July 19, 2011
Bookstore Fix "Unfixed"
OK, so sometimes when you "fix" something, it isn't really fixed, you've just swapped one problem for another. And that's exactly what happened with the Bookstore's server. I turned off the IMM as previously described, which did a marvelous job of stopping the server from continously requesting a new IP address. Unfortunately, that meant that you could no longer connect remotely to the server or the outside world (i.e. where MBS is)....not really an ideal "fix". So, I went back in to the IMM module, reactivated the DHCP, but this time set it to ask for its own IP address - voila, everything is now "fixed"!
Posted by rossm at 8:37 AM | Comments (0)
July 13, 2011
Network Weirdness on Bookstore's Server Fixed
It recently came to our attention that the Bookstore's new server was constantly requesting a particular IP address from our DHCP server. After checking, re-checking, and triple-re-checking our network connection setups, nothing could be found that would be making these requests. However, we knew that the requests were coming from this server as Paul could see them coming from the switch port directly linked to this box.
I made an email request for assistance from MBS, and learned from them that there is a thingy called IMM - Integrated Management Module in this (IBM) server's BIOS. Tada - sure enough, it was set to request this particular IP from DHCP. How that ever got set like that remains a mystery, but it isn't set like that any more!
Posted by rossm at 8:41 AM | Comments (0)
May 18, 2010
MBS Hosted Solution Considered by the WOU Bookstore
The bookstore invited me to attend a meeting last week that was very interesting. This was a regular business meeting, however one topic was of primary interest to me. MBS has a "hosted solution" which means essentially that they will host a customer's account on their local servers rather than having the customer maintain their own server. The WOU Bookstore maintains the one and only IBM server on campus, and it is required to be an MBS customer. Maintaining the Bookstore's server has been my responsibility since I began working here.
The question is whether or not the Bookstore should go with the hosted solution. The Bookstore would need to maintain the IBM based Point of Sale equipment in either case. The Point of Sale equipment is a smaller computer that manages the daily sales, collects sales transactions from the cash registers, and processes credit card authorizations - it is similar to an individual workstation.
There are advantages and disadvantages, of course. The advantages are that the hosted solution is somewhat cheaper than maintaining our own server. The price tag on IBM equipment is very high, maintenance costs are high, plus the Bookstore pays a portion of my salary. Using the hosted system would eliminate the expense associated with maintaining a local server. Also, the hosted solution includes seven new, touch screen cash registers. The Bookstore really needs at least two to four new registers - seven is a bit of overkill for our needs. Finally, the hosted solution requires using a web-based credit card authentication service. What we would do is add on the web-based solution, and also maintain the phone/modem service we presently use. This provides a very nice double-layered solution in case one or the other service would go down. It appears that overall the cost to the bookstore would be less, but the final numbers aren't available yet. Plus, there is a certain amount of apples to oranges comparison that is required, the numbers don't tell the whole story.
There are two main disadvantages to the MBS hosted solution. First, loss of control over the server. The Bookstore's data is held by MBS, and server availability is now totally dependent upon MBS. In my view, this is a pretty serious limitation.
The second disadvantage is that the hosted application is a subset of the MBS application that we presently use. Some of the pieces of the MBS application used by the Bookstore are simply not available in the hosted application. I am not familiar with the exact functions that would be lost at this point, but obviously this requires some careful consideration. Essentially, what is being provided would be a kind of MBS-Lite, not the full-blown application that the Bookstore presently uses.
One final item is that there is the whisper of a rumor that MBS "might" be ready to offer a Windows based solution. In that case, it would be silly to go with the MBS hosted solution. We could provide the Bookstore with a Windows based server much more cost effectively.
Posted by rossm at 9:23 AM | Comments (0)
The Boat Anchor Gets a New Hard Disk Plus, New Printers
Some interesting things have been going on at the WOU Bookstore. First, we got two new printers - a small DeskJet type printer that prints out reports from the Point of Sale (POS) machine located in the Bookstore; and a new bar code printer (that looks almost identical to the old one except it now has an "Avery" name on it). The POS printer was pretty much just plug and play - no setup required. The bar code printer, however, was much more difficult. It simply would not print out any labels. Pressing the test print key combination resulted in about 10 labels running through and an error message. We were ready to just ship the thing back. However, MBS hardware support suggested I call the Avery tech support, and it's a good thing I did. A very helpful and knowledgeable support tech told me there were two settings that were wrong on the printer, and told me how to correct them. I made the changes he suggested, and, after another call the MBS support, actually got the new printer to function. Yay.
While all the printer action was going on, I noticed an odd error in the qsys messages - something like "a device parity protected unit not fully functional" or some such similarly helpful message. Well, it's a good thing I followed up on it - that message means a hard disk in the RAID array has failed - not sure why they didn't just say that...Anyway, a call to IBM, pass their verification test, talk to a support representative, and the next day an IBM tech with a new drive was here. He installed the new drive and it has since been rebuilt. That was done last Thursday and Friday. Now, I am checking the error logs a lot! I am paranoid that another disk will fail pretty soon....
Posted by rossm at 9:06 AM | Comments (0)
February 2, 2010
MBS Upgrade Goes Smoothly
The WOU Bookstore's Missouri Bookstore System has been getting some upgrades over the past couple weeks. First the OS was upgraded to V5R4M0, which was quite a process. The bookstore system was down for an entire day, plus a couple nights of prep work on that one. Last night I applied three MBS software upgrades which brings our system current at level 2009.2. So far the upgrades seem to have occured without a hitch, but I'm sure it will take a while to learn the new screens and new functionality that was added.
Posted by rossm at 8:27 AM | Comments (0)
August 20, 2008
Bookstore Printing Problems Persist
Well, the Formspath printing problems we first encountered at least a month ago have partly been solved, and partly mutated into about six (that's an exaggeration) different problem areas. Yesterday, I think the finishing touches were put on our job schedule to correctly allow for a successful Formspath restart following an IPL (reboot). Unlike most servers, the MBS server is IPL'ed every week. This requires that a number of "services" be restarted on a regular basis.
Now we can at least print PO's, they just look crummy. So, we are attempting to modify the Formspath setup and the new printer setup to make the PO's acceptable. One permutation that might be taken care of was our logo image. The one Formspath was using was terrible - bad resolution and fuzzy. I replaced that image with a better one, but don't know yet if that was successful or not.
As part of the credit card security requirements, we're having to move our controller into a locked area. This is probably a good idea. The actual move should be pretty easy with a little help from our friends in Telcom. There is one rather obnoxious problem - modem noise. We authenticate credit cards over a modem, and they make that little modem noise while dialing and connecting. Once we get the controller into a smaller, yet occupied, space, it will drive someone crazy. Unfortunately, these modems we get from MBS don't have volume controls, nor do they understand DOS AT commands. Kind of takes you back, doesn't it??
Posted by rossm at 9:10 AM | Comments (0)
August 6, 2008
Bookstore Madness Continues
Two items have been plaguing the bookstore for about a month now. Although they aren't real critical problems, they certainly are annoying. Our MBS Forms Path printing software which allows us to print out such useful items as PO's continues to be on the fritz. I've pretty much exhausted the support lines, and Mark has now gotten some higher management at MBS involved to get this software to work. One really annoying piece is that this was supposedly installed and activated by MBS over a year ago, but really wasn't. They just allowed us to pay for it, but never did complete the install. There is some problem in the coding of the software that just refuses to print our forms correctly. I would have to say this has moved from a nuisance to a full blown PITA. MBS support did at least show me how to restart this software when it fails, so one tiny step forward.
The second problem has been with the routine process of cleaning the tape drive heads. There is a special dry process tape we keep on hand, and about every 10 days the drive tells you it needs to be cleaned. You put the cleaning tape into the drive and it takes about a minute to do it's thing. The cleaning tape is good for 50 cleanings, then you get a new one. Well, about a month ago the drive began ejecting the cleaning tape after only a few seconds. The tape had only been used for about 5 uses, so we sent it back to Boise Cascade as defective. They sent us another tape - this replacement tape had a very suspicious rattle - and, sure enough same result. Put it in, out it comes, no head cleaning accomplished. Send it back, get another tape (another one with suspicious rattle), same thing. OK, maybe the tape drive itself is defective. No, wait, every night it faithfully performs our system backup with no errors, so the drive must be working. FIFTH TAPE - same thing! Time to call hardware support at MBS. They had a good piece of advice - call IBM. After much telephone work (mostly waiting on hold - that kind of thing), Rich comes on the phone. No joke, Rich actually knew what he was talking about! He had me read the manufacture lot number off of the cleaning tape, and sure enough - bad manufacturing lot! Rich sent me a good tape overnight, and voila, it worked! I don't know how many of those tapes Boise Cascade has, but we would have had to go through all of them to get a good one! It reminds me of the saying "Tempest in a teapot". Much to do about a simple tape cleaning process!
I have to say it is a sad time at the bookstore for another reason - Kris Adams no longer works there. She has been transferred to the Financial Aid office. Kris was my "go to" person for technical stuff at the bookstore and the two of us have solved many an MBS riddle over the years. Kris, I wish you all the best in your new position! It truly won't be the same there without you.
Posted by rossm at 9:16 AM | Comments (0)
June 18, 2008
Bookstore Gets Pretty Demanding
As you know, this is about my least favorite time of year - Physical Inventory at both the physical plant stores and the bookstore are happening this week and next. Nathan is generously loaning us 6 laptops again this year for the bookstore's inventory. We used them last year and it was a HUGE improvement over those "Telxon" handhelds we used previously. The main advantage of the laptops is that they can stay connected to the server, so if someone attempts to count an item that doesn't match with the bookstore's data, it immediately gives an error. Then Kris can fix the error right then and there. With the Telxons, those errors accumulated in the counting batch and you would not see them until the batch was loaded onto the system. The only information you would have for an error was the batch number, the count, and the cost. Kris and I spent hours looking for the actual items that weren't in the system correctly. You might think the new method would make me happier, and it does, but it is still a ton of work.
In addition to physical inventory at the bookstore, we're still up against the deadline for getting the encryption software going. We should be getting an install CD from MBS next week, and it looks like either Friday am or pm we'll be doing that install. It's a beta release, but I've got my fingers crossed. Encryption is one of those black and white things - either it works or it doesn't, no middle ground. We should know pretty quickly which result we get.
Our new printer is on campus, but not yet installed. Soon, very soon....
Yesterday morning early, I applied the finishing touches to the 2008.1 upgrade (it was supposed to be done Monday night, but I forgot so had to get up at 6:00 am and do it before the store opened). This means that our system is A-1, up to snuff, with the most recent MBS software there is.
Anyway, the bookstore has a lot going on right now. It's always fun and challenging.
Posted by rossm at 9:57 AM | Comments (0)
June 4, 2008
Bookstore Buys Hardware!
The bookstore received its new POS (Point of Sale) controller last week, and Mark and I installed it with the help of MBS. This controller plus additional RAM memory in 6 of our 7 cash registers is necessary to implement the encryption software as required by the credit card sensitive data rules. The install went fairly well, and the new controller is now up and running. There are still three cash registers that need RAM upgrades before we use them (these are the extra registers we put up for rush week). There is also a 2008.1 MBS application upgrade which needs to be installed in the next week or so in order to accommodate some data changes MBS is implementing. That is another night time job that must be done when the store is closed.
It also looks like we're going to involuntarily be "Beta testers" for the new encryption software. We must be in compliance by June 30, but MBS keeps pushing back the release date. It was due out earlier this year, and was just recently pushed back to "this Fall". We need to at least give it a try to see if we can make it work by the end of the month. Beta testing has not been a particularly good experience for me in the past. I'm very concerned that our registers will just not work, which is a problem when the store is open.
I almost forgot - the bookstore also ordered a new HP printer to replace our Lexmark (yahoo!!). It's not here yet, but will be soon. Yesterday I took over a printer stand that the physical plant modified for us. The old printer fell off the makeshift stand it was on a couple weeks ago. This stand is a very solid piece made by the carpenter shop at the physical plant, and it fits right in. Thanks Marsha and John!
Posted by rossm at 7:49 AM | Comments (0)
May 21, 2008
Bookstore Gets New Equipment
I'm so happy - the bookstore has ordered a new printer (which replaces the Lexmark printer from hell), and also a new POS controller. The controller is a small PC which keeps tabs on all the cash registers, verifies credit card tenders, and a bunch of other tasks. We need a new controller primarily to run the encryption software that will keep us in compliance with the requirements for handling confidential data like credit card numbers. The new controller should arrive next Tuesday, and I'll be replacing the old controller on Wednesday after the store closes. Also, the cash registers need to have RAM memory added to them so that they can run their side of the encryption software.
But the real news is that we're replacing our printer that has been a headache from day one with a new HP LaserJet. These are good steps in bringing the bookstore's hardware up to date.
Posted by rossm at 8:59 AM | Comments (0)
May 7, 2008
A New POS Controller and Encryption Software
We are working with MBS to bring the bookstore practices with regard to credit card numbers into compliance with OUS requirements, which are quite stringent. We are making every effort to protect sensitive information in our possession, even for the shortest of times. One big step in this effort is to encrypt internal network traffic between the POS controller (which monitors all the cash registers in use) and the cash registers. In order to implement the encryption the cash register memory needs to be increased, and the controller needs to be upgraded. We have ordered the new controller and the encryption software. The controller will be here soon, but the encryption software is not available yet from MBS. Our plan of attack is to get the new controller in place and upgrade the cash registers now. Then, once the software is available we will be ready to install that item only - we'll have all the hardware already in place. The bookstore has already taken all other steps necessary to be in compliance with the new credit card handling rules.
Posted by rossm at 10:04 AM | Comments (0)
February 6, 2008
When It Rains, It Pours
After wrestling around with the MBS to Banner interface, we were finally able to get it to work reliably once again. We're still not sure what all caused the interface to break down. Some of the time the system would not generate the file for Banner to pick up, some of the time it appeared as though the file did not get picked up, or was empty. Mike Soukup tested the database connection and it seemed to be working just fine. Let's hope that one is behind us for awhile!
As a side note, we upgraded 6 of the workstations with another 512 MB of ram. These workstations are getting long of tooth, but the ram upgrades have made them a bit more tolerable for now.
Also, the tape backup has been acting up this week, too. It is having trouble reading some of the backup tapes. They will need to be replaced, it appears.
Posted by rossm at 3:19 PM | Comments (0)
October 12, 2007
Hello Again Blogging World
Well, after a long absence it's time to update the old Blog. At the bookstore, things have changed. There is a new director, Mark Lane. Kristi took another job at Pacific Lutheran University in Washington. Welcome to Mark!
Another personnel change is that Gloria Hart is also moving to Washington, and the Physical Plant's own Dave Morris is taking her place.
We still use the MBS system, and the Boat Anchor (our pet name for the IBM 270 server) is plugging away. Our new cash register is working really well. It's the one everyone wants to use. The retired register gave us a bunch of extra parts, and it's a good thing as one register went totally dead toward the end of rush week. Hopefully, we can purchase another cash register in the near future. We did not blow out another modem, and the Bookstore web site using the Insite product is a real improvement. It is nearly always up, and the Insite servers are much more powerful than the Boat Anchor.
So, there it is in a nutshell. Stop by the bookstore and pick up a good book, or a nice WOU t-shirt or sweatshirt!
Posted by rossm at 2:25 PM | Comments (0)
February 14, 2007
New InSite Web Site in Place
The WOU Bookstore has moved it's website onto the MBS (Missouri Book Store) servers, using a product called InSite. The new website is faster, cleaner, and much easier to maintain. We are still able to link to our bookstore data, so students can search for textbooks by class. Also, much of the imprinted material - sweatshirts, mugs, etc. - can also be ordered from the website. Although the initial setup for InSite was challenging, the switchover has not resulted in loss of functionality or down time.
Other upgrades on the horizon include a software package for printing forms such as PO's, a new cash register, and a Point of Sale OS upgrade. Never a dull moment at the bookstore!
Posted by rossm at 3:28 PM | Comments (0)
October 2, 2006
Bookstore Rush Week - No Problem!
Last week was rush week at the Bookstore. This is a time when our system is put through its paces, and also has been a time when we have had some hardware problems. This year, though, we lucked out. Earlier this summer we noticed a substantial slowdown at our cash registers. This was odd since there was very little activity either at the bookstore or in the WUC center. Well, a chance visit to the computer lab downstairs revealed about six kids playing "Rune" on the thin clients there in the lab. Whoa, we don't want six lab machines to slow down the entire network. Bill and Paul helped me to sort out the source of the problem, and Bill upped the switch capacity from 100 Mb to 1 Gb and that was that. There was no noticeable slowdown in the network during the entire rush week - Yes!
The second thing that happened - during new student week this time - was that yet another of our Zoom modems malfunctioned. This time the power switch broke and would only stay in the off position. It worked fine so long as you were willing to stand there and hold the button in, but of course that wasn't very practical. We have two of these modems - one is used for credit card verifications and the other for MBS to dial into our POS system. So, Kristi switched the dial in modem over to the credit card system and we were back up and running. You may recall that about two years ago this same thing happened but the back up modem only lasted about one hour, then it also failed. And that was during rush week - what a mess! Well, we overnighted a replacement in and there were no problems.
Of course this story wouldn't be complete if I didn't mention that one of our spare cash registers refused to boot up. After making a few phone calls it was determined that the receipt printer was sending out an error message. I replaced the paper roll and did a few other tweaks and got that last register online and it performed quite well this week. One of our goals is to replace these registers over time with some newer ones.
Bottom line - the system ramped up and met the load of rush week without any problems. I love it when a plan comes together!
Posted by rossm at 9:05 AM | Comments (0)
August 28, 2006
MBS 2006.2 Installed
The MBS 2006.2 software point upgrade was installed on the bookstore server last week. The upgrade went pretty well, all things considered. It was an interesting time getting the system backed up prior to the upgrade. When I arrived to start the backup not only was the backup job messed up, but the temperature in the server room was over 78 degrees and steadily climbing. To make a long story short, the air conditioning system has since been repaired and the temperature has remained steady since that was done. One side note - you should see the fan we got to air the server room out if the temperatures rise again - it really blows hard. Anyway, night one was now shot, with some headaches to attend to first thing in the morning due to the botched backup. The second night went much better - the server behaved itself and a clean system backup was obtained. On the third night the actual point upgrade was installed. It did throw some errors, but I later learned that those errors were because it was trying to upgrade an application that we do not have. The end result is that the bookstore server is now up to date on all it's software.
Oh, did I mention that in between doing this upgrade, an Ingram database update also came in. These have to be run at night now, too. It went very well except for one thing. I forgot to start it at night, so had to hotfoot it into the server room at 6:30 a.m. and get that going so it would be ready when everyone came in to work at 8:00 a.m. It's a good thing I live so close by! I"m ready for a break from these evening/night projects.
Posted by rossm at 3:30 PM | Comments (0)
May 3, 2006
Preparing for Physical Inventory
Well, June is shaping up to be an interesting month. Physical inventory at the Bookstore is scheduled for the 22nd and 23rd, and physical inventory for Stores is scheduled for the 30th. Oh, boy. The interesting news this week, though, is that I've been working on prepping some laptops from Nathan to use instead of buying/renting Telxons or PDAs. If we can make the laptops work, this will save quite a few $$$ - always a good thing. It just so happens that the Bookstore inventory is scheduled between terms, a time when the laptops aren't in high demand.
The issues we still need to resolve are whether the University's wireless network can be used to connect the laptops to the AS/400 (otherwise I'll need a couple miles of cat5 cabling), how to connect good scanners to the laptops, and what terminal emulation software to use. If we can get satisfactory results on these issues, then each laptop will be used to create a live inventory count "batch", which will report any inventory errors immediately. This means, that as each "batch" is completed, it will be error free, and all inventory errors will be caught right as an item is counted. This is much easier than trying to resolve errors after the fact.
I'd like to thank Nathan for his help. Is he the easiest person on campus to work with or what?
Posted by rossm at 9:38 AM | Comments (0)
April 18, 2006
Going Production With 2005.2 Upgrade
Last night and early this morning the 2005.2 MBS upgrade was applied to the AS/400 server. It went mostly pretty smoothly except for a glitch around CD #4. Both the upgrade and the addendum have been added and the GUI updates are on the server.
This upgrade is interesting in that MBS has now applied a Java GUI interface to it's main program - we use TextAid (as opposed to TA2). But, this interface doesn't work for the retail side (separate programs we also use). So now we have a Java/Web login for TextAid, the old GUI interface for our other programs, and a command login (called Green Screen) that works for everything. Somewhat confusing!
This upgrade also converted our website to use Java and the Apache web server. Hopefully, this will clear up a recurring order error we've been receiving.
Tonight I'll be doing a full system backup to protect all the work involved in the upgrade.
Posted by rossm at 2:21 PM | Comments (0)
April 12, 2006
Bookstore RUSH Week Goes Well, System Upgrade Scheduled
The week of April 3rd was Spring term rush week, and it went by quite well. This is the term where we place a register in the WUC lobby near the elevator to deal with commencement/graduation purchases. It requires the stringing of a pretty long cat5 cable back into the bookstore. In the past we have used WUC's lift to assist in placing the cable above the ceiling, but this year we improvised with a long pole (light bulb changer) and some luck. It went pretty smoothly. IBM has recently come out with a wireless cash register and I have placed one on my wish list - it would be perfect for this kind of application.
By the way, the long awaited 2005.2 upgrade is scheduled for Monday night, April 17th. This is a major upgrade touching pretty much every piece of the MBS software application. It also abandons the Sealms/seagull GUI interface in favor of a Java web-based GUI interface. A late night is in my future! The java interpreter and new web server have already been installed and have been in use for about a month. After a few "gotchas" things seem to have smoothed out.
Posted by rossm at 9:48 AM | Comments (0)
March 20, 2006
2005.2 Upgrade "In the Mail"
Two new services (a Java JRE and a Sealms daemon for the GUI interface)have been added to the Bookstore's server, and the 2005.2 upgrade CD's are in the mail as of late last week. Interestingly, the MBS 2005.2 Upgrade "Addendum" CD has already arrived. The Addendum is to be applied after the upgrade to correct errors in the upgrade. Yes, I am glad we took a good, long look at the upgrade and didn't just jump in there and apply it right when it was first made available. The upgrade (and Addendum) will probably be applied one night next week as this week is buyback and not good timing for messing with the server.
Posted by rossm at 9:01 AM | Comments (0)
February 23, 2006
MBS 2005.2 Upgrade Moves Forward - Slowly
The MBS software is due for a major upgrade, called 2005.2 (even though it's now 2006). In order for this to happen our web server needs to be upgraded, Java needs to be installed, then the 2005.2 upgrade can be installed. Well, let's just say that so far we've gotten our web server switched over to an Apache web server. The entire upgrade should be accomplished in about 3 weeks (so, realistically maybe 4 or 5 weeks). But, we've learned not to be in too big a hurry on these upgrades as the first few stores that implement them wind up being guinea pigs and ironing out the inevitable conflicts/bugs that pop up. So, my goal is to just keep pushing the thing forward.
On a related note, we have been informed that our MBS web store has been scheduled for obsolescence. This means that it will no longer be supported by MBS after December 31, 2006. MBS has a new product, called InSite, that replaces their generic web product. InSite is technically superior as it resides on their beefy server, not on our local server. It also allows for much more flexibility in the design of the site. It also costs more (I'm guessing). We're in the process of collecting the relevant information such as costs, migration, and development.
Posted by rossm at 1:18 PM | Comments (0)
February 16, 2006
POS Controller V3R3 Upgrade
Last night I burned the "midnight" oil and stayed over in the bookstore to apply an application upgrade. This is the upgrade that is supposed to prevent the controller from randomly re-booting itself and taking all our cash registers off line.
The upgrade went smoothly and the store re-opened this morning as normal. Now we wait and see if this was the cure.
Posted by rossm at 1:50 PM | Comments (0)
February 9, 2006
Recent Happenings at the Bookstore
I spent some hours last Monday night upgrading the MBS system and backing up the POS (no, it stands for Point Of Sale) controller. Everything went very well, and it was good to have the system all up to date with fresh backups of everything.
However, the POS has started acting up. It has developed a nasty habit of doing a system dump and shutting itself off at random times. This has the unfortunate effect of taking all of the cash registers off line. A call to MBS verified that a number of their customers had this problem after, guess what, performing the latest upgrade.... To make a long story short, the repairs are "in the mail" and should be applied to that POS Monday night.
It's not all bad news, though. The upgrade came with a newer version of the GUI tool (this is an IBM system running OS/400, so a graphical interface is not automatic like with Windows - it is an add-on). I've gotten all of the bookstore desktop PC's upgraded to this new version, and it has improved the interface for the system users.
Posted by rossm at 1:19 PM | Comments (0)
January 19, 2006
Terrible Tuesday
You know, the bookstore's MBS application does give us grief on occasion, but usually it's pretty stable. Tuesday was the exception that proves the rule.
First, a call from Kristi - The registers are beeping and going off line. No customers can be served. Man, again??!! Pulling up MRTG showed a huge spike in traffic across the switch. This has been a recurring problem, with NO ryme or reason to it. What could be hitting the switch so hard at 8:00? On a hunch I asked Kristi to go downstairs and see if anyone was in the computer lab. Hello, Rick! He was dutifully ghosting half the lab. Well, what do you know, ghosting the lab causes the bookstore registers to totally quit working.
Second thing.
Another call from Kristi?? Now what? Nobody can buy books off our web site. Why not? Oh, no current "term". Well, digging through the admin pages, I see there's a Winter 06 term that doesn't end until Feb 2nd. That's OK. BUT, there's a second entry point, on a totally different page - limiting the time when books can be bought and it's set to Jan. 13, 2006. Switch to Jan. 31, 2006, and voila! All the students who still need to buy textbooks for this term on the web can do so.
Third, and while all of the above was happening, an http default thread was observed to be using about 50% of the server's CPU cycles. Ending the thread merely moved it to another one. Stopping and re-starting the http server did nothing. A call to MBS internet support revealed that this problem had been encountered one other time. Four hours later I was convinced that there was no MBS solution available, however it did seem that placing a packet policy in place would probably be propitious. An email for help to Troy and Travis with the offending IP was the cure. Thanks, guys!
NOT a quiet day at the bookstore!
Posted by rossm at 2:28 PM | Comments (0)
January 13, 2006
Another Good Rush Week
Well, here I am tempting fate again, but the Bookstore is finishing up another Rush Week, and things have been mighty quiet (knock on wood) with one exception. You may recall that last year we had a terrible time when two modems decided to die at the same time thereby leaving us with no way to verify credit cards except to call in by hand for each customer - a very bad situation. Well, on Monday as I was checking out our credit card stuff, our backup modem just conked out - dead as a doornail! Fifteen minutes later a replacement was ordered from MBS and Tuesday morning it was received and replaced well before 11:00 a.m. As it turned out, we didn't need to use the backup, but there was no way I was leaving us open for a repeat of the double modem failure. Today, the extra registers will be put away until next term.
This might be a good time to mention that we are considering upgrading to a web based credit card verification service, which would eliminate the need for the modems......
Posted by rossm at 9:47 AM | Comments (0)
September 30, 2005
"Rush" Week a Success!
Even though I jinxed myself and reported that our system was working well even before rush week was over, the Bookstore enjoyed a very good rush week this term. The credit goes to Kristi and the Bookstore staff. Also, Bill Nix at Telecom and Paul Lambert at University Computing who got the Werner Center's new switch installed.
For the first half of this week it was all registers, full speed ahead, and not a slowdown or breakdown in sight.
Yesterday, though, the jinx thing did *almost* kick in as our credit card verification service started acting up. The check-out line ballooned like a beached whale in the summer heat as the dreaded "call service center" message was returned for credit card purchases. (This means call them on the telephone - one phone call per customer. Oh man, that slows you down in a hurry!) This is not a function of our system, it was working just fine, but it doesn't matter - service slows way down. Anyway, before I could get off hold waiting for MBS the service started working again - temporary glitch, I guess.
So, except for that one close call, the Bookstore was working full bore, overtime, to serve the students and campus community. Yay!
Posted by rossm at 9:06 AM | Comments (0)
September 27, 2005
It's "Rush Week" at the Bookstore - New Equipment is Helping
Welcome back students and faculty! The first week of each term has historically been mighty busy at the bookstore, and this year is no different. All seven registers have been placed online and several hundred website pre-term orders have been filled. The new switch that was installed in the WUC earlier this year has resolved our pesky network slowdown issues, and the registers are operating normally, even with the increased traffic load.
Last year we also replaced two modems on the Point of Sale server. One of these modems handles credit card verifications, and it is handling the higher credit card verification volume very well.
Also, we have replaced several of the handheld register scanners over the past year. At the main register, check out our wireless scanner - it is pretty cool and can scan items more than 30 feet from the register (just for fun). We are implementing a long term plan to replace the older Symbol handhelds with newer equipment. So far, we have replaced three of about eleven that need to be upgraded.
Finally, we are nearly done with replacement of the five backup tapes used for daily backups of our system. Our old tape set was three years old, and several of the tapes had started throwing data errors. The bad tapes have been replaced and the entire replacement set should be in use by next week.
All in all the equipment upgrades have really helped reduce the problems we have historically experienced during rush week. Thanks to Kristi, Kris, Margy and the entire bookstore staff for all the improvements which should make things run much more smoothly!
Posted by rossm at 9:30 AM | Comments (0)
August 25, 2005
History is Made: MBS Meets CBORD!!
After years of testing, fiddling, upgrading, cursing, and anything else we could think of, it finally happened. MBS met up with CBORD, they talked together nicely, and about 6 transactions from the bookstore's cash register to the CBORD server were successfully completed. Many thanks to Mike Ellis and Bill Nicks for pulling this one together!
This makes way for further development of the "Wolf" card, whereby students will have separate accounts for their meal plans and bookstore needs on the same card. Funds can be added to a student's Wolf card for purchasing books and/or meals, and the Wolf card will work much like a credit card. The funds may not be comingled, that is, you can not use your meal plan money at the bookstore, or vice versa, but the same card tracks both accounts.
There are a number of details that need to be ironed out, but the technical framework is finally in place to allow development of the Wolf card!
Posted by rossm at 1:14 PM | Comments (0)
June 10, 2005
WOU Bookstore Activates Online Webstore
The WOU Bookstore has launched it's new Online Store. Be sure to check it out for ordering textbooks, clothing, giftware, and other items. You can also order books for pickup at the WOU Bookstore.
The website is connected directly to the WOU Bookstore's textbook database, so you can see what books are required for courses you are taking and order them online.
Other information available at the Online Store includes Hours, Contacts, Buyback, and Returns Policy.
So, surf on over and check it out at: Online Store
Posted by rossm at 9:10 AM | Comments (0)