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Reactivate your username before 1 April

Monday, February 8th, 2021

Network access (usernames) for staff will expire at the end of March unless you reactivate your username.

We suggest that you reactivate yours as soon as possible to ensure uninterrupted access to IT services (internet, email, SUN-e-HR etc.). Keep in mind that the cost centre manager still has to approve your request before your username is reactivated; allow sufficient time for this to be done to avoid disruption of your service.

You will receive an email from helpinfo@sun.ac.za indicating that your username (“engagement”) will expire soon. Three notifications will be sent before the end of March. Alternatively, you can go directly to the reactivation page.

Once logged into the reactivation page, you can select the services you want to reactivate.  You are encouraged to read the ECP (Electronic Communication Policy) before reactivating.

Choose the services (network / email usernames and internet usernames) you want to register for (see images below).

 

Reactivation of internet usernames is no longer necessary and can be ignored.

Make sure you select the correct cost points and if you’re unsure ask your cost centre manager. Click Accept and Reactivate.

 You will receive a notification stating that your request has been submitted, as well as a confirmation email. 

The webpage will indicate that it will be activated as soon as it has been approved by the cost centre manager. When the cost centre manager approves the reactivation request access will be extended to the end of March next year.

If you have completed these steps successfully and still receive emails from helpinfo@sun.ac.za urging you to reactivate, please go back to the reactivation page and make sure the appropriate boxes are checked: Your Network / Email usernames Your Internet usernames

 If you are still not able to reactivate, please raise a request at servicedesk.sun.ac.za

Maintenance weekend: 19 February

Monday, February 1st, 2021

 Information Technology will be conducting maintenance on various components of the IT infrastructure over the weekend of 19 February and some downtime can be expected. 

Quarterly, scheduled maintenance will be taking place from Friday, 19 February at 17:00 to Monday, 22 February at 08:00. Various IT services and systems are affected by this and can become unavailable, partly or entirely.

During the maintenance weekend the current outdated firewall which provided access to off-campus internet will be upgraded to new technology. This will result in estimated internet downtime from Saturday, 20 February at 10:00 to Sunday, 21 Feb 2021 at 12:00. 

Due to the extent of this maintenance and the necessity for thorough testing of systems and services the possibility exists that some interruptions might occur into Monday.

Please rest assured that we will try our best to limit interruptions to a minimum. For inquiries please log a request on the ICT Partner Portal.

Exceptional efforts by IT colleagues

Friday, December 4th, 2020

As we approach the end of a turbulent year caused by a global pandemic and shrinking economies, we are filled with gratitude and pride when we look back on what we achieved and prevented from happening this year. As we see many businesses failing, we recognise our vulnerabilities and exposure to business disruption. The fact that SU could not only maintain and continue its operations, but even accelerate its digitalisation strategy, is evidence of exceptional efforts by the IT colleagues of our university. Nobody foresaw what happened this year. Our response was remarkable, and successful.

More specifically, the following IT-related interventions should be highlighted for the significant contribution to business continuity and support of general productivity:

  • In March, immediate action by IT management in organising the necessary initiatives to upgrade and stabilise the IT infrastructure and services to support increased workload and data flow;
  • Collaboration across functional borders to arrange new services like the provision of laptops to students, and continuously organise the provision of data bundles to qualifying students;
  • Adjustments to administrative information systems to implement management decisions related to operational challenges;
  • Initiatives to form new support structures to support staff and students working at home;
  • Resilience and agility to continue with major projects and deliver on institutional requirements, without using the pandemic as an excuse;
  • Finally, the general willingness to make sacrifices, collaborate and conform to new protocols and ways of working.

To all our partners and colleagues in IT and other functions of the university, we express our sincere gratitude for what we achieved together. We are now in a much better position to plan for known and unknown challenges that may occur on our journey to a digitalised society and university. How soon we’ll get there, depends very much on this good start and our perseverance, maintaining quality standards and focus.

Best wishes for the festive season, and I hope that all of us of will enjoy some rest to prepare for the next challenging year.

Attie Juyn
Senior Director: Information Technology

25 November 2020

 

 

 

Apple update news

Wednesday, December 2nd, 2020

Should I upgrade to macOS Big Sur?

macOS 11 Big Sur is now available to the public and it comes with new features and changes. But you may be wondering, should I upgrade to macOS Big Sur on my Mac?

macOS 11 Big Sur has been widely seen as the least stable of the major new Apple software releases this year during the beta period.

Common issues have included graphical issues like problems with external display support, apps freezing, and random reboots. Stability has improved over the course of the beta period and Apple had postponed macOS Big Sur launching to November instead of September or October, but bugs and performance issues are not totally resolved yet.

So, the question remains, should I upgrade to macOS Big Sur?

  • if you have any concerns about app stability, performance issues, and other bugs, hold out at least for the next bug fix update before upgrading (but maybe even a later update depending on your stability tolerance).
  • If you have critical apps that must work, make sure to check for Big Sur compatibility before upgrading whenever you choose to (initial release not recommended if you have crucial apps)

[Source: https://9to5mac.com/2020/11/16/should-i-upgrade-to-big-sur-on-my-mac/] 

We at IT have received reports of issues with software like Parrallels®, Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Office after upgrading to Big Sur. We recommend that user refrain from upgrading to Big Sur.


Apple’s M1 chipset could have some major compatibility issues

Since Apple made its reveal of the M1 chip during the ‘One More Thing’ event on November 10, everyone has been itching to get their hands on a new MacBook Air or MacBook Pro to see for themselves if this SoC (System on a chip) lives up to its hype. 

Whilst we certainly enjoyed the new machines ourselves, some prominent figures on Twitter are documenting various compatibility issues when using the new M1-powered machines.

Patrick Moorhead (@patrickmoorehead) is a well-known tech analyst, so his claims shouldn’t be dismissed. We’re also seeing other reports popping up over social media sites that reveal his problems are not isolated issues, to the point where a web service called ‘Is Apple Silicon Ready?’ has now been set up to track the compatibility of important Mac software and found around 40% had compatibility issues.

How to check your apps are silicon ready

You can check your existing applications and the Apple Silicon M1 compatible apps database for yourself using the above service, and follow along on the ‘Is Apple Silicon Ready?’ Twitter account for updates. You can also check the featured story on the Mac App Store that highlights what M1 compatible apps are readily available

Source: https://www.techradar.com/news/apples-m1-chipset-could-have-some-major-compatibility-issues

If your apps are not compatible with the new M1 chip you are likely to receive errors when installing. Applications are built to run on specific processors, and not every developer has done all the work necessary to make their apps run natively on Apple Silicon Macs. M1-powered Macs can run native, universal (in which the installer carries code for both Intel and Apple chips) and Intel apps.

Apple is encouraging developers to release universal apps where possible and is making it possible to run Intel apps on Apple silicon using emulation technology called Rosetta 2.

What is Rosetta 2?

Rosetta 2 is an emulator designed to bridge the transition between Intel and Apple processors. In short, it translates apps built for Intel so they will run on Apple Silicon.

Without Rosetta 2 you won’t be able to install applications with .pgk extensions. Rosetta 2 according to Apple is not currently available in South Africa.

[ARTICLE BY BRADLEY VAN DER VENTER]

Remember to request your Adobe license

Saturday, November 7th, 2020

To continue using Adobe DC users had to request a license before the end of November. From 1 December your Adobe DC software will no longer work, but you can still request a license by logging a request on the ICT Partner Portal

Adobe has changed the licensing model for all their products and the new model requires staff to have an Adobe ID to use the software.

Historically, a new serial number would be built into a software installation package which would have been centrally pushed out to all Stellenbosch University asset number machines.
This process would result in uninterrupted use of the software as had been the case for the last 4 years.

The new licensing model is based on named user licenses*. The new version of Adobe DC (Document Cloud), which Stellenbosch University has licensed for 2020 is therefore no longer based on serial numbers.  Named User Licensing is a software licensing model where software is assigned to an individual instead of a serial number or a device.

What are the benefits?

Whilst this is a major change in the way access to the software is managed, the new version and license model comes with a number of advantages including a secure login feature. The new model allows IT to provide end users access to the apps and services they demand for ongoing projects, while establishing the control that IT needs to meet the requirements of the organisation. IT also benefits from a simpler method to maintain compliance as well as management of licenses and services through the Adobe Admin Console.

Who qualifies for a license?

Licenses can only be assigned to a full time university staff member according our license policy. This licensing process is only for advanced users who edit and digitally sign PDF documents.  Users will still be able to make use of Adobe Reader. Users that do not edit or digitally sign PDF documents can request the installation of Adobe Reader via the ICT Partner Portal

To request a renewal of your Adobe license, please log a request on the ICT Partner Portal and a license will be assigned to you.

Please take note:

If you have requested a license and it has been assigned to you, you might still get a pop-up from Adobe asking for a serial number. To remove this, only close and log out of Adobe and log in again.

 

 

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