DIS Infrastructure Direction Memo #10, Release of WRD Computer Hardware and Software Inventory System (CHASIS)
In Reply Refer To:
Mail Stop 445


                                 MEMORANDUM


                                                              December 15, 1999



TO:      All WRD EMPLOYEES

FROM:    Gloria J. Stiltner
         Chief, Distributed Information System Program Office

SUBJECT: DIS Infrastructure Direction Memo #10, Release of WRD
Computer Hardware and Software Inventory System (CHASIS)

            RESPONSE REQUESTED BY DECEMBER 30,1999

This memorandum announces the release of CHASIS, the Distributed Information
System Program Office (DIS) internally developed inventory for computer systems,
applications, and licensing. This initial release of CHASIS provides the Water
Resources Divisions (WRD) with a starting component for a much-needed set of
enterprise-wide asset management tools that will aid in the determination and
allocation of support, maintenance, and management resources needed in our
heterogeneous computing environment. The initial development of CHASIS was paid
for with Y2K money. The DIS Program Office will fund maintenance and
enhancements to the product.

Each WRD District Office or major program office will be installing a CHASIS
client database that you will update and maintain with "site-specific"
information.  These individual WRD site-specific databases are aggregated into
a WRD data warehouse located in the Mississippi District. Some of the
information contained in each CHASIS database: hardware configuration
descriptions, operating system (OS) types and revisions; software application
revisions and licenses; Y2K test and compliance status information;
maintenance and warranty dates; and what systems have WRD mission critical
applications installed.

Some of the benefits of CHASIS:
 o Rapidly identify sites and systems that require patches/revisions.
 o Assess resources required to respond to problems based upon overall impacts
   such as CERT alerts.
 o Assist local SAs with tracking and managing computer resources.
 o Assist DIS Office in planning/budgeting for support and training.
 o Provide government negotiators with information/leverage for procurements.
 o Assist in estimating future costs for hardware and software maintenance.

Some of the reports CHASIS will provide:
 o The number of systems by OS type and hardware make/model for each location
   across WRD.
 o The number of software licenses by application name and version for each
   location.
 o Y2K compliance summaries by hardware, OS and software application.
 o Warranty expiration and maintenance renewal dates.
 o Customizable local and national reports with web-query and map
   interface(future releases).

In order to best utilize this system, the DIS Program Office requests that each
WRD site designate an individual who will regularly update information about
your systems and software applications in your local CHASIS database. Please
send that name to Susan Trapanese (email smtrapan) by December 30, 1999; we will
then email specific instructions to your designated CHASIS database
administrator. Although we are currently not required to provide a Y2K report on
all systems to the Department of Interior, DIS and our Y2K Coordinator encourage
sites to update their information. At a minimum, it is requested that each site
install CHASIS and retrieve their preloaded information by January 14, 2000.

Many data have been preloaded from DIS program databases of DIS-II Data General
(DG) hardware, Sun Y2K purchases, and ESRI, SAS, S-PLUS, Frame and MS-Office
license application information.  Sites should examine the DG and Sun hardware
information and provide the appropriate IP numbers and system names for all
valid systems. After providing the system name/IP, if a DG system is no longer
in use, mark it as decommissioned (surplused, lost or destroyed)- there is no
need to provide further information.  For DGs still in use, be sure to indicate
whether or not the hardware has had the prom upgraded, the OS version, and what
mission critical/essential corporate applications are loaded. For systems where
there are no preloaded data, new system records will need to be added. The
minimum data needed to define a new system are system name, IP, and operating
system. Additional attributes about Y2K compliance status have also been
provided for Windows-based systems.

The CHASIS website, http://nttac.usgs.gov/chasis/, provides installation
instructions under the "Documentation" section, and background/technical
information under other sections. The CHASIS website is best browsed using
either Netscape or Internet Explorer from a Windows client/desktop. If you need
assistance or have questions, please email the CHASIS team at
chasis@adm0dmsjkn.er.usgs.gov or call Susan Trapanese (703-648-5632).

The DIS Program Office would like to acknowledge the development efforts and
support of Chuck O'Hara and the CHASIS development team, without which CHASIS
would still be a paper proposal. Future versions of CHASIS should integrate with
the data inventory of the LANDesk system management package.

We encourage sites to submit comments and suggestions to the CHASIS team.
CHASIS Contacts
  Website: http://nttac.usgs.gov/chasis/
  Email:   chasis@adm0dmsjkn.er.usgs.gov