Conference bulova::decw_jan-89_to_nov-90

1787.0. "ESU article on FIS" by TAGART::SCOTT (Alan Scott @AYO) Mon Nov 27 1989 05:43

    Fyi, text of forthcoming "European Sales Update" article on
    Factory Installed Software for VMS (includes DECwindows).

    
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Note 3387.0                  ESU article on VMS FIS                   No replies
TAGART::SCOTT "Alan Scott @AYO"                     166 lines  27-NOV-1989 04:19
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    Attached fyi, the post-review text of an upcoming "European Sales
    Update" article on Factory Installed Software for VAX/VMS.   Submitted
    for the December 1989 edition.
    
    
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Note 561.3       E12001 : FACTORY INSTALLED SOFTWARE FOR VAX/VMS          3 of 3
TAGART::SCOTT "Alan Scott @AYO"                     152 lines  22-NOV-1989 16:49
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Factory Installed Software for VAX/VMS

Raymond Danton, DTN: 823-3459, E-Mail:@AYO or VAXmail:TAGART::DANTON
Alan Scott, DTN: 823-3281, E-Mail:@AYO or VAXmail:TAGART::SCOTT








Factory Installed Software is a valuable first for the Corporation 

Available now, on many low-end and high-end systems
  
New unboxed systems can be started in 15 minutes, rather than 90 minutes or 
more

Reduced risk of software loading errors first-time


INTRODUCTION

Factory Installed Software (FIS) is a method of shipping VMS systems with 
pre-installed operating system software.  We are doing this: 

o World-wide for MicroVAX 3100 products

o Europe-wide for VAX 6000, VAXstation 3100, and MicroVAX 2000 products.

Together, these products make up a large proportion of the VMS systems sold 
by Digital in Europe. 

FIS gives reduced system installation times for Customer Service, and supports 
customer installation of some systems. It meets customer requirements for 
pre-loaded software in the low-end MicroVAX 3100 product space.

On all systems, FIS gives the customer reduced waiting time during 
installation, and reduced risk that software loading of VMS is delayed through 
tape media or tape drive problems.

FIS helps Customer Services to manage the backlog of system installations. It 
reduces the time taken to install each system, giving direct and indirect cost 
savings.


PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

FIS for VMS is a full, pre-configured VMS operating system held on a single 
hard disk. When the system is powered on, the user is asked to enter some 
information usually requested during the VMS kit installation procedure. The 
system is re-booted with AUTOGEN, to set SYSGEN parameters for this 
configuration. The system is then ready for use.

The above process takes about 15 minutes rather than the 90 minutes or more 
required to build a system from distribution kits. 

The product is supported by documentation and a customer information sheet. 
There is a short "Guide to Using VMS Factory Installed Software" for the VAX 
6000, VAXstation 3100 and MicroVAX 2000 products.   

For MicroVAX 3100, the "System Owner's Manual" describes how to use FIS. 

An A4-size customer information sheet summarises the software configuration 
which has been loaded.

The customer is recommended to make a backup of the software after configuring 
it for his or her environment. No backup image of the FIS software is shipped 
with each system. 

The FIS software can be "tailored" to remove VMS files which will not be used 
in the customer's environment. This is done using the standard VMS "tailoring" 
procedures that are provided to customise systems loaded from distribution 
kits. 


PRODUCT IMPLEMENTATION 

FIS for VMS has shipped for VMS V5.1-1 and V5.2. V5.2-1 has started shipping on
those systems which require this version. For each new version of VMS, the
software is pre-configured in Manufacturing. 
    
The software configuration is tested to show that it can be used in the same 
way as software loaded from a distribution kit. The tests confirm that the FIS 
system can be upgraded to be used as a DECnet node, a VAXcluster node, and a 
DECwindows host. The tests also show that the system can run UETP. 

When FIS is loaded onto hard disks in the factory, the load process tests that 
each disk has been correctly written and can be re-read.

Revision control of FIS for VMS is managed by ESSB in Galway, together with 
Manufacturing in Ayr and Galway. This ensures that current versions of the VMS 
software are shipped with each system.

The software shipped with FIS for VMS is a full VMS system. It includes 
DECwindows, and device driver and system load files for all products supported 
by VMS. As with systems loaded from distribution kits, the customer or 
installation engineer can "tailor off" files. 

  
ORDERING INFORMATION 

FIS can not be ordered as a separate item. It is loaded by Manufacturing on all
systems which can support standalone VMS operation. It is not provided for
diskless systems, systems which only have small paging disks, or systems which
ship from the factory without a disk. 

The customer cannot use FIS unless he or she has also purchased appropriate 
software licences, and has the appropriate Product Authorization Keys (PAKs).   
This gives legal protection for Digital's ownership of the VMS software. 

The customer should not use FIS as a substitute for normal distribution kits. 
The customer should continue to purchase a minimum of one distribution kit, to 
ensure that he or she receives documentation and media. Appropriate licences 
are needed to use this distribution kit. The distribution media are still 
needed to provide a base for re-building the VMS software if required.

The "Guide to Using VMS Factory Installed Software" is supplied by ESSB in 
Galway, order number EK-A0377-UG.002. 


PRODUCT POSITIONING

Some other manufacturers' systems (IBM System 400, Sun SPARCSTATION) are 
delivered with pre-loaded operating system or other software. Some high-value 
Digital systems are also delivered with pre-loaded software including layered 
products, where this software has been loaded by software specialists working 
on the customer's specific order. 

FIS for VMS provides a general facility for pre-loading operating system 
software, economically. This facility extends the benefits of pre-loading to a 
wider range of Digital systems, including low-end and medium-range systems. 
                                    
Further engineering development work is being done to extend the range of 
Digital FIS products.


FURTHER INFORMATION

Within Europe, the FIS implementation is coordinated by a steering team 
including representatives from Customer Services, Administration and 
Logistics, and ESSB.  Contact Bill McAllister, European Installation Quality 
Manager, on DTN: 828-5543, E-mail: @VBO, VAX-mail:BONNET::MCALLISTER, for 
details of Customer Services representation. 

Contact Raymond Danton, DTN: 823-3459, E-Mail:@AYO, VAXmail:TAGART::DANTON, 
for details of FIS on low-end MicroVAX and VAXstation systems, world-wide.

Contact Mike Graham, DTN: 822-2654, E-mail:@GAO, VAXmail:MACNAS::MGRAHAM, for 
details of FIS on high-end VAX 6000 systems in Europe.