The information below provides information on our new server that has been introduced recently. We hope that the details below will assist customers in making a seamless transition to our new server from the old server.

General...

We have introduced a new web server to replace our previous web server. We have done this because the old server was showing its age and needed updating so that we stay current with technology. Customers will notice no difference in the design of the web site and very little difference in the way the site functions. Due to server technology differences, there are some technical differences. Some of these are invisible and some are visible. The visible differences are explained further below.

NOTE: If you experience difficulty attempting to log into the web site, please try the following:

1. Clear the cache on your computer / browser.
2. Reload / refresh the home page.
3. Remember that both the username and password are case-sensitive. Hence, username "JBloggs" is not the same as "jbloggs".
4. If the above fails, please contact us.

Use of HTTPS...

The new server allows us to utilise HTTPS or "Secure" communications between the client browser and our server. We do not use this for the entire site, only for the part that is accessed following a user log-in. We have done this to help protect usernames and passwords that are entered during log-in. A visible difference is that the client computer and our server must communicate using SSL technology (the "padlock" symbol in your browser window). The secure transaction certificate has been obtained through Cybertrust (part of Globalsign) and you can verify the certificate by following the link contained on the secure pages.

4 Digit a/c numbers...

To cope with an increasing number of customers, we are now using 4 digit account numbers on the new server. For example, if your account number was "011" on the old server, your new account number is "1011". You use it in exactly the same way, the only difference is that it now starts with an extra "1" and so is one digit longer...

Modified forms...

Some of our online forms now look a little different (there is also a new one for fragment analysis samples) and submitting more than 10 samples requires you to "wipe" the form by pressing a button to clear previously entered data when you return to the form after submitting information about the first 10 samples. The "autorespond email" feature on the forms (meaning that you will not get an email each time you submit a form) has now been reinstated since we are confident that this will not cause a risk of SPAM. The email now contains details of what you submitted for your records.

Archive format...

We are using the introduction of a new server to change the format of the data archives that are stored on our server. Data archives are now in a ".zip" format. This will make things easier for our MS Windows users, since Windows has built-in support for zip files. Macintosh and Linux users should also have no problems using such files unless they are using very old operating systems. Anyone who suspects that they might have a problem handling zip files should click on the following link to try accessing a test zip archive. If you can expand it so you can see a "ReadMe" file, then your computer is able to handle zip files. If you cannot, then please speak to your IT people.

Old data...

Sequencing data that is on our old server has not been transferred over to the new server. However, the old server will remain available for a period of time so that customers can access that data. To access that server, please follow the link on the welcome page once you have logged in. Please remember that long-term storage of data is the responsibility of the customer.