NMDA ITC June 2007 News Letter
Information on NMDA ITC Projects
Hey wait, what is going on?
A little more than a year ago NMSU dissolved the contract between PSL and NMDA for ZVM/IBM support. This was time to evaluate were NMDA computing resources were and where we needed to be. We established a data planning committee with a representative from each division and off campus members. After several meetings, results from surveys and analysis it was determined that we could not meet the user and industry needs with our current IBM/ZVM. After months of research and collaboration with vendors there is nothing we can do to our current system to enhance the user interface, efficiently support handheld inspection devices and web enable the data. In addition, the hardware is going to become unsupported and the programming language (REXX) will not convert into new generation programming language.
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What is on the mainframe IBM/ZVM?
The mainframe supports licensing (nursery, establishments, pesticide applicators, weigh master/service repairmen), testing and certification, product registration (pesticide, feed and fertilizer), diagnostic results, samples (fuel, seed, fertilizer, feed), necropsy data, inspection information, calibrations, accounting, personnel, feed and fertilizer tonnage, egg quarterlies, billing for services, accounting and personnel processes. Currently, we have two databases with approximately 800 tables. The largest table has over 200,000 records. We have 1,912 programs that have been custom written over 17 years.
IBM / Zvm Backup Tapes in Rack
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What is the plan for next 6 months?
Continue to run mainframe and applications until we convert. However, we need to limit major development (new input screens and databases) and changes (large modifications on input screens, changes that require rewriting of programs) on the mainframe with your assistance so we can direct our activities and resources to the conversion.
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Acquire staffing – Hire two programmers (hired one a year ago, interviewing currently for second programmer), hired Database Administrator/IBM programmer to start July 16, 2007.
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So, now what?
The bottom line is we will need to convert to a different system, different database and convert existing programs. The goal is to have this done between 2-4 years.
How are we going to do that?
Over the last year, the IT staff has analyzed, visited with NMSU/IT staff and vendors to evaluate systems and software. We are in the process of narrowing down the system and software. We also worked with the Legislative Liaison for the last two years and received some funding to assist with this major effort. We have another expansion request that will be at the legislature this year as well.
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NMDA Web
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Hand-held Inspection Devices
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Equine Piroplasmosis
