----------------------------------------
ACCESS SERVER FAILURE REDUCES MODEM POOL
----------------------------------------
Early this morning one of our access servers failed.  I have been working
with Cisco's Technical Assistance Center to revive it, but with no
success.  Cisco is shipping a replacement which should arrive on Thursday
or Friday (November 20 or 21). 

The loss of one access server means that instead of our usual total of 322
modems, we are down to 276.  The smaller modem pool puts our user/modem
ratio at an unacceptable level, so busy signals may become a major problem
during peak evening hours. To minimize the possibility of busies I have
reduced the per-session time limit to three hours, but with only 276
modems there are still likely to be some busy signals. If you do get a
busy, please keep trying.  I will monitor the situation, and if it appears
that busies are still a major problem I will reduce the per-session limit
to two and a half hours until the replacement access server is on line.

I will post an update to System News as soon as the replacement is
configured and installed.

-------------------------------------------------------------------
If you have questions about this, or about anything else related to
your BCPL Internet Account, please contact the BCPL Help Desk.

 Phone:   410-887-3297
 FAX:     410-887-2091
 E-Mail:  help@mail.bcpl.lib.md.us

 Help Pages:            http://www.bcpl.lib.md.us/help.html
                        (or enter "help" at the UNIX shell prompt)

 System News Archives:  http://www.bcpl.lib.md.us/sysnews.html
                        (or enter "sysnews" at the UNIX shell prompt)