Information Technology Infrastructure Direction, Future Computer Environment for the Water Resources Division, 1998-2000

Date: Tue, 23 Jun 1998 13:10:55 -0400
From: "Lewis V. Wade" <lwade>
Reply-To: "Lewis Wade, ACH/Water Information, Reston, VA" <lwade>
Organization: U.S. Geological Survey
To: "E  - All WRD Employees"<distribution>
CC: "Dorothy M Woods, Secretary (AO), Reston, VA" <dmwoods>
Subject: Information Technology Infrastructure Direction, Future Computer Environment for the WRD, 1998-2000


In Reply Refer To: 
Mail Stop 440
 			

				MEMORANDUM
		
							June 23, 1998

To:		All Water Resources Division Employees

From: 		Lewis V. Wade (signed)
		Acting Assistant Chief Hydrologist for Information

Subject:	Information Technology Infrastructure Direction, Future 
		Computer Environment for the Water Resources Division, 
		1998-2000

The purpose of this memorandum is to provide information on the future
Distributed Information System (DIS) supported computer environment of
the Water Resources Division (WRD), which has been developed in
collaboration with the Computer Policy Advisory Committee (CPAC) and the
Regional Computer Specialists, and to announce the availability of the
DRAFT Futures Committee # 3 (FutCom3) Report. Note the information in
this memorandum is consistent with the FutCom3 report.

THE WRD COMPUTER INFRASTRUCTURE

THE MISSION

To provide cost-effective and innovative information management,
computer infrastructure, 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.

THE VISION

The WRD future computer environment will evolve to consist of:

	o  	Desktop applications supported by the following 
		configurations:

		- Served from "vanilla" NT servers to clients that can 
			run the application locally and/or
		- Network displays from WinCenter NT servers to 
			Xterminals, NetPCs, and NT workstations.

	o	SUN servers, to serve corporate UNIX applications to the 
		desktop that will include National Water Information 
		System (NWIS) and Administrative Information System
 		(AIS), but less likely for Geographic Information System
		(GIS) client applications.

SOFTWARE

	o	All corporate commercial software products that DIS 
		currently supports 
		http://wwwqvarsa.er.usgs.gov/dis/how-to/get_help.html

	o	GIS client applications to the desktop served by NT

	o	Microsoft Office Pro (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint)

	o	Lotus Notes/Domino for email, calendar, newsgroups reader
		and server applications (Lotus Notes uses Netscape 
		browser)

	o	Perl as the web development language

TRANSITION

	o	Every site needs to run Windows/Intel applications and
		will need to purchase at least one NT server or WinCenter
		NT server.

	o	Every site must train a person to support the NT 
		server(s).

	o	Sites may need to move to the SUN when national software 
		such as AIS or NWIS on existing Data General (DG) is 
		under performing or the DG's cannot be maintained.  AIS 
		and NWIS will support a release of their software for the
		SUN in the Fall 1998. The future role of NT is also being
		investigated.

FUTCOM3 REPORT

In August 1997, the CPAC charged a subgroup FutCom3 to update the FutCom
# 2 report to describe the computer environment for WRD over the next 3
years (1998-2000). This memorandum announces the release of this DRAFT
document, which further defines the WRD computer infrastructure
leadership direction and gives further information in the following
areas:
	Applications Development 
	Database and Web Development 
	AIS and NWIS 
	GIS 
	Publications 
	Networks 
	The Ideal office 
	Procurement

This document is available at:

	http://wwwrcamnl.wr.usgs.gov/uo/f3/

SUMMARY

Through this memorandum and release of the FutCom3 report, each of you
will find information to benefit you in your work.  In particular,
managers will benefit from the insight and guidance on how best to
provide computer hardware, software, support, and training to their
staffs.  I encourage you to read this information and comment. The WRD
Senior Staff will discuss these issues during their July 14-16, 1998,
meeting.

Note:  This memorandum is being distributed by e-mail only.