Many serious problems with Blackboard were encountered after the upgrade Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. The symptoms were ugly error messages that appeared in many places, in particular when submitting a test, posting to the discussion boards, or uploading files.
The problem was identified and normal operations restored by 4pm on Sunday.
– Details –
What the heck happened Saturday and Sunday. The upgrade finished without incident, but them you were logging into Blackboard to take a quiz, talk on the discussion boards, or upload a syllabus, and you received some very ugly error messages. The worst part was that your coworker in the next office was not having a problem.
What happened is that MyUSF is powered by two classes of server hardware, older Sun V440’s, and newer Sun T2000’s. The operating system is the same across both platforms, but they are different architectures and so there are differences in how certain algorithms are implemented. In this case, the bug was in the cryptography libraries, and affected how random numbers were generated, but only on the T2000’s. Whenever Blackboard needed a new random number, it would instead receive an error from Java, which would be passed up to Tomcat, which would then be passed on to your web browser. If you were unlucky enough to be served by one of the T2000’s during the problem, then you likely encountered serious problems.
The bug does have a patch, which has been applied and MyUSF is again running at 100%.
May 14th, 2007 at 8:08 pm
Just wondering why my Program Management course (ADE 6160) does not appear on BB. OASIS shows that I am registered for the course. I do need to access the course by tomorrow through BB . Help!
Terry Prado
May 16th, 2007 at 2:53 am
The course edit list function at the “My USF” page seems to have disappeared. All my courses are listed and I can’t suppress the list.
The Upgrade did not address the collect and read functions. Can anything be done?
Please? Thank you.
May 20th, 2007 at 7:21 am
I cannot see my courses under the courses tab. This is what it says:
Course List
You are not currently enrolled in any courses.
May 20th, 2007 at 7:46 am
I have no classes on blackboard, i haven’t reeived any information from my two instructors, all folders are empty. Then on Sunday the 20th, both courses have been removed from the blackboard. I have no way of conversing with anyone. Plane leaves 21st monday at 11 A.M. Please help
May 20th, 2007 at 8:01 am
I worked in BB last night but all my classes are gone, too.
May 20th, 2007 at 8:12 am
One of my students contacted me this morning because he is unable to access his class. I checked my.usf and found that the two classes that I am teaching this summer have disappeared. I am not even able to find them under the Courses tab. I had also made visible a course from spring 2005 for a student who is making up an incomplete. That course has also disappeared.
Thank you for checking into this.
May 20th, 2007 at 8:13 am
My class from last semester is still on BB and can be accessed. However, the two classes that I am currently taking are not longer there (as of Sunday, May 20th). What is happening?
Michelle Kiley
May 20th, 2007 at 8:19 am
My Spring ‘07 classes are still on BB but my summer ones, for which I have been working in all week, have disappeared. It still says that I am registered for the classes but they don’t appear on my BB home page. Where did my courses go, I kinda need those links.
May 20th, 2007 at 8:22 am
I am having the same problems as the others - I cannot access any of my current courses!!! My old ones are still there, but not my new ones. I have TWO online courses and will fail if I cannot access them!
May 20th, 2007 at 8:23 am
My classes listed under courses are gone, too. Doesn’t look like I am the only one having this problem. Some of us work full-time and only have certain days and hours to due our homework. Please, advise the minute this is corrected!
Tiffany Gregory
May 20th, 2007 at 8:24 am
The data feed from OASIS was empty last night. I’m correcting it now. You should have access to your classes again.
Very sorry about that
Glen
May 20th, 2007 at 8:28 am
No one answered my message from 5/16 regarding the “read” and “collect” functions. Please scroll up.
I have been trying to get this resolved since December ‘06 upgrade. I thought the May ‘07 upgrade would address it, but it did not.
This is a problem that students have as well.
The Upgrade did not address the collect and read functions. Can anything be done?
I have also posted this query where you note the return of the edit function.
Thanak you.
May 20th, 2007 at 8:48 am
No correction has been made from my viewpoint, I still see none of the courses for the summer, My plane leaves in the early A.M. May 21st. I was expecting the computers to be fully functionable this morning to finish some work prior to my departure. Plese inform when blackboard is functioning properly
Thanking you!
May 20th, 2007 at 8:57 am
Also still having problems re: disappearing summer classes. Sent a message to helpdesk but still haven’t gotten any responses or results. I have an assignment on the Discussion Board due today, and would really, really like to have this working ASAP. Thanks!
May 20th, 2007 at 9:19 am
James, those of us teaching are experiencing the same problems as those enrolled. Just be sure your professor knows the duration of the downtime. I expected to work from 8-11am and just lost my 3 hour block.
I know that many students in my classes rely on Sunday morning.
Kathleen de la Pena McCook
Professor
May 25th, 2007 at 10:01 pm
I was wondering why I can load the power point presentation from my teacher. However, I have a very hard time to open up the papers he post that we have to read also. Please help!
September 29th, 2007 at 12:38 pm
Screen freezes during exam while the clock is clicking. September 2007