Scott’s Blog

Monthly Activity Report
August 2009

1. AIMWorX – Supported all AIMWorX users varying requests.  Processed the weekly update of cost centers and student information.  Call records prior to 1/31/09 were purged.
2. AIMWorX charge for backup – Setup new process in AIMWorX to charge for server backup.  This process consist of a Perl script to reformat the data from the Storage group and then an import into the charges table in AIMWorX.  This process was documented but has not yet been implemented.
3. Server Decommission — Had the old NEC Express server removed from the rack after the drives were cleaned.  This server was used as the AIMWorX SQL database server.  This server can be returned to the leasing company.  Two other IBM servers had their harddrives cleaned and can be returned to the leasing company.
4. PBX Operators & VUSearch — When searching the Vanderbilt website using the VUSearch from a PBX operator workstation, there was a 2 minute delay before data was returned.  Dave Arkle searched the firewall logs and then captured data and found that the VUSearch engine was looking to Google.com to record statistics.  The PBX operator workstations do not have access to the internet which is why the search took so long.  Peter Woods found the websites the search was trying to contact and the workstation host file was modified to point them to the local computer so the website lookup would fail immediately and return the search results.  This information was passed to Partner so the rest of the Operator workstations could be updated.
5. Server Setup & Modifications — Created a VM to replace EMC Management.  Added a NIC & RAM to requested Owen virtual servers.  Reloaded OS, installed new RAM and harddrives on two physical servers in support of the Exchange 2007 project.  Reloaded OS on two other physical servers in support of the Exchange 2007 project.  Turned off ESX DRS on three virtual servers to keep them from being VMotioned between servers.  These three virtual servers are now locked to different physical ESX servers.
6. PBX AIMWorX synchronizations — The AIMWorX sync with the PBX has stopped updating the database when the extension changes FPCs.  The log file from the days sync is now reviewed and extensions are manually moved.  During this process extensions were found to be programmed in multiple FPCs.  This list of extensions was sent to the PBX techs for correction.
7. VPD screen pops — On Saturday, August 15, I received a call from VPD stating they had lost thier e911 screen pops from AIMWorX.  After looking through the AIMWorX logs it was determined that AIMWorX was sending the alerts.  Setup the Alarm client on my desktop and received screen pops from AIMWorX.  Talking with VPD they said their computer had been getting harddrive errors for a long time and they had a new computer to replace the old one.  Even though I was not sure this was the problem I asked VPD to install the new computer.  I went to VPD and installed the AIMWorX Alarm client on the new computer, which did not resolve the issue.  I contacted the ITS security person on call to check the firewall.  Dave Arkle looked through logs and data being sent and blocked at the firewall.  Dave reset the link between the ITS & VPD firewall and reset the Alarm client.  This resolved the issue and e911 screen pops began working again.
8. MIS HP3000 Decommission — As part of the effort to decommission the old HP3000, new Perl scripts have been created to duplicate what MIS has done for years on this server.  Four of a possible six new script files have been created to summarize call charges to directly feed the G/L software and bypass the HP3000 processes.  These new files are in addition to the detail files we currently create.
9. Laptop conversion — Backed up all files from my laptop and then installed the Windows 7 operating system.