Service Alerts

green - services online

REDCap Scheduled Downtime

September 29, 2017 2:36 pm

REDCap (https://redcap.partners.org/redcap) upgrades to v7.4.11 scheduled for Thursday October 5th at 6:30AM EST are complete. REDCap was offline from 6:30AM-7:25 EST.

This upgrade will include a number of new features and bug fixes. These include:

  • New feature: Custom Record Status Dashboards - Users can build and save custom versions of the Record Status Dashboard to customize the dashboard to their liking.
  • New feature: Better device management for the REDCap Mobile App – The Mobile App page in a project now contains better methods for keeping track of the activity of the mobile app used on many devices at a time for a single project.
  • New feature: Response Limit for surveys - Users may set a response limit for any given survey to prevent respondents from starting the survey once a set number of responses have been collected. Note: It can be set so that the response count included either completed responses only or both partial and completed responses. Users may also set custom text to be displayed to respondents on the survey page when the response limit has been reached.
  • New feature: Time Limit for Survey Completion – Users may set the amount of time (in days, hours, and/or minutes) that each respondent has to complete a given survey based on when they were initially sent the survey invitation. Note: This feature excludes public survey links. When enabled, a new column is displayed on the Participant List where it denotes if a participant’s survey link has expired and also displays the expiration time if you hover over the icon. If the icon is clicked, the user can permanently override the link expiration time by setting it further in the future (to give the respondent more time), or else to expire the link sooner (or even immediately).
  • Improvement - If a record has any survey invitations that are scheduled to be sent in the next 7 days, it will display a button above the table on the Record Home Page. The button will note how many upcoming invites are scheduled for the current record in the 7 days, and when clicked, it will display a table of the send time and survey title for the next 7 days worth of scheduled invites.

Full release notes available here.

If you have any concerns about REDCap being offline at this time or any questions about these new features, please email edcsupport@partners.org

Posted on September 29, 2017
yellow - pre-downtime, calls to action

An Update Regarding Apple's macOS High Sierra

November 29, 2017 12:00 pm
 
On September 25, 2017, Apple will release their next Operating System (OS) for Mac laptops & desktops, macOS High Sierra. At this time, we recommend you do not upgrade your Mac as this upgrade may impact your ability to use enterprise services. 
 
Once High Sierra is released, vendors like Cisco and Microsoft will also release software updates for their products to integrate with High Sierra. Like prior Apple OS releases, the expectation is the first minor version of High Sierra (version 10.13.1) will be stable for the Enterprise. Presently we are experiencing issues with Trend Micro Security (Antivirus) and ForeScout SecureConnector (NAC). Further information on compatibility with Partners services will be broadcast in the coming weeks. 
 
Please keep in mind that Apple, and therefore Partners, only supports the current OS and two versions prior. With the release of macOS High Sierra 10.13, the only other supported macOSs will be macOS Sierra 10.12 and Mac OS X El Capitan 10.11. If you are running an out of date macOS, please view our webpage on how to Update Your Mac, or contact the Service Desk if you need assistance with an upgrade. Older Mac operating systems introduce risk to your data and the enterprise as they are not patched for security vulnerabilities, nor do they comply with Partners policies.
Posted on September 20, 2017
yellow - pre-downtime, calls to action

Email Loading Issue on Mobile Devices

September 13, 2017 4:11 pm

Applies to: iOS and Android devices enrolled in MobileIron who are on Exchange Online

If your work email is not loading on your phone, please power it off and turn it back on. If you reboot and your email does not load, please try switching from Wi-Fi to cellular (or vice versa). Please wait a few minutes for the phone to refresh and your email to load.  We have recently discovered a mismatch in ActiveSync protocols when some mobile devices connect, which requires a reboot to update and restore functionality appropriately. If you continue to experience difficulty, please contact the IS Service Desk for assistance.

Posted on September 13, 2017
grey - no status, general alert

Nexus and Pixel Users: Do not upgrade to Android O

August 23, 2017 2:43 pm to September 23, 2017 12:00 am

Google released its latest mobile operating system, Android O (8.0.0) on August 21st. It is expected to be available to Google Pixel and Nexus devices within the next week.  We have detected compatibility issues between MobileIron and Android O that has been traced back to changes Google made between the last Beta release and the final version.  As such, please do not upgrade to Android O at this time.  

We are working with MobileIron to release an updated version of the “MobileIron Go” App that is fully compatible with Android O and expect this to occur within the next 2-3 weeks. If you have any questions regarding this, please open up a ServiceNOW ticket and have it placed in the "Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) - PHS" queue

 

Posted on August 23, 2017
yellow - pre-downtime, calls to action

REDCap: Limited EDC Support August 14th-18th

August 11, 2017 2:46 pm

There will be limited support next week while EDC Support attends the annual REDCap Conference. Please plan for delayed response times.  Priorities will be made for Moving Projects to Production, User Access, Creating New Projects, and Change Requests.  General REDCap questions will be best effort. 

Be sure to review the Help&FAQ, Training Resources, and Getting Started with REDCap pages.  

If you have any questions, please email edcsupport@partners.org

Posted on August 11, 2017
green - services online

REDCap: Unexpected Downtime

August 2, 2017 3:01 pm

REDCap (https://redcap.partners.org/redcap) experienced an unexpected outage from 2:17-2:37PM today. It is back online.

Please review your projects if surveys were scheduled to send during this time.  Manage Survey Participants > Survey Invitation Log.  You can filter on “Invitations that failed to send” and resend as needed.

Survey data may not have been collected at this time and participants received a web-browser error message when attempting to click on a survey link.

If you have any concerns, please email edcsupport@partners.org

Posted on August 2, 2017
yellow - pre-downtime, calls to action

Intel 1217-LM NIC Driver Update

July 26, 2017 11:13 am

Applies To:  Windows HP Devices

Partners IS has identified that a specific Intel I217-LM Network card within HP device models can cause major network switch outages. Devices managed by Partners IS have already been updated. These instructions are for all other HP workstations connecting to the Partners network.

Please work with your Local IT Administrator to download and install the latest versions of the NIC Driver provided by HP Support Services.

  1. Visit https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers
  2. Enter the model name of the computer you have
  3. Upgrade all drivers.

Here are a few device-specific drivers for your convenience. This list is not exhaustive:

If your device is blocked from the network,

  1. When possible, connect to the guest network to update your driver
  2. Contact the IS Service Desk for next steps

Additional references:

Posted on July 26, 2017
yellow - pre-downtime, calls to action

SSH Server Connections

July 30, 2017 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

 SSH Server Connections Unavailable on July 30, 2017 @10a.m. - 2p.m. EDT

ERIS DIPR File Server (fs.dipr.partners.org) maintenance is scheduled on Sunday, July 30, 2017 from 10a.m. to 2p.m. EDT for a full server replacement. During this maintenance window, SSH connections will not be available.  

Impact
ERIS DIPR File Server (fs.dipr.partners.org) is the nfs file server which provides mounted storage to the SSH Gateway Server Home Folders. ERIS technicians will check and remount home folder storage at the end of the reboot for SSH accounts.

Please contact rcc@partners.org if you have any questions or concerns about this maintenance. 

Posted on July 24, 2017
yellow - pre-downtime, calls to action

DIPR File Server Replacement

July 30, 2017 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

ERIS DIPR File Server (fs.dipr.partners.org) maintenance is scheduled on Sunday, July 30, 2017 from 10a.m. to 2p.m. EDT for a full server replacement. During this maintenance window, any applications and systems that have storage associated with this server will be offline for approximately one hour.

Impact

ERIS DIPR File Server (fs.dipr.partners.org) is the nfs file server which provides mounted storage to our DIPR environment. For any systems managed by ERIS, technicians will check and reboot or remount storage.

Action Required

If you are an owner of a virtual machine in DIPR, we strongly encourage you to check the status of your VM once the scheduled work concludes. If you find one unresponsive, reboot or remount the storage. If any issues persist, please contact rcc@partners.org and we'll address the problem.

Please contact rcc@partners.org if you have any questions or concerns about this maintenance.

ERIS provides Discovery Informatics Platform for Research (DIPR), a flexible, secure cloud computing infrastructure designed to meet research needs. DIPR Virtual Machines (VMs) offer IT power and services to research customers without placing the burden of purchasing or managing server hardware on the researcher.

Posted on July 20, 2017
green - services online

LimeSurvey: Unexpected Downtime

July 14, 2017 3:11 pm to 6:11 pm

LimeSurvey (https://limesurvey.partners.org/limesurvey) was down on Friday July 14th 2017 from 8:30AM - 10:00AM EST due to database connectivity issues. 

Users are urged to review their projects for any inconsistencies. 

We apologize for the inconvenience. 

LimeSurvey will require a restart at 8:00PM on July 14th. Expected downtime is 10-15 minutes.

If you have any concerns, please email edcsupport@partners.org

Posted on July 14, 2017
green - services online

LabArchives: Change to Single Sign On

July 13, 2017 4:00 pm

Updates to LabArchives Secure Login process to use Okta, Partners newest technology, will occur on July 13 at 4pm ET.

The new login link will be posted and updated on our websites. Please be sure to update any bookmarks after the cut over!

The biggest change to note is that when you are off network, you will be prompted for a second factor of authentication.

To register a phone number, or to check to see what number has been previously registered, go to Password self server (myprofile.partners.org). Login and click on the "update my phone number” link.  You can add a phone number or update an existing number.  Make sure you enter all numbers you may wish to use for second factor authentication, you will be able to choose the appropriate number to use when needed.

Please see the article INFO: Secure Log In Overview and FAQs for additional information.

If you have any questions/concerns, please email edcsupport@partners.org

Posted on July 12, 2017
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StudyTRAX: Unexpected Downtime

July 12, 2017 8:00 am

StudyTRAX (https://studytrax.partners.org/StudyTrax/) experienced an unexpected outage on July 12th from 2AM-1PM EST.

An unannounced change made by ScienceTRAX within their online/in-app help documentation caused the StudyTRAX server to lose connection and behave unpredictably, causing the outage to the system.

If you have any concerns about this downtime, please email edcsupport@partners.org

Posted on July 12, 2017
yellow - pre-downtime, calls to action

Office 2016 is Now Available!

July 11, 2017 12:05 pm

The Office 2016 upgrade for Macintosh, non-standard PC or personally-owned computers used for business is available for self-installation. There is a separate process for upgrading Partners Standard Windows PCs; site-specific information can be found on SharePoint. 

Steps at a glance

  1. Uninstall older versions of Office
  2. Install Office 2016 
  3. Activate Office 2016

Note: please read the complete Installation Instructions

Visit the Office 2016 training & support site for training and support resources related to the Microsoft Office 2016 upgrade and move to Exchange Online for Windows devices at Partners. For help with the install, stop by your local Tech Depot for assistance or contact the IS Service Desk.

Posted on July 11, 2017
green - services online

REDCap Scheduled Downtime

July 11, 2017 12:05 pm

REDCap (https://redcap.partners.org/redcap) upgrades to v7.0.20, scheduled for Thursday July 13th at 6:30 AM EST are complete. REDCap was offline from 6:30-6:50AM EST.

If you have any concerns about REDCap being offline at this time, please email edcsupport@partners.org

Posted on July 11, 2017
yellow - pre-downtime, calls to action

Securing your Computer Connection

July 18, 2017 10:00 am

Partners has embarked on a strategy to improve the computing experience across the breadth of devices used at work to assure productive, clean and stable computers (Windows PCs, Apple Macs, smartphones and tablets). With the recent virus and ransomware attacks, both within our System and Internationally, Partners is accelerating this effort to improve the security of our environment.

 

A change will be made to Mac desktops and laptops to help secure our environment. On Tuesday, July 18, 2017, the ForeScout SecureConnector Network Access Control (NAC) agent will be installed on all devices enrolled in PEAS.

 

Network Access Control (NAC) is a mechanism that ensures device trust before allowing device access to a secure network. A NAC agent is an application installed on a device to allow visibility into policy compliance of that device when connecting to the Partners network. The current agent used at Partners is called ForeScout SecureConnector.

 

What can I do to prepare?
You can check to see if you have the agent installed on your computer by opening your Applications folder and searching for ForeScout SecureConnector. If you do not find ForeScout SecureConnector in your list, you may visit this website to install: https://rc.partners.org/SecureConnector. Since you are enrolled in PEAS, you can simply open Self Service and install ForeScout SecureConnector.

 

What devices already have the SecureConnector Network Access Control (NAC) agent?
ForeScout SecureConnector is already installed on most Partners standard Windows workstations and some PEAS-enrolled Macs. Mobile devices, such as phones or tablets, and Linux computers are exempt at this time.

 

Since November 10, 2016, those working at or attending meetings at Assembly Row are required to install the ForeScout SecureConnector agent on any computer connecting to the Partners network. All devices must meet the security requirements to gain full network access. Other hospital site locations will implement this compliance check at a later date. The requirements include encryption, antivirus software, and patches. 

 

Please visit the Knowledge Base for FAQ and additional information on device compliance, or our webpage on how to Secure Your Mac. If you have additional questions, please contact the IS Service Desk.

 
Posted on June 30, 2017
yellow - pre-downtime, calls to action

6/01 - PEAS Self Service Upgrade

June 1, 2017 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm

The PEAS Self Service application will be unavailable on Thursday, June 1st between 5pm and 7pm to perform a software upgrade

Posted on May 26, 2017
yellow - pre-downtime, calls to action

Wordpress Vulnerability

May 6, 2017 2:00 pm

Updated on May 17, 2017: 

Wordpress 4.7.5. was released.
https://wordpress.org/news/2017/05/wordpress-4-7-5/
 

Applies To: Wordpress <4.7.4

A Wordpress vulnerability in the password reset function might allow attackers to get hold of the password reset link without previous authentication [CVE-2017-8295].
Combined with other vulnerabilities and, depending on the server configuration, a remote attackers may be able to pass extra parameters and consequently execute arbitrary code.
All versions of Wordpress prior to 4.7.4 are vulnerable. Exposure increases if combined with other vulnerabilities (as CVE-2016-10033) so make sure your PHP is running the latest patched version. An exploit is known to this vulnerability.

At the moment this is being written, Wordpress stable version is still 4.7.4. Please stay alert and update it when a patch is available. For now, as a temporary solution, UseCanonicalNames can be enabled to enforce a static SERVER_NAME value. [see link below]

References:
http://httpd.apache.org/docs/2.4/mod/core.html#usecanonicalname
https://httpd.apache.org/docs/2.4/misc/security_tips.html
http://php.net/manual/en/function.mail.php
https://wordpress.org/download/release-archive [for when a new version comes up]
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2017-8295
https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2016-10033
--
Note:
As always, other basic server security hardening also applies, as 1) making sure you're logging mail transport (if using local MTA) with proper retention; 2) possibly changing php.ini to log mail functions (improved auditing); 3) log monitoring tools to detect an alert unusual activity (i.e., increased mail traffic); 4) off-box logging, among others.
 

Posted on May 10, 2017
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rc.partners.org Website Downtime

May 9, 2017 7:00 am to 7:50 am

The website was unavailable from approximately 7:00a.m. - 7:50a.m. on Tuesday, May 9 during scheduled maintenance. 

Posted on May 8, 2017
green - services online

Single sign-on coming to HealthStream May 16

May 16, 2017 8:00 am

Effective May 16, you will be able to log into HealthStream using your Partners username and password. You will no longer need to remember a separate password to complete your HealthStream learning requirements. 

HealthStream is the online learning system used by MGH and Partners HealthCare to administer required annual and departmental trainings.

If you need assistance with HealthStream, or have questions about single sign on, please contact mghhealthstream@partners.org.

Posted on May 1, 2017
yellow - pre-downtime, calls to action

GoToMyPC License Renewals due by April 30th

April 30, 2017 8:00 am

Applies to: MGH, BWH, PHS Ergonomics Purchasers (does not apply to DFCI)

All GoToMyPC licenses expire on April 30, 2017.  As the department purchaser, employees will request that you renew their subscriptions before their access expires.    When GoToMyPC users log on to GoToMyPC, a pop-up message reminds them it’s renewal time!

To renew a license, select GoToMyPC -Renewals in the Ergonomics catalog.  Renewal subscriptions costs $84.  You can order for multiple recipients by providing the following information:

  • Name
  • Email Address (Important: Renewals should be placed with the original email address registered with GTMPC)
  • Hospital Site

Exceptions:  

  • DFCI Employees:  This message does not apply to DFCI employees since existing DFCI GoToMyPC licenses are renewed annually by DFCI Network Services.
  • PHS Employees:  VPN (Virtual Private Networking) is the recommended solution for remote access to the Partners network.  VPN provides a secure solution at reduced cost to our organization. PHS employees at Assembly Row should not renew GTMPC and request a VPN account.   

For more information, review the GoToMyPC License Renewal instructions or open a ticket with the IS Service Desk.

 

Posted on April 26, 2017
green - services online

REDCap: Scheduled Downtime

April 26, 2017 12:51 pm

REDCap (https://redcap.partners.org/redcap) upgrades to v7.0.14 scheduled for tonight Wednesday April 26th at 8:30 PM EST are complete. REDCap was offline from 8:30-8:45 PM EST.

This upgrade is to apply a necessary patch to address a number of bugs introduced in the upgrade to version 7.0.10. 

If you have any concerns about REDCap being offline at this time, please email edcsupport@partners.org

Posted on April 26, 2017
yellow - pre-downtime, calls to action

Coming Soon: Office 2016

April 19, 2017 11:27 am

Partners HealthCare Corporate employees' devices will begin upgrading to Office 2016, which includes the most current versions of Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access. Office 2016 is part of the Office 365 suite of applications and online services offered by Microsoft.

Here’s what you need to know to get started:

When will I get it?
The date of your upgrade is determined by the last digit of your device/control #:

  • Tuesday, April 18
    • Devices ending in 0 and 1
  • Tuesday, May 9
    • Devices ending in 2 to 9

How does the upgrade work?

What changes will I see?
This new version offers a fresh look and feel, as well as several new features across all Office applications. Outlook incorporates the ribbon throughout, and includes enhanced features designed to help you work more efficiently.  

Where can I learn more?
Training schedule, FAQs, and other resources can be found on the Office 2016 training & support site.

For help with upgrade:

Posted on April 19, 2017
yellow - pre-downtime, calls to action

Windows 10 Creators Update (build 1703) released

April 12, 2017 10:01 am

Windows 10 Creators Update (build 1703) was released on April 11th and will show up as an update for users on their devices. Read more: https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2017/04/11/whats-new-in-the-windows-10-creators-update/

Posted on April 12, 2017
green - services online

rc.partners.org Website Maintenance

April 6, 2017 7:00 am to 8:00 am

Research IS & Computing website maintenance took place on Thursday, April 6, 2017 starting at 7a.m. The site was offline for approximately ten minutes. Updates included bug fixes, security updates and feature enhancements. 

Posted on April 5, 2017
green - services online

REDCap Scheduled Downtime

April 5, 2017 8:00 pm to 8:38 pm

REDCap (https://redcap.partners.org/redcap) upgrades to v7.0.10 scheduled for Wednesday April 5th at 8:00 PM EST are complete. REDCap was offline from 8:00PM-8:38PM EST. 

This upgradel included a number of new features and bug fixes. These include:

  • Repeating Instruments and Events: REDCap now has the ability to repeat a data collection instrument or an entire event of instruments an unlimited number of times without having to specify the amount needed. This is sometimes called one-to-many data collection, in which a project can have one or more repeating parts. The repeating instruments/events feature can be enabled and set up by clicking the Enable button in the Optional Modules section on the Project Setup page.
    • ​​​Note: A separate Service Alert will be sent next week to fully detail this new feature.
  • Improvement: New interface for Home/My Projects/Control Center pages.
  • Improvement: A zip file containing all uploaded documents (or signature files) for an individual record can now be downloaded from the "Choose action for record" drop-down on the Record Home Page if the user has Data Export privileges.
  • Improvement: File Upload fields that are displayed on reports will no longer display the text "[document]", but will instead provide a "Download" button so that the user can actually download the file from the report.
  • Field name (variable) auto-suggest when typing branching logic, calculations, or general conditional logic (Survey Queue, Automated Survey Invitation, Data Quality rule, report filter’s advanced logic). While typing logic/calculations into the text box, it will auto-suggest a REDCap variable name from your project that is clickable to inject into the text box. If the project is longitudinal, it will also suggest event names to inject unique event names.
  • Real-time validator for branching logic, calculations, or general conditional logic (Survey Queue, Automated Survey Invitation) that allows you to run your logic/calculation on a specific record in the project, and it returns the result. For example, if typing branching logic in the Add/Edit Branching Logic popup in the Online Designer, you can select a record, and it will tell you if the field will be displayed or hidden for that record based upon the record’s currently saved values. When typing calculations, it will return the actually calculated value of the field for a selected record. This makes it easier to formulate your logic and calculations so that you get them right the first time.
  • Preview email - When composing an email on the "Email Users" page in the Control Center and also when composing survey invitations (e.g., the Participant List, Automated Survey Invitations set up), there is now a Preview option for viewing the fully-rendered HTML preview of the email that is being composed. Additionally, there is an option to send a test email to oneself in case they want to actually receive a copy the email being composed before officially sending it to others.

Full release notes available here.

If you have any concerns about REDCap being offline at this time or any questions about these new features, please email edcsupport@partners.org

REDCap v7.0: New Feature Release and User Group Meeting

BWH: April 11th 2017 3:30-4:30PM, Thorn Conference Room

Click to register.

MGH: April 20th 2017 3:00-4:00PM, Simches Building Room 3.120, 185 Cambridge Street

Click to register.

This user group session will review the new feature releases and how best to implement and retro fit to production projects. We will also use the time for users to share their experiences and tips/tricks.

Posted on March 28, 2017

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