Interface Gets a Facelift
Interface will be published in a new, easier-to-read format. As a result of this change, "Technical Notes" has migrated to the Web, but abstracts will continue to appear in the Interface section, "Technical Notes."
New Web Technology at NIH Is Used by the National Weather Service
The National Weather Service’s Voluntary Observing Ship (VOS) system gathers weather and oceanographic information from moving ships. VOS has been transformed into an interactive reporting system using CIT’s SILK Web technology. With easily-used browser features, users around the world can get VOS reports—in a matter of seconds instead of days.
LISTSERV Upgrade Has a Versatile Web Interface
The upgrade to LISTSERV software version 1.8d transforms the NIH LISTSERV facility into a user-friendly and versatile utility. The Web interface has made managing a list a much simpler task.
Application Procedures Have Changed for Parachute
CIT has changed the application procedure for Parachute to make it consistent with other services.
CIT Computer Training Adds New Classes
The spring term offers 21 subjects that have never been given before.
Computer Training Calendar—Spring 1999
DIMES Network Access Menu to Be Replaced on March 29
CIT will replace SAMON with NetView Access, a product that provides the same functionality and is year-2000 compliant. Differences in the screen appearance and logon procedures could affect client scripts that access a specific host computer and application. In addition, CIT will rename many of the "Application Selections" appearing on the menu.
Disaster Recovery Procedures Improved for Off-Site Test Scheduled in August
CIT’s disaster recovery team has improved procedures for off-site testing under CIT’s disaster recovery plan. The changes should help ensure smoother sailing for the next test scheduled for August 31. CIT’s team will also review disaster readiness requirements with all critical-applications customers.
WYLBUR Retirement—Planning Under Way
CIT continues to develop its plans to remove the WYLBUR system and to provide appropriate replacement facilities for users with WYLBUR-based applications.
Support for Low-Speed Dialup Service to End in July
Beginning July 5, 1999, dialup-access speeds at the NIH Computer Center will be 2400 to 19200 bps. Anyone still using either 300 bps or 1200 bps modems should begin using network connectivity or upgrade to newer modems as soon as possible to allow continued access to Computer Center facilities.
NIH Computer Center User’s Guide Update Is Now Available
The latest User’s Guide is available from CIT’s Technical Information Office.
Reminder—Sign Up for Year 2000 Test Facility via the Web
You can easily request time for the MVS North and South test domains online.
OS/390 Upgrade Will Bring New SPF Panels on March 29
The year-2000 compliant OS/390 operating system will be put into production on March 29. The
layout for the SPF panels—including the TSO/E logon panel and the primary option menu—and some of the default parameters for PF keys have changed enough to have some impact on the way users presently use these features. Users may test the new SPF now.
Language Environment (LE/390) to be Production with OS/390 on March 29
The language environment (LE/390) will be implemented on March 29, 1999, along with OS/390.
This upgrade to OS/390 may cause problems with older levels of languages. We list the main load modules that will run compatibly with LE/390 without recompiling, as well as a list of the primary ways to correct errors. More complete lists can be found on the Web.
New Way to Get Tape Inventory Reminders
Effective June 1, 1999, hard copies of North system tape inventories will no longer be distributed to account sponsors. Account sponsors who want to be reminded about expiring tapes should subscribe to a new LISTSERV—NORTH-TAPE-L. Sponsors on this list will receive monthly e-mail reminders to check tape inventory.
More Functions Available via the Web
The North system home page has many convenient links. Users can access reports (billing,
coordinator, tape inventory), use facilities interactively (Sponsor, MODEL 204, TSO), and download software—with the ease of a Web browser.
Add a Web Interface to Your Existing Application
MVS applications can be enhanced to make reports available on the Web, which can save paper, distribution and shipping costs. A Web interface allows users to initiate, view and edit reports,
as well as secure the output with RACF.
Attention DIMES Users—Do You Use IBMNET on the North System?
The IBMNET application provided on the MVS North system’s application menu was discontinued
on March 2, 1999, because of lack of use.
Old Migration System Data Sets Will Be Retiring
The "old migration system" used prior to the current hierarchical storage management (HSM) system is expensive to maintain. CIT will move the old system’s data sets under HSM control by the end of this year. Users will see no change in costs, since the storage charges are the same in both systems.
Reminder—Unused Tape Release to Be Resumed Later This Year
In the next six months, we will resume releasing tapes not accessed during 13 consecutive months and notifying users by e-mail of the impending release. This resumes a practice that was suspended temporarily due to a problem that occurred after the implementation of the Control-T tape management system.
Attention PL/I Users—Recompiling with the New Compiler is Recommended
When we upgraded to the current PL/I MVS & VM (version 1, release 1.1) compiler on the MVS South system two years ago, users did not need to recompile PL/I programs in most cases. However, it is a good practice to recompile—to ensure that the resident library routines are at the current version, and to make sure that you continue to have the source available.
DB2 Upgrade Coming Soon
The DB2 production subsystem (DSNP) will be upgraded on March 28, and the DB2 subsystem used by the NIH data warehouse (DSNW) will be upgraded on April 4. These systems will be unavailable on these respective dates. Existing applications should not be affected.
New LISTSERV List—DB2-CIT—Is Now Available
A new list will notify MVS South system users of upcoming DB2-related system changes, outages and other pertinent information. This list is appropriate for DB2 database administrators, developers and users.
Upgrades to Shadow Direct ODBC Drivers Are Available via the Web
MVS users need to upgrade their ODBC drivers (on the client side) to ensure compatibility with the latest release of Shadow Direct. The drivers can be downloaded from the Web.
Listserv Upgrade Provides a Versatile Web Interface
The upgrade to LISTSERV software version 1.8d transforms the NIH LISTSERV facility into a user-friendly and versatile utility. The Web interface has made managing a list a much simpler task than before.
OS/390 Upgrade Will Bring New SPF Panels to the North System on March 29
The year-2000 compliant OS/390 operating system will be put into production on March 29. The layout for the SPF panels—including the TSO/E logon panel and the primary option menu—and some of the default parameters for PF keys have changed enough to have some impact on the way users presently utilize these features. CIT has set up a way for users to test the new SPF in advance.
Language Environment (LE/390) to be Production on the North System on March 29
The language environment (LE/390) concept will be implemented on March 29, 1999, along with OS/390. The upgrade to OS/390 may cause problems with older levels of languages. We list the main load modules that will run compatibly with LE/390 without recompiling, as well as a list of the primary ways to correct errors. More complete lists can be found on the Web.
New Release of SYNCSORT Coming to North System with OS/390 Is Year-2000 Compliant
CONNECT:Direct Upgrade on the North System May Require Changes in Data Set Names
Old Migration System for Data Sets Will Be Retiring on the South System
OS/390 coming on the MVS North system will introduce a year-2000 compliant SYNCSORT that contains enhancements or new sorting keywords, statements, parameters and formats. The new version also contains a year-2000 support feature, CENTWIN.
On March 28, a Y2K-compliant version of CONNECT:Direct (sometimes known as network data mover, or
NDM) will be in production on the MVS North system. The on-line facility will remain unchanged—although, in batch mode, some data set names will require a simple JCL change for access to NDM.
The "old migration system" used prior to the current hierarchical system management (HSM) is expensive to maintain. CIT will move the old system’s data sets under HSM control by the end of this year. Users will see no change in costs, since the storage charges are the same in both systems.
Interface 209 - March 15, 1999
