Subject: Re: [KLUG Members] Redhat 8.0

[Adam Williams]

>I had never thought about using separate file systems for separate
>partitions, etc. (Hey, I'm a biochemist by training. The computer stuff is

And I'm an electrical technician,  but we can all learn new things....
everyday in this line of work.

>all self-taught, and now I have to support a 50+ host network. Sometimes I
>feel like a fireman on the fourth of July, I don't know which fire to put
>out first.)

The one nearest to where the suits live! :)

>As for the size of the database, I don't know how big it will grow as the
>application is ported from an ancient Lotus 123 giant macro accessing a
>couple hundred WK4 files to a real database application. As WK4 files the
>application and all of the associated files take up about 200 MB.

Ah!  Thats enough to give one nightmares.

>The current Lotus 123 custom application manages production inventory and
>order fulfillment for the production department only. Eventually we want to
>integrate into our financials, but we are a small company and close to a
>crisis with this application.

Sounds like it was a crisis in waiting when it was first created.

>The chemist who wrote the macro and still maintains it, has retired. A

And left behind lots of documentation on all the ins-n-outs of how it
works? :)  

Why do I already know the answer to this question?  I've had the
"pleasure" of commandeering 13 pre-existing networks so far.  And all
but one had NO DOCUMENTATION WHATSOEVER.  That one exception:  I can't
sat it had none - there were two 3x5 cards taped to the server (which
included the root password :). 

>programmer has been hired to re-write the app using an open source database
>backend and php for the front end to get us off the MS upgrade
>merry-go-round.

Great!

If you've got data to grind you might want to do that part in something
like C or Java.  Heavy processing isn't really something PHP is cut out
for.  But bringing them together with XML-RPC is easy.

>Once that is done, I am hoping I can talk the boss into putting him on the
>GNUe manufacturing software project. That would get us an integrated
>manufacturing and financials solution that would interface with the
>production department app.

The GNUe project is fascinating.  I haven't checked in on them in
awhile,  what does it look like these days?  Usable yet?

>Once again, thanks for the feedback, and I am sure I will be asking some
>more specific questions as we move forward on this.

Thats what we are here for.

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