Aleph 19 Update: February 23, 2009

How is your testing of version 19 going? What? Haven’t started yet?

Do you have the version 19 client installed? No?

Well, this is a gentle reminder that your input is very valuable to us at PALS as we move into the final stages of preparation for the version 19 upgrade. If you haven’t taken a look yet, please try to do so this week. And, if you work with Course Reserves, it is very important for you to look at your data as soon as possible – preferably by the end of this week. The PALS staff has been testing the new version, but we don’t always use the software the same way that you do, so your input is critical.

March is right around the corner, and, believe it or not, in order to complete the version 19 upgrade by March 22, we’ll need to begin the preliminary technical work on the production server this Friday. So, if you discover any problems with version 19, we would like to know about them as soon as possible. Bug reports should go to the PALS Support Center: http://pals.custhelp.com/. We ask that you choose ‘Version 19 Upgrade’ as the Product, and put the module and a concise problem description in the subject line (ex. Circulation - Backup Mode). If something turns up later, we could still delay the upgrade, but it would be easier on everyone if it doesn’t happen at the last minute. If we don’t hear of any major issues by the end of this week, we will assume that all is well and proceed with the goal of going live on March 22.

Following is an update on the work completed, in progress, and coming up.

Completed

Data from the production Aleph server has been loaded to dev19 and we have completed two test upgrades on the development server.
The version 19 production zone has been created.
The Aleph version 19 Release Notes are now available on the PALS web site at http://www.mnpals.org/aleph/syslibs/19docs/19release-all.pdf.
The version 19 clients are ready and can be downloaded at http://www.mnpals.org/sections/aleph19download.html.
The version 19 web OPACs are available on dev19.mnpals.net
The Course Reserves data review document and recorded session have been completed and are now available at http://www.mnpals.org/aleph/syslibs/course.html under ‘PALS Created Training Material’.
Three information sessions have been completed. The session notes for each module are available at http://www.mnpals.org/sections/Aleph_Docs.html, select ‘Aleph Documentation’, then the module, and look under ‘PALS Created Training Material’.
The Course Reserves web training sessions have been scheduled for March 5, 12, and 18. Registration is now open for these sessions at http://www.abcsignup.com/view/view_month.aspx?as=16&aid=PALS&wp=112 . The deadline is Monday, March 2.

In progress

The PALS staff is testing version 19.
Information sessions are being conducted now through March 6.
An STP Checklist document is being prepared.
Libraries are reviewing Course Reserves data and testing version 19 functionality.
Libraries are checking version 19 staff permissions for Course Reserves and Services and modifying as needed, keeping track of changes so they can be re-entered on production after STP. This will be covered in the Systems information session.

Coming up

Work on the production server will begin on Friday. Tables and data will be copied from dev19 so we can do some testing.
The Course Reserves web training sessions will be held March 5-18. See above for registration information.
The use of the ‘harp’ domain name for the production server will be discontinued in April. We will use the generic name ‘aleph’ so that it is not dependent on the physical server on which it resides. See the announcement that was sent on January 15 for details.
The production server will be down for a few hours on a Saturday on the weekend that we do the switch over. The web OPAC and MnPALS Plus will be redirected to dev18 during this time. This is tentatively planned for March 21, but is contingent on the testing that is in progress.