Date Last Reviewed:
09/17/2008
3.01 PROCEDURES FOR OBTAINING ACCESS
3.02.02 SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT TIME (SIT) AVAILABILITY
3.02.03 NETOUTAGES LISTSERV (E-MAIL RESOURCE OUTAGE NOTIFICATION)
3.03 REQUESTS FOR TELEPROCESSING AND &PUBLIC.NEWS MESSAGES
3.05 PREPRINTED CONTINUOUS FORMS
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3.01 PROCEDURES FOR OBTAINING ACCESS
Operations has acquired many tools to automate the day to day tasks of running the Data Center. If these tools can be of assistance to other users in the University then they should be given out. Many of these tools need to be given out carefully as they can alter or modify system functions which must be secured. With this in mind the following procedures should be followed to gain access.
TSO LOGON and ISPF/PDF, will be handled in the same way as Wylbur applications. Logons will be restricted to a must have basis.
In the next category of operations applications, a product specialist/caretaker will be assigned to each product. This person will be responsible for the product operation and making decisions with Technical Support on installation parameters and maintenance upgrades. Technical support will physically install and maintain the product. All requests for access should be sent to the product specialist. He/She in turn will forward the request with his/her recommendation to the Operations Manager for approval. If the request is denied the user will have the option to appeal to the Director of Enterprise Systems Support..
APPLICATION PRODUCT SPECIALISTS
JOBTRAC Ruby Foreman or Bernie Schuneman
CA-11 Ruby Foreman or Bernie Schuneman
UC4 Ruby Foreman or Bernie Schuneman
SDSF Doug Fisher
OPS/MVS Doug Fisher
TMS Cheryl Douell
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I. Normal Hours:
6:00 AM Monday -- 8:00 AM Saturday
1. Operator is on duty and all services are available.
2. Service window is open for walk up assistance. (SP 132)
3. Voice mail (955 or 753-0496) available when an operator cannot answer the phone.
II. Preemptive Hours:
8:00 AM Saturday -- 6:00 AM Monday
1. Operator on duty as scheduled/required for production processing, maintenance, system improvement time (SIT).
2. Service Window (SP 132) open, tapes mounted and output printed when an operator is on duty.
3.Help Desk voice mail (955 or 753-0496) is available when an operator is not on duty.
4. The system configuration is as follows:
TSO: Full Service
WYLBUR: Full Service
BATCH: No Tape Mounts
PRODUCTION CICS: Files available as scheduled
RJE: All Remotes Will Be Started
PRINT OUTPUT: Will Be Printed Per Published Schedule
FETCH QUEUE: Jobs Routed To Fetch Are Purged By The System After 72 Hours.
ACADEMIC COMPUTING SERVICES LABS: Closed
The University network will be available. Check with your departmental system administrator for individual server availability.
5. The Northwing doors of Swen Parson will be open per the schedule published in the &PUBLIC.NEWS dataset to provide access to the output bin area.
6. Systems Improvement Time (SIT) will be taken as scheduled. A message will be recorded (753-0148) to indicate current system status.
III. University/Legal Holidays & Administrative Closure
1. The Computer Center is closed.
2. Help Desk voice mail (955 or 753-0496) is available for reporting emergency situations.
3. The system configuration: same as 4 above.
4. The Northwing doors of Swen Parson will be open per the schedule published in the &PUBLIC.NEWS data set to provide access to the output bin area.
5. Systems Improvement Time (SIT) will be taken as scheduled. A message will be recorded (753-0148) to indicate current system status.
3.02.02 SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT TIME (SIT) AVAILABILITY
System Improvement Time is provided primarily to give Technical Support staff and Computer Operations staff the opportunity to test and implement hardware and software. This time is also available for other support groups (Network Operations, Technical Services, etc) as required.
Weekday SIT periods are used only as required by Tech Support, Operations, vendors or other support staff to apply updates or correct operational problems to assure efficient and uninterrupted computer resources. SIT for mini-systems is scheduled in accordance with their specific maintenance agreement and coordinated with the System Administrator to reduce impacting user productivity.
The time frame allocated is:
06:00 - 07:00 Monday - Friday
Major software/hardware changes, testing and routine maintenance are scheduled during preemptive service to avoid conflict with production processing.
Preemptive service times are:
8:00 AM Saturday - 6:00 AM Monday
SIT should be scheduled/confirmed as early as possible with the Operations Supervisor.* Except for emergency situations, the planned weekend/preemptive activities are presented for discussion/information at the weekly Technical Coordination (TechCoor) meeting. We will avoid interrupting TTR schedules when possible and only emergency situations on scheduled "queue dates".
* Computer Operations Manager is backup.
3.02.03 NETOUTAGES LISTSERV (E-MAIL RESOURCE OUTAGE NOTIFICATION)
Users can receive E-mail notification of system and network resource outages by subscribing to the "Netoutages" listserv. To subscribe, send e-mail to maiser@niumail.cso.niu.edu and include the message "SUBSCRIBE NETOUTAGES". Nothing is needed in the Subject field. A new subscriber will receive a welcome notice once they have been added to the Netoutages listserv.
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3.03 REQUESTS FOR TELEPROCESSING AND &PUBLIC.NEWS MESSAGES
Teleprocessing and &PUBLIC.NEWS messages are utilized to keep all users informed of special conditions which have or will arise. Messages should be used for important data services information.
All requests for system messages should be sent to the Operations Supervisor for approval and scheduling. Requests will be accepted only when typed, printed clearly or through electronic mail (direct mail to dfisher@niu.edu). The request should be signed or mailed by an area Manager.
The format for messages is as follows:
Teleprocessing messages are printed on one line and should not exceed 125 characters.
&PUBLIC.NEWS is an online data file users can "USE" or "LIST" from to display. There are no specific limits to the size of this file.
Include the time frame you would like the message to run and allow 24 hours for requests to be processed.
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All requests for laser form creation should be directed to the Superintendent of Document Services
Utilizing the forms creation capabilities of the Xerox printer, will in many cases, eliminate the need for preprinted forms. Although the Xerox Laser Printer is considered a line printer replacement, it offers more flexibility when creating forms. Several more fonts are available on the Xerox printer than were available on the impact printer. Variations of lines are also available; from thick to thin solid lines, dotted lines and broken lines. Shading can be used to highlight areas of a form and boxes can be drawn. Since there are more options to consider in creating forms, it is to the user's advantage to contact the Superintendent of Document Services as early as possible.
There are presently two types of paper available to our users:
1. Standard (Default), 3 hole 20# Premium Dual Purpose-4024
2. form=5014, no hole 20# XXV Archival Bond.
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3.05 PREPRINTED CONTINUOUS FORMS
It is the objective of Northern Illinois University's Computing Facility to migrate all preprinted continuous forms to the cut sheet printer. This section pertains to situations where this migration is not feasible.
1. NEW FORMS
A. FORM DESIGN
It is critical that all new continuous forms be designed to meet IBM's printer specifications. To assure this, the Manager of Computer Operations must approve all new forms design or modification before orders are placed with the vendor. Requests are to be directed to the Manager of Computer Operations.
B. FORM TESTING
Computer Center will coordinate all new forms print testing to assure that the form design, FCB, and program are compatible to meet the users requirements. Computer Operations will develop the setup instructions during the testing phase and update the documentation. Requests are to be directed to the Manager of Computer Operations.
2. FORM MODIFICATIONS
All requests for preprinted continuous forms modifications, including form layout, print spacing, or FCB's are handled in the same manner as new forms.
3. RESTRICTED/NONRESTRICTED FORMS
All preprinted continuous forms are either assigned restricted or nonrestricted at the users option. Restricted forms are only mounted for scheduled production jobs. All other forms are mounted on demand by Computer Operations without regards to form ownership.
4. BILLABLE FORMS
Computer Center provides specialized restricted forms for the University community. These forms are billed back to the University department by the computer facility's business office (ie. labels). All requests must be directed to the Production Scheduler.
5. OBSOLETING FORMS
All requests for obsoleting forms must be made in writing and directed to the Computer Center Manager. The form owner is responsible for disposal of obsolete forms.
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