CERN Accelerating science

All Divisions at CERN have by now created Web pages to inform and track progress concerning Y2K compliance. IT and its services can be reviewed at http://wwwinfo.cern.ch/y2k

In this article I want to highlight two Y2K-testing services that are being made available to help users verify their own software

1 - Unix test cluster (System manager: Alessandro Miotto)

A dedicated cluster for "Y2K" testing ("Y2KPLUS"), comprising all the relevant "flavours" of Unix has been established as an AFS cell (y2k.cern.ch).

The status of this cluster as it evolves, with a table showing the machines with the corresponding level of operating system plus CERN certification status, can be checked at URL:

Over the coming weeks, the various IT service units will perform internal testing on the cluster, but a news item (to be issued after Easter) will inform users how they can test as well. Since the AFS cell is different from the default CERN cell, users can only see the part of their own files that is world-readable in the CERN cell. User accounts are specially allocated and the detailed procedure for logging on will be explained in this forthcoming news article.

The intention for each 'test run' is to allow testers to start transactions in 1999 and then move the clock forward so that it is possible to check the results in year 2000. As required, this whole manouver will be repeated several times.

2 - NICE testing (Co-ordinator: Alberto Pace)

NICE applications will be tested in three different scenarios. See http://nicewww.cern.ch/homepage/subdocs/Nice-y2k.htm for the full explanation.

1. Basic scenario: The clock is moved forward on an individual NICE PC
2. Advanced scenario (NICE95): In addition to the PC a NICE server is also used for the testing
3. Advanced scenario (NICENT): A complete CERN domain (on a separate network) is cloned.

Most users are expected to be satisfied with the basic scenario (using their own PCs). If somebody needs access to the advanced scenarios, please contact Alberto Pace directly. The NICE section will test several key applications (the ones that they are responsible for), but, in principle, every owner of a software package on NICE will have to perform his/her own testing. The testing status of NICE can be consulted at http://nicewww.cern.ch/homepage/y2k.htm.