commons.lbl.gov (Confluence) underwent scheduled maintenance starting at 8:00 PM on Thursday, August 26.
Commons was down for ~15 minutes.
Please contact the [email protected] with questions or concerns regarding this maintenance.
conferences.lbl.gov (Indico) underwent maintenance starting at 2:00 PM on Friday, August 6. The maintenance was completed at 2:45pm.
Please contact the [email protected] with questions or concerns regarding this maintenance.
If you receive a message because Druva inSync is reporting that device(s) linked to your account have not been backed up in at least 14 days, it is likely that there is a problem which could result in data loss in the event that you need to restore a file.
Possible causes for this email:
Computer was powered off
Computer was not connected to the internet
Computer needs to be restarted
You no longer have this device and it should be removed from your Druva inSync account
If you no longer have the device or are unsure as to why your device is not backing up, please forward the email you received to [email protected] along with the DOE number of your current computer that should be backing up.
As a reminder, devices which have not backed up in over 90 days will be removed from Druva inSync. Avoid data loss and address this request.
More information regarding Druva inSync can be found in our FAQ.
On September 13, 2021, Google Drive is releasing a security update that will apply to some Drive files. The security update will make Google Drive files more secure by updating their links to include a resource key and may lead to some new file access requests. This update does not impact Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides.
For more information, visit go.lbl.gov/drivechanges.
All Windows system users,
Microsoft releases Monthly Updates (patches) to keep your computer as secure as possible. As onerous as it may seem, keeping your Windows system up to date is a very important part of using any modern operating system with Internet access.
While you have received this update to address current issues, there are always new ones being reported. Our recommendation is to run Windows Update NOW, including REBOOTING if required, and please keep an eye out for future Windows Update communications from IT.
If BigFix is not currently installed on your system, we recommend you install BigFix as soon as possible so we can keep your system safe and you informed. It also helps with DOE property tracking. You never need to barcode scan your computer again.
In order to minimize disruption, when checking for updates, you may get more than one update that requires a restart. Please wait until all updates are completed before restarting your computer or you may have to restart more than once. In addition, if the BigFix restart notification appears, double check your Windows Updates application to ensure all updates have been completed before you restart.
Please run Windows Update at least monthly, to check if your system requires any patches.
Please consider rebooting your Windows system weekly or at least monthly.
Here is How to run Windows Update for Windows 10. Please REBOOT your computer if required by the Windows Update.
To all Windows system users, Microsoft has recently released some critical security updates regarding PrintNightmare. Please run Windows Update and check if your system requires any patches. It is strongly recommended to do this NOW and monitor any future communications from IT regarding this recent security threat.
While Microsoft has released updates to address this current issue, there have been reports that the first round of updates are insufficient. Our recommendation at this time is to run Windows Updates, including rebooting if necessary, and keep an eye out for future Windows Update communications from IT. If BigFix is not currently installed on your system, we recommend you install BigFix as soon as possible so we can keep your system safe and you informed.
In order to minimize disruption, when checking for updates, you may get more than one update that requires a restart. Please wait until all updates are completed before restarting your computer or you may have to reboot more than once. In addition, if the BigFix reboot notification appears, double check your Windows Updates application to ensure all updates have been completed before you reboot.
Keeping your Windows system up to date is important
Here is How to run Windows Update for Windows 10. Reboot your computer if required by the Windows Update.
More information:
Apple has announced a new operating system, macOS Monterey. They have released a beta version for consumers to download. The first final release is expected in Fall 2021.
However, we would like to caution our users to be careful before upgrading to the beta or first final release of macOS Monterey. These are the questions you need to ask yourself before proceeding with the install of macOS Monterey:
Is your computer compatible? See list below:
iMac late 2015 and later
iMac Pro 2017 and later
MacBook Air early 2015 and later
MacBook Pro early 2015 and later
Mac Pro late 2013 and later
Mac mini late 2014 and later
MacBook early 2016 and later
Note: if your hardware is not compatible, macOS Monterey should warn you and not install/upgrade. But it doesn’t hurt to double check to make sure.
Are all your peripheral devices compatible?
Is all your installed software compatible?
Do you have the installation files for that software, if you need to reinstall or revert your Operating System to the previous version?
BACKUP your computer before installing/upgrading to macOS Monterey
IT recommends not upgrading or installing macOS Monterey at this time.
Note that all 32-bit applications are incompatible with macOS Monterey.
If you decide to upgrade regardless of this warning, ensure you backup your computer before installing/upgrading or you may lose your data in the event of a corrupt installation or if you find you need to revert to the previous operating system due to incompatibility.
Feel free to reach out to IT if you have any questions.
You can contact our support staff by:
Opening a chat session at go.lbl.gov/ITChat
Sending an email to [email protected]
Calling 510-486-4357
To all users that have Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge installed on the computer.
Google has released a new version of Google Chrome that addresses vulnerabilities that attackers in the wild could exploit to take control of affected systems.
The new Microsoft Edge is now based on Chrome which is why it needs to be updated as well.
Protect yourself! Update immediately!
Here is How to Update Google Chrome
Here is How to Update Microsoft Edge
More info:
IT has revised and created new FAQ to help you with:
LastPass
Your password management sidekick!
Chrome OS
Google Drives How-tos and fixes
Flush DNS
Make sure to be protected, do a second reboot after the update!
Apple released the macOS Big Sur update 11.3 on April 28, 2021. If Sophos is installed on an M1 (ARM) based system prior to the update, the first time the system boots after the update, protection will be compromised. Restarting the system again resolves this issue.
The issue can be observed when the following conditions are met:
1. macOS 11 had Sophos installed prior to updating to 11.3
2. Upgrading to macOS 11.3
3. M1 chip (ARM) based hardware only (Intel hardware is not impacted)
4. This also applies to the 10.1.0 M1 (ARM) Optimized EAP.
Systems that are not impacted by this:
1. Systems with Intel chip macs
2. New Sophos installs on macOS 11.3
3. Systems with macOS 10.15.7 Catalina and below
Resolution:
Restart the computer once again after upgrading to macOS 11.3!
The original article is linked here!
IT has created new videos to help you with:
If you would like to see a specific help video created, let us know!
Keep an eye on our IT Spotlight page for future announcements on new video tutorials!
Microsoft has taken a different approach to updating Windows 10, as they release major builds twice a year. Each build will have an end of lifecycle and will cease to be supported as defined by their End of Service date. Users should know that they must regularly commit to updating their Windows 10 operating system or risk cyber threat and/or block.
Microsoft has published the Windows 10 lifecycle fact sheet (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/13853/windows-lifecycle-fact-sheet), and their end of life dates (https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/products/windows-10-enterprise-and-education). This information is also represented in the table below.
Windows 10 version history | Date of availability | End of service |
Windows 10, version 20H2 | October 20, 2020 | May 9, 2023 |
Windows 10, version 2004 | May 27, 2020 | December 14, 2021 |
Windows 10, version 1909 | November 12, 2019 | May 10, 2022 |
Windows 10, version 1903 | May 21, 2019 | December 8, 2020 |
Windows 10, version 1809 | November 13, 2018 | May 11, 2021 |
Windows 10, version 1803 | April 30, 2018 | May 11, 2021 |
Windows 10, version 1709 | October 17, 2017 | October 13, 2020 |
Windows 10, version 1703 | April 11, 2017 | October 8, 2019 |
Windows 10, version 1607 | August 2, 2016 | April 9, 2019 |
Windows 10, version 1511 | November 10, 2015 | October 10, 2017 |
Windows 10, version 1507 | July 29, 2015 | May 9, 2017 |
To find out about the your Windows 10 version, see Which Windows operating system am I running? (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/13443/windows-which-operating-system)
Users should be mindful regarding Windows Updates:
Backup your system before doing your Windows Update, you can use Druva inSync from our software download page, go.lbl.gov/DownloadDruvainSync
Run Windows Update on Windows 10, update files can be big and may take some time to download
Once the Update starts to download you can minimize it and continue working
When the download is complete it will ask for a reboot, you can pause or reschedule for the end of the day (Note: update will not finish without a reboot). Note there may be a couple of reboots involved so be patient.
Application of system settings after a Windows Update may require another 15-30 minutes after you reboot and login
Users can REQUEST HELP with updating their Windows 10 system.
Remember do not push off updating your computer, update regularly!
RELATED ARTICLES
Microsoft is ending support for Windows 10 version 1909 on May 11, 2021. This applies to:
Windows 10 Home
Windows 10 Pro
Windows 10 Pro Education
Windows 10 Pro for Workstations
If you have one of the listed editions of Windows 10, it is strongly recommended and encouraged that you update it to the latest version (Windows 10 v20H2) before May 11, 2021 to continue receiving Windows updates and Security updates from Microsoft.
Please note:
Backup your system before doing your Windows Update. Berkeley Lab IT offers Druva inSync for backup solutions
Update files can be big and may take several hours to download
While Windows Update is downloading updates, you can minimize it and continue working
When the download is complete it will ask for a reboot. We suggest delaying until the end of the day, as your system will be unusable during the updates.
Additional updates may need to be applied after you reboot and login. It may take up to 30 minutes to apply settings before the next updates can be applied. On some rare occasions, it could be longer than 30 minutes. This process may need to be repeated multiple times until Windows is completely up to date.
Not sure how to do the update? See Run Windows Update for Windows 10.
If you are interested, to know what is new in Windows 10 v20H2: See Windows 10 version 20H2: The complete changelog
A little extra, here is a refresher to IT Best Practices.
Related Article:
IT has created new videos to help you with:
Reminder: Do not forget your LastPass master password. LastPass admins do not have the capability of recovering your password.
If you would like to see a specific help video created, let us know!
Keep an eye on our IT Spotlight page for future announcements on new video tutorials!
