Conference hbahba::cam_sports

From the old file.  You can ignore the last paragraph :-).

================================================================================
Note 1.56                     Welcome to SPORTS '91                     56 of 56
PLUGH::NEEDLE "Money talks. Mine says "Good-Bye!""   11 lines  10-JAN-1993 15:22
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  -< SPORTS_91 archived to ALPHAX::SPORTS_91 >-

SPORTS_91 has been write-locked and archived to ALPHAX::SPORTS_91.  If you
have trouble getting to it, please issue the command MCR NCP SHO NODE ALPHAX
and assure that it is 1) defined, and 2) is defined as 56.361.  If that fails,
you can use 57705::SPORTS_91.

I have also put the 1990 edition out there as ALPHAX::SPORTS_90.

A new version of SPORTS will be created shortly.  An announcement will be made
in a shell conference created in place of this file shortly.

j.

    Last Friday I asked 'Saw about the slow response time.  He said
    something about some of the links were down.  They were supposed to be
    fixed today.  Apparently they weren't.  I'm pretty sure SPO (where CAM
    is located) has MLK's B-day as a location choice holiday.  If the site
    is closed for the day, that's probably why things haven't been fixed
    yet.

>    Last Friday I asked 'Saw about the slow response time.  He said
>    something about some of the links were down.  They were supposed to be
>    fixed today.  Apparently they weren't.  I'm pretty sure SPO (where CAM
>    is located) has MLK's B-day as a location choice holiday.  If the site
>    is closed for the day, that's probably why things haven't been fixed
>    yet.


I was out sick yesterday.

Late in the day a mail came out from out system manager.  The problem
is apparently NOT at SPO, but some other place.  

The problem is that our primary link to the e-net was down.  That line
is a pretty high speed link.   Our backup link took over, and it happens
to be a pretty slow link.

I'm not sure if things are fixed yet, but as soon as I hear, I'll post
something in this topic.


'Saw

Well, I had a talk with our system manager this morning.

Evidently our primary link is permanently gone, part of the inevitable
shutdown of SPO.

Several contingencies are being looked into to provide faster service
to the e-net, and when he knows more I'll let you know.

Meantime, I would expect some variation in response times.......


'Saw

From our system manager on CAM:



              <<< CAM::$1$DUA5:[NOTES$LIBRARY]EMPPURPRO.NOTE;2 >>>
                         -< Employee Purchase Program >-
================================================================================
Note 1.16                    The NEW DEPP Note File                     16 of 16
CAMONE::ZIOMEK "Pump up the TEST"                    11 lines  25-JAN-1993 12:28
                            -< Note on performance >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Folks,
    
    	Due to the Springfield Plant being shut down, access to this notes
    file will be a little slower than it used to be. This is due to a
    network re-config because corporate telecom shut off our primary
    circuit a little early (like 3 months early!). On April 1st this node 
    will be located in RockyHill (RCH) at which time performance will be 
    restored to normal.
    
    Thanks for your patients,
    John (moderator)

    Does this mean you're moving to Rocky Hill, 'saw?  Is that an easier
    commute?
    
    Brews

>    Does this mean you're moving to Rocky Hill, 'saw?  Is that an easier
>    commute?
    
I have not heard anything *officially*, but if I was a bettin' man....


And, oh-my-gosh-yes, it's a much easier commute.  15-20 minutes as opposed
to 45-60 minutes right now....


'Saw

>I finally got totally fed up with the performance of this conference (>1 minute
>between notes today) so I created a shadow copy at ALPHAX::SPORTS.  This
>conference will be much faster to access (if it's not, send me mail), but is
>write-only.  You can read the shadow copy and if you'd like to reply to the
>original without opening it, you can investigate PAN (see ROCKS::PAN).
>
>The conferences are synchronized every half hour so the shadow copy should
>always be fairly close to the original in content.

This should only be a temporary problem, as we're pretty sure (even though
no one has said anything yet) that we'll be moving out of here sometime
in March.

I have heard from our system manager that when we move to Rocky Hill
we will be directly on the e-net, and that response time should be 
superb.

I'll keep you posted.


'Saw

****ATTENTION***ATTENTION***ATTENTION***ATTENTION***ATTENTION***ATTENTION***



	Sports will be off-line from 10pm EST this evening (Feb 25)
	until 9am EST tomorrow morning.

	The disks that SPORTS resides on is being changed.

	Things should be back to normal tomorrow at 9am.....


thanks,
frank

There is a working SPORTS shadow conference set up at ALPHAX::SPORTS.  I've
been running it and reading it for around 2 weeks now and everything seems
fine.  ALPHAX is a Laser/Ruby, fastest machine on the network.  Access should
be OK (MSO network sucks), but searches and directories and such should FLY.

I find the best way to read notes is to read ALPHAX::SPORTS and keep another
window up where you have PAN installed.  When you see something you want to
reply to, do a 

PAN REPLY cam3::sports/nonotebook <note_id> /title="<note title>" 

and type in your reply, terminated with a ^Z.  Alternatively, you can reply
from a file using the /from=<filename> qualifier.

Let me know what you think.

j.

>There is a working SPORTS shadow conference set up at ALPHAX::SPORTS.  I've
>been running it and reading it for around 2 weeks now and everything seems
>fine.  ALPHAX is a Laser/Ruby, fastest machine on the network.  Access should
>be OK (MSO network sucks), but searches and directories and such should FLY.

This is great.  Supposedly when we get to Rocky Hill, our "line in" will
be four times faster than what we had here originally, so access should
be good.

But I think the shadow is a great idea...


>I find the best way to read notes is to read ALPHAX::SPORTS and keep another
>window up where you have PAN installed.  When you see something you want to
>reply to, do a 
>
>PAN REPLY cam3::sports/nonotebook <note_id> /title="<note title>" 
>
>and type in your reply, terminated with a ^Z.  Alternatively, you can reply
>from a file using the /from=<filename> qualifier.


	How bout posting a pointer to a PAN kit.....


'Saw

PAN can be found at ROCKS::PAN$DIR:PAN011.A,.B.  There is a notes file for
it at ROCKS::PAN.  It's great for batch use of notes and/or command line
interface to notes.  Invaluable to moderators, really useful for serious
noters :-).

j.

Sorry about the recent disk problems on CAM.

Over the weekend and yesterday, there were problems with disks on CAM,
and a lot of files and stuff had to be shuffled around until the 
disks with problems could be fixed.  This basically meant that a lot
of the normally free space on the disk SPORTS is on, was used up.

Sorry for the inconvenienc, but you know it's the old situation where
work comes first.....


Thanks for your patience and understanding,
'Saw

		*** Important Announcment ***


Our group was told yesterday at an engineering meeting that our move
has been approved.

I will update you with information as I become aware of it, but right
now the tentative plans are this:


		1. We will be moving over the time period of
		   5/20-21 and 5/24-25

		   This means that CAM and SPORTS will be down
		   from Thursday 5/20, through Tuesday 5/25.
		   It may be that CAM is only down for part of that
		   time, but plan on all four working days of downtime.

	
		2. CAM will be a part of Network area 35.  It may
		   be necessary to modify your notes file pointer
		   until your system manager's manage to update their
		   net database on the new address for CAM.


		3. Access to CAM once we are in RCH should be even
		   better than it was before they removed our main-line
		   here in SPO.  We will be right on the network backbone.


If this information changes, I will make announcements here.


fw

Hi folks,


Quite a few of you have been sending me, complaining in a good natured
way about the horrendous response time here on CAM.


Here's the situation.  Basically, I feel like I'm standing on the 
stern of the Titanic, trying furiously to get lifeboats manned and ready,
while the ship is slowly and steadily sinking beneath me.


The backup link we've been running on is inundatad with traffic from
SPORTS, our other work related notesfiles, and our file transfers and
normal work traffic.   If you've ever heard the old adage about
cramming 10 pounds of feces in a 5 pound bag, that's exactly what we
are looking at.

Each week, our system manager is spending a day or two in Rocky Hill,
getting things set up for our move.  In fact, I'm pretty confident that
the impact of this move will be much less on Sports than it was the last
time we moved.


We were officially notified yesterday that our "target date" for the
move will be the weekend of 5/23-5/24.   Ideally, CAM will come down
Friday around noon time, and be up again sometime over the weekend.


So, hang in there if you can.  Sports traffic has been low lately,
anyway.....


frank

Hi again.

Well, this time I think I have some GOOD news.

I was talking with our system manager this morning, and he informed me
that CAM will be moved (if all goes well) two weeks prior to our move
to RCH.

That means that you have only about two more weeks of slow CAM access.

The gating factor on moving CAM is the air conditioning fit up in RCH.
If that goes well, CAM gets moved early.

That's good, because network services here are slowly going away more
and more.....

I'll keep you all informed.....


'Saw

Okay, folks, here's some more news on our move.

On Firday, 5/21, CAM will be taken down at 9am.  It should be up
sometime over the weekend, but guaranteed up my Monday morning,
5/24.

Access should be MUCH faster from RCH also....

I'll keep you informed o any more facts you need to know.....


'Saw

At 4pm this afternoon, the CAM cluster will need to be taken
down for approximately three hours.  The downtime relates to
preparations for our move to RCH.

Expect the cluster to be back up around 7pm (EDT) or so.

If this downtime should change, I'll post it.


'Saw

Just a reminder:

	The planned downtime for the CAM cluster is still on for 4pm.
	The cluster should be back up again around 7pm.

	All times are EDT.


Thanks,
'Saw


PS While I'm at it, another reminder, the CAM cluster will shut down to be moved
   at 0900 EDT Friday morning.  It will definitely be back up by Monday morning,
   but I'd bet it might be available sometime on Sunday.....

		***** Very Important Announcement *****

When CAM moves this Friday, it will come up with a new node address,
since we're moving into area 35.

Be advised that the DECnet address for CAM3, the node which houses SPORTS
and GIANTS, will be 35.110, effective Monday, 24 May, 1993, 0900 EDT.


Your system managers should update their node database ASAP after that
time. 

In the interrim, you may change your notes file specification to
use the node number 35950 instead of CAM3.

Please note again this will not be in effect until 0900 EDT on Monday.


Thanks,
frank

I've heard from a couple of users that they are having problems accessing
CAM3.

I've also heard that a couple of users' node databases have already
changed to the new address for CAM3.   I was told this would not happen
until Monday morning.

At any rate, if you're able to read this in the shadow conference, and
want to try and access CAM3 now, you can use the old (but still in
effect) address of 18882::SPORTS.


If I hear any more on this I'll let you all know......


'Saw

		*** Important Notice ***


The CAM cluster will be down today starting at 3pm.  I can't give you
a firm up-time, but it should be up by tomorrow morning.  If it's not,
it means that whatever they were doing wasn't finished or didn't work,
so don't send me tons of mail asking why you can't get on.

If these plans change, I'll let you know,
'Saw

	Yesterday morning (23-AUG-1993), the disk that holds that
	page and swap files for the CAM cluster died.  It happened early,	
	around 10am or so.

	We were able to reboot the cluster, although at an impacted performance
	level, using smaller pages and swap files on another disk.

	It became apparent to me after we rebooted that SPORTS was also
	on the same disk, thus sports was not available yesterday.

	Our Field Service engineer was on a call during the morning, but
	got to us in the afternoon, and replaced the HDA on the disk.
	Last night (8pm or so), John, our system manager, restored a backup
	of the disk.


	At this point in time I'm not sure what, if anything, might be
	missing from sports.  CAM is backed up every night, so few notes
	would be missing anyway.

	
	That was the reason for the downtime yesterday, and the reason why
	certain replies might be missing now that SPORTS is back....



frank

     IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT



		Today, at lunch time (noontime, EDT) CAM3 will need
		to undergo a quick reboot.  This will take approximately
		15 minutes, during which SPORTS will be unavailable.

		It should come back up normally and be available the
		rest of the day.


'Saw

CAM3 will be down for around an hour starting at 3pm EDT....


'Saw

	The CAM cluster will be down tomorrow morning (11/18) from
	0700 EST to 0900 EST.

	This is for routine maintenance.



'Saw

	The CAM cluster will be rebooting tomorrow morning
	at 0800 to re-adjust some system parameters.


'Saw

		
	The computer room in RCH will be powered down for a powere
	system upgrade on 20-JAN-1993, from the hours of 1730-0000.

	CAM and SPORTS will not be available.

        Please plan accordingly.

'Saw

>	The computer room in RCH will be powered down for a powere
>	system upgrade on 20-JAN-1994, from the hours of 1730-0000.
>
>	CAM and SPORTS will not be available.
>
>        Please plan accordingly.
>
>'Saw


Due to problems with the data spine (probably a fracture 8^)) yesterday, 
the computer room powerdown was postponed.  AS soon as I have the
date I'll let you know......


'Saw

We're having some problems with our UCX stuff on the CAM cluster today,
due to a bug-riddled  patch that Security INSISTED was mandatory to put
on the systems or else you'd lose your net address for your systems.
(Don't you just LOVE this company????)

At any rate, we're doing some rebooting of various nodes in the cluster
and you might be impacted here in sports.


Here's a toast to software quality....

'Saw

Hi,

We're still having problems with UCX on the CAM cluster and we will probably
need to reboot the cluster at noon today.

It will take about 20 minutes to cycle up.......


Sorry for the inconvenience, but the problems are really hindering our
operations.......


'Saw

Okay, I know this is really short notice, but field service is going
to have to bring the entire CAM cluster down in about 15 minutes.

Sorry for the inconvenience.....


'Saw

Hi.

Sorry for the short notice but system management has to reboot the CAM
cluster at 3pm EDT today.

Should take 20-30 minutes to come back up....


frank

Sorry bout this.

Reboot cancelled.  System management changed its mind.....

Can't say I didn't give you notice:

CAM is going down this afternoon for some software upgrades.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From:	CAM::ZIOMEK "John Ziomek, RCH-2B/10, 320-5070  22-Jul-1994 1047" 22-JUL-1994 10:49:19.19
To:	EVERYONE
CC:	ZIOMEK
Subj:	REMINDER

Folks,

	This is just a reminder that the entire CAM cluster will be going down
at 4:15pm SHARP! It will not be back online until tommorow afternoon.

Please plan accordingly,

John

Just a quick issue note.....


We've got a new system manager here now.  The old one left for greener
pastures, and I got stuck handling for about 10 weeks, and now we have
a new one. 

I'm having to justify why SPORTS takes up so much space.  I might have to
think about archiving this version, first of the year, and opening
a new one.

In the meantime, lets try to keep that in mind when entering notes.



Thanks,
frank

Due to the fact that I've received little cooperation in my request for
reducing the amount of notes added to the conference, and due to the fact
that I'm still dealing with the issue here, I've had to set the conference
to /nowrite, at least temporarily.

I will be trying to determine a time when I can archive this version of
sports, but it doesn't look like it will be until after the first of the
year.

When I have dealt with the issue of space here, I'll consider opening the
conference back up for writing notes.


Thanks for your understanding,
frank

I've had some discussions since yesterday, and have come to an understanding
on the disk space issue.

Obviously, SPORTS is the highest volume conference on CAM, and while the
volume is not at the level that it once was, it still takes up system
resources.  There are a lot of issues concerning system resources here at the
moment, so I cannot just unilaterally make a statement that SPORTS will, and
must stay.

With that in mind, I have to cooperate with management on how SPORTS and
and several other smaller non-work notesfiles affect our systems.  That is
the reason why I asked for your cooperation the other day, and that is the
reason why I shut the conference down when I didn't get it.

Perhaps there are those of you out there who don't regard SPORTS as a
privilege, and don't care what I might have to go through to keep it going.
Well, it IS a privilege, and there are a lot of times that most of you
know nothing about, when I have to jump through some hoops to keep SPORTS
up and going.

I'm not a strict moderator, in most cases, because I don't feel that adults
need to be supervised like K-6 school children.  I can be a strict moderator
if all the noters will accept that my being stricter will keep sports around.
By being stricter, I mean deleting notes which don't belong, moving notes
which don't belong, and in general "tweaking" the conference a lot more.

I'd prefer not to do that, and instead rely upon the fact that supposedly
we are all mature adults here, not K-6 school children.


I'm opening the conference back up, because I've received a lot of mail
from a lot of folks, who, quite frankly, miss it.  I'm opening it back
up because I had to do some negotiating, and have come to some agreements.

But, let me make this perfectly clear:

	Until the first of the year, when I will have time to archive
	this version of SPORTS, disk space IS and will continue to be
	an issue.  Think before you take up space with your notes.

If I run into a similar situation, where I'm not receiving the cooperation,
and I'm having to answer questions here and be responsible for it here,
then I will shut it down, completely, until I can find the time to archive
it and open a new one.  

(let me repeat)
If I run into a similar situation, where I'm not receiving the cooperation,
and I'm having to answer questions here and be responsible for it here,
then I will shut it down, completely, until I can find the time to archive
it and open a new one.  


Thanks for your anticipated cooperation,
frank

I have a feeling SPORTS won't be available between 6pm and 10pm EST
this evening.....


fw






    			    *****IMPORTANT*****
    			CNS EASTERN STATES ANNOUNCEMENT
    
    
    AUDIENCE:	RCH, SCO, & SPO.
    
    WHAT:   	The Paradyne Mux at RCH is being replaced by an IDNX Mux.
    	
    WHY:	In an effort to improve service while reducing costs by
                consolidating services, by reutilizing existing assets and
    		reducing maintenance costs, the Paradyne Mux that currently
    		provides LAT and DECnet will be replaced by an IDNX Mux. We
                will also be using the this new equipment for voice traffic.
    		
    WHEN:       03/15/95
    
    TIMEFRAME:	6:00pm - 10:00pm
    
    IMPACT: 	LAT, DECnet, & Voice will be unavailable during the specified
    		timeframe.  Efforts will be focused on minimizing the impact  
    		and service may be restored sooner than the projected time
    		frame.  All services are to be fully functional no later than
    		3/16 at 8 am. 
    


			   ***  DIGITAL INTERNAL USE ONLY  ***

                  

Well, well, boys and girls.  For the most part you were pretty good while
I was gone.

I didn't have the opportunity to get in here last week while I was away, hell,
I didn't even have the chance to read my mail.


There is one thing I'd like to remind you all of, and that is creation of
new topics.   Think a little bit before you open up a new topic.  It makes
my job tougher if you open up a new topic which really shouldn't be opened
up, and then there's about 20 replies, and then no one uses it any more.

If there's a topic close to the one you're thinking of opening, use that
instead.  

I don't think I need to say any more than that.....


'Saw

Sorry for any downtime experienced this morning.

When I came in CAM3 and CAMTWO were down (at least unreachable from my point of
view) and probably not reachable from your point of view either.


There were some kind of network problems which our system manager managed to
fix I guess......


Sorry for any noting inconvenience 8^)


fw

Okay, here's a quick announcment.

Next week I have to do my yearly week of active duty service for the CNG.
I won't be in work.

Starting tomorrow, I've asked Tom Haas (TTom) and Bill Breen (billte) to 
fill in for me as moderators.


Taking a cue from the Pharoahs of Ancient Egypt, and the Realm of England,
I'll say the following:

	When they speak it will be with my voice,
	When they note it will be with my words,
	In all things they are as I would be.....


In other words, behave yourselves folks, and don't give them a hard time....



frank

Want to say a big public thank-you to TTom and billte for helping me out
lasted week.

I know they got lots of kidding about being faux moderators but they surely
were a big help.

It was nice being away last week and not having to worry about the file.
It was also nice being ordered to do everything and not having to worry about
running things like I have to do in here....(YUK, this place sucks).....


My only complaint would be that they let too much serious sports discussion
go on in the Junk Note.


'Saw

Well, folks, I'm off on vacation starting very, very shortly.

It'll be the most vacation I've taken at one time in more than ten years.

I'm out from this afternoon until January 2nd.

Now, I know this is somewhat akin to the folks leaving the teenagers home
and saying don't party, but what the heck.

While I'm gone, Bill Breen and Tom Haas will be handling the reins, and I'd
like you all to be as good to them as you are to me.... uh, er, perhaps you'd
better be BETTER for them than you are to me....8^)


See you nexted year!

'Saw

I've opened the file back up again.

The one thing I'd like to mention is this.  We're all responsible for our
own actions, and we're all responsible for what we say in this file.

Please think twice, or even a third time, before you get carried away with
something that doesn't really amount to a whole helluva lot, even in the
slightly "warped" scheme of things we have in here.

Add to that, think twice before you post a note which may or may not further
a discussion in any meaningful way, even in the slightly warped scheme of
things we use in SPORTs.

Finally, don't make my job harder ;^)


'Saw

Since I made my "no contest" dictum a month or so ago, I've been approached
for permission to run contests.

I don't inherently have a problem with the contests that are usually run
in here.  I do have a problem with some of the bovine scatological residue
that it sometimes creates.

I might yet deregulate sports contests, but until that day, if you want to
run a contest, send me mail, outline what you wanna do, and I'll decide.


I guess I just wanted to "formalize" what's been happening of late.



'Saw

Saw,

I think the mischief comes with the mail in type voting contests.

We've had no problems - knock on wood - with ::POOL excepted for
a_occasional screw up by yours truly and friends with the score keeping
and such.

For instance, we've had the Nexted Annual Bowl Contest and POOL for some
years now and there've been no big controversies.

Now if'n disk space at CAM is a issue, I'd be glad to let 'em post over
in POOL.

TTom

Well, after opening up the Baltimore Ravens note twice, and having it set
nowrite twice, I'm pulling the plug.  I know that Bill and TTom didn't do it.


Sports is closed until further notice.  I'll bring it back up after I've opened
up a new file, and archived this old one.  That'll probably be sometime around
mid-to-late October, after our software ships and I and out system manage have
time to do it.....


'Saw

Well, after being INUNDATED with mail from folks, all of whom made good points,
I've been persuaded, against my better judgement to open this back up.

I realize that shutting it down is detrimental to most folks, and it severly
screws up the King of the Hill contest (which I wanna win this year), so Sports
is back in business.

I *do* still intend to try and archive this version and open a new one later
this fall.  


Please folks, just try and behave....

Well, here's the latest and greatest.

Pretty soon, probably, SPORTS is going to have to find a new home.

In its ever increasing desire to divest itself of all software, digital
management is raising all kinds of a ruckus down here in RCH.

DecMessageQ is being sold off, and the engineers in that group are taking a big
one up the old duty-chute.

Our group, BASEstar, has been essentially dead for two plus years, and finally,
they've decided to close this office.  The systems will be moving to ZKO, and
any of the employees here (all two of us) will supposedly be working from home.

EXCEPT that if you believe anything a digital manager tells you, you have to
be nuts, so I've pretty much figured out what my future here holds....


So, SPORTS might best be served by shutting down this particular iteration of
the conference, and opening up a new one on a new node long about the time the
sun sets on the digital presence in RCH.


For any of you who care, and work in software, you might wanna think about
getting the hell outta Dodge, because this company's agenda, while unpublished
and undisclosed, is pretty self-evident.....

>
>Pretty soon, probably, SPORTS is going to have to find a new home.
>


Okay, let's tunr that "pretty soon, probably" into VERY SOON and DEFINITELY.


I checked with the powers-that-be today, and they ain' no way SPORTS is gonna
stay on CAM once it moves.


So, in a nutshell, here is what we will do and need:


	1. I will archive this version of SPORTS shortly before
	   CAM moves.  I cannot give you a date yet, but the move
	   is slated to be COMPLETE by the end of March.

	2. I need a volunteer to grab this version of SPORTS and
	   archive it.  Warning:  It's about 200,000 blocks (mostly
	   George I think 8^)) for four years worth of SPORTS.

	3. I need a volunteer to open a new SPORTS conference on
	   a new node.


Never thought I'd hear myself say it, but this could be the end of SPORTS, if'n
we don't find a home......


sigh,
'Saw

Got the word this morning.....


As it stands now, the move is scheduled for April 4, with the newly remodeled
CAM cluster coming up on April 7.

However, newly remodeled pretty much means that CAM won't be housing SPORTS.


TTom, if the offer still stands, let's pick a time to put a new version of
SPORTS up on HBAHBA, and I'll set this one to no-write.  After I do that I can
compress it, and move it wherever....


Sound like a plan?


'Saw

It's fine with me.

I'm out most of nexted week but we can get it together after that.

I'd suggest a target date of April Fool's Day to to the cutover.

TTom

Okay, let's plan on it....