The implementation of the recommended computing infrastructure services will require reengineering the operating systems and core software elements of our existing computing infrastructure services. It should not require new computing hardware, since the University has a number of workstations intended for use as building servers that are currently idle. The transition cannot be made in place, since the new environment is significantly different from the existing one, and there can be no interruption of service. We recommend the formation of an Intranet that will build a fully functioning prototype of the new infrastructure services using four existing DEC 3000 Alpha building servers as stand-ins for the four DEC 7000 Alpha central processors, and one additional DEC 3000 Alpha building server as a representative building server.
The construction of the prototype should be carried out in two phases:
Spring 1996-Summer 1996: Install and configure the foundational software elements supporting all computing infrastructure services. The Network, Directory, Security, Messaging, and File Services should be fully operational before Beta testing. Integrate the Cal Poly Pomona Web with the Directory and Security Services to facilitate Web-based account application and management before Beta testing. Evaluate alternative methods for providing shared File and Application Service on desktops by making Macintosh and Windows workstations act as DCE clients or by making building servers act as Appleshare and Lan Manager servers. Access during this phase will be restricted to Intranet Development Team members and others whom they authorize.
Fall 1996-Winter 1997: Beta testing. Allow a number of users to obtain accounts through the Web pending a signature promising to abide by University policies governing appropriate usage of the computing environment. The development of the Database Service and the Cal Poly Pomona Web interface layer will continue through this phase.
Director
Responsible for overall design of new computing infrastructure services, the Cal Poly Pomona Web presentation of the computing environment, and coordination of personnel.
Unix/CGI Expert
Responsible for installing and configuring the DEC OSF/1 operating system, the Distributed Computing Environment (DCE) Directory, Security, and Distributed File Services, the Messaging Service based on SMTP, POP, MIME, and NNTP protocols, the Web Service based on HTTP protocols, and development of Common Gateway Interface (CGI) access to the Directory and Security Services through the Web.
Oracle/CGI Expert
Responsible for installing and configuring the Database Service, including installation of Oracle database software, migration of production and data warehouse databases, and development of Common Gateway Interface (CGI) access to the Database Service through the Web.
OpenVMS/Networking Expert
Responsible for ensuring transparent future replacement of OpenVMS-based services and for Network Service, including upgrade path to ATM connectivity for central infrastructure services.
3 DEC 3000 Alpha AXP workstations (two as stand-ins for the DEC 7000 Alpha AXP central processors, and one as a representative of the DEC 3000 Alpha AXP building servers)
at least 64 Mbytes memory on each DEC 3000 Alpha workstation
at least 3 Gbytes disk storage on each DEC 3000 Alpha workstation.
CD-ROM drive for DEC 3000 Alpha workstation
DAT tape drive for DEC 3000 Alpha workstation
ATM controller card for each DEC 3000 Alpha workstation
DEC OSF/1 V3.2 Operating System on each DEC 3000 Alpha workstation:
Product No. QL-MT4A*-6* Operating System Base License
Product No. QL-MT7A*-AA Unlimited Interactive User License
Product No. QL-MT4*A-H8 CD Kit with Media and On-line Documentation
DEC Distributed Computing Environment (DCE) V1.3 on each DEC 3000 Alpha workstation:
Product No. QL-01M*9-AA DCE Runtime Services License
Product No. QL-01N*9-AA DCE Application Developer's Kit License
Product No. QL-01P*9-AA DCE Cell Directory Server License
Product No. QL-01Q*9-AA DCE Security Server License
Product No. QA-054AA-H8 DCE CD Kit with Media and On-line Documentation
Macintosh and Windows File and Print Services for DEC OSF/1 Operating System
Product No. QM-386*A-H8 Pacer for DEC OSF/1 AXP V2.6 (Appleshare)
Product No. QM-2CPAA-A* Pathworks V5.0 for DEC OSF/1 AXP (Lan Manager)
Oracle Database Software for Unix platform
GCC, G++ (Gnu C and C++ program development environment)
Gnu Emacs (an extensible real-time editor and computing environment)
Perl 5 (a Page Extraction and Report Language for building Web CGIs)
A lab space of sufficient size to house the 3 DEC Alpha AXP workstations and work area for the Unix/CGI expert
Power for each of the DEC 3000 Alpha AXP workstations, and UPS backup power in case of failure.
Ethernet connections to each of the DEC 3000 Alpha AXP workstations.
ATM connections to each of the DEC 3000 Alpha AXP workstations, when ATM comes to Cal Poly Pomona through the GTE Southern California ATM Network.
A reserved TCP/IP subnet within the Cal Poly Pomona domain for the developmental computer network.
Electronic access to existing Computing Resource Center software configurations. The Intranet Development Team will not modify any existing configurations, but it is important that they have sufficient privileges to read existing SunOS, Ultrix, and OpenVMS configurations to insure smooth future migration.
Installation and configuration of DEC OSF/1 operating system on each platform.
Installation and configuration of Distributed Computing Environment (DCE) Runtime Services, Cell Directory Server, and Security Server on each platform.
Installation and configuration of program development environment, including Gnu C and C++ compilers, Emacs extensible run-time editor, and Perl page extraction and report language replicated using the Distributed File Service across each platform.
Installation and configuration of Netscape Commerce HTTP Server replicated using the Distributed File Service across each platform.
Installation and configuration of Oracle database software on the Database Service platform.
Installation and configuration of SMTP, POP, MIME, and NNTP Servers on the Messaging Service platform.
Implementation of configuration of Appleshare and Lan Manager Servers on the Application Service platform.
Development of the Cal Poly Pomona Web to provide intuitive graphical control of the Directory, Security and Database Services.
Investigation of the appropriate upgrade path to ATM connectivity.