SPARTA News July 2005

July 2005

SPARTA Chapter President’s Corner

by Brad Carson

The June meeting brought us a visit from Triangle Software so they could talk about their products. I was unable to attend this meeting because of a quickly scheduled vacation to the sea shore (oops, my Yankee is showing). It was a well deserved rest for both Martha and I. It was great to be walking the boardwalk in Ocean City, NJ again. We haven't been there for seven years. As a very satisfied IOF user I would have liked to see what Triangle Systems has planned for the future. I hope one of you will fill me in on how their presentation went.

Our z/OS 1.6 migration at DHTS had a little setback; issues with BMC Control-M caused us to postpone our upgrade. Once we get Control-M and D running properly we will schedule another date. Right now that looks like it might be August 14th. With that out of the way I'm planning for another trip to Sterling Forest for our annual DR test. This will be a first test using stacked full volume dumps for all non database volumes. Our projections shows that this method should reduce our total restore time for the system. I'll let you know how it goes in next month's newsletter.

DDA's z/OS 1.6 system is running very stable and I've managed to get Version 5 of IBM's Debug Tool running in batch and CICS. Now I'm working on Fault Analyzer and then working with IMS. I've also had to put my DBA hat on to do some work with DB2 data design. It's always something to keep me busy.

This month our speaker will be our own Duane Reaugh from DTS Software to provide an overview of their SCC-Explorer product. I look forward to seeing you all at LabCorp in RTP on the 26th.

P.S. Be sure to ask for Tommy Thomas when you arrive at LabCorp. BarBQ, drinks, and dessert will be provided.


Future Speakers
(subject to change)


July 26 - SCC Explorer by Duane Reaugh of DTS Software
Aug. 30 - SHARE Reports by various SPARTA members

We need ideas and volunteers for future speakers. Presentations don’t have to be fancy, just informative and interesting. Even a 5 or 10 minute talk can start an interesting interaction. Contact Ron Pimblett by phone as noted below.

2005-2006 SPARTA
Board of Directors

Brad Carson - President
Duke Health Technology Solutions 919-668-0545
2424 Ervin Road, Suite 9000
Durham, NC 27710

Ron Pimblett - Vice President
Dignus, LLC 919-676-0847
8354 Six Forks Road
Raleigh, NC 27615

Mike Lockey - Secretary
Guilford Co. Information Services 336-641-6235
201 N. Eugene St.
Greensboro, NC 27401

Tommy Thomas - Treasurer
LabCorp 336-436-4178
231 Maple Ave, Koury Ctr 3rd Fl. 919-361-7267
Burlington, NC 27215

Ed Webb - Communications Director
SAS Institute 919-531-4162
SAS Campus Drive
Cary, NC 27513

Meetings

Meetings are scheduled for the last Tuesday evening of each month (except no meeting in December), with optional dinner at 6:15 p.m. and the meeting beginning at 7:00 p.m.

These monthly meetings usually are held at LabCorp’s Center for Molecular Biology and Pathology (CMBP) near the Research Triangle Park (see last page). Take I-40 to Miami Boulevard and go north. Turn right onto Alexander Drive. Go about a mile or so. Then turn right into LabCorp complex and turn Left to the CMBP Building. In the lobby, sign in as a visitor to see Tommy Thomas. Tommy will escort you to the conference room.

Call for Articles

If you have any ideas for speakers, presentations, newsletter articles, or are interested in taking part in a presentation, PLEASE contact one of the Board of Directors with your suggestions.

Newsletter Mailings

The SPARTA chapter policy is to mail a copy of the monthly chapter newsletter to each SPARTA member, NaSPA national, each advertiser, persons who have requested a copy, and to other chapters who send us a copy of their newsletter. The newsletter is mailed about the 20th of each month so you can prepare for the meeting. The mailing list is maintained by Mike Lockey at (336) 412-6235; if you have corrections or problems receiving your newsletter, call Mike.

Feb. 2005 CBT Tape Online

The directory and files from the latest CBT tape V468 (dated Feb. 14, 2005) are available from www.cbttape.org.

If you need help obtaining one or more files, contact Brad Carson at Duke Health or Ed Webb at SAS (see Board of Director’s list for contact info).

Minutes of the June 28th, 2005 Meeting

•Meeting was called to order at 6:55 PM by Ron Pimblett, the Chapter Vice President.

•Thirteen (13) people were present; ten (10) were members.

•Everyone in the room introduced themselves, told where they worked, and briefly described their job function.

•The minutes of May 2005 meeting were accepted as published in the June 2005 newsletter.

•Tommy Thomas, the Chapter Treasurer, gave the Treasurer's report. As of June 16, 2005, the balance is $1739.47. Motion was made and approved to accept the Treasurer's Report.

OLD BUSINESS

•Articles are needed for this newsletter. If you would like to write an article for this newsletter, please contact Ed Webb. Keep in mind that you don't really need to write the article, it can be an article that you read that you would like to share with the membership.

•The SPARTA Web site is available. To access the SPARTA Web site, point your Web browser to this site: http://www.spartanc.org. Please send any comments or suggestions about the Web site to Mike Lockey. Be sure to check the site every once in a while to see any new or changed information.

•Ron Pimblett reminded everyone to leave the conference room clean.


NEW BUSINESS

•Future Speakers and Topics:
(subject to change)

July 2005: DTS Software
August 2005 SHARE Conference Reports
September 2005 Computer Associates
October 2005 Vanguard

If you have suggestions about speakers and topics, contact Ron Pimblett.

•Thanks to Tommy Thomas of LabCorp for hosting the June meeting.

•The July 26th SPARTA meeting will be held at LabCorp in the RTP.

•Food for the July meeting will be BarBQ, drinks and dessert.

•The business portion of the meeting ended at 7:15 p.m.

•Jim Ott of Triangle Systems spoke about The Interactive Output Facility (IOF).

Some of the topics Jim discussed were:

Background
IOF Product Origins
Design Criteria
Environments Supported
Early Competitors
Evolution through Competition

Unique Features of IOF
Detailed job analysis
Dump JES2 control blocks
IOF Server (AT command)
Detailed device displays
CICS interface
Programmable Interface to spool
Features built with Programmable Interface
Simple REXX execs
IOF External Writer
Why job won't print
Display queue of output for a printer
Output queue report (batch applications)
Output queue purge (batch applications)
Display forms (like DF console command)
Index for system log
Customer-written applications

Current Development Focus
Major internal reorganization
Eliminate user mode
IOF Audit
Compatibility with other products
Conversion from other products

Summary

The meeting ended at 8:30 p.m.

Treasurer’s Report for June 2005

contributed by Tommy Thomas

The balance in the account is $ 1733.18 as of July 17, 2005.

Financial Report
3/01/2004 through 07/17/2005

Items of Interest

SPARTA Schedule and Menu for 2005

contributed by Tommy Thomas and Chris Blackshire

July 26 - BarBQ
Aug. 30 - Pizza
Sep. 27 - Chicken
Oct. 25 - Subs
Nov. 29 - BarBQ


IBM Abandons (Finally) 4mm, 3420, and Diskettes

Contributed by Ed Webb

IBM has announced that it will no longer ship product on 4mm or 3420 tape or on low- and high-density 3.5 inch diskettes. Read the entire Announcement 906-146 at http://www-306.ibm.com/common/ssi/fcgi-bin/ssialias?subtype=ca&infotype=an&appname=iSource&supplier=897&letternum=ENUS905-146 .


Ten Ways Your Disaster Recovery Plan Can Hurt You

contributed by Ed Webb

Here’s an article about Disaster Recovery that might be of interest: http://search390.techtarget.com/tip/1,289483,sid10_gci1102104,00.html?track=NL-170&ad=521875


Use of ICE on Mobile Phones

by Chris Blackshire

Here’s an idea:

Following the recent disaster in London, East Anglian Ambulance Service have launched a national "In case of Emergency ( ICE )" campaign.

The idea is that you store the word " I C E " in your mobile phone address book, and against it enter the number of the person you would want to be contacted "In Case of Emergency".

In an emergency situation ambulance and hospital staff will then be able to quickly find out who your next of kin are and be able to contact them.

It's so simple that everyone can do it. Please do.

Please will you also e-mail this to everybody in your address book, it won't take too many 'forwards' before everybody will know about this.

It really could help the emergency services in doing their job.

For more than one contact name ICE1, ICE2, ICE3 etc.


Humor


If My Body Were A Car

contributed by Chris Blackshire

If my body were a car, this is the time I would be thinking about trading it in for a newer model. I've got bumps and dents and scratches in my finish and my paint job is getting a little dull, but that's not the worst of it.

My fenders are too wide to be considered stylish. They were once as sleek as a little MG, now they look more like an old Buick. My seat cushions have split open at the seams. My seats are sagging. Seat belts? I gave up all belts when Krispy Kremes opened a shop in my neighborhood!!

Air bag's?? Forget it. The only bags I have these days are under my eyes. Not counting the saddlebags, of course.

I have soooooo many miles on my odometer. Sure, I've been many places and seen many things, but when's the last time an appraiser factored life experiences against depreciation?

My headlights are out of focus and it's especially hard to see things up close.

My traction is not as graceful as it once was. I slip and slide and skid and bump into things even in the best of weather. My whitewalls are stained with varicose veins. It takes me hours to reach my maximum speed. My fuel rate burns inefficiently.

But here's the worst of it .. almost every time I sneeze, cough or sputter either my radiator leaks or my exhaust backfires!!


City Boys

Contributed by Chris Blackshire

A city boy, Kenny, moved to the country and bought a donkey from an old farmer for $100.00. The farmer agreed to deliver the donkey the next day.

The next day the farmer drove up and said, "Sorry son, but I have some bad news, the donkey died." "Kenny replied, "Well then, just give me my money back." The farmer said, "Can't do that. I went and spent it already." Kenny said, "OK then, just unload the donkey." The farmer asked, "What ya gonna do with him?" Kenny said, "I'm going to raffle him off." The farmer said, " You can't raffle off a dead donkey!" Kenny answered, "Sure I can. Watch me. I just won't tell anybody he is dead."

A month later the farmer met up with Kenny and asked, "What happened with that dead donkey?" Kenny said, "I raffled him off. I sold 500 tickets at two dollars a piece and made a profit of $898.00." Farmer said, "Didn't anyone complain?" Kenny answered, "Just the guy who won. So I gave him his two dollars back. "

Kenny grew up and eventually became the chairman of Enron.


The Taxi Driver

Contributed by Chris Blackshire

A passenger in a taxi tapped the driver on the shoulder to ask him something.

The driver screamed, lost control of the cab, nearly hit a bus, drove up over the curb and stopped just inches from a large plate glass window.

For a few moments everything was silent in the cab, then the driver said, "Please, don't ever do that again. You scared the daylights out of me."

The passenger, who was also frightened, apologized and said he didn't realize that a tap on the shoulder could frighten him so much, to which the driver replied, "I'm sorry, it's really not your fault at all. Today is my first day driving a cab, I have been driving a hearse for the last 25 years.”

Membership Information

Don’t Forget the Next SPARTA Meeting

Tuesday, July 26, 2005

Location: LabCorp in the RTP

Take I-40 to Miami Boulevard and go north. Turn right onto Alexander Drive. Go about a mile or so. Then turn right into LabCorp complex and turn left to the CMBP Building. In the lobby, sign in as a visitor to see Tommy Thomas. Tommy will escort you to the conference room.

Free Food: BarBQ, Drinks, Dessert

Program:

SCC Explorer - A Storage Management Tool

Speaker:

Duane Reaugh of DTS Software

SPARTA News
P.O. Box 13194
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-3194











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