Client Access

• See Green Screen
• This is a GUI (Graphical User Interface} for using Microsoft Windows to access AS/400.
• IBM frequently made improvements in this interface, and changed the name to reflect the new and imporved reality.
  • This happened so often that people could get lost figuring out what is now the official name.
  • Before Client Access there was PC whatever Support.
  • After Client Access there was iSeries Access.
• While this stuff may be relatively simple to use, when it is working correctly, figuring it out for installation and troubleshooting can be a nightmare.

What is Client Access Infrastructure ?

This is a set of principles, guidelines, and rules used by an organization to direct the process of acquiring, building, modifying and interfacing with IT resources throughout the enterprise.

The resources can include:

• Cable Systems for interconnecting equipment
• Equipment
• How much disk space and other 400 resources we need
  • BPCS sizing questionairre
• How connect PCs to 400
  • spend $150 per PC and PC printer to connect to twinax and know next to nothing when something goes wrong or spend much more $ on a better quality interface
  • network PCs to a PC-based server then network the PC server to the 400
  • mix and match IBM and 3rd party solutions
• Software
• Communications protocols
• Remote site support
• How we connect thru ma bell
• Application development
• Methodology
• Data base systems
• Shared pool of documentation
• Security
• IT Organizational structure
• IT professional skills
  • GUI software updates
  • Relational data base concepts
  • SQL
  • Network management
  • Integrate new technologies with base software applications such as BPCS
    • e-mail
    • fax
    • EDI
    • bar coding & data collection
    • Internet access
      • re-think security where before it was Ok to assume 99% users trustworthy, now we have a world of hackers and malware out there
• Help Desk services

What ERP Version is best?

BPCS Choices

Decisions decisions

• Mixed Mode or full Client Server?
  • Fat and Thin Clients
  • Mixed Mode
    • Client Server for which applications
      • Accounting
      • Customer Service
      • Supply Chain
    • Green Screen for everything else
    • Need Netsoft Router
  • Full Client Server
    • Fat Client for which applications
      • Accounting
      • Customer Service
      • Supply Chain
    • Thin Client for everything else
    • Need TCP/IP
  • UserVision has some Windows minimum requirements
• Client setup
  • 16 bit or 32 bit
  • What versions of Microsoft Windows
  • Are SSA minimums appropriate?
• Network
  • Ethernet or Token Ring if Client Server
  • Twinax r IBM Cabling System for Mixed Mode
  • Examine Network Segmentation Growth Constraints
  • Network Management
    • Wireless opens another door into Security hassles
• Network OS - Windows NT follow-on or Netware?
• Network Server - BPCS FSIOP or separate server?
• Different 3rd party support vendors are more attuned to different mixtures of solutions
  • If you go with one mixture, and use a tech support place whose expertise is in a different mixture, expect problems down the road

What is Client / Server ?

Client / Server computing is the splitting of an application into tasks that are performed on separate computers, one of which is a programmable workstation.

• Client is the computing resource that is USING some resource provided by a Server.
• Server is the computing resource that is PROVIDING some resource to Clients.
• There can be a linkage or hierarchy of multiple Clients of Servers, in which the Clients are in turn Servers to other Clients.

Client/Server Computing is NOT

• It is NOT some specific software.
• It is NOT some specific hardware.
• It is NOT a solution for all applications.

Sane Planning

• Project Organization, as with any other conversion
  • Define Objectives, Schedule (a moving target)
  • Management Approval, Budget Commitment
  • Team Membership
    • Key IT leadership
    • Application Design management
    • IT Operations Support management
    • Consultants
  • Set hierarchy ... team leader
• Assess exisitng infrastructure inventory
• Four layers
  • Logical Architecture
    • What MIS does to support the business
    • What the users need
    • Business vision
  • Physical Architecture
    • Site specific
    • technologies that define or limit what we can do
  • Enabling Technologies
    • Operating Systems
    • Middleware
    • Systems and Network management
    • Security
    • Configuration
    • Trouble-shooting
    • Performance
  • Support
    • What it takes to meet regulatory constraints
    • Planning
    • Development
    • Different kinds of support
      • Hardware
      • Network
      • Application
      • Training new users
      • Skill sets ... same person
        • AS/400 and PC and telecom
      • Documenting
• Design
  • Diagrams that make sense to everyone
  • Testing
• Implementation