Cover

 Inside Cover

INTERFACE 205 - March 17, 1998

Published by:
Computing Facilities Branch
Division of Computer Research and Technology
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, Maryland 20892

Table of Contents


Features  Please be sure to read the abstract below each article title to see if the article applies to your application(s).
William Risso Retires from DCRT
An exceptional 30-year NIH career comes to an end.

Consolidation and Modernization Yield Rebate for MVS Customers
The NIH Computer Center’s customers will share the benefits in fiscal year 1998.

Wanted—Undertakers for the Year 2000
One Webster’s dictionary definition for undertaker is “a person who undertakes something.” Under this definition, you can ensure that your Y2K conversion project is on schedule with DCRT’s Y2K conversion services and testing facility already in place.

Operations Coverage Expanded on the North System
Operations coverage is now available twenty-four hours each day—except for certain holidays.  The output distribution hours have been expanded to midnight on weekday.

Disaster Recovery Service Is Available for Critical MVS Applications
NIH Computer Center’s Disaster Recovery Service is now available to managers of critical applications running on both the MVS North and South systems.  The service includes access to testing at the Computer Center’s “hot site”—useful in analyzing resource requirements, as well as keeping recovery plans current.  Annual fees for this service include a flat fee for each critical application and an additional charge if usage rises above certain levels.

NIH Backup and Recovery Service (NBARS)
Why not try the NBARS for a month or two?  The backup service is automatic, NBARS has plenty of room for your files, you have great flexibility in controlling your back ups—and no start-up costs.

Web Sponsor to Replace WYLBUR’s Enter Sponsor on the South System on August 9
Web Sponsor greatly simplifies all tasks for sponsors and deregistration officials.  Now that all the functions of WYLBUR’s Enter Sponsor can be done with Web Sponsor, the WYLBUR version will no longer be available after August 9, 1998.

No Tape Storage Charges for South System Customers in December and January
Because of the problems experienced after the installation of Control-T in December, users of the NIH Computer Center’s MVS South system will not incur tape storage charges for December and January.

OnNet Licenses Now Belong to the TLCs
Licenses for the PC/TCP and OnNet software distributed by the NIH Computer Center have recently been transferred to the technical LAN coordinators.

OnNet Upgrade—A 32-Bit to Be Available Soon
On April 6, 1998, 32-bit upgrades will be available for 16-bit PC/TCP and OnNet products. This will be the final upgrade provided by the NIH Computer Center to owners of OnNet copies.  Users will, with a password, be able to download the upgrades from the Web.

Oracle Licenses Are Available from DCRT
DCRT has negotiated Oracle licenses for NIH at very advantageous prices.  These licenses can be purchased from DCRT for Microsoft Windows NT, Digital Alpha, Sun Solaris, and Pyramid platforms.  Oracle8 is available for all but the Pyramid platform.

Attention Account Sponsors—Does Your Account Have an Alternate Sponsor?
Managing DCRT accounts is an important job.  When the account sponsor is unavailable, an alternate account sponsor should be in place to accurately maintain accounts.

NIH Directory and E-Mail Forwarding Service—Available on the Web
Looking up the telephone numbers and e-mail addresses of NIH employees is now easy from a new Web site.  A new Web-based form also makes it easier for people to update their entries in the Directory.

“publishorperish” on the Web
Launched last month, “Web of Science” and “Porpoise” are powerful, Web-based search facilities that allow the NIH scientific community to set up automated searches in more than 5,000 scientific journals.

Providing E-Mail in Your Webpage
Many SILK webmasters want their pages accessed by users whose browsers are not set up to transmit e-mail.  SILK Web’s Easymail facility is a convenient way to provide e-mail access to any registered user with a DCRT account.

South System’s &PUBLIC Data Sets Available via SILK Web
Any of WYLBUR’s “&PUBLIC” data sets can be viewed quickly from your Web browser.

Automated Photo Badge System for Security Guards
DCRT has an automated system for issuing visitors temporary passes—with name, date, time, purpose of the visit, and photograph—in about 60 seconds.

NIH Computer Training Begins Third Decade
In the spring session, the training program celebrates the 30th anniversary by offering courses on more than 100 subjects.

Computer Training—1998 Spring Calendar
 

Dates To Remember


Technical Notes  Please be sure to read the abstract below each article title to see if the article applies to your application(s).
MVS South System  
New Version of TCPaccess Scheduled for April 6, 1998
Version 4.1 of TCPaccess (formerly called SNS/TCPaccess) will be installed on
the MVS South system.  After April 6, edit-format data sets will no longer be auto- matically converted to non-edit format when downloaded from the MVS South system via FTP.  Prior to April, 6 users can use our test version to verify that all files in FTP directories are stored in non-edit format.  TSO and WYLBUR access are not affected.

EPS Is Retiring on the MVS South System
Network printing will be consolidated on the MVS South system.  After August 3, 1998, TSPRINT will be the network printing system, and EPS will be retired. TSPRINT is very easy to use:  users need make only slight changes in WYLBUR and batch commands.  ADB users should not notice any change.

Several WYLBUR Enter Commands Will Retire In June
As a result of a streamlining project, several WYLBUR “enter” commands will be retired on June 14.  The Enter Training and Enter Eguide facilities have Web equivalents that can be reached from your browser.

Database Technologies Announcements
Improvements are being made to the several DB2 facilities, and Web access to our facilities have been enhanced.  See details on our webpage.

Reprint—New MVS/ESA Operating System To Be Installed
If you have installed third-party software on the MVS North or South systems, please check with the vendors to ensure that such software is supported and will still function in this new OS/390 (Version 2.4) environment.
 

MVS North System North System Web Access Is Open for Business
SILK Web technology is now available for the North system.  This initial SILK facility makes MVS data accessible with any Web browser.  The Web can now be considered just another output option like printing or microfiche.

TMS and Tape Security
This tape management facility has been upgraded to version 5.2.  Since CAI has discontinued support of TMS’s internal security system in this version, tapes using TMS now automatically fall under the protection of TSS (which includes RACF protection).  Read the tips on how to use TSS effectively.

Coming Oracle Upgrade Will Improve Performance
Information on new features of Oracle Version 7.3 for the MVS system—and status of the upgrades—can be obtained on the Web.  Oracle has announced support will
end in June for SQL*Forms 3.0.

Database Technologies Announcements
DCRT announces changes to Oracle.

Attention ADP Coordinators
Your cooperation on a current review of the monthly distribution of the North system’s tape inventory listing will be appreciated.
 

Helix Systems Notice—Convex to Retire on March 31, 1998
Because of unforeseen circumstances, the date has been delayed a month.
 

Other INTERFACE issues and the INTERFACE "Back Pages"
The "Back Pages" include the Computer Services Telephone Directory, the Online Services Directory, the E-mail Addressing Table, Publications, and Hardware/Software information.


updated 6/18/98

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