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Technology Stocks : Year 2000 (Y2K) Embedded Systems & Infrastructure Problem -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: John Mansfield who wrote (106)	2/20/1998 4:31:00 PM
From: John Mansfield	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 618

Embedded chip detector to relieve date headache computerweekly.co.uk A prototype firmware test kit that can work out whether an embedded system is millennium date dependent is set to take some of the pain out of year 2000 testing for embedded systems. The test kit, developed by building management systems integrator CDC, will initially be used by consulting engineer WSP to test compliance of embedded systems such as fire alarms and security devices. One of the toughest aspects of year 2000 embedded systems projects is the amount of embedded chips, in things from building fire alarms to flow meters on oil pipes. The problem is further compounded because it is difficult even for the systems' manufacturers to know if they contain a real-time clock and what its functions might be, let alone if it is compliant. Mike Green, year 2000 project manager at WSP, said detecting the presence of a clock chip was straightforward as quartz run clock chips run at 32MHz, which a frequency analyser can pick up. But he added that it was far more difficult to work out whether, and if so, how, the clock was being accessed by the system logic as part of its operational function. CDC's non-invasive test kit is clipped to the clock and firmware chips, and samples the firmware instructions for several hours, downloading the data to a laptop. An engineer can then manually analyse the code to see if any functions use dates calculated from the time supplied by the clock. Mike Preston, chairman of the UK Year 2000 Interest group, gave a cautious welcome to the kit. "The principles are sound, and it's been thought out by people who understand embedded systems. But it's not a magic tool, it is to assist a quicker diagnosis of the problem." Mike Williams, director of CDC, said the test could not be 100% certain, but added that it would reduce the risk of undetected non-compliance substantially.

To: John Mansfield who wrote (106)	2/21/1998 3:31:00 AM
From: John Mansfield	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 618

Delta Air Lines: 'companies often overlook suppliers of non-IT (information technology) equipment, dismissing the potential for interrupted supply' 'Delta preps non-IT suppliers for Year 2000 Elena Epatko Murphy Preparation for the year 2000 isn't just about adjusting internal computerized systems. In fact, companies often overlook suppliers of non-IT (information technology) equipment, dismissing the potential for interrupted supply. However, at Delta Air Lines, purchasing is taking the time to assess its non-IT suppliers as carefully as it reviews its hardware and software providers. After all, IT equipment enables all suppliers to meet delivery schedules, monitor inventory levels, and manage billing. "Everything is based on criticality," says Linda Henning, manager--diversified supplier program, at Delta's Atlanta, Ga., headquarters. She notes that when Delta began to shape a process for the transition, the company recognized the need to methodically address suppliers' preparation. <snip> Examples of non-IT suppliers that Delta is reviewing include: Ground support equipment (for example, APUs). Elevators. Security. Office equipment, (for example, fax machines). HVAC. Baggage handling systems <snip> -------------- From: manufacturing.net