DIS Information Technology Infrastructure Direction, Memo # 3, Current and Future Computer Environment for WRD Date: Thu, 05 Feb 1998 17:03:49 -0500 From: Gloria Stiltner Reply-To: "Gloria J Stiltner, Chief, DIS, Reston, VA" Organization: U.S. Geological Survey To: "E - All WRD Employees" Subject: DIS Information Technology Infrastructure Direction, Memo # 3, Current and Future Computer Environment for WRD References: <199802032028.PAA14113@mailrvares.er.usgs.gov> <34D89B8F.BD7BEF7@mailqvarsa.er.usgs.gov> In Reply Refer To: Mail Stop 445 February 5, 1998 TO: ALL WRD EMPLOYEES FROM: Gloria Stiltner Chief, Distributed Information System Program Office SUBJECT: DIS Information Technology Infrastructure Direction, Memo # 3, Current and Future Computer Environment for WRD The purpose of this memorandum is to provide information and recommendations on the current and future DIS-supported computer environment of the Water Resources Division (WRD). The vision of the Distributed Information System Program Office (DIS) for WRD is: To provide cost-effective, innovative information management, infrastructure technology, and applications that use mainstream products for our desktops, all of which are determined through collaboration with the users, to meet their scientific and administrative needs. User needs will drive the software and hardware! CURRENT ENVIRONMENT Operating Systems ----------------- The DIS will continue to support DG/UX until the current NWIS and AIS are moved off the Data General platform. DIS will provide support for DG/UX, Sun Solaris, and PC or Xterminal desktop environments supported through NT (workstation, server, and Wincenter.) DIS will not support Macintoshes. Presently, the DIS does not have the resources to support SGI and Linux, but it will continue to assess user needs that may require support in the future. For information on systems support, please contact Susan Trapanese, Chief, System Support Unit, DIS, 703-648-5632, (smtrapan). Technical Advisory Committee for NT ----------------------------------- The DIS has established a new Technical Advisory Committee (NT_TAC) for continued and future NT testing, development, and deployment. The members are: Richard Hollway, Chair, Oregon Samuel Martinez, Colorado Chuck O'Hara, Mississippi Daphne Chinn, DIS, Reston, Virginia Doreen Lucas, DIS, Reston, Virginia Larry Roberts, Alaska Shawn Noble, Iowa Greg Shank, Pennsylvania Information pages are at: http://nt1dmsjkn.er.usgs.gov/nt_tac/dec_97.html Software Applications Support ----------------------------- The currently supported corporate software packages are: FrameMaker, Microsoft Office Pro (includes Word, Access, PowerPoint, Excel), WordPerfect, Netscape Communicator Pro, MH (exmh), SAS, ESRI product suite, Ingres, Apache web-server, USGS-G2, RDB, perl, Green Hills Fortran, and Disspla. All of the DIS-supported software email help groups can be found at: http://wwwqvarsa.er.usgs.gov/dis/how-to/get_help.html Information about known bugs and solutions can also be found at: http://wwwrcamnl.wr.usgs.gov/uo/comp/bugnet.html The memorandum dated 12/8/97, subject "DIS Information Technology Infrastructure Direction, Memo # 2, Call-in support for PC and Macintosh (Mac) Operating Systems and Applications," provides information on how users can obtain help for many commercial software applications. This service has been pre-paid by DIS and is "free" to use until we exceed our pre-paid help-call limit. The telephone number is 1-800-255-7591. The memo can be found at: http://wwwqvarsa.er.usgs.gov/it/memo-2.html Details can be found at: http://wwwqvarsa.er.usgs.gov/hq-support/swsupp.htm The Netscape Communicator Pro products (Browser, Calendar, NetNews, and Email) are now being supported. The browser has been released for general WRD use. The email module has some problems that are currently being resolved by Netscape technical assistance. See memorandum dated 11/7/97 DIS Information Technology Infrastructure Direction, Memo # 1 at: http://wwwqvarsa.er.usgs.gov/it/netscape-memo.html Specific questions about Netscape Communicator Pro software should be sent by email to netscape_help or directed to Pat Rael, 703-648-5622 (pmrael). Additional information can be found on the DIS Netscape web page: http://wwwqvarsa.er.usgs.gov/netscape ESRI Directions --------------- The DIS will release the last version of Arc/INFO (version 7.1.1) software to run on DG in February 1998. ESRI is contractually bound to provide technical support for Arc/INFO 7.1.1 on DG until April 2000. ESRI recently released Arc/INFO version 7.1.2 for all non-DG UNIX and Windows NT platforms, and Beta testing has begun on Arc/INFO version 7.2. The DIS will hopefully release Arc/INFO 7.1.2 to WRD field offices this March or April. The importance of this particular Arc release is that it incorporates Open Development Environment (ODE), Object Oriented (OO) interfacing for the first time. The ODE interface is not platform independent between UNIX and Windows NT, so we should begin to get a clearer picture of ESRI's divergent functionality between the two platforms. ESRI has promised full support of their "core" product, Arc/INFO, on UNIX and NT through the remainder of Arc 7.x, but makes no promises for Arc 8.x. Some of the remaining suite of ESRI products, such as 3-D Analyst for ArcView, ArcExplorer, Map Objects, etc., currently have either more functionality on NT or are only available on NT. We realize each WRD site has unique needs and requirements, so always feel free to contact us for advice on what hardware platform(s) are best for you. However, for sites that want to purchase hardware to run the latest versions of ESRI products over the next couple of years, DIS recommends Windows NT. It is IMPORTANT to note that sites can transfer UNIX ESRI licenses to NT free of charge through September 30, 1998. Sites that do not have the resources or cannot afford to endure the learning curve associated with Windows NT may purchase a UNIX box, such as Sun (preferably) or SGI. However, keep in mind it is very possible ESRI code will be frozen for all UNIX platforms over the next 12 to 18 months. For information on ESRI products, please contact Mark Negri, phone 703-648-5613 (mnegri). For general application-support questions, please contact Tom Wood, Chief, Applications Support Unit, 703-648-5617 (tcwood). DIS PROGRAM OFFICE STAFFING CHANGES The Spatial Data Support Unit (SDSU) of the DIS has been abolished and the duties have been divided in the following manner: Policy, standards, guidelines, and model-application support will be in Hydrologic Analysis Support Section (HASS). Support of the ESRI suite of software as tools and contractual-management support will be in DIS. Gail Kalen, the National DG/UX support person, has moved to the Mississippi District where she will continue to provide National DG/UX support. DIS is hiring a NT/UNIX support person who will become our National UNIX and NT coordinator and also support the UNIX servers at Headquarters. Doreen Lucas is Headquarters' NT operational person and will oversee the migration and support of PC's at Headquarters as they are administered through the NT server. DIS is contracting for a NT systems analyst to be on staff by March 1, 1998, to assist with configuration and implementation of the NT environment for WRD. David Boldt (who has recently returned to the DIS Program Office) is the Sun Solaris OS and application coordinator contact. THE FUTURE The Computer Policy Advisory Committee (CPAC) has formed a subgroup called FutCom3 whose charge is to update the FutCom2 report to describe the computer environment for WRD over the next 3 years (1998-2000). The members are: Graig McHendrie, Chair, California Chuck O'Hara, Mississippi Greg Allord, Wisconsin Jan Ryan, New Jersey Lorri Peltz-Lewis, Nevada Richard Hollway, Oregon Steve Brady, Kansas Susan Trapanese, DIS, Reston, Virginia Scott McEwen, Colorado Additional information can be found at: http://wwwrcamnl.wr.usgs.gov/uo/cpac/futcom3.html These are very transitional times for WRD. We are removing our Prime minicomputers which we began purchasing in 1982. We will "freeze" our legacy Data General Unix systems which we began purchasing in 1990. We will continue to bring mainstream software and operating system environments with centralized support into WRD. User needs will drive the software and hardware! All of our computer-support professionals have endured an ever increasing support work load. Their talents and dedicated service to WRD are recognized and appreciated.