DoIT addresses issues in Webmail slowdown
Students have faced password problems and delivery delays.
Published Feb. 19, 2010
Over the past several weeks, the Division of Information Technology has been working to solve issues involving the university student Webmail system. Despite improvements made to student Webmail accounts last fall in a switch to Microsoft Outlook Live, there have been several student-reported incidents of issues with the system.
In fall 2009, DoIT implemented a mandatory switch for students and faculty from Microsoft Office Outlook to the current e-mail system, Outlook Live. This system offers many improvements over last year's e-mail, including increased storage and more features.
The old server limited students to 40 megabytes of message storage, but Outlook Live offers 10 gigabytes, as well as features, such as blogging and instant messaging. In addition, students are able to keep their MU e-mail addresses on the Outlook Live e-mail system, unlike students' Outlook Web Access accounts, which would be deleted one semester after they graduated.
DoIT was recently faced with two particular events that delayed e-mail on campus.
In an incident last week, many students were affected by a slowdown in e-mail delivery, which delayed messages to student's Webmail accounts, as well as Webmail forwarding to outside accounts.
A slowdown in message delivery, which began Feb. 8 and persisted through Feb. 10, occurred through Microsoft's Outlook Live Service, not a university server error.
"Microsoft reported that it had solved the problem but did not elaborate," DoIT Director Terry Robb said. "Division of IT staff are trying to get a more detailed reason."
DoIT reported another incident that occurred Monday when an issue on a university server delayed e-mails between 10:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., affecting many e-mails sent to and from faculty members.
"It was a one-time event and we do not anticipate it occurring again," Robb said.
But there have been other issues facing students, including Outlook Live's Internet compatibility and difficulty recognizing student passwords.
Sophomore Kylie Chi said she faced the issue over winter break and was unable to log in to her e-mail for almost two weeks.
"Outlook Live wouldn't save my password and the issue persisted for two weeks," Chi said. "I tried to contact Outlook, but it was taking too long, and eventually I just called IT."
Freshman Kelsey Clark also had problems with the Webmail system's password recognition.
"My previous password no longer worked when I signed in. I then changed my password until it stopped working again, and it identified it as an incorrect password," Clark said. "This all happened maybe five more times total."
Despite these recent issues with student Webmail, the Division of IT has been able to address students' technical problems.
"I called IT and they were extremely helpful; the issue was resolved that day," Chi said.