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Summary: Data Center Relocation Update #5 - May 16 - 17, 2008 Outage Reminder

Publication Date: May 9, 2008

Author: William Leith, Acting General Manager, Application, Operations and Delivery Services, Federal Student Aid

Summary: Data Center Relocation Update #5 - May 16 - 17, 2008 Outage Reminder


Posted on 05-09-2008


As we initially informed you in a March 28, 2008 Electronic Announcement posted on the Information for Financial Aid Professionals (IFAP) Web site, we plan to implement the Federal Student Aid data center relocation of the Central Processing System (CPS), the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS), the Student Aid Internet Gateway (SAIG), and several Web sites in July 2008. Prior to this implementation, we are conducting two test cycles. The first test cycle was completed in April 2008, and the second test cycle will be completed in May 2008.

The purpose of this communication is to remind you of the May 2008 test cycle outage period. We will conduct this test cycle outage during the period May 16 –17 , 2008. Please review the information below and evaluate impact to your school or organization during this period.

May 16 – 17, 2008 Outage Period

The CPS, the NSLDS, the SAIG, and the Web sites listed below will be unavailable to users for seven hours from 5:00 P.M. (ET) on Friday, May 16, 2008 until 12:00 A.M. (ET) on Saturday, May 17, 2008.

Note: As a reminder, we changed the outage start time provided in the March 28th Electronic Announcement. The outage will start at 5:00 P.M. (ET)—two hours later than our initial estimate (3:00 P.M.)

Impact on Web Sites

During this outage period, the following Web sites will be unavailable to users:

  • CPS Web Applications Demo System
  • FAA Access to CPS Online
  • FAFSA4caster
  • FAFSA on the Web
  • Federal Student Aid Download (FSAdownload)
  • Federal Student Aid PIN
  • ISIR Analysis Tool
  • NSLDS Professional Access
  • NSLDS Student Access
  • R2T4 on the Web
  • SAIG Mailbox Portal
  • SAIG Enrollment

Impact on CPS Compute Processing

In conjunction with this outage period, we will need to suspend the CPS compute process for a short period of time. We will not process application or correction data on Friday, May 16, 2008. As a result, application and correction data sent to the CPS during the period May 15 – 18, 2008 will not be processed until May 19, 2008. There are no known state deadlines that will be affected by the suspended compute date.

Note: Per our normal processing schedule, application and correction data received by 12:59 A.M. (ET) on May 15, 2008 will have a “processed date” of May 15, 2008.

Impact on SAIG File Submission

During this outage period, file transmission via the SAIG will be interrupted. Users attempting to transmit files via the SAIG during the outage period will receive an error message informing them that the SAIG is unavailable and that data must be transmitted at a later time.

Required EDconnect Upgrade and TDClient Initialization File Replacement

In an April 23, 2008 Electronic Announcement posted on the IFAP Web site, we reminded the community about upgrading to EDconnect v7.2 and replacing the initialization file (tdclient.ini) to be used with all versions of the Transaction Delivery (TD) Client and Easy Access (EA) Client mainframe and midrange transmission software. These upgrades are associated with the data center relocation.

We urge all EDconnect and TDClient users who have not already completed the applicable upgrade (or upgrades) to do so immediately. Failure to upgrade by the time the transition to the new data center is complete will result in the inability to send and receive files.

For additional information about these upgrades, refer to the April 23rd Electronic Announcement.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we complete the required activities during the May 16 – 17, 2008 period.