memorandum

 

To:              Katalin Voros, Operations Manager

From:          Todd Merport, Computer Systems Manager

Subject:      2006 Year-End Report

Date:              16 January 2007

 

I.     Introduction

The Microfabrication Laboratory Computer Systems Group provides a variety of services for members and staff. These services range from Windows workstation installation to database programming. In all, the computer systems group is responsible for lab management software and hardware components that are an integral part of 24/7 Microlab operations.

II.   Infrastructure SUMMARY

Microlab computing systems operate within the EECS and department network infrastructure. We are required to maintain minimum security standards for all networked devices. This insures data integrity, system reliability, and a high level of overall robustness of all systems. The campus and department must maintain a high level of vigilance to insure bad actors do not compromise data or campus resources and are not used to attack other computers.  The oversight by the department and campus is an important service although we are totally responsible to insure the security of our networked devices. If the campus and department personnel feel a device is not meeting the security requirements, they have the responsibility to pull the device off the network (if we don’t take care of it first).  Our job is to be very vocal regarding security requirements and work hard to insure our systems are properly up-to-date.  Table 1 shows a breakdown of system types and functions.

III.      Organization

I supervise 3 Programmer/Analysts. We strive to be diverse in our skills and available to help Microlab members. The responsibilities of  computer group staff are listed below:

Changrui Yin

Olek Proskurowski

Eniko Seen

Todd Merport

With special thanks to Madeleine Leullier who assists members with computer problems and helps manage computer resources.

IV.  TASKS

UNIX  Administration

A major feat this year has been the retirement of the old SunOS system argon (along with lead). Argon hosted the Microlab database and an older version of INGRES. All applications, both database and BCIMS (the wand), are now running on a Solaris 10 system (silicon2).  We are keeping silicon as the master password database and incoming mail server.  Part of the migration process required consolidating our web server on silicon2 to host static Microlab web pages and database driven pages such as reservations and qualifications.  See figures 1 and 2 for a view of our new configurations. Olek took the lead on this migration; the project entailed creating a build system, porting code, and insuring every “wand” and database application ran properly.  My role on the project has been fixing small problems, testing, and coordination of the change-over.  Members will see much faster web pages for qualifications and reservations. Also using the new secure server, members only need to login once to access all reservation pages.

Home and project directories have been moved off silicon to a Sun V240 server running Solaris 10 (the hostname is mercury).  This server has redundant disk drives and power supplies, dual CPUs, and 8GB of memory.  It also hosts INGRES databases and the  MERCURY project server.  Migrating home directories off silicon required setting up RAID on mercury, creating scripts to modify password databases, and setup Windows compatible file sharing.

Pumps Database

I developed the server side schema for the pumps database. The schema uses database procedures and triggers to track the status of specific pumps and provide historical information based on a model, equipment, or pump. By using database procedures and triggers, we have a great deal of versatility with the user interface. Changrui Yin designed a MS Access user interface that generates forms and reports.  . 

WINdows Administration

Changrui did a hardware/software upgrade on our Windows file, sql, and web server microlab2. The benefit for this upgrade includes hardware RAID level 1 (mirror), increased disk space, more memory, and a faster CPU. The OS has been updated from Windows 2000 Server to Windows 2003 Server.  The old microlab2 hardware has been updated to Windows 2003 Server and is used as a general purpose terminal server for Microlab staff.

Changrui installed 22 new computers over the last year that are used for servers, staff workstations, or equipment.

I added a network accelerator card on cape that offloads network based processing. This takes some of the burden off the microprocessors. A new network switch was added to cape to further improve the network pipeline. 

Mercury Software Project

Eniko has completed the equipment page of the Mercury project. This includes activities members and staff do in the lab such as enabling/disabling, filing a problem/clearing  reports, equipment comments, super user login, and details of costs for activites.  Olek modified the database tables for equipment problems and wrote a script to upload and re-associate equipment problems/symptoms with a set from a common pool. I created a history mechanism that permits logging before/after values, date, and member from any data record in the database. This will be especially useful for the accounting group.  Olek and Eniko will elaborate in their “Comments” section.

Miscellany

The autoprobe station with the EGLAS software set was replaced with a Solaris 10 system. The memscope was rebuilt (LINUX) and further updated to a PC with an EPIX image card.  Artwork conversion software was upgraded; Microlab scripts were modified to affect this change.  silicon was compromised and off-line for a day. CUSG quickly responded to rebuild the system.  Several lab equipment computers were rebuilt or cloned.

V.   COMMENTS

Olek Proskurowski

Since joining in June I have worked virtually with every system in Microlab. I developed code for both Wand and Mercury system, performed system administration tasks on existing systems and even replaced network terminal in the lab.

Wand

Mercury

System  Administration

Misc.

ENIKO SEEN

Development continues on all aspects of the Mercury project. Accomplishments:

·         to continue with the Java/SWING/XML or

·         to use WEB (AJAX or JavaServer Faces).

We are leaning towards Web based implementation. Tools offered for WEB implementation to be considered:

CHANGRUI YIN

In 2006, I have taken care of the following tasks:

Window Servers Maintenance
New Servers
Workstation and Printer Support
UNIX System Administration
Pump Management System
Future Plan and Projects

VI.      Future Plans

Mercury

Tools to generate web-based forms and reports are being evaluated.  This will allow rapid development for parts of MERCURY that do not need to have real-time functionality and fast response. Examples include membership forms, accounting reports, and purchase orders.  The architecture of the MERCURY keeps the client lightweight (business rules are in the database server) permitting accessing and modifying data from many different technologies.

UNIX/Windows Administration

A new server will be ordered to replace the NIS database and mail server, silicon (circa 1999). The hardware/software should be setup and deployed by mid-year.

Cape will be given a hardware/software replacement as well. Cape. is well overburdened due to the high use of the internet in the lab (circa 2000).

VII.    Summary

Microlab computer systems are on a solid footing this year. It is always challenging and rewarding keeping the varied systems working together - intimidating even the most technically savvy.  Although the MERCURY project has not been released, some of the work has been incorporated into current systems.  And even though MERCURY is the most visible project for the computer group, many other tasks have been completed in 2006.

VIII.  TableS & FIGURES

Function

Platform

Operating System

Count

Desktop

X86 Dell (Mostly)

Windows XP

42

Web, FileSystem, Database, Mail, Applications

UltraSparc

Solaris 2.6-10

3

Web, LabView

X86 Dell

Windows 2000 Server

1

Terminal Services

X86 Dell

Windows 2000 Server

1

FileSystem, Web, Database, Anti-Virus

X86 Dell

Windows 2003 Server

4

Cad Workstation, EGLAS

UltraSparc

Solaris 7,9,10

4

Cad Workstation

X86 Dell

Windows XP

1

Thin Clients

Neoware

Windows CE

16

Interlock Controllers

X86

LINUX

3

TOTAL

 

 

75

Table 1 - Microlab Systems Summary (not including equipment)

Figure 1 - Microlab Computer Infrastructure

Figure 2 - Web Server Infrastructure