HP Visualize J5000 hp visualize workstation - Migrating UNIX Technical Environ - Page 2

Introduction 02/04/00 This paper describes tools and techniques for migrating and porting UNIX technical environments to Windows NT. The ideas provided here assume that the decision to migrate to NT has been thoughtfully made. These ideas are centered around the following two concerns: § How to transition UNIX technical environments to Windows NT § How to port UNIX technical applications to Windows NT Windows NT systems are being integrated into the traditional technical UNIX environment. With this integration comes the challenge to ensure that engineers being provided NT workstations have the same functionality and environment they have come to expect from their UNIX systems. This of course involves interoperability at the file/print and security levels. The transition of these systems into the technical environment includes the migration of scripts and desktop environments for continued access to UNIX-based technical applications and data. The quest for higher performance and seamless integration of engineering functionality onto an NT desktop platform may eventually require the migration of many parts of today's UNIX-based technical applications to Windows NT. The decision to transition engineers, scientists and technical personnel to an NT platform must be balanced with the transition considerations of this platform: § Are all required applications available? § Is sufficient application performance available? § Is the network infrastructure ready to support Windows NT? § Can the current UNIX system environment be duplicated on Windows NT? § Is the IT infrastructure ready to support Windows NT? § Is there enough long-term cost and productivity justification for the transition? Although Windows NT is not identical to UNIX, a transition to this platform for a technical workstation can be managed with the use of appropriate migration tools and techniques. There are three paths available for migrating technical workstations from UNIX to Windows NT. These migration paths can be characterized as follows: § Migrating all of the UNIX environment, data and code to Windows NT platforms § Migrating some of the UNIX environment, data or code to Windows NT workstations § Migrating only the minimal client piece to Windows NT while all data, production code and system environment remains centralized to UNIX Each of these paths has a cost associated with it. These costs can be described in terms of: § Ease of migration § Risk to current systems infrastructure § Acceptance of current personnel § Impact on current system procedures and processes The amount of UNIX centricity or uniqueness imbedded into tools, applications and processes will greatly effect the amount of agony or pleasure associated with each of these cost factors. HP VISUALIZE WORKSTATIONS 1