We will deploy a fix for the recent Moodle service disruption on Wednesday, 17 September 2025. Moodle will be unavailable during the maintenance work on 17 September from 8 AM to 12 PM.
Update 15 September 2025 at 1:30 PM:
We will introduce a new distributed Moodle system (a new server cluster) as a resolution to the issue. This will help manage the increased load observed in the system. We have conducted extensive testing to ensure that the new system is as reliable as possible and capable of handling even higher levels of traffic than before.
We will continue to actively monitor Moodle’s performance after the new system goes live and over the coming weeks. If needed, we will implement additional measures based on how the system performs under real peak usage conditions.
The root causes of Moodle’s increased load are still under investigation. As a result, occasional slowness or service disruptions may still occur. We are working closely with our UK-based Moodle partner to resolve the issue for the benefit of the entire international Moodle community.
We sincerely thank all University community members for your patience during this unusually prolonged service disruption.
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Update 11 September 2025 at 4:45 PM:
- We have determined a solution for the issue affecting the Moodle online learning environment. Final testing is still underway, and we will assess on Monday, 15 September, whether the solution is ready for deployment.
- If everything is ready for deployment on Monday, we will implement the fix either on Tuesday 16 September, or Wednesday 17 September 2025. This deployment will result in a temporary service break lasting a few hours. A separate announcement will be made regarding the exact timing of the service break.
We will update this bulletin with a detailed estimate on the Moodle service break resolution as soon as possible.
During the Moodle service disruption, it may be advisable to temporarily transfer certain aspects of teaching to alternative platforms. Please refer to the instructions for sharing teaching materials and assignments, organising exams, and tips for group work and interaction in teaching
Service repair actions completed on 10–11 September 2025 included e.g.:
- Finalising the technical setup of the distributed Moodle system (cluster)
- Load testing of the new cluster, which will continue on Friday
- A minor collaboration agreement has been made with a Moodle partner to investigate the potential root cause of the issue. This effort will benefit the entire Moodle community.
Our deepest apologies for the service break – we greatly appreciate your patience during the service repair process!
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Update 9 September at 3:45 PM: our specialists are currently working intensively to resolve the situation. Unfortunately, we cannot yet provide a precise estimate on when the service disruption will be resolved.
As of 9 September 2025, we have carried out e.g. the following actions:
- The current Moodle server’s load has been limited so that only a restricted number of University users can work in the system simultaneously. Approximately 200 users can be active within one minute, and around 2,000 within fifteen minutes.
- We have completed a new Moodle environment where the load will initially be distributed across seven servers. Load testing of the new system will take place on Tuesday, 9 September and Wednesday, 10 September 2025.
- We have identified a potential issue in the Moodle code and are obtaining a technical assessment from a Moodle consultant via our UK-based Moodle partner.
Options for teaching and examinations
- As the Moodle service break continues, it may be reasonable to transfer certain aspects of teaching to other platforms. For example, file sharing, assignment submissions, online discussions, and exam arrangements can be handled using platforms and tools already in use.
- Please refer to the instructions for alternative ways to share teaching materials and assignments, organise exams as well as tips for group work and interaction in teaching
Service disruption causes and detailed information
The service disruption is due to an unexpected increase in concurrent Moodle logins and technical issues, which cause additional load to the server. We endeavor to resolve this issue as soon as possible. However, a technical resolution to the issue will require more time and resources – therefore we ask for University staff and students to do the following:
1. That all students are not urged to log in to Moodle during teaching events. This will reduce the number of concurrent Moodle logins.
2. That teachers share materials and create assignments on course pages or other platforms instead of Moodle. See instructions and tips in our Moodle bulletin on options for teaching and examinations (English translation coming soon)
Our deepest apologies for the service disruption!
Moodle support for teachers:moodle@helsinki.fi
IT Helpdesk provides Moodle-support for students:
- Chat (weekdays 9 AM to 3 PM, chatbot 24/7): helsinki.fi/helpdesk
- Call: 029 41 55555 (weekdays 9 AM to 3 PM, local network charge / mobile call charge)
- E-mail: helpdesk@helsinki.fi