MESSAGE HANDLING FACILITY (MHF) (Sanitized)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84-00933R000100160002-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 23
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 15, 2003
• Sequence Number: 2
• Content Type: MF

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ILLEGIB
MEMORANDUM FOR: information Handling Systems Archi`c: ct, DDA
S1JJ JECT: Message Handling Facility (M;HF)
The O fice of Ccmm-un _ca`tions, as part c the Netwo k
Cap tai izat ion Program, is p nning for the r lace tl.en of
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Handling Facility (MH ) . Attached for yo :r infor~"n .tsc:.
a :paper de ling wi h the scope of the MHi a:i c the approach
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and Office Of Data i r ocess J ~' e Sori n~ l , is now in the process
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Section page
Subject . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Current Situation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Management Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
The Development Approach . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Initial CDS Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Requirements Since Initial CDS Design . . . . . . 5
CDS Enhancements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
ACT-0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Other Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
New Initiatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Full Operational Capability (FOC) . . . . . . . . 8
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) . . . . . . . 10
4. IOC MANAGEMENT ISSUES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Funding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Personnel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Organizational Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Flexibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Impact of New Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Implementation Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Assumptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Phase Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
6. CONCLUSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
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7. GLOSSARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
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1.1 SUBJECT
This document addresses a program to replace the Cable
Dissemination System (CDS). CDS is a computer system
performing dissemination, printing, and distribution of
cables sent to or from Headquarters. Because of increasing
traffic volumes, expense involved in modifying the existing
system, and new requirements, CDS is expected to face
difficulty satisfying all requirements placed upon it by the
mid-1980's. For purposes of the following discussion, a
replacement system performing CDS functions will be referred
to as the Message Handling Facility (MHF).
This replacement effort is proposed as a transition from
the existing configuration to an initial operational
capability in a general purpose environment. This initial
capability will perform CDS functions and have the
flexibility to accommodate enhancement, leading to a final
capability satisfying the full spectrum of cable
dissemination and delivery requirements. Examples of these
requirements include facilities to support the concepts of
electronic cable delivery, electronic origination,
electronic mail systems, and on line cable storage systems
performing registry and archive functions.
1.2 CURRENT SITUATION
Since the CDS functional specifications were formulated in
the early 1970's, the system has been challenged by evolving
user service requirements. Both hardware and software
modifications have been made to CDS to meet the growing
needs. Future expansion of CDS using current hardware and
software is impractical due to the limited capability of the
hardware, the obsolete design, the limited availability of
trained personnel, and the high labor costs and risks
associated with modification to the existing software.
Cable handling systems have been developed external to
CDS in order to meet the customer requirement for electrical
copy as well as hard copy, to satisfy the growing need for
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CDS connection to other computer systems, and to ensure the
timely handling of an increasing volume of traffic.
Examples of these systems are: ODP's Automated Message
Processing System (AMPS), which electrically distributes
selected messages directly to customers' application
programs via the ODP network; NFAC's Message Routing System
(MRS), which sorts traffic prior to distribution, a function
the Cable Secretariat performs manually; and the Automated
Printing and Reproduction System (APARS), presently under
development by OC, which speeds up the distribution function
which is also manually handled by Cable Secretariat.
The Automated Communication Terminal - Originating
(ACT-0) system, which handles formatting and editing of
originating messages, predates CDS and is implemented on
hardware no longer commercially supported. With the current
spare parts on hand and by refurbishing its peripherals, it
is projected that the ACT-O can continue to provide reliable
service until the mid-1980's.
1.3 MANAGEMENT ISSUES
The major growing customer requirement on CDS is to provide
electrical copy to other computer systems. This need is
expected to increase as major information processing
systems, such as SAFE and COMET, become fully operational.
SAFE and COMET will be major users of CDS; therefore, their
present and projected needs will be a part of the MHF system
requirements. However, the operational dates of these
systems do not affect this development as CDS can
accommodate their near term requirements.
The costs of implementing the CDS and ACT-0 functions in
new hardware and software have not been identified, and the
replacement effort today is unfunded. A joint OC/ODP/CDS
user team will be formed to specify MHF requirements and
review the project's progress.
1.4 THE DEVELOPMENT APPROACH
The development effort will be broken into the logical
phases used in most large system efforts today: Problem
Definition, Requirements, System Design (both preliminary
and detailed), Development of Software (Programming),
Testing and Acceptance of the system. This paper is the
product of the problem definition phase of the effort.
The next phase, Requirements, will identify the baseline
functions of the current CDS and ACT-0 that must be
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delivered in the Initial operating capability (IOC) of the
MHF. Additional requirements will be addressed in order to
ensure the design is open-ended and flexible enough to be
easily modified over the system life.
One major evaluation during the requirements phase will
be the feasibility of using existing in-house ODP hardware
(IBM 370/158), which will be available in the time frame
needed for this system. A decision must be made early in
the requirements phase in order to plan for procurement of
hardware if this in-house hardware will not satisfy the
requirements.
A second major consideration during the requirement phase
will be the determination of the space requirement of the
proposed system, due to the long lead times needed in space
planning.
The system will be introduced in phases, replacing
obsolete hardware with commercially-supplied equipment and
expanding upon the new system as required. Therefore, the
new system will be designed to operate on a family of
general-purpose computers that will allow ease of future
expansion to the newer faster machines without a system
redesign. Software will be written in a high-level language
in order to minimize development costs and to improve the
maintainability of the software.
1.5 CONCLUSION
The existing cable dissemination functions can be performed
on a general purpose computer system. Transfer of these
functions can occur in a timely and cost effective fashion.
This cooperative effort will provide the Agency a new
flexibility in dealing with future communication
requirements.
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The interchange of electrical information between
Headquarters and other members of the Intelligence Community
is controlled by two computer switching centers. The
Message Automated Exchange (MAX) interconnects members of
the Agency's network, AXANET, and provides lines of
communication to other networks. The Data Exchange (DATEX)
provides a similar switching service for users who
communicate data traffic, which is typically produced by and
used in automated systems. DATEX also processes certain
segments of narrative traffic. The Headquarters
communications terminal functions are performed by the Cable
Dissemination System (CDS) and the Automated Communications
Terminal-Originating (ACT-O). This section describes the
relationships between these systems and their present
status.
2.1 INITIAL CDS DESIGN
The CDS was originally conceived as the interface between
Headquarters personnel who send and receive cables and OC's
switches. As such, for outgoing traffic it accepted hard
copy originating traffic, converted it to electrical form,
and passed it to the ACT-O for reformatting and subsequent
transmission to the addressee via MAX. CDS also received
incoming electrical cable traffic from MAX, analyzed the
traffic and, based on the analysis, produced hard copies for
each of the appropriate action and information components
within the Agency. The actual analysis operation was
accomplished by a combination of CDS software and decisions
input from human analysts and resulted in a dissemination
list. Distribution, the act of moving the disseminated
messages to the customers, was routinely accomplished by
printing the messages on Cable Secretariat printers,
reproducing the number of copies required on Xerox machines,
and manually distributing the printed copies to the
customers. CDS also included a limited electrical
distribution capability.
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2.2 REQUIREMENTS SINCE INITIAL CDS DESIGN
Since the CDS functional specifications were formulated in
the early 1970's, the system has been required to cope with
steadily increasing traffic volumes and, increasingly
sophisticated customers who need, in addition to the
traditional hard-copy services, electrical distribution of
cable traffic to and from applications programs residing in
other computer systems. Both kinds of service must be
provided in an environment of changing customer
capabilities, machine to machine communications protocols,
and faster response time requirements. Consequently, CDS
hardware and software have undergone constant modification
to improve system performance.
2.3 CDS ENHANCEMENTS
A performance study completed in 1978 identified several
bottlenecks and recommended software rewrites to eliminate
them. A disk upgrade was completed in 1979 which increased
the system's thruput and on-line storage capacity. A
provision for reserve core and an increase in computing
power are the objectives of ongoing projects. Additionally,
the CDS contractor
has announced the availability of an expanded
main memory which should improve system performance and
increase available reserve memory. The Office of
Communications has contracted to modify CDS for
the purpose of incorporating this new memory into the
system, and delivery is scheduled for spring 1982. At the
conclusion of these efforts, the system should have the
thruput necessary to accommodate traffic levels anticipated
through the mid-1980's. While some expansion of CDS to
include new functions will then be theoretically possible,
only maintenance level changes will be practical because of
the limited availability of trained personnel, the labor
intensity required to change the system, and the risk
associated with major change.
The ACT-0 is a companion system to CDS and handles
formatting and editing of originating messages before they
are sent to MAX for transmission. ACT-0 predates CDS and is
implemented with processors and peripherals no longer
commercially supported. A staff study completed in early
1980 examined alternatives available to prolong the lifespan
of the ACT-0 hardware, which has essentially expired.
Because of the historical reliability of the processor
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itself and the complement of processor spares on hand, the
study recommended refurbishment of the peripherals relying
on moving parts for their operation (e.g.- disk and tape
drives). The ACT-0 system is presently operating in a
reduced configuration during the initial attempts to
refurbish these peripherals. When this refurbishment is
complete, ACT-0 is also expected to provide reliable service
through the mid-1980's
2.5 OTHER SYSTEMS
For the near term (mid-1980's), then, the existing hardware
and software should be able to maintain the level of service
provided today. System enhancements involving minor changes
in CDS function or operation will be possible but expensive.
Enhancements involving functional changes will be more
economically implemented in new systems supplementing CDS
rather than by changing the existing hardware and software.
Various customers, because of limited CDS flexibility, have
implemented their own systems to improve cable delivery
through electrical distribution. The primary electrical
circuit for these cables is the connection to ODP. The
Automated Message Processor System (AMPS) in ODP receives
the cables in electronic form from CDS and then distributes
them to all the customers as indicated on the CDS
dissemination list. The customers are in reality computer
systems and terminals within the ODP Ruffing Computer
Center, e.g. OCR's COLTS (Computer On Line Text Search) and
OLTA (On Line Text Analysis) data base storage and retrieval
systems. One of the customers, NFAC, has developed a
printing and duplicating system called the Message Routing
System (MRS). As more dissemination points are recognized
by MRS, the printing and duplicating services provided by
Cable Secretariat for NFAC will be decreased.
2.6 NEW INITIATIVES
Initiatives to improve cable service are expected to
continue to take the approach of implementing new systems in
an add-on fashion to the existing facilities. Changes in
CDS and ACT-0 are too labor-intensive and expensive to be
cost effective. As an example, the Automated Printing and
Reproduction System (APARS) is being designed to emulate the
present CDS printers. APARS is a system of computer
controlled printers presently under development by OC which
will result in enhancements to cable services but require no
modification to CDS hardware or software. APARS will:
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1. replace the present Cable Secretariat Reproduction
Section printers
2. sort, print and duplicate messages
3. allow high volume users to have messages sent
electrically to a remote APARS for printing rather
than being printed in the Cable Secretariat
4. allow analysts at remote APARS installations to add
to the CDS dissemination list before printing and
sorting
5. allow for long-term storage of message traffic at
the remote APARS sites for reference purposes.
APARS will not change the time CDS takes to disseminate
messages but will speed the distribution process by reducing
the manual duplicating and sorting requirements of the Cable
Secretariat.
There is an increasing demand for CDS delivery of cables
in electronic form instead of, or in addition to, hardcopy
as evidenced by APARS and the proposed NFAC SAFE and DO
COMET systems. Since CDS does not have usable electrical
ports to service these systems, it has been proposed that
CDS traffic be routed to the DATEX system. The DATEX system
would then switch the cables to appropriate circuits (e.g.
AMPS, SAFE, COMET and future systems). The proposed
switching by DATEX is still being developed and evaluated.
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The scope of the MHF project is defined below in terms of an
initial capability and a full capability. The full
capability is described as the general direction in which
the local cable handling network will evolve, and will be
explored in more detail as part of the requirements phase.
The initial capability is proposed as the transition to a
flexible environment from which evolution to full capability
can proceed.
3.1 FULL OPERATIONAL CAPABILITY (FOC)
As described in the preceeding section, the Cable
Dissemination System today finds itself the center of the
Agency's local cable handling network but unable to grow and
change as the network requirements evolve. This evolution
is proceeding in several directions:
1. Delivery--Hardcopy distribution was seen as the
primary means of delivery from CDS. To support the
increasing need for electrical delivery, an ad hoc
network of message switches (as implemented by
AMPS/MPS, DATEX and APARS) is appearing.
MHF at FOC will fully support electrical delivery,
but will do so via the MERCURY network switch. MHF
will thus become a service of the general
communication network, rather than a switching node
for its own cable distribution network. Functions
such as queueing when a delivery circuit is not
operational, switching via alternate routes, etc.,
will be accomplished by the MERCURY network. The
centralized printing of cable traffic by APARS
followed by sorting and hardcopy distribution will be
retained for those requirements where an electrically
delivered copy is not feasible or appropriate and for
backup purposes.
2. Origination-- Just as delivery, origination today is
implemented by the movement of hardcopy cables. As
general services become available to create, edit,
coordinate and release a cable electrically, the
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communication network will move messages to MHF at
FOC without requiring the creation of paper.
Hardcopy origination services will continue to be
supported as a backup and for those cases where
electric origination is not available.
3. Electronic Mail-- The MHF customer will have the
ability to request delivery to any, all, or a
combination of the following: a general (non-SAFE)
electronic mail system, specialized information
processing systems, the conventional paper mail
system, and advance copy circuits (e.g.--watch
offices). The electronic mail concept will be fully
supported by MHF, although MHF itself will not
provide the electronic mail facilities.
4. New Message Types-- With increased electrical
communication capabilities in the years ahead,
particularly to overseas locations, will come the
requirement to reduce the quantity of information now
delivered by pouch. To the extent existing policies
for dissemination of cable and telepouch traffic will
not apply to this information, MHF will have to have
the flexibility to accommodate new cable types and
dissemination policies. The transfer of information
in the Headquarters area by memoranda (or any
document where the originator determines full
dissemination) is outside the scope of the MHF. This
transfer will more appropriately be provided by a
general electronic mail service and be supported by
the communication network. However, for cases where
document dissemination by MHF is desired, the
electronic mail system can identify the document as
command channel correspondence and MHF dissemination
will follow.
5. Electronic Registry-- In that the MHF will not
provide long term on-line storage and retrieval
functions, it will not serve as a registry itself.
It will, however, support the electronic registry
concept. A centralized cable archive could be
provided as an additional network general service
function. This archive will permit centralized
control of cable storage and redistribution, thus
preventing unnecessary duplicate storage. Due to
differing requirements for individual registries and
compartmentation of information, multiple electronic
registries might be more practical and this concept
will also be supported.
There are two possible, but radically divergent FOC
implementation alternatives for the MHF. In one
implementation, the MHF would continue to be the center of a
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local cable handling network, essentially serving as the
interface between the communications network and the various
host systems or users themselves. In the other FOC
implementation, the MHF would provide only a dissemination
service for certain classes of information transiting the
communication network. The actual interface to the host
systems cTnd to the users would be provided by the
communication network.
The second. implementation alternative not only eliminates
duplicated effort between the communication network and the
MHF, but also eliminates duplication of effort and services
between the various host systems and the MHF.
The final form of the MHF depends not only on the
functions it can perform but on the services available to
support it, such as the communications network and the
electronic mail system. These other services themselves
will be changing and growing as Agency requirements change.
3.2 INITIAL OPERATIONAL CAPABILITY (IOC)
The first step in moving to this full capability is the
transition from the existing configuration to a general
purpose environment. The accomplishment of this transition
forms an initial, operating capability consisting of the CDS
and ACT-O functions. IOC will provide the basis for this
evolution while supporting the local cable network as CDS
currently does. New functions and CDS enhancements are
beyond the scope of IOC, but will be incorporated as part of
the final capability. The remainder of this document
addresses concerns related to the transition to the initial
operational capability.
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4.1 FUNDING
The costs of implementing the Message Handling Facility have
not been estimated in detail, and the effort is presently
not funded. Cost estimates will be prepared as part of the
requirements phase and form the basis for requesting budget
support. These estimates will address the following areas:
1. Hardware Acquisition: The present system includes a
computer system, high speed printers, disks and other
peripherals, a network of some fifty terminals, and
front-end minicomputers. With the exception of the
high speed printers, which are being replaced as part
of the APARS program, the presently installed CDS and
ACT-0 hardware will be replaced as part of the MHF
effort.
2. Development: If the project development is
undertaken as a joint OC/ODP internal software effort
using Agency owned hardware, these costs should
consist mainly of human resources and computer time
to implement the design. If the project is
undertaken as an external development, funds will be
required to execute the contractual cycle.
3. Installation: A significant effort will be required
to prepare the Headquarters Signal Center facilities
for the MHF, to perform the installation and to test
the system. The magnitude of these tasks will be
estimated as a coordinated effort with the
4.2 PERSONNEL
As a joint OC/ODP/CDS user project, the MHF will have
personnel implications for several offices. Prior
coordination has established the nucleus of a project team
consisting of four individuals, two from OC and two from
ODP. This team, with the addition of a representative from
the Cable Secretariat and input from the CDS and ACT-0
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programming staff and from CDS customers, will carry out the
tasks defined in the requirements phase. Personnel
commitments for the remaining phases of the project will be
identified in the requirements phase and will depend on the
implementation chosen.
Specific short term support requirements and options will
be examined in the requirements phase, but certain long term
personnel requirements are independent of the
implementation. The Office of Communications traditionally
has maintained its computer systems at the assembly language
level and relied on the computer vendor to provide systems
programming, hardware/software upgrades, and most program
development. With the transition to general purpose
hardware and software comes the opportunity to implement new
facilities in high level languages and a need for system
programming support. These skills, which will be essential
for long term maintenance of the MHF, are presently not
available in OC. Options to acquire the skills include
retraining OC personnel presently involved in assembly
language programming, hiring new people, and entering into a
long term support arrangement with ODP.
4.3 ORGANIZATIONAL IMPACT
The Message Handling Facility at IOC, as a replacement for
CDS and ACT-O, will have little impact on traditional ways
of doing business. While there will be some changes in
operation and hardware visible to the Cable Secretariat,
these changes should not affect the customers. Significant
changes in daily operations will come, though, when
electrical distribution and origination capabilities are
added. As the Agency moves away from a reliance on hard
copy services and toward electrical services, MHF
requirements will change. MHF will not be a driving force
in this move, but will be able to keep pace with and support
4.4 FLEXIBILITY
The flexibility to control, direct and account for the flow
of electrical information in the Headquarters area is
expected to become an increasingly critical management
concern. Already, CDS is tasked with providing selected
cable traffic to ODP users and, specialized information
processing systems such as SAFE, COMET and CMASS.
Requirements to provide connectivity based on message
content from the communications network to specialized
systems will likely increase as computer hardware costs
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decrease. Meeting these requirements is labor intensive,
time consuming and expensive in today's environment.
Therefore, the new design must be open ended and flexible to
meet these growing requirements.
4.5 SECURITY
The interconnection of computer systems provides both
increased risk of information compromise and opportunity to
control information access. This issue will be addressed as
part of the system design to ensure the access and control
requirements are fully satisfied by the system.
As a part of the communications network, the MHF will be
installed in the Headquarters Signal Center shielded
enclosure to prevent access to information through TEMPEST.
Therefore, no change in the level of TEMPEST protection
provided today is envisioned. Should this existing facility
not prove satisfactory for MHF installation, the location
and shielded enclosure issues will have to be readdressed.
4.6 IMPACT OF NEW SYSTEMS
The next few years will see the arrival of such systems as
SAFE, CRAFT and MERCURY. Each of these systems, in
providing telecommunications or information processing
capabilities that do not exist today, may have significant
impact on the very nature of traffic in the communications
network. For example, the growth of interactive
communications, as supported by MERCURY and CRAFT, may
reduce the use of traditional cables. However, the improved
access to Headquarters data bases, as provided by SAFE, may
increase the volume of traffic in the cable network. While
the specific interfaces for these systems must be provided
for, the MHF program makes no attempt to analyze the
possible long term communications impact of these new
systems.
A spin-off from the SAFE project is a wide band
communications bus designed to provide end-to-end
cryptographic protection and connectivity between terminals
and host computers. The MHF could conceivably make use of
this bus in several ways; e.g.-for general message
distribution, for computer to cable analyst communication,
or for advance copy distribution. The bus, now in
development, may extend in some form to the Headquarters
area out buildings, thus greatly expanding the number of
individuals potentially having direct access to electrical
distribution.
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Another system presently in development is ODP'S AIM
(Automated Information Management System). As an electronic
mail system, AIM may be an appropriate Agency wide vehicle
for the origination and delivery of cables to the individual
level.
4.7 IMPLEMENTATION OPTIONS
Successful implementation of the MHF can be achieved either
through an internal joint OC/ODP effort, through the
contracting process, or through a combination of both. In
addition to the usual tradeoffs to be evaluated in comparing
internal versus external efforts are some additional
considerations. First, an in-house effort will provide
opportunity for OC programmers (who will later be tasked
with software maintenance) to become involved in and
influence the development effort. Next, use of the
contracting option will delay realization of the initial
operating capability. This may mean the MHF cannot be
brought up in advance of MERCURY, and will therefore have to
compete with MERCURY for heavily committed OC resources
during installation, test and acceptance. Finally, the
in-house development effort timing is such that hardware
(IBM 370/158) being made available by ODP can be used.
4.8 FACILITIES
The permanent location for the MHF will be in the
Headquarters Signal Center, where CDS and ACT-O are
presently located. Signal Center renovations to accommodate
the MHF will have to be jointly addressed by the project
teami and ODP's Engineering Division during the
requirements phase.
A second facilities issue concerns the disposition of the
hardware between the time it is no longer required by ODP
and the time it is installed in the Signal Center. Ideally,
temporary facilities would be made available in order that
an operational development system could be configured. if
temporary facilities can not be made available, other
arrangements (such as program development on the ODP
systems) will have to be made for system development and
test.
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5.1 ASSUMPTIONS
This section discusses the structured approach that will be
used to replace the dissemination and distribution systems
with MHF. The steps leading towards successful
implementation of this system are based on the following
assumptions:
1. Introduction of the new system can be accomplished in
phases, replacing obsolete hardware with commercially
supported equipment and expanding upon the new system
from IOC to FOC as required.
2. Commercially available operating system software can
be used, ensuring that as the industry adopts new
techniques, standards and conventions we can keep
pace by incorporating follow-on operating system
releases.
3. Multiple sources will be available for system
hardware and applications software.
4. Applications software can be written in a high level
language, minimizing development costs and optimizing
maintainability.
5. Vendor support in terms of training and maintenance
will be available.
6. Sufficient manpower, budgetary resources, and space
as identified in the requirements phase will be
available.
5.2 PHASE DEFINITIONS
Six major phases of the project are defined which will lead
to successful implementation. These phases are:
1. Problem Definition: This document is the output of
the problem definition phase. The scope of the
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problem has been estimated and approaches to solving
the problem have been considered. The data necessary
to begin the requirements phase has been gathered.
2.
Requirements:
is to collect,
The requirements phase
specify and document the
objective
detailed
goals for the replacement system. A final
collection
of goals, which will represent a compromise of some
of the individual goals, will be identified and form
the basis of the system design. An evaluation of the
suitability of the available ODP hardware will be
made. A Requirements document will be produced and
become the baseline used for the System Design phase
and the acceptance criteria.
3.
System
Design:
For review and control purposes,
system
detail
design
design.
will be broken into a preliminary and a
The preliminary design will employ a
hierarchical, top-down, methodology to satisfy the
system requirements and be predicated on the
selection of a specific hardware architecture. Gross
hardware and software partitions will be made and
functions assigned to each. The detailed design will
further partition hardware and software into
well-defined modules which can be implemented without
further design. A System Design Specification will
be produced and will be the baseline used for the
development phase. A Test Plan and Procedures
document will also be produced for use during the
testing phase to insure that all requirements are
satisfied by the design.
4. Development: The actual implementation of the
design will take place during this phase. Software
modules will be coded and tested; hardware will be
acquired, tested and installed.
5. Testing/Acceptance: Testing will confirm that the
individual modules perform properly together and that
the design and system as implemented will satisfy the
requirements. Acceptance will involve installing the
replacement system and running it according to
pre-established test plan to ensure confidence that
the replacement will operate in a real time
environment as designed.
6. IOC Operation: This will signify completion of
the movement of CDS and ACT-O to a general purpose
environment. _
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5.3 REQUIREMENTS
During the Requirements phase the following major points
will be addressed:
1. the functions of the current CDS and ACT-0 systems;
2. the implications of interfacing systems which
communicate with or plan to communicate with CDS;
3. the physical and security constraints of the new
system;
4. Cable Secretariat functions not adequately supported
by the current CDS and ACT-0 systems;
5. all current and proposed Agency cable
dissemination/distribution systems;
6. use of cable dissemination/distribution systems in
other government agencies;
7. outstanding requirements which cannot be met by the
existing systems;
8. costs and benefits of using a contractor to develop
the system versus in-house development;
9. confirmation that available in-house hardware will
satisfy the requirements;
10. significant user.problems which if not corrected will
force the user to develop remedial systems.
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The CDS and ACT-0 systems are implemented with special
purpose minicomputers designed for a relatively static
environment. With decreasing hardware costs and increased
information handling requirements, these systems have become
the focus of all narrative information flowing to and from
Headquarters. Along with these requirements have come new
communication protocols and techniques which are extremely
expensive to implement on our older equipment. With the end
of the usable lifetime of the hardware approaching, and
faced with high costs of human and financial resources to
make even minor changes, it is an appropriate time to
prepare for the next generation of hardware and software.
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