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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 (161)	3/7/1998 6:31:00 AM
From: John Mansfield	Respond to of 618

Utilities: 'The sooner the public is alerted, the more lifeboats can be built between now and then' Roleigh Martin on utilities in Westergaard's: <snip> 'It is ironic if we can not even learn from the Titanic incident. The sooner the public is alerted, the more lifeboats can be built between now and then. People can discuss the problem without going berserk now because they have time to think of all that they can do between now and then. If those in charge try to hide the truth and the people only find out what is going on in late 1999, the resulting panic will be devastating. The problem gets worse each day we prolong widespread awareness. Fewer lifeboats will be built and any disasters will be many folds worse. Many people are worried about the financial panic, but those people are missing the bigger picture. The big bomb is the embedded systems failures and the core infrastructure failures that they can cause. As for avoiding alerting people to build lifeboats because of fear of investor panic in utilities, I won't be surprised if future history judges such behavior criminal. Also, the utilities are monopolies and can raise their rates to make up for revenue lost through investor sellouts. ' <snip> y2ktimebomb.com

To: John Mansfield who wrote (161)	3/7/1998 7:09:00 AM
From: John Mansfield	Respond to of 618

Auckland: 'Disaster recovery plans should also be a major consideration plan for all IT operation...' Hi All, I agree with Peter, any lawsuits rightnow to Mercury Energy with only distract them. Let them get on their feet before they are shot down again. Also this would help to channel finance towards repair and restoration of power rather then very expensive lawyers. In terms of Y2K comparison, it was also interesting to see in the papers today (NZ Herald) that Mercury was blamed for not having good contingency plans, i.e. disaster recovery plans. Disaster recovery plans should also be a major consideration plan for all IT operations especially in regards to Y2K. (a low priority for lots of business until a disaster is experienced, then its too late) Even if the business does not have redundant systems all ready to go it should at least have documentation with easy well thought out step by step plans on what they can do on various types of disasters that may affect the business. Cheers Richard Raj Business Analyst Sovereign Assurance ________ From: Richard Raj To: "'year2000-discuss@year2000.com'" <year2000-discuss@year2000.com> Subject: RE: SitRep - Auckland Power Crisis - Friday 6th March Date: Fri, 6 Mar 1998 01:59:42 +0100

To: John Mansfield who wrote (161)	3/7/1998 7:15:00 AM
From: John Mansfield	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 618

UK HSE report - Martins: ' this report is phenomenal' 'I agree this report is phenomenal! I ordered it online and within 24 hours you are able to download the report in PDF format and save the cost of postage. The online order form is a link at the bottom of the page where the abstract appears. hsebooks.co.uk _________ Date: Thu, 05 Mar 1998 18:49:00 -0600 To: year2000-discuss@year2000.com From: Roleigh Martin <Roleigh.Martin-1@tc.umn.edu> Subject: Re: Sighting: Embedded Systems

To: John Mansfield who wrote (161)	3/7/1998 12:45:00 PM
From: John Mansfield	Respond to of 618

INDEX-EMBEDDED II - Update - Index to embedded software Y2K issues... ...that I found interesting. PART II Changed all SI 'exchange' links to 'techstocks' links. Last changed 3/7/1998 - Conferences - Legal - DC Y2K Meeting on embedded systems - Links - Contingency planning - Requests for help on embedded systems - Fun and recreation Technical stuff: - Time Dilation - Testing - SCADA - Technical discussions on-line - Other technical discussions - Technical links _____________________________________ CONFERENCES SPG's YEAR 2000 CONFERENCE & EXPO: also on embedded software problems Message 3283340 _____________________________________ LEGAL 'our approach includes analysis of risks in both IT and non-IT operations (...) and problems with devices with embedded computer chips.' freeyellow.com Message 3330888 _____________________________________ DC Y2K Meeting on embedded systems Cory: 'cory hamasaki lumped into the denial-head category at DC Y2K.' Some more on the DCY2K meeting of 17/2; Cory on C.S.Y2K: Message 3475250 DCY2K 17/2 meeting : 'this metric has been confirmed across the utility industry. ' Message 3475188 Some thoughts on previous post on DCY2K 2/17 meeting VERY INTERESTING: DCY2K 2/17 meeting on embeddeds - Cory Hamasaki Message 3466192 VERY INTERESTING: DCY2K 2/17 meeting on embeddeds - Cory Hamasaki x4.dejanews.com _____________________________________ LINKS manufacturing.net: magazines on manufacturing; lots of links relevant for manufacturing Message 3302176 LINKS to y2k embedded software - from G. Girod's site From: pw1.netcom.com The Cassandra Project: good overview of y2k embedded problems millennia-bcs.com _____________________________________ Contingency planning UK: 'ensuring supply of critical imports, like food and drugs' UK Action 2000 chairman Don Cruickshank: Message 3599323 '...but the real issue is that we keep the lights on in London...' 'After compliance comes contingency Message 3599386 '...no one has any other place they can go or get help from' 'Subject: Re: SitRep - Auckland Power Crisis - Wednesday 4th March Message 3614382 'Year 2000 compliance is a little like eating an elephant...' DfEE: UK Department of Education and Employment Message 3614669 Auckland: 'The major lessons which must be learned from this preventable disaster...' Auckland, 6 March 1998 Message 3628357 MITRE: Y2K Contingency Plan Guidelines Message 3540008 mitre.org UK: Utilities set up bug safety net Utility companies have set up a war cabinet to co-ordinate their contingency plans to get the UK through the millennium crisis Message 3527698 Rick Cowles on utilities: '. It's a given that there will be system failures.' At this point, all companies need to be thinking in terms of system recovery post-01 January 2000. It's a given that there will be system failures. Message 3527086 UK: Utilities set up bug safety net Utility companies have set up a war cabinet to co-ordinate their contingency plans to get the UK through the millennium crisis. Message 3527698 MITRE: Y2K Contingency Plan Guidelines Message 3540008 mitre.org _____________________________________ Requests for help on embedded systems: Has anyone out there compiled testing procedures that apply to process control systems? Message 3558547 ' My problem is in finding people with the manufacturing controls systems experience' Message 3558559 'looking for someone to teach steps to address embedded systems' Message 3600721 City Of Beverly: help needed on '"hidden" stuff, imbedded chips, traffic controllers, police and fire equipment' Typical request for help from local government Message 3551956 _____________________________________ Fun and recreation 'Wow, we made the SI hotlist today!' Message 3587612 ================================================= ================================================= AFTER THIS LINE : TECHNICAL STUFF - only trespass when having technical background ;-) TIME DILATION Mike Echlin: 'History of "Time Dilation", or what the hell is this.' Mike Echlin's site! : intranet.ca BEST OF C.S.Y2K: Time Dilation update by Jace Crouch Message 2927104 TECHNICAL - Time Dilation page by Mike Echlin Nice starting point for investigating into the TD effect on PC's; including links to test programs. nethawk.com _____________________________________ TESTING Reprint of Roleigh Martin's article on embedded software testing ourworld.compuserve.com Focusses on testing, utilities, urgency to act now; mentions a recent conference helt by the EPRI for the utilities. Y2K-TESTING - Excellent document on testing embedded systems aieg.org Message 2960653 Y2K testing at Schneider Automation modicon.com go to 'year 2000' Message 3283692 IEE guide: 5.4.3 Identifying embedded systems with potential time-related problems ' iee.org.uk Message 3220305 Y2K-TESTING - Excellent document on testing embedded systems aieg.org Message 2960653 '...published by the UK Health & Safety Executive (HSE) ' 'I think it's a lot better than the report on embedded systems produced by the IEE. ' Message 3614437 '...each embedded system or piece of equipment MUST be treated as a unique system' Message 3547456 From: "david c hall TECHNICAL 'Intro to Embedded Chip Problem Detection' What is going on at a typical customer doing factory floor Y2K remediation. Interesting reading! Message 3547439 _____________________________________ SCADA SCADA - Everything you wanted to know about SCADA, but were afraid to ask ;-) Message 2950999 UK SCADA firm I like this statement of a UK SCADA firm: '...has set up a specialist division that offers a full vulnerability analysis'. From: boward.com 'SCADA Sources on the WWW': iinet.net.au Try this!! ===>>>> 'SCADA Year 2000 sites' <<<==== You will find a lot of links to co's with statements about y2k in embedded systems: Message 3231437 _____________________________________ TECHNICAL DISCUSSIONS ON-LINE Several ES engineers are discussion actual problems Just found another site from an Australian engineering company where several ES engineers are discussion actual problems; a clear need for the planty2kone product can be seen there: control.com Message 3283251 _____________________________________ Other technical discussions: Frequently asked Embeddeds Q/A 'Q: 'If there is no way you could enter a date...' Then can we be sure it does not have an year 2000 problem?' Message 3487099 TECHNICAL - Embedded systems: time comparisons in PLC This is a technical question on time comparison's in PLC's, found in a y2k discussion list. Message 3369168 TECHNICAL LINKS Everything you wanted to know about processors Message 3177234 These are all links to sites containing information or references about embedded software etc; not about specific y2k problems in ES (except 1 link). Message 3338740 'So they only thing this engineer can do to verify the process is try over and over again to test the device using as many different factors as he can dream up, until he exhausts himself, or the system shows an error.' Message 3558535 TECHNICAL - '...wonder if TTL is still in use in satellites today' Message 3606769

To: John Mansfield who wrote (161)	3/7/1998 2:07:00 PM
From: John Mansfield	Respond to of 618

Telco spokesman: 'switches, routers, AP's, network management tools, PBX, voicemail, X.25, store and forward systems (telex, fax) have been deemed NONCOMPLIANT'' '87. Author: David C. Hall ( dhall ) Date: Mar. 4 11:44 AM 1998 Notes from a mail on P dJ's maillist on Telecoms: "There is an effort led by Bellcore as well as the telcos independent efforts to address the Yr2K issues. Much of the intelligence within the data and voice transport is transparent and usually embedded into the transmission systems themselves. In many instances (switches, routers, AP's, network management tools, PBX, voicemail, X.25, store and forward systems (telex, fax) have been deemed NONCOMPLIANT and with impact on both the unexpected results of the equipment as well as cases where the systems do not function at all. Remember the roll over date for many microcoded systems will not be 1/1/00 but back to the date of inception of the OS (i.e. DoS=1/1/80, UNIX=1/6/70, etc.). Further our challenge is enhanced because we have time sensitive protocols that will conflict with systems that use corrected date formats if they are not addressed (routers, bridges, time sychronization devices); many systems have multiple dates that may pass on to another networked device. Also be aware of any POS system using X.25. The dates if not consistant with the expected checksum values will result in interminable re-transmission requests. Blatant failures are also noted when attempting to use a credit card with 00 expiration date for data, fax or voice transmission." The author works for a major telco. Dave Hall'

To: John Mansfield who wrote (161)	3/7/1998 4:28:00 PM
From: John Mansfield	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 618

'Manufacturers can solve their date-field problem on the way to gaining an integrated system' Thursday March 5, 9:53 am Eastern Time Company Press Release SOURCE: PRAGMATEK Consulting Group, Limited 'Year 2000 Study Uncovers Incompatible Business and Information System Objectives Can CFOs and CIOs of Midwest Manufacturers Solve the Date-Field Problem and Their Biggest Business Challenge in the Next Two Years? The capability to integrate information systems between different parts of the company was most frequently (66 percent) cited -- and ranked first -- among a list of 16 business challenges that CFOs and CIOs would consider ''the most pressing business challenges they face'' by the Year 2000. Essentially, an integrated system -- versus myriad departmental or stand-alone systems -- acts to coordinate all of a manufacturer's core operations, including financial systems, procurement, planning and scheduling, logistics, human resources, and data exchange with business partners. ''Manufacturers can solve their date-field problem on the way to gaining an integrated system,'' according to Steve Bloom, chief executive officer of PRAGMATEK. ''However, established or projected budgets indicated by our CFO/ CIO study indicate many companies are not likely to kill two birds with one stone,'' he said. ' <snip> biz.yahoo.com

To: John Mansfield who wrote (161)	3/7/1998 4:52:00 PM
From: John Mansfield	Respond to of 618

Australia: '...looking at the top level of things like power, water, transport and communications' 'Millennium Bug boss fears chaos By BRAD HOWARTH3mar98 AUSTRALIA'S emergency services have been put on alert over possible life-threatening situations arising from breakdowns of essential services caused by the Year 2000 problem. Graeme Inchley, chief executive officer for the Federal Government's Year 2000 initiative, confirmed yesterday he had held discussions with senior emergency services co-ordinators over potential service failures. Possible scenarios have included failure or contamination of water supplies, and looting resulting from prolonged power loss to urban areas. <snip> "It's impossible to deal with everything, so we need to deal with those critical things that are life-threatening or business-threatening. "We need to look at contingency plans to ensure we can keep operating, even though we know some things aren't likely to work. "We're going to be looking at the top level of things like power, water, transport and communications, then working away from that to the more specific areas, and assessing each of those. "As we approach 2000, we'll have to make a judgment on whether these are going to be serious." <snip> "So full-bodied, full-blown risk assessment is something that's going ahead today." Mr Inchley said he hoped to have contingency planning under way by the middle of this year, as one full year of planning was of greater value than two years' remedial work. This planning would be concurrent with programs to raise awareness of the potential seriousness of Year 2000 problems in the wider community.' <snip> ________________ theaustralian.com.au

To: John Mansfield who wrote (161)	3/7/1998 5:52:00 PM
From: John Mansfield	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 618

Searches - update This page contains predefined searches, most of them on embedded Y2K, on the following sites: - altavista - www.year2000.com - Usenet newsgroup comp.software.year-2000 (through www.dejanews.com) - Manufacturing magazines - News services - ARC - Others ___________________________________________ Altavista: embedded Y2K altavista.digital.com ___________________________________________ www.year2000.com 'embedded' Search for 'embedded' on www.year2000.com: year2000.com ___________________________________________ Usenet newsgroup comp.software.year-2000 Just looking for all posts on Y2K in embedded systems? x10.dejanews.com 'embedded' NEAR 'Y2K': search.dejanews.com Rick Cowles is the author of the well known site www.euy2k.com on Y2K in the Utilities industry': All articles with Cowles as the author: x10.dejanews.com Cory Hamasaki write on programmer's rates and other interesting stuff: All articles with Hamasaki as the author: x10.dejanews.com ___________________________________________ Usenet newsgroup comp.software.year-2000 Also of interest are: All articles with Ron Kenyon as the author: x10.dejanews.com@aol.com+AND+comp.software.year-2000&ST=PS&DBS=2&defaultOp=AND&svcclass=dncurrent&maxhits=50&format=verbose2&showsort=date All articles with Chris Anderson as the author. Chris regularly publishes interesting links: x10.dejanews.com@fast.co.za+AND+comp.software.year-2000&ST=PS&DBS=2&defaultOp=AND&svcclass=dncurrent&maxhits=50&format=verbose2&showsort=date ___________________________________________ Manufacturing magazines: 'y2k' Search on Y2K entries in Manufacturing magazines: manufacturing.net ___________________________________________ News services CNN on 'y2k' search.cnnfn.com ABC on 'y2k' search.abcnews.com ___________________________________________ ARC Search page: arcweb.com ___________________________________________ Others Westergaard's search page: y2ktimebomb.com