Re: 6.04 CS to 6.10.1 Conversion/Implementation

Hi Genyphyr,

You provide a lot of good information regarding BPCS on this list and I
really appreciate that.  Your information, I will say is more clear than any
from OGS.
First, I never said anything about 'GOTCHA' and never said anything about
missing information from installation instruction.
My take on the installation instruction is that "IT IS NOT CLEAR ENOUGH" and
I'm only providing a head start information.  I know you have a lot of
interest in SSA and you may just be a little BIASED and that is ok.  When
people ask for information you give them answers from your point of view and
that's what I have done.  If I'm asked to provide more details I will do so.


Thanks,

Dare


----- Original Message -----
From: "Genyphyr Novak" <novakg@ssax.com>
To: <BPCS-L@midrange.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2001 11:12 PM
Subject: Re: 6.04 CS to 6.10.1 Conversion/Implementation


> Hello,
>
> This is an extremely clean installing release of V6 BPCS. Users who follow
> the instructions and are familiar with their AS/400 environments simply
> don't have problems - and I could not say the same thing for prior V6
> releases.
>
> Most of the things Oludare mentioned also have nothing to do with Client
> Server versus Mixed Mode style of BPCS, and in any case from the basic
lack
> of description it is impossible to tell what, if any problems actually
> occured. Where are any details about what to watch out for? After reading
> this posting I would imagine people are only more confused, or alarmed,
but
> certainly not helped, since no detail is given on either the specific
> problem or a specific solution.
>
> For example, what is this mention that you have to change a Newi program
to
> adopt all authority so that users can get in to BPCS? The instructions
> clearly list the authority required of the USER PROFILE which STARTS the
> daemon job. If this is done right, and the system is set up normally, you
> don't have to change anything at all. There is no Newi program that must
by
> default be altered to make BPCS work.
>
> There is one BMR closed out with a reasonable workaround, and maybe this
is
> what he was referring to? BMR 56434 describes a situation where the BPCS
> users don't have *JOBCTL (the SSA profile, which users are a part of does
> have this authority by default) and this causes their attempt to acces
BPCS
> via Newi to fail. This lack of authority causes the API QUSRJOBI to fail
> when Newi is running and trying to retrieve information about the current
> job to set up some things for BPCS. Only 1 program, called NWITCPIP, would
> require any change (a  CHGPGM command) to work around this requirement,
and
> this is listed in the Workaround notes in the BMR. It is simple, and is
ONLY
> required if you do not give users *JOBCTL. Since the SSA profile has
*JOBCTL
> and most BPCS users are owned by this group profile, they get *JOBCTL. It
is
> certainly NOT part of the normal steps required to install the product.
If
> this is how you set up your users, then read the BMR text on OGS and you
can
> see what is required.
>
> Also, what was meant about TCPIP port restrictions and availability??  -
> what is being communicated in this statement? I can not tell what this
> refers to. Nor can I tell what is meant about 'library parameters' -
there
> are parameters on installation panels which ask for that say what you want
> to name your libraries when BPCS installs. Not sure why this is a
'gotcha'??
> Please provide details if you are going to list problems.
>
> Also what is the statement about missing messages? Which ones? Messages
are
> all delivered on the media inside the message files. Messages are often
> "missing" if you apply BMRs and then do not apply the ADDLI or ADDMS
> programs to add the new messages to your system. Whenever a BMR is ordered
> you must run these programs to add the new messages. The messages have to
be
> added to the message files in all environments.
>
> And what is wrong with the mentioned job descriptions?? There are no job
> description in BPCS (CS or MM) called "TCL" or "NEWI". What about the
other
> job descriptions mentioned ? Many programs in BPCS use them and are
> documented to do so. There is nothing new about those compared to 6004 or
> 6002, so I really don't understand the reference or problem here.
>
> The instructions for installation and creating AS/400 environments tell
you
> exactly how to set the various job descriptions up properly when creating
> new environments - they are not a 'hidden' gotcha if you read the
> installation or configuration instructions in the appendix.
>
> All I can think of is that someone didn't follow the instructions when
> trying to configure the environment.
>
> Of course you should always read the conversion report to find out if all
> your records convert - that is really not a 'gotcha' - that is part of the
> conversion processing and is also covered in the conversion instructions.
> That is also true of MM and has nothing to do with MM over CS. It has to
do
> with your own database.
>
> 6101 is the current BPCS release, it is a stable release (see prior thread
> topics that have other customers attesting to this). It is faster than
other
> V6 releases due to a technology change in the programs at runtime, and
gets
> rid of COM 'fat client' order entry - giving users the choice of a Green
> screen or a 'GUI thin client' order entry, which can now be used with the
> Web Browser Interface.
>
> The longer you stay on an old release, the more you pay for it in support
> issues and lack of new functionality.
>
> Use OGS to download the 6100 and 6101 install and conversion instructions
> AHEAD of time and READ them. Read the Net Change documents between your
old
> and new releases to see new features and differences. Read the Recently
> Passed BMR list to see what 6100 BMRs are being done. Peruse OGS looking
for
> outstanding 6100 BMRs to see outstanding issues that matter to you. Focus
> searches on product areas that you use heavily on your old release.
>
> The decision to go with MM or CS is a business decision based upon what
> style of presentation screens and input you want on site and what kind of
> and size of server you want to buy, and what kind of input speed can be
had
> from each method.
>
> The CS mode allows the Web Browser Interface (you must separately order
> this, it is not part of the base release) to be used, making BPCS
accessible
> from the Internet or Intranet without additional software loaded on the
PC.
> That is a plus over MM that you might consider if you have lots of remote
> sales people. Green screen navigation is easy for users who do lots and
lots
> of online transation processing where Order Entry is used very heavily -
> that might make MM more attractive to you. The options are many to
consider,
> and the more specific you are about your questions, the better answer you
> will get. You can also opt to install both CS and MM over the same
database,
> and get the benefits of both modes of BPCS, but this requires extra
> attention when ordering, installing and testing BMRs.
>
> Read the OGS Bulletins section to find any notices about problems in 6100
or
> 6101 that were discovered after install documents were cut to CD or for
> Conversion BMRs. Read the IBM Informational APAR for BPCS if you are also
> upgrading your AS/400 to a new OS/400 release at the same time, so that
you
> can make sure to get all the required PTFs. Call the Technical Helpline
and
> ask if there are any other late breaking issues if you want to double
> check,.
>
> Thanks
>
> Genyphyr Novak
> SSA GT
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "oludare" <oludare@ix.netcom.com>
> To: <BPCS-L@midrange.com>
> Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2001 10:02 AM
> Subject: Re: 6.04 CS to 6.10.1 Conversion/Implementation
>
>
> > What MODE are you going.  I will advice MM.  I'm currently testing MM
> after
> > a terrible testing experience with CS.  We are converting from 6.0.02 to
> > 6.1.01.
> >
> > Look out for:
> >
> > library parameters during object installation and data conversion.
> > Job descriptions for NEWI, TCL, BPCS, BPCSJOBD and ORDERPOST.
> > CHANGE NEWI PROGRAM AUTHORITY TO ADOPT SO ALL USERS CAN GET IN.
> > TCPIP PORT RESTRICTIONS and availiability.
> > BPCS MESSAGE FILES MISSING MESSAGES (SSAZ01, SSAZ02, SSAZ03).
> > DATA CONVERSION REPORT FOR # OF RECORDS CONVERTED (PHYSICAL FILE
SIZE!!!).
> >
> >
> > Oludare
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Norm Dennis" <wmss@iinet.net.au>
> > To: "M.C - BPCS-List" <BPCS-L@midrange.com>
> > Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2001 9:44 AM
> > Subject: 6.04 CS to 6.10.1 Conversion/Implementation
> >
> >
> > > I am about to take the plunge and move from 6.04 CS to 6.10.1 and
would
> > like
> > > to know if there are any nasties to look out for.
> > >
> > > The shop is a small manufacturer/distributor running on an AS/400
R4V4.
> > >
> > > We have had a number of issues with 6.04 and are looking for some
> > stability
> > > with 6.10.1 if possible.
> > >
> > > Thanks in advance for any assistance.
> > >
> > > Have a good one,
> > >
> > > Norm
> > >
>
>
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