IT Updates

17th December 2018

Self Service Portal

Did you know that you can log your IT requests via a self service portal?  Requests are dealt with as efficiently using this method and you don’t have to sit and wait on the phone when the helpdesk is busy.

Access the self service portal here  https://nwcsu.service-now.com/csu

Intermittent Spine connectivity

Time of Event:  Ongoing 14/12/2018

Fault Summary:   We have received a large volume of calls from user with intermittent spine connectivity, this is preventing users using their smart cards within clinical systems.

Impact: User are getting an error message:

Can’t authenticate with smart card.  The remote name could not be resolved gas.national.ncrs.nhs.uk

User Groups Affected: All Users

Locations Affected: All

Fault Status: We are currently investigating our Networks and the Telecoms team have raised a call with BT to try and resolve this issue.

Anticipated Resolution Timescale: Unknown further communications will be sent out.

Workaround: Please try a re-boot of your systems.

What to do / not to do: If a re-boot does not work, we will require you to contact the desk to further investigate.

How will you know when it is fixed:  Users will no longer have connectivity issues.

Helpdesk : GMSS IT Service Desk
Number : 0161 765 6688

Notice For Desktop Users

Commencing December 2018 a new method of providing system updates to desktop computers is being implemented.  All desktop computers will automatically power on outside of business hours (early hours of the morning), one day a week to receive Microsoft system updates. When the update completes the system will reboot leaving it ready to use the next day.  This notification is for awareness only and no user action is required.

Notice For Laptop Users

Laptop users will continue to receive system updates during business hours.  Further information is provided below:

What to do / not to do: Your laptop is configured to download and install updates automatically in the background.  If a restart is needed to complete the installation, you will be notified and a reboot will happen automatically if you do not restart your laptop.

You will receive a bubble notification informing how long until the reboot happens.

If you click on this you will see a progress bar counting down from 9 hours before the laptop will automatically reboot.

4 hours before the reboot occurs the notification will reappear and cannot be hidden to ensure you are aware a reboot is about to happen.

If you do not restart your laptop before the countdown is completed, the computer will automatically restart and you will lose any unsaved work.

How do I check what day my computer will do maintenance?

You can check the next maintenance window for your computer from within the Software Center.

1.   To open this click on the start button and type Software Center

2.   Select the installation status tab from the left hand side of the Software Center

3.   Click Upcoming to see the next window

What to do if your laptop restarted whilst you were in the middle of using it without displaying a notification first?

Please contact the service desk to report this letting them know the asset number of your laptop and  your  work location.

How will you know when it is fixed:

You will no longer be prompted to restart your laptop.

If you have any concerns regarding this notification please contact the GMSS IT Service Desk on the number below

Helpdesk: GMSS IT Service Desk
Number: 0161 765 6688