Client Access

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  • 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.

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