During FY97, the System Management Group (SMG), lead by Pat Waukau, along with the Computing Advisory Committee (CAC), chaired by L. Jay Miller, worked to develop a plan for the future direction of the MMM computing environment. The components of this plan serve to 1) define a division-wide, core computing system, 2) define basic services provided by this system, and 3) encourage augmentation of computing resources through outside sources. Information received from the staff through surveys was used to determine the longer-term computing needs for the division.

There are several areas that the computing plan addresses.

1. Consolidate the numerous heterogeneous file servers that presently exist into a single, more manageable system.
2. Need for a more reliable and efficient data server.
3. Need for a central resource for doing large data analysis activities, which require I/O intensive operations.
4. Need for a central resource for doing CPU intensive, large memory jobs.
5. Isolate specific functions, such as Web and PC service, to dedicated, autonomous systems.

In order to reduce the complexity of managing many file servers, a single system will replace the five existing file servers. User files, local software, and mail services will be managed centrally. Systems currently providing file services will be redistributed to the staff.

The current data server will be replaced with a new system specifically configured for I/O performance and NFS file transfers. This system will also handle all MIGS traffic for the desktop systems, and have a high-speed network connection to facilitate large data transfers to the SCD Mass Storage System.

In the short term, requirements for Items 3 and 4 will be met with a single machine, initially with some augmentation to an existing 4-processor DEC Alpha machine.

With the rapid growth of personal computer systems within the Division, it has become necessary to centralize a number of services for these systems, such as databases, software distribution, mail services, and backups. A small server system will accommodate these needs. An existing DEC Alpha workstation will be reconfigured to run Windows NT and provide these centralized services.

With the implementation of the NCAR-wide security plan, it will be necessary to isolate services that require unrestricted access from outside of NCAR. This will include the Web server and the data ingest system for the real-time weather data. In addition, we will implement a local anonymous ftp server within the division. To accomplish this we will remove an SGI system from general access and move all of these functions to that system for the near term. Eventually, this system may need to be replaced or upgraded.

Also indicated was a need for augmentation of the general access systems, specifically a high-end graphics workstation for producing high quality graphics output and a high-end Sun system for running aircraft/radar data analysis software specifically designed for that architecture. Funding for these systems is not currently available.

An integral part of the new computer plan for the Division was a solid network infrastructure. During the past year the Division's wiring infrastructure was retrofitted to accommodate the twisted-pair ethernet technology currently used on all newer systems. This will allow the System Management Group to take advantage of the switched ethernet technology that is being implemented throughout NCAR.

Implementation of the plan has begun. The preliminary phases should be completed by the middle of FY98. Additional phases will be implemented as funding allows.

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