ML20092C746

Inside Information.Volume 2,Number 3

ML20092C746
Person / Time
Issue date:	06/30/1995
From:	NRC OFFICE OF INFORMATION RESOURCES MANAGEMENT (IRM)
To:
References
NUREG-BR-0191, NUREG-BR-0191-V02-N3, NUREG-BR-191, NUREG-BR-191-V2-N3, NUDOCS 9509130115
Download: ML20092C746 (16)

Text

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7 XFORMATION

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1 Hiouusurs Technology Infrastructure Branch: Paving the NRC Computer and Informat.ion H. hway ig i

communications Services Section

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echnology is not always easy to see or J

touch, but moc would agree that you can t go far m NRC Data Center today's world without it. We in the Technology Infra-Systems Programming structure Branch (TIB) design, build, and maintain the j,

NRC Operators information highways that permit information to flow and NRC work to get done. In this issue, we explore key 2

services that TIB provides for the NRC and plans for i

Network Development and their expansion and improvement.

Support Section TIB provides many services that are commonly avail-AUTOSNetwork able in private business, along with some that are not.

We provide traditional telephone service; in addition we i

Next Generation Network provide 24-hours-a-day, every-day-of-the-year switchboard operation to assist Network Software NRC staff and the public in the placement of calls and delivery of messages. Our X,400 E-Afail automatic voice mail system dramatically reduces the number of messages that Communications Connections have to be recorded manually and NRC employees can check messages from i

At Your Service any touch-tone telephone at their convenience. We also provide the computer systems programming and operations services necessary for the agency payroll, UNIX Support personnel, property, and document management systems.

l Some of our most dramatic improvements have been in networking. With the People implementation of the Agency Upgrade of Technology for Office Systems (AUTOS) network, PC workstations throughout the agency are now intercon-11 nected. NRC staff are increasingly using desktop PC and UNIX workstations Info on the Got access and transmit infonnation as well as to perform data processing and t

techmcal computation and analysis.

13 Being connected to the network is an essential part oflife at the NRC. We will i

Input / Output c ntinue ur efforts to provide NRC staff with improved methods for sending and receiving mail, preparing documents, making calculations, checking cal-14 endars and schedules, and accessing systems and services necessary to do their 5" * * I*"*I

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Agency Information Technology Program We look forward to working with you to maintain and expand the NRC's technology infrastructure so that your information highway journey will be 15 happy, safe, and productive. Please feel free to contact me at 415-7150 or via 1

i Ask IRM

• -mail OAsH).

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M ames A. Shields, Chief Technology Infrastructure Branch 9509130115 950630 PDR NUREG BR-0191 R PDR

Inside Infonnation June 1995 Computer and Communications From the Editor Services Section

'Ihe August newsletter will fea-shared mainframe computing. The ture the Information and Records Rashida Alam, Chief, Comput-er and Communications Servic-section also manages the NRC's use Management Branch.Thatissue es Section (CCSS), joined the NRC of the Washington Interagency will identify customer support in 1987 and has been in civil service Telecommunications Services, in the area of records manage-for almost 17 years. She holds two known as WITS, and the Govem.

ment agencywide.

master's degrees-one in nuclear ment Emergency Telecommunica-Please armember that this is physics from McMaster University tions Systems called GETS,and pro-your newsletter. Your in Canada and the other in computer vides voice mail, facsimile, cellular ideas, suggestions, and science from the University of Iowa.

phone, and on-line/ printed telephone comments are always Rashida is also a Certified Computer directory services.

welcome. If you want Professional.

IRM management to re-

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In the past year, CCSS accomplish-spond to your specific Rashida ments included consolidating Ilead-concerns,the"Ask IRM" column is came from quarters computer operations at your forum. The Employee of the the Depart-TWFN, converting the prefix of all Month will continue to be an IN-SIDEINFORMATION feature-ment of telephone numbers in OWFN from liealth and 504 to 415, converting the phone butonlyif the customercommunity lets Gerald Cranford know who de-lluman Ser-service for 600 multiline users to nom a

ra vices to join ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Qtoq 9

ihe NRC Network), implementing the Smart-the name of your nominee. Follow-data base ad-hne fax-on-demand voice mail ing lRM management concurrence, ministration application that provides job va-the employee willreceive this pub-team re nashida Alam cancy and benefits information, and lic recognition, sponsible publishing an extensively revised for the development of the Shared NRC telephone directory.

Information Network, the agency's The CCSS looks forward to expan-corporate data base. Rashida has been f the agency voice mail sys-smn a member of the NRC Asian / Pacific g

g tem to the Regions and enhancement

,o,y,,,,,q,piement to omew American Advisory Committee since ticy and pronouncements orp'Do*n' of customer support and techmcal i,M8fn,'y'$ro

""E support for NRC's new and existing The CCSS manages the NRC Data Payroll and Personnel systems, technology cnvironment.

Center and the Telecommunications NUREG/BR-0191 Rashida can be reachedat 415-7500 Message Center / Switchboard and

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provides technical support for time-Voice Mail Automates Phone Message Process The voice mail system does more fits, and policies and to have the Although it doesn't totally elimi-nate telephone tag, the NRC's than just take messages. The CCSS, information mailed or faxed.

voice mail system permits staff to working with other NRC offices.has Plans f r the future melude expan-send, receive,and save messages and implemented two voice processing sion of the voice mail system to the to reply or send copies to others on applications. The first, administered Regions and development of a fax-the system. Availableoptionsinclude by the Office of Administration, pro-on-demand application for the Pubhc extended absence greeting, confir-vides callers with information re-Document Room.

mation of message delivery, and noti-garding NRC staff meetings that are fication by pager of message waiting.

open to the public.The second appli-For more information about voice The voice mail system processes an cation, the Office of Personnel's mail, please contact Brian Brownell average of 12,000 messages each Smartline fax-on-demand, allows at 415-7/52 or via e-mail (BDB) or week. Currently, more than 1,800 callers to listen to information relat-Bryan Champion at 415-7356 or via NRC Headquarters employees have ingtovacancyannouncements bene-c./ nail (BLC).

• mailboxes on the system.

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June 1995 Inside Information a

NRC Data Center-A New Home for Systems NRC Computers Programming pr the nrst time in its history, the Services and the Department ofTrea.

ystems programming is some-1 NRC has a full-service Data Cen-sury, the in-house minicomputers, thmg of a misnomer in that sys-ter. Located on the fifth floor of IBM RS/6000 UNIX systems, and tems programmers seldom write TWFN, the facility was designed by the AUTOS network.

computer programs. Instead they spend their time integrating ven-IRM and the Office of Consolidation and built during the construction of Operations and applications to meet customer TWFN.

A contractor supplies a staff of com.

needs. Dave Barrow,Kay Moses,and Equipment puter operators 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> a day from Judy Seeherman are the NRC's sys-6:00 a.m. Monday to 5:00 p.m. Satur_

tems programmers. As IRM Project The DataCenterhouses severalmini-day. The systems are operational but Managers,they plan and oversee con-3 computers-a Data General MV/

in unattended modeon Sandays,when tracts for the systems programming 60000, an IBM 9370, and a Data maintenance work is performed. If and data communications support General MV/15000. Each of these any system is out of service, Data tasks involved in installing, upgrad-minicomputers supports a number of Center staff notify the customers im-ing, and maintammg operatmg sys-systems-mediately.

tem and proprietary application soft-ware on NRC's Data General, IBM o MVK30000-Payroll, Personnel, The Data Center staff distribute re-9370, and HP/9000 minicomputers.

Property and Supply, NUDOCS, ports, identined by the first letter of and the Criminal 11istory Check the programmer's name, into output Dave, Kay, and Judy are also respon-system bins in room T-5 B21. Customers can sible for momtoring system perfor-0 IBM 9370-EXSIS' Commis-access the bins 24 hours2.777778e-4 days <br />0.00667 hours <br />3.968254e-5 weeks <br />9.132e-6 months <br /> a day. Oper-mance, developing and maintammg sion Calendar e-mail, and the ators hold reports marked" sensitive" Pr grams and procedures to backup Voter Tracking System, General until cust mers request them at the system and user Oles; adding, delet-License Data Base, Licensin8 output window in the bin area.

ing, and modifying user accounts; providing support to customers and l

Tracking System, Allegation OWFN customers can pick up re-application programmers; and main-Management System, Work Item ports / outputs at theOWFN Computer taining communications among var-Tracking System,and the Safety Room O-2 G18 distribution bins or ious computer systems.

Information Management System call 415-2885. An operator attends o MV/15000-the Integrated Li-this facility from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 IRM's systems programthers are al-i brary System p.m. on the hour, every hour (for 10 ways looking for ways to improve Two high-speed (220 and 100 pages minutes), Monday through Friday.

service. For example, until recently, large month-endreports fromthe FFS per minute, respectively) prmters Please direct inquiries regarding the were printed in 11yattsville, MD, at connected to two HP 9000 systems Data Center to DavidBarrowat415-the Treasury Department's schedule provide continuous-form laser print-5846 or via e-mail (DAB 1) or to the and convenience.IRM's systems pro-ing from mainframe computers at the Data Center operators at 415-grammers devised a procedure to print Department of Health and Human 50/5.

• the reports on the NRC Data Center's HP/9000 high-speed laser printers and

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programmed the printers to separate y

the reports by office and generate the

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Elf p specified number of copies.This pro-s W LJ

'M cedure has resulted in faster distribu-e j

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.fd tion of the reports to NRC offices, has i

SiL reduced the transmission cost, and

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has cut in half the amount of paper

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used.

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Please directinquiries regarding sys-temsprogramming to Rashida Alam at415-7500er via e-mail (RXA). 4 Wl:

The NRC Data Center houses Data Generaland IBM rninicomputers l

Inside lnformation June 1995 NRC Operators--Just a Phone Call Away RM's Computer and Communica-The TMC is equipped with a Itions Services Section provides telecommunications device for the telephone switchboard operator sup-deaf (TDD)toanswercalls fromhear-port services through its Telecom-ing-impaired individuals on 301 -415-

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munications Message C:mer (TMC) 5575. Telephone conference service 1 ;,i i

to benefit the NRC community and (also known as a conference bridge) y$

the general public. The facility,10-is available through the TMC. This cated in T-4 C8, operates 24 hovrs a service permits up to 64 conferees to day,7 days a week. Qualified ton-participate in interoffice, local, a

tractor telephone operators provide FTS2000, long-distance, and inter-locator, audio con ferencing, tele x, and national calls simultaneously. You o

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facsimile services. The switchboard can make conference reservations may be contacted by dialing"0"from through the conference attendant at orysentons an employee on The cropR/C Company contract. helps a momber KB NRC telephones in the White Flint 415-7027.

""# #"# # "#' #" ##C **#' Y" comp;ex or 415-7000 from outside Addressquestionsregarding theTMC Headwarters. For the convenience b

to #cn Randa# at 4/5J250 h or e-ofemi oyees on traveland the gener-mail (BWR) or to the contractor su-alpu%.the switchboard can also be penisor at the swstchboard (415-reacte d da the tall-free number,800-N 368 % D.

in MET.TITFTTTTM d 2

t There's only one problem in any organization: failure to communicate. Communications j specialists firyan Champion (415-7356) and firian llrownell (415-7152) of the j

Technology Infrastructure Ilranch offer these voice mail tips:

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((. Don't hide behind your voice mail: reply promptly.

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{. Personalize your greetings and change them frequently.

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" Make your greeting brief. If you're rambling, rerecord.

j Lcave detailed messages to avoid telephone tag. If you request information, make j

sure your message is complete and concise so the recipient can respond fully.

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. Address only one or two topics per message.

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. State the key point by the third sentence, f

. Talk live or write a memo if the topic is sensitive or complex.

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. If the distribution list is long, put it at the end.

i Use the " urgent" option with discretion. In some cases, an urgent delivery option can h

trigger a pager.

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In addition, the Office of Personnel encourages employees and contractors to brush up on [

their phone manners. Responding openly, professionally, and courteously entails-g

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. Answering by the third ring j

Clearly enunciating your name and your organization (but no acronyms, please)

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. Offering assistance by transferring the caller or taking a message

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. Refraining from disclosing personal information "Mr. Jones is expected to return at 2" not "I think Sam's shopping at White Flint."

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. Using the speaker phone only in a group setting (and announcing that fact to your j

caller)

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June 1995 Innde Information

^re c^tions de'c'"emeat ao* cea-n Network Development and ters around the shared information Oupport Section concent There are arviications for a workgroup, such as the AP-600 project, officewide applications such Jim Schaeffer, Chief, Network Development and Support Section (NDS), has been with the NRC as the Resource Information Man-and a member of the IRM professional staff since agement System (RIMS), and agen-1991. After an extensive search, he was hired to direct cy applications such as the briefing the agency's AUTOS program and later assumed papers and roster of utilities. Any responsibility for the TIB/NDS. llolding bachelor's NRC staff member can access the degrees in accounting and computer science from the desired application merely by choos-University of Maryland, Jim has more than 13 years of ing a DOS menu selection orclicking technical and managerial experience with computers on a Windows icon. As AUTOS con-and networks in the private sector and the Federal tinues to improve, the Windows E "

part of the workstation environment shm Schaeffor The NDS is responsible for the overall direction, planning, development, for everyone.

implementation,and management of the NRC's local area network (LAN) and wide area network (WAN) environment, supporting office automation, high-Managent performance UNIX systems, client / server computing, host connectivity, and agency applications. Additional responsibilities include data and video com-The management of the network has munications services, network security, emergency data and telecommunica-also changed and improved signifi-tions support, secure telecommunications services, and agencywide develop-cantly. There is now a centralized ment. implementation and support of AUTOS, Transmission Control Protocol!

Network Control Center (NCC) at Internet Protocol (known as TCP/IP), Internet access, and Mosaic.

Ileadquarters, and LAN Adminis-Future plans include contract award and implementation of the next generation trators are located throughout llead-network (NGN) and consolidated telecommunications services (CTS), net, quarters and in the Region. Together, work hardware / software upgrades, and enhanced network security and emer.

these two functions support customers and maintain the network at peak gency communications.

efficiency. LAN Administrators are Jim can be reached at 415-7154 or via e-mail (JBS). 4 the first line of support to the custom-cr. They are in daily contact to re-solve problems and to assist the cus-AUTOS-NRC's Network tomer in using the workstation effi-ciently. NCC provides central net-In 1988, the NRC began planning a general-purpose PC-based network work management and monitoring.

to replace the agency's IBM 5520 administrative office system network.

During the following two years, a network environment with several file Network Control Center servers, shared printers, and common word processing and e-mail applications began to take shape. Since the award of the Agency Upgrade of Technology for The NCC manages the operation and Office Systems ( AUTOS) contract in 1990, NRC's network has grown from a growth of the AUTOS network, pro-small group of networked PCs to an agencywide network of more than 3,000 viding comprehensive assistance to PC and high-performance UNIX workstations. Every NRC employee who ensure an effective customer inter-needs a computer workstation has one, and information flows freely from any face with the AUTOS environment.

workstation to any other workstation on the network, agencywide. With the The NCC also includes the technical recent addition ofInternet mail capability,information can be shared with those support required to maintain network outside the NRC as well.

performance in terms of its respon-siveness and continuing ability to sup-Applications port the NRC's communications re-quirements.

The AUTOS network is a reliable, dependable mainstay of the NRC office LocatedinTWEN,the NCCserves as environment. Word processing capability is provided by Wordperfect version 5.1 with an upgrade planned to an enhanced version. E-mail is now part of an the hub of network operations and office suite of programs to support related functions: scheduling, calendaring, customer support. Primary duties m-calculating, and the like. Spreadsheet and graphic capabilities are becoming a clude operation and performance standard part of network applications as well.

monitoring as well as techmcal sup-Continued on page 6

r Inside Information June 1995

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^ms, continues from page 5 Next Generation port of all network components such customers' requests for services.

Network-AUTOS as Gle servers, remote access servers, These requests run the gamut of net.

mail servers, and communication work problems-application soft-Gets Refreshed hubs. Technical support also focuses ware dif6culties, connectivity and n recent years, IRM has made

[signi6 cant strides in the develop-on network optimization and perfor-communications problems, familiar-mance tuning andon resolution of the ization and indoctrination issues, and more complex problems related to the diagnosis of hardware malfunc.

ment and expansion of NRC's net-network operation. NCC staff also tions. Currently, four LAN Adminis-work environment to meet growmg demands for automation and access address management of growth and trators provide customer support in the evaluation and integration of eq-OWFN, four provide coverage in to computer resources. Successes uipment and functionality.

TWFN, and there is one assigned to have included implementation of the each of the regional offices and to the Agency Upgrade of Technology for In terms of customer support, the Technical Training Center in Chatta.

Office Systems (AUTOS) program, NCC is the focal point of the cen-nooga, TN.

setup and support of the high-perfor-tralized IRM customer service pro-mance UNIX environment, support gram for coordination and admin-The eight local administrators, to-for client / server computin g. and agen-istration of network services to the gether with Ove LAN Analysts as-cywide Internet access.

NRC community. The NCC's pri-signed to the NCC, process approxi-mary interface with customers in.

mately 2,000 support requests per The Network Development Section volves general administrative sup.

month. In the Regions, on-site LAN (NDS)is now workmg with the Divi-port such as adding and deleting Administrators provide general cus.

sion of Contracts to obtain a support user accounts, managing file ac-tomer support through processes in contract that will design, develop, cess privileges, and maintaining e-place at these h> cations.

procure, implement, maintain, and operate the NRC's agencywide of-mail lists' For more information about AUTOS fice automation and high-perfor-or the NCC, please contact Karen mance network environment through LAN Administrators Paradiso at 415-5852 or via e-mail Gscal year (FY) 2000. This effort is If the NCC is the heart of AUTOS, (KXp). Network problems should be called the next generation network the LAN Administrators are the brains reported to the /RM Customer Sup-(NGN) program. The NGN is the and muscle. The NCC coordinates port Center at 415-1234.

• evolutionary result of upgrading, ex-and dispatches LAN Administrators panding, and replacing key compo-and other support personnel to ful611 nentsof the current AUTOS network with newer technagy to meet the NRC's growing requu :ents for net-l

• j work resources.

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f. i ; " T Q The goal of the program is to contin-ue to provide reliable and responsive L.*.

i operational support and administra-r

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tion for the existing network environ-ment; develop and implement new

~ "' 5 technology to support current and future requirements for application interoperability, network con-

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nectivity, and of6ce automation; pro-a r;

vide a vehicle to purchase network I

hardware and software; and obtain T !

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vendor maintenance, support, and up-grades for these components.

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j NGN Requirements T

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To identify requirements for the NGN, I

1RM conducted extensive inte News with managers, project leaders, and in the Network Control Center, Janson C. Pinto (SAIC Corporation) and staff throughout the NRC ta deter-Justin C. Kim (CEXEC, Inc ) froid service requests and offer solutions to problems.

Continued on page 7 b

June 1995 Inside Information NGN, continuedfrom page 6 mine the network requirements to IBM RS/6000 UNIX servers and Status of the NGN through FY 2000. Through this pro-other LAN-based server platforms.

cess, five key areas were identined Some of the applications being con.

Progress continues on the program that will have significant impact on verted include Office of Personnel development and acquisition active the NRC's future network environ-applications, the Regulatory inspec.

ties for the NGN. The request for ment: extension of existing capabil-tion Program, Integrated Voter Tra.

pmposals was released during the ities, high-performance computing, cking System, Events Tracking, week of March 20. A preproposal client / server applications, interactive Allegations Management System,and bidders conference, held on April 10, Internet access, and on-line manage-the Automated RITS Entry and Sig.

provided an overview of the state-ment of work, described the current ment of NRC documents.

nature Processing System.

NRCenvironment, reviewed the cost requirements, an addressed vendor Extension of Interactive Internet Access 4"****

• • '"*0*"

Existing Capabilities Increased activ.ity over the Internet Panel is reviewing the proposals, and NRC's requirements call for the gen-has become a major thrust in NRC's award is anticipated in the first quar-eral upgrade of the existing office support for the National Perfor-ter of FY1996.

automation capabilities. The desired mance Review and Vice President There w.ll be a 30-day overlap in i

goal is to obtain a high level of Gore's initiatives to rcinvent govern-services between thecurrent AUTOS interoperability among current and ment. This access permits the agency contr et and the new NGN contract future office automation and agency-to be more responsive to public needs.

to facilitate full transfer of allinfor-wide applications. Another major re-The NRC is also relying more and mation necessary for the new contrac-quirement for of0cc aummation en-more on the Internet to conduct its tails implementation of "workDow" day-to-day unofficial business and to (gr to assume fuH operational respon-s biHty, management software. This will in-connect to national laboratories and crease the use of network resources other Government agencies.

IRM is eager tolaunch the NGN,and as work products flow from group to looks forward to contract award and Anothn contributor to the increased group electronically instead af being network traffic is the realization by moved through offices on paper.

NRC customers of the benents avail-Fornmreinformation about theNGN,

• "" 0 I "'""

P ease contact Don Larrick at 415-l High Performance tmnic maw Gn'ata lntunet traWie n10 or via e-mail (DML). #

Computing willplaceincreasedloads onthe LAN Program offices throughout the agen-backbone and the Internet gateway.

Network Software cy currently use high performance UNILbased systems for demanding On Line Management of NaC Upgrade engmeeting applications, such as Documents n effort is under way to up-modeling andsimulationof advanced nuclear reactor designs, processing One of the NRC's major goals is to rade and enhance the suite of make all nonsensitive documents tools and services available to agen-of very high-quality graphics, and retrieving and processing technical accessible electrorucally to staff and cy staff on the AUTOS network.

reports. As the high-performance the public. The agency is developing These upgrades are beingimplement-computing environment continues to the Regulatory Agency Document ed in a two-phased approach for each develop, there will be increasing re.

System (RADS) which will capture NRC of0cc over the next several quirements for distributed applica.

the original text and graphical con-months.

knts of all new documents coming tions andgreaternetwork bandwidth.

into the NRC and those created by the AUTOS for Windows NRC. As the number of RADS cus-Client / Server Applications tomers increases, so wdl the demand in the first phase of the project, the Another key area of potential impact for bandwidth (system capacity). It is Microsoft Windows graphical user on the network is the rehosting of expected that the RADS system will interface, configured for us on the agency mini and mainframe comput-place a significant load on the NRC AUTOS network, will replace the er applications to a client / server en-network.

current AUTOS DOS " blue menu" vironment. IRM is currently "right.

system. Windows will permit staff sizing" applications now hosted on toefficientlyaccess and move among DataGeneralandlBM miniand main, current applications as well as pro-frame computers and migrating them vide support for graphical applica-Continued on page 8 b

Inside lnformation June 1995 Softxre, continuedfrom page 7 4 2 Mt M M..~ NRC/AUTOSF u <

tions. Approx.imately 3,000 worksta-

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tions in Headquarters and Regional offices have been installed with the f

e -m standard Windows conDguration.

b iiiil FFOM Word Perfect WP0ffice Editor WP0ffice Informs FiHer The AUTOS for Windows interface consists of a Windows group with an Calculator icon foreach standard AUTOS appli-cation. Customers access network ap-M plications such as Wordperfect and E

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j e-mail by moving the mouse pointer and "clic king"on the appropriate icon.

NRCPhonebook ChangePassword WP0ffice Wus Windows offers the ability to run Notebook pconso;e more than one application at the same time. For example, customers can access both e-mail and Wordperfect goon eve,yono, pu7ag,nonu was appea, as a w,nsow, g,oup.

and quickly switch between them without exiting either application.

WordPerfectOffice forWindowshas X.400 E-Ma.l-i Phase One is scheduled for com-been installed on workstations in IR M, A New Federal pletion by September 1995. You and IRM is now actively addressing may conthet your IT Coordinator to some operational issues before in-COnneCliOn determine the specific schedule as it stalling Office for Windows agency-he Office of Infonnation Re-applies to your workstation.

wide. Agencywide installation is be-soun es Management is enhanc-l ing coordinated with office IT Coor-Wordperfect Office for dinators and should be completed in ing the agency's electrome mail sys-Windows the fall of 1995.

tem with the implementation of a mail gateway that willpermit agency l

During Phase Two the current DOS Wordperfect 5.1, the word processor personnel to electronically exchange versions of e-mail, calendar, and currently available on the network, information with other Federal agen-scheduler will be replaced agency-will not be upgraded in either Phase cies, private corporations, and inter-t wide with Wordperfect Office for One or Two of the network software national contacts who support X.400 Windows, an integrated Windows-upgrade project.The move to a Win-mail. X.400 is an international stan-based application. Enhanced fea-dows-based word processor and oth-dard that has been adopted by the tures include-er graphical user applications will be Federal govemment for exchange of addressed in FY 1996.

official information. It provides a o E-mail, calendar, and schedul-more secure information exchange er in a single package.

The migration to a Windows envi-than the Internet.

o incoming mail, requests for ap.

ronment presents a major change for much of the NRC customer commu-The NRC's customer interface to the pointments, and tasks all ap.

pear in a single in. box; custom.

nity. IRM recommends that you reg-X.400 mail gateway is the current er. accepted requests for ap.

ister and attend the "Using Windows Wordperfect Office Mailsystem.The 3.l"and " Wordperfect Office for Win-X.400 addressing scheme is not intu-pointments and tasks are entered into their calendar, dows" training courses, which are itive; therefore, message recipients beingofferedin the NRC Profession-must provide senders with their X.400 0 A document viewer provides the al Development Center. Customers electronic mail address prior to any what-you-see-is-what-you-get sould work with office ITCoordina-electronic message communications.

(WYSIWYG) display of doc-tors to schedule training as close as uments attached to e-mail, possible to the date of installation.

IRM is sponsoring a pilot program o Cutandpastecapabilitybetween (See the related article on page 13 with a h,mited number of participants Wordperfect Office and other showing how the customer commu.

from each program office. It is antica-Windows applications.

nity can prepare for this transition.)

p ted that the X.400 gateway will be available for full agency use prior to o NRC personnel can generate Please address questions regarding the end of FY l995.

forms using Wordperfect In-therwM softwarc upgradeproject I*""* '

to Karen Paradiso at 415-5852 or For more m. formation. contact Stan Wood, at 415J21I or da e-mad via e-mail (KXP). 4 (SDW). 4

June 1995 Inside Information Communications Connections Ascape has changed over the past s the communications land-Communications specialists in IR M 's works requiring higher transmission Technology Infrastructure Branch speeds. System troubles and main-few years and the NRC customerhas evaluate system choices in tenns of tenancedowntimehavebeenreduced 1

t:ecome a partner with the telephone their applicability to agency objec-by our using higher quality cable as j

company, so too has IRM's approach tives-improving customer service, well as patch panels and other circuit totheongoingprovision and manage-planning for future installations and/

break points.

ment of systems and services. An or technology, managing diverse ac-explosion of technology has resulted tivity, sharing critical resources, re-Helping Hands in an ever-increasing array of sys-sponding to changing business condi-tems that inevitably require service tions, and reducing communications Of course, TIB continues to provide and support sometime during their costs. Services range from building everyday items such as headsets, au-useful life.

the cable infrastructure and network dio conferencing units, modems, design and installation to voice and I nger telephone and handset cords, m

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data, cellular, facsimile, CATV, and and cord keepers. Some of these things j

satellite communications.

may be mundane, but if they make

~

y ~_-

your job easier, they're important to 4

I JIB.lfyou need telecommunications pg,,,g,,

1 mformation, guidance, orjust a help-The cable infrastructure for TWFN ing hand, please call 415-7150 and i

exemplines IRM's successful plan-you will be referred to a telecommu-j# I ning.BeforetheNRCmovetoTWFN, nication specialist for assistance.

i

~ '.;M l

a cable specification was developed ProblemsshouldbereportedtolRM's

/

+

to meet established cabling and com-Customer Support Center at 415-munication needs and to ensure an 1234.

• casy migration to systems and net-George Lopot troubleshools cabbng connectivity on TWFN I

t i

l At Your Service 4

Tom Shel11er is the IRM point of Tom joined the Federal Government lie retains his

.A. contact in One White Flint North, in 1976 as a Computer Systems An-j OWFN houses nine program offices alyst for4he Department of licalth, office in OWFN as the l

as well as the offices of the Commis-Education and Welfare. lie joined person to be sion, the Executive Director for Op-the NRC in 1988 and a year later contacted for erations, and the Secretary to the Com.

transferred to the IRM team being any new re-mission. Tom is responsible for coor-formed forimplementingnetwork fa-quirements I

dinating communications, network, cilities agencywide. Since 1989, he for the net-and hardware / software support for has been " AUTOS" all the way. Ile work.

Ilis all offices in the building, was Acting Chief of the Network commitment Development Section whenIRM ini.

rom snomer o customer Tom has extensive experience in the tially established the management service is readily evident by his will-field of information management in 4

capabilities that would lead to the ingness to work with all the OWFN the private and pubh,c sectors. Over appointment of a permanent AUTOS offices in developing their individual the years,he has worked as a systems Project Manager. Once a permanent and officewide requirements. lie is analyst for scientific systems, a sys' 4

manager was assigned, Tom moved available at any time for consulta-tems analyst for business systems, to OWFN. lle was the senior analyst tion, requirements development, or and as a project manager for busmess assigned to expand the pre-AUTOS solutions of network approaches to systems. For Fairfax County, VA, he network that added nearly 200 work-problem solving. Tom is located in designed and implemented an on-stations in NRR, then to implement O-9118 andcan becontacted byphone line real property assessment system AUTOSinOWFN,andsubsequently at 415-2906 or e-mail (TBS).

• for residential and commercial prop-tooverseeimplementationof thecon-erty, which is still in use today.

solidation of the NRC offices' net-work facilities at TWFN.

N

June 1995 Inside Information UNIX Support-A Key Technical and Administrative Servico he NRC UNIX environment has RES computing environment. The system Tgrown rapidly from a few UNIX is comprised of 18 UNIX worksta-Gee of Mear Regulam tions and five UNIX servers and in-systems in 1993 to approximately Research $ES) IIPCE environment cludes systems from Sun, IBM, and 100 today. IRM's Technology Infra-

"' N "S C"

IS "I I 8 Silicon Graphics. Thirty people from structure Branch (TIB) provides supporting 35 to 50 customers. It is a threedivisions-Waste Management, UNIX support for program offices as heterogenous environment consist-Industrial and Medical Nuclear Safe-well as for NRC's information tech-ing gf IBM, Sun, and DEC comput-ty, and Fuel Cycle Safety and Safe-nology infrastructure.

ers. The current Ole server is a Sun guards-access these UNIX re-Sparcstation 20 with four processors 8""## *

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• E Program Office and l5 gigabytes ofdisk storage.RES Support staff use the UNIX computers for Infrastructure Support thermohydraulic analyses, studies in.

UNIX computing withm. the NRC volving severe accident codes, acci-

"E E." '"" E program of6ces is a heterogenous dent phenomenology, containment W

P" world consisting of Sun IBM, DEC, performance, and structural integri-technology infrastructure. These and Silicon Graphics workstations.

Y-UNIX servers are typically locked This diverse environment is col.

away in closets unseen by NRC staff.

lectively known as the high-perfor.

NM88 They provide access to the Internet mance computing environment (llPCE). A group of UNIX Systems The Office of Nuclear Material Safe.

(as well as protection from it through a "firewall"), network monitoring, Administrators maintain this envi-ty and Safeguards (NMSS) has de.

global naming services, electrome ronment by using a standards-based veloped a centralized advance com-mail, Ole transfer, and World Wide approach to maximize operational puter system (ACS) that employs Web access. TIB has installed two readiness of these systems.

UNIX client / server computing Web servers--one for access by ex-technology designed to meet the mul-ternat eustomers andanotherforNRC NRR tifaceted needs of the various NMSS customers. Both are ready for NRC divisions.The ACS supportsinternet The Office of Nuclear Reactor Regu-access, analytical resources, techni.

offices to populate them with infor-lation (NRR) has 25 UNIX mation. This summer will see workstations, four of which the advent of a News server are servers. An additional 20 capability and a production customers access these UNIX grade Listserver-all on workstations through their UNIX-based platforms.The in-desktop PCs using PC-Xware frastructure also includes a software for UNIX terminal number ofIBM RS/6000 sys-and Windows emulation. A tems, which will be a signifi-recent addition to the NRR cant base for client / server pro-11PCE,a Sun Sparc 20 server gram and administrative ap-with 10 gigabytes of storage plications to be developed supports operational and test-throughout the decade.

ing data for AP600 reactor design review and analysis.

Service NRR's UNIX workstations TIB is dedicated to maximiz-support analytical capabili-ties in thermohydraulics, fi-ing operational availability, nite element analysis, radiation pro-cal and regulatory document refer.

ensuring data integrity, responding tection, and mechanical and electri-ences, and two-and three-dimensional quickly, and resolving any difficul-ties customers may encounter in the cal engineering. Many of the codes graphics and visualization.The ACS UNIX environment. TIB's Systems that support these activities were de-uses high-performance Sun and Sili.

Engineers perform the complex and veloped either by or for the NRC; con Graphics Gle and applications delicate task ofintegrating each UNIX many were developedin a mainframe servers combined with sophisticated workstation into the agency's com-environment.

input and output peripherals (scan, ners, color printers and plotters, and puting and communications environ-ment. TIB Systems Administrators digital input devices) in a centralized Continued on page 11

June 1995 Inside Information i

UNIX upport, continuedfrom a

i provide daily care for UNIX systems and ensure they are fully available fw

~

T4 l

use. Each Systems Administrator C~

knows the computing environment 1

and customers in the office in which w

e i

the execution of a comprehensive sys-g

~$y e

they serve. Regular activities include 3"

tem and data backup plan that pro-1 N

tects data against the inevitability of

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hard disk failures. The System Administrator works with customers i

to tailor their computing environment j

by evaluating, installing, customiz-2 ing, and integrating commercial and custom-developed UNIX application f

software packages. Till provides hands-on guidance and indoctrina-Q,,,,m, w, i

tion for customers of high-perform-j ance computers, trouble shooting. and problem resolution related to UNIX l

systems hardware, soft ware, and net -

^

P m

l working. UNIX customer accounts and systems require regulat mainte.

In addition to his perseverance as a computer secunty spectatist with the Financial Manage-ment. computer secunty, and Administrative support statf. Lou Numkin engaged NRC statt l

nance to keep them running smo-with his secunty bnetings For these outstanding services. Lou received the Novomber l

othly. Customer accounts are main.

Employee of the Month Award from IRM Director Gerald F cranford tained in conformance with agency standards to ensure consistency and integrity: UNIX operating system and April 26 was a proud day for The Meritorious Service Award for application software require regular IRM when the agency's annu-Administrative Excellence was be-upgrades just as in the PC world.

E alawardceremonyrecognized stowed on Tyrone, Chief of the 1.i-Networked UNIX computers can Gerald F. Cranford and Ty-censing Documentation Reference share printers, scanners, files, hard O

rone S. Greene. Gerald, the Unit in the Information and Records drives, and other peripherals with oth-IRM Director, received a Pres-Management Branch. Tyrone was er UNIX systems. Maintaining and identialMeritorious Executive lauded, in part, for his " dedication to j

reconfiguring these relationships in b

Rank Award forhissignificant promoting high-quality c ustomer ser-q response to customer requirements is

(

contributions to collecting, vice and to ensuring the integrity of an important ongoing activity.

processing,and disseminating the official documentation of the information within several NRC's policies and activities."

Increasingly,the NRC UNIX commu.

l nity is requesting more support to 3

important areas of the Federal Gos ernment. I art of the testi-meet the challenges of the exploding p

Intemet and World Wide Web activ.

monial reflected that he di-s ities. TlB supports these activities by ig rects the planning, acquisi-tion,installarmn, and mainte-Administrative Support Section at the j

keeping abreast of the latest releases g

nance of state-of-the-art mfor-l of browser software (Mosaic being l

the most familiar) and keeping them Q

mation processingequipment to enable the NI C to effec-IRM Automated Graphics Services l

installed and configured in the UNIX g

in ely meet its responsibilities 3

p E

1 ens.ironmeng.

Mail Services, in the Office of 3

for protecting public health A d mi"Ihk"'I** *

• For more information chout UNIX and safety."

support, please contact John Badri-Q an at 415-5748 or via e-mail l

(JHB). 4 i

i

June 1995 Insido Information l

l Welcome Aboard p + " Tv ' - 'i Along with his speaking assignments,

...NRC Staff e:

.M '

Lou coordinsted with three Headquar-q

</

ters offices to obtain their responses Christopher L. Iloxie recently kfM to draft computer system certifica-transferred to the Technology As-f $f tion and accreditation (C& A) reports.

sessment Staff to provide customer

~ f.f Ilis persistence helped to complete support in the areas of integration dfy the last of the C&A activities and led of enhanced IT approaches to agen-f#

to the clearing of the computer secu-cy operations. Chris joined the NRC rity material weakness more than a year ahead of the original schedule.

as a member of the Technical 4

Specifications llranch in 1989. lie i

in fact, the material weakness was declared closed more than 2 weeks worked on the standard technical specifications improvement project

-l ahead of the deadline requested by until fruition and the publication of the Executive Director for Opera-chns Home NUREG 1430-1434.During that peri-tions.

od he also collaborated with Tom Chris's main area of interest is appli-Louworks. T-6F9,andyoucancall m

Dunning to start one of the first NRC cation of advanced information and him at 415-5906. Address mail to T-bulletin teard systems-Tech Specs communication technologies to the 6 FI5 or e-mail him (LMN).

Plus. A year ago Chris moved to the work of the NRC. His office is T-6 Containment and Severe Accident C4. Get in touch with him at 415-As the Data Base Administrator for llranch of NRR, where he was lead 5824 or by e-mail (CLill). iiis mail the NRC's OS/2 (IBM Operating reviewer for the AP600 advanced stop is T-6 Cl 4.

System /2) and the RS/6000 comput-i l

plant contamment.

ers, Tu T. Tran makes sure they are working and correctly config-Chris received a Ph.D. in nuclear

... Contractor Staff ured. Tu thoroughly tests all the engineering from the Massachusetts changes she makes, and when she Institute of Technology, having Susan Marie Miller is the new on.

earned tuth bachelor's and master's site manager of :he contract for the says, "It's working," it really is.

degrees in that discipline from the IRM Customer Support Center.

The following anecdote, related in University of Florida. Following at-Assisting her as customer support her nomination, reflects Tu's care tainment of his doctorate, he worked analysts are Monif Algarshi and that custorners get top notch ser-at NUM ATEC/COMEGA(the Amer-Thcmas (Chip) Kellam.

vice. When Tu overheard a customer ican subsidiary of the French nuclear discussing a recent software instal-fuel cycle company), NUS Corpora-lation, she volunteered to s.erify Numkin and Tran End tion, and Oak Ridge National Latm.

th work. Tu made the necessary the Year With Employee mmetions I, r ha skiH and oub ratory' m

of the Month Awards standing professional services Tu In late fall, Louis M.Numkin briefed was accorded the Employee of the Office of Investigations staff from Month Award for December (but, Ileadquarters and the Regions on as usual, she was so committed to it is with sadness that IRM re-computer security awareness. Among problem-solving that she could not ports the death of Luc,lle Lam-the letters of thanks was one that be captured for a photograph).

i cr, an NRC employee for more noted his presentation was "very than 20 years. Lucille lost a nformative, interesting and well re.

Tu, a Computer Systems Analyst valiant fight against kidney dis-ceived by everyone " During a brief.

with the Systems Development and case in April 1995. She will be ng given by the Division of Security, Integration Branch, works in T-6 C9. E-mail (TIT) or call her at 415-remembered for her significant Lou's talk on computer ethics to the contributions to IRM's informa-resident inspectors from the gaseous 5797. lier mail stop is T-6 C30.

tiontechnologypmgramsandher diffusion plants again drew favorable always-present smile throughout comments. (For a flavor of Lou's the workday.

Myle, be sure to read his article on page 14.)

June 1995 Inside Information p'?Q AQ Info on the Go!

V%

The Professional Development Center (PDC) offers a number of training Plastic Rules operations for you to learn the basic-and advanced-concepts of Windows.

The Office of Administration and Invest an hour, a day, or a week (or more!) to learn the terminology and how IRM have joint responsibility to en-to work with icons, button bars, and menu bars.Then advance to the intriguing sure that the agency's property data-world of customizing your Windows environment: use bookmarks, create base correctly reDects all eurrent tag-icons, and simplify your information storage needs through sophisticated but gable equipment. In order to assure I

casy file management. Three instructor-led courses are available as are four that a valid property database entry is j

self-paced, hands-on created for all newly acquired tagga-M-

Window offi-Ma!ty T Tdii tutorials. Or you can ble equipment, the agency's llank-Do Opteons Endow Help measure your present card procedures explicitly prohibit proficiency in Wm-the purchase of taggable equipment dows with the Skill with office llankcards. If you have a

~

Check Assessment question about what is taggable, or

..t

-ame mies.

w program, so you'll wish to acquire taggable equipment, Y.

ki know what you don't direct your request to your IT Coor-W8he w-su-w.o e.a w min i o.. p know. E-mail (PDC) dinator or to Dawn Oliver at 415-g j

g questions or call 415-5657 in IRM. Following the pur-7750 for more spe-chase and receipt of the equipment, unc%.. %e wwu w

N =**

.cifics.

we will assign an NRC tag number and enter it in the property database.

l A background m. the Windowsenvironment The Bankcard will smooth your tran-Program al-I sition to Wordperfect ball actu 00:10 0000 lows offices at J_3 I Office for Windows.

lleadquarters 1

2::.

r..,.

As the May 16 Weekly and in the Re-

)

Announcements related,"There are virtually no similarities between WordPer-gions to acquire Federal Information feet Office as you know it now and Office for Windows." Moreover, e-mail, on Processing (FIP) resources with credit which we all depend, will be " surprisingly different."Ilut not overw helmingly cards. But before you say " Charge it, surprising if you attend one of the ongoing demonstrations of Wordperfect please!" remember some of the" fine Office 4.0. Just walk in to the PDC (T-3 B3) any Monday at either 8:30 a.m. or print"-

at I p.m. for the 2-hour session. No formal registration is required. Sign in when

+ L.imit your FIP acquisitions to you arrive. Den follow up by taking the QuickTour (on the AUTOS network) or the PDC's 3-hour course that will help you function as efficiently as you do

$2,500 per purchase.

in the DOS environment. *

+ liardware that costs more than

$100 must be purchased for in-stallation within existing equip-Turn in the Toner ment. Minor peripherals,such as Retuming used and defective toner cartridges to the OWFN supply store mice and trackballs, and intemal for recycling saves the NRC approximately half the cost of new cartridges.

components, such as video Defective cartridges have been a problem, so please help us-boards, memory, hard disks, and CD-ROM drives, for mstallation 1.

Place the defective cartridge in its box.

inexistingequipmentareallowed 2.

Enter on the box label the specific problems you encountered.

(even if they cost more than 3.

Drop off or mail the cartridge to P-136 in OWFN.

$100).

For specific information concerning the handling of laser printer cartridg.

Consult your office's Senior Infor-es, please contact the IRM Customer Support Center at 415-1234 or by mation Resource Management Of-e-mail (CSC).

• ficer, if you would like additional j

information.

• June 1995 Inside lnformation

' "P "

M7i')

When Are Computer Viruses i

NOT Computer Viruses? When Output They Are Good Times!

i Cy Louis M. Numkin Help! My PC is Broken...

sM "Retum with us to yesteryear...." Way responses have validated the exis-back at the end of 1994, computer tence of" Good Times."

If you use a personal computer in security professionals were informed your daily NRC duties, chances are of the" Good Times" virus,a talented CIAC says it is not very likely that that at some time there will be an rnalicious code (or malware), buried equipment failure. IRM's Custom-new scourge (definedin Webster'sIl New Riverside University Dictionary in the body of an e-mail, would be er Support Center will come to the ts"a cause of severe and widespread capable ofinfecting your computer, rescue, but there is one step you affliction"). Concerned correspon.

In general, virus-laden software must might want to try first-and two be executed in order to infect a PC, that you must never attempt.

dence was rampant from all parts of and this is not the case in e-mail the community, computer cops.to transtmssions.

novice users.Was it true? Could there really be such a virus? Or could it be However, we will continue to follow PC emitting its usual sounds? If a cleverly conceived ruse? The bram up on all inquiries and notices, even not, there could be a simple trusts of our mdustry set to work though the latest information states explanation-it may be that the separating the seeds (of truth) from that "' Good Times' is a hoax."

plug was dislodged inadver-tently. Try plugging some oth-the chaff.The following were widely reported-In closing, a really good time will be er electrical item into the outlet had if you-or power strip. If it, too, does 0 A new form of computer virus was making the rounds.

+ Scan program diskettes (used for not work, then you need to call the Office of Administration's w rking at home; received from o its name was " Good Times."

Fixit ime at 415-7553 to report licensees, vendors, or contrac-o The mode of infection was tors; or shared with stand-alone an electrical problem.

through the Internet and e-mail.

PCs) before using them.

2. Don't use diagnostics from oth-o liypothetically, you would re-

+ Reportallsuspectedviruses(even er sources in an attempt to spot ceive an e-mail message with if you successfully clean them the problem. You risk not only the subject " Good Times."

up) or erratic computer behavior further damage to the equip-to the IRM Customer Support ment but also introduction of a 0 The attached sender's name computer virus into agency op-Center (415-1234).

wouldprobablybe someone with cratmns.

whom you corresponded.

+ Don't attempt to load shareware, freeware, or other " bootlegged"

3. Never remove the system cov-o Upon opening the e-mail, you would innocently release a virus software onto your workstation er. Doing so could mvalidate without approval and scanning.

any vendor warranty or mainte-that would-nance agreement, create an 9

destroy your hard disk

+ Forward any computer security electncal hazard, and, in ex-D determine the addresses of questions / comments by e-mail treme cases, destroy internal (LMN).

components, all of which could others with whom you corre.

spond We in IRM's Computer Security and prove expensive or require ex-p send a copy ofitself to allthe Oversight Section thank you for us-tensive service time.

addresses it found ing your computer resources in a re-please leave repair of NRC r Per-P sponsible and ethical manner and ty to the experts. For PC problems, melude your user ID as the promptly reporting any and all com-call the IRM Customer Support y

D new message originator puter security problems.Now we can Center at 415-1234 and report the Staff in the Computer Security and all relax and let the good times relevant information, such as any Oversight Section posed inquiries to roll.

• error message received prior to the the leaders of virus detection /protec-failure. A CSC representative will tion organizations and to leaders in apply professional TLC and get industry, but to date no reputable you up and running promptly.

• me!

u a,

June 1995 Inside Information Agency Information Technology Program By Ivan Selin T gany of you who read this news-ware often lose some of their luster

_V11etter, like me, have spent at whenever systems must accommo-least a part of your careers in bring-date workplace processes and proce-ing the benents ofinformation tech-dures rather than vice versa.The fail-nology into the workplace. Wheth-ure of IT to deliver on some of its

.L Q.

er you are a computer specialist by early promise (the "paperless office"

~

profession or one of the many in-comes readily to mind here) has forced I.

formed and highly involved non-specialists in the computer fields to professional computer bu ffs scattered recognize that the technological rev-l

~

wideIy olution in the throughout workplace 1...

'h' ""C Y""

"... hardware and Soft-h"'

'" hc probab1y planned, co-have at one pggg,,, fggg ggfyg gffhgjp prdinated,and implemented

? j c, time or an-

.n

[USter WhenCVer SySternS carefully if it L

ather advo-cated the ap-is todeliveras

~;

Y" plication of

/MMSI GCColninodate pmmised.

m

~

information icchnoingy workplaceproCeSSeSand That is why I beI, eve the For the past 4 years, Ivan Sohn has been i

in your par-Chairman of the Nucicar Regulatory ticular work.

ProCedurCS....H most impor-Commission Pnor to this appointment, place and tant develop-Chairman Sehn sorved for 2 years as IJnder WCDI U IhC secreta y of stato. Chairman sehn mti perhaps have leavo July 1 to retum to the pnvate sector.

been responsible for the development use of IT at the NRC during my tenure as Chairman has been the de-ties during my tenure as Chairman and use of particular programs or termined efforts of the Office of In-had to do with planning and control-systems to make your own job, or someone else's, a little easier. As formation Resources Management to ling the cost of IT activities-imply-computer enthusiasts, we have large-pply the principles of strategic plan-mg entrenchment, refinement, and ly seen our vision of a technological ning and agencywide involvement to maintenance of systems and data, I revolution in the workplace come to the coordination and implementation would argue that there has been am-pass. Even a cursory comparison of f c mputing technologies that sup.

ple opportunity for creative initia-l the NRC today with the NRC of just p n pmgram office objectives.

tives and expansion ofITat the NRC, i

a few years ago would clearly show IRM has restructured its planning and

[e s[vfng ub i.

the pervasive expansion of informa-budgeting process to expand partici-nitiatives include high-performance tion technology (IT) m the agency pation of Ileadquarters and Regional computing programs, Internet access, and the extent to which NRC em-offices to achieve more effective and the Memorandumof Understand-ployees must rely on IT to get their agencywide solutions and to allocate ing with the National Science Foun-individual jobs done.

resources to the projects with the dation to support Mosaic. The NRC We would,I think,also have to admit greatest benefit to the agency. Under is also actively pursuing projects that that the transition to the IT-dominat-this approach, IRM focuses on plan-w 11 ultimately lead to automation of ed workplace has not been accom-ning and budgeting for IT infrastruc^

administrative business practices, plished as simply as it once seemed ture while offices take more respon-such as the IRM/NRR pilot electron-possible. Information technology, it sibility for theirown specific applica-ic nformation exchange plant pro-turns out, is costly, especially as the tions, which is surely a step m the gram and the AEOD on-line plant technology changes ata pace that few right direction.

information books.

organizations can readily absorb or Although much of the focus of Com-

"" "E '

1. E afford. Moreover, hardware and soft-mission guidance and IRM activi-deselopment, and expansion of pub-i i

Continued on page 16 1

Inside Information June 1995 Agen:y information Technology, Q gy continuedfrom page 15 W"*"'

elements in the development of IT A

Sk RM lic access are what I see as the key strategy at the NRC during the last j

four years. One of the successful ap-plications that strategy has produced When will the NRC upgrade the software used for dial-in access is a program with which I am quite from remote PCs? The software currently used for dial-in familiar-the Commission Decision access (PCAnywhere version 4.5) was licensed in 1991, when Tracking System (CDTS). For those modem speeds were much slower than they are today. Using of you unaware of this project, the PCAnywhere, the maximum speed at which I can access the idea for the CDTS, was spawned by IIcadquarters LAN is at 9,600 baud, whereas many parts of user needs, not by computer special-W industry operate at 28,800 baud, and the industry standard is ists or by the availability of a partic-14,400 baud. Furthermore, many 14,400 modems are capable of operating at f

ular software. In this case, the users speeds of 57,600 or higher using data compression techniques that are built into were the Commissioners themselves, current communications software. Operating at 9,600 baud is slow, requires all of whom had experienced diffi-more time logged in, and is subject to unexpected breaks in communication.

culty when Grst appointed in h>cating Thomas H. Iloyce the appropriate background informa.

Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation I

tion necessary to understand the ba.

sis and rationale for past Commis-sion decisions. To lead the project.

The N RC currently provides dial-in access to the network through CCITT V.32

{

the Commission chose Samuel J.

bis modems connected to 386-based J&L Chatterbox host PCs.These modems Chilk,who,because of his tong expe-operate at up to 14.4K bps with 57.6K bps effective throughput. This is the rience as Secretary of the Commis-fastest speed the Chatterboxes support. Current PCAnywhere software can sion, understom! better than anyone operate at speeds greater than 9,600 bps provided the remote PC modem the Commission decision-making supports such operation and PCAnywhere contains a compatible modem process and the documentation need-def'inition. Your assigned IT Coordinator, working with IRM, should be able ed to support it.

to identify an appropriate modem and modem definition to permit 14.4K bps in a close partnership arrangement, remote access.

the Commission and the NRC staff IRM is surveying the market for an upgrade or replacement for the Chatterbox chose the 29 topics to be included in system that will support access speeds greater than 14.4K bps. Many of the the system, Mr. Chilk located and leading products have mtegrated modems. Thus, replacing the Chatterbmes obtained the documents relevant to may be a costly venture. As such,it will be approached in terms of overall these topics and defined how the sys-tions suppmt rather than just raw remote axess sped requkements.

app t

tem would work, and IRM obtained IRM plans to provide remote access at speeds greater than 14.4K bps by mid-the hardware, software, and contrac-FY 1996.

tor assistance needed to design and develop a prototype project. The pro-Any NRC employee who wishes to direct a question about the Information totype has been in operation since Technologyprogram may do so by sending an inquiry to l NSI D E IN FO R M A-carly 1995.

TION's e-mail account (NEWS). 4 Although the Commission must now decide what direction to take with the prototype CDTS,I believe our expe-rience demonstrates what can be ac-complished when computer special.

IRM Wants To Know ists and nonspecialists work together Look for our new IRM Customer Support Center survey form. When service to produce a system in response to is completed, please use the form to evaluate the service provided by our user needs. Despite the rough spots customer support technicians. If you'll take just a moment to let us know how and disagreements in the course of we are doing and how we can do it better, your comments will benefit the whole CDTS development, I am pleased customer community.

• with the result and confident that we have a healthy, mature IT strategy

(

that will continue to serve the NRC

. p==:q=

well in the years to come.

• 120555130531 1 1A01CP US NoC-0ADM P Nt ah, BulE 2WFN-6F7 WASHINGTON DC 20555 1

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