation calendar (subject to change if campus communications inform people to stay off campus). In-person and virtual consultations are available. More Information on the DLS website.
- Kronos Clocks - Without building power the Kronos clocks will not work.
- Landline Phones - Desktop phone lines (CalPBX) will operate for ~2 hours on UPS batteries in locations without power, and then will stop working.
- Production Control - Production Control Shared Services Center (PCSSC) Control-M and GoAnywhere for Batch and Managed File Transfers will be up and available.
- Remote Access VPN (Virtual Private Network) - bSecure GlobalPotect VPN service will remain up, but the old Cisco AnyConnect VPN will be down.
- Savio Condo/Berkeley Research Cluster - Users should reference email communications sent to them directly for full details about the availability of Savio.
What are you doing to make sure applications and systems will be available to campus during the power outage?
We have generators in several key locations on campus to help keep things powered and functioning. However, resources to keep the generators running may become limited depending on the duration of the outage and may lead to systems becoming unavailable over time. This would occur if the needs of other regional institutions (i.e. hospitals, emergency services, etc.) become prioritized for generator refueling ahead of our needs.
What will happen to cell phone coverage?
Losing cell phone coverage is highly likely if the entire campus power is down. Cell phone power is dependent on campus power and is managed by your cellular provider. Most providers have battery backup in place that will last several hours, and some have generators to extend their availability. With a 48-hour power outage, we expect cellular service to degrade over time. There are several towers on campus, not all will lose power. For those that lose power, there will be 4 to 8 hours of battery power. Cell service will degrade over time and may become nonexistent. If you are experiencing issues using your cell phone, try texting as it is more likely to go through.
Will dialing 911 continue to operate?
Yes, 911 calls made from a campus landline phone that is powered and working should function as normal. You may also dial 510-642-3333 to reach UCPD from a cell phone, or use one of the Blue Light emergency phones located across campus to obtain help.