[nylug-talk] Comparing RISC with CICS processor

[Gary Mort]

alex at pilosoft.com wrote:
> This is 2007. Get with the program. Please explain the *business reason* 
> behind replacing very old hardware with more very old hardware.
>   

Well, the current hardware needs to be updated since none of it is 
available anymore.  IE if the motherboard goes, that system is toast and 
rebuilding it will take a great deal of time and much will be 
lost(especially since to save money they don't back up all the data on 
the system).

Now, as for replacing old failing hardware with old reliable and 
replaceable hardware, there you have it.  With a replacement system, 
they can get hardware support and replacements if anything fails.  And 
they get it for very little cost.

Now, please don't ask me to explain the business justification for run 
programs that are funneling and producing millions of dollars in cost 
savings, yet not being able to justify 5-10k to replace the hardware 
with new hardware(and note: that funding is all 'fictional' money since 
they buy the hardware from themselves)

However, I have the deal with the reality that this group can't get 
funding to replace hardware unless it breaks.  And then they ask why it 
broke and why I didn't warn of the problems(I mean I only bring it up in 
every meeting and send an email to all party members involved every 
month.  Obviously it's not their fault, right? :-))

I also have to deal with the fact that my management doesn't want to 
drop the project despite the issues(well, ok, they have tried 3 times 
over the past 7 years and each time instead of dropping it back into 
their laps, we actually took on more responsibility for managing their 
systems and monitoring their programs AND cut our budget.  Note: I said 
responsibility, not control.  That they have firmly kept.)

*shrug*