The Plug Will Not Be Pulled on WYLBUR in February 2001!

The retirement of WYLBUR scheduled for early next year (2001) has been postponed. There are two primary reasons for this change.

• First, the WYLBUR retirement working group performed an in-depth analysis of institute and center (IC) dependencies on WYLBUR. This group, comprising primarily members of the NIH IC community along with CIT staff, identified widespread use of WYLBUR applications (command procedures, or CPs). It became clear that there would be a much higher cost to NIH to eliminate or reengineer these applications prior to the scheduled retirement date than had originally been anticipated. Alternatives such as commercial off-the-shelf versions of WYLBUR were studied and found to be problematic.
• Second, a reexamination of the feasibility of keeping WYLBUR was conducted. This study revealed that most of the complex functions CIT had added to the operating system for WYLBUR support are now available via features in commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software products. Thus, it is technically feasible to modify WYLBUR to use these new vendor features instead of relying on CIT-developed code that requires system modifications and frequent maintenance.

With this information CIT has determined that it is much more cost effective to NIH for CIT to modify the existing WYLBUR and produce a version that does not require operating system modifications. This new version will be developed to run on the MVS standard system.

Transition to a Modified Version of WYLBUR

CIT anticipates that the impact of this modified version of WYLBUR on most existing CPs will be minimal. Unfortunately not all features can be retained and some functions will require changes. The WYLBUR Retirement Working Group, renamed the WYLBUR Transition Working Group, will convene to provide input and assistance to CIT on issues relating to the specific changes.

The WYLBUR Transition Working Group will also continue examin-ing alternatives to WYLBUR and will work with CIT to identify facilities needed to permit WYLBUR-based applications to be reengineered. This effort will facilitate the ultimate phase-out of WYLBUR by providing more current technologies for those customers whose applications still depend on it.

This change in plans removes the pressure to cease all WYLBUR usage by early 2001, and will alleviate the significant financial burden and disruption that would be caused by quickly reengineering or replacing old WYLBUR applications. WYLBUR users can now budget and plan for this within a longer time frame. However, there is still the necessity of retiring all WYLBUR applications and retraining users to utilize other systems. Use of WYLBUR is decreasing and staff members who are able to modify and support WYLBUR are becoming very scarce. The new date for the complete retirement of WYLBUR has not yet been determined.

Keeping Informed

We want everyone to stay up-to-date on developments concerning WYLBUR. Future issues of Interface will provide more details about the functions and availability of the modified version of WYLBUR. New participants who are willing to be active members are welcome to join the WYLBUR Transition Working Group.

Information about WYLBUR retirement issues will be sent to members of the Retire-Wyl listserv list. To join the list, go to the Web pages at http://silk.nih.gov/silk/retirewyl—where you can also to review minutes of the working group meetings and browse for other information related to WYLBUR retirement.

Interface 213 (March 15, 2000)