Abilene Christian University releases results of Y2K compatability tests For immediate release March 15, 1999 Abilene, TX - Abilene Christian University completed its first campus-wide, Year 2000 compliance test this past weekend and not only validated concerns about the pending technology issue, but also verified confidences that problems can be remedied. The Information Technology area (IT) of ACU conducted a variety of date rollover tests that exercised computer hardware and software systems. The intention was to simulate exactly the events and tasks that would occur when the real dates arrive. Dates tested during this past weekend were Sept. 8-9, 1999; Dec. 31, 1999, through Jan. 1, 2000; and Feb. 28, 2000, through March 1, 2000. Items tested included most of the core network hardware and software, the primary campus identification card system (Diebold Incorporated's ICAMS), and Microsoft Corporation's Windows NT network operating system. Most tests proved that processing would occur normally through the dates exercised. "We were very pleased that we didn't find many problems," said Jeff Leving, manager of ACU's systems and operations. "It is especially gratifying that the many efforts put in by the IT staff up to this point to correct Y2K problems seem to have paid off." Bob Nevill, manager of ACU's computer and network services, indicated that all FORE Systems networking electronic devices tested okay for Y2K compliance as well as the campus-wide telephone switch. Yet, along with the successes, there were some rough spots. When several systems were advanced to 11:50 p.m. on Dec. 31, 1999, a Windows NT clock application became erratic. "We saw the clock shift back an hour to 10:50 p.m. after the system was started," said April Sims, ACU's systems administrator. This problem may have been attributed to the large jump in the time setting itself, she added. A significant anomaly was confirmed with Microsoft's Windows 95 operating system. Prevalent on the ACU network, one version of this product fails to provide "leap day" (Feb. 29, 2000) at all. ACU's computer support specialist Darrell Fauvel said this was a known issue prior to the testing and plans are being made to correct the problem in the next several months. This can be accomplished with a software fix provided by Microsoft. The fix has been tested and is just a matter of getting it applied to the needed computers. Jim Trietsch, ACU's information technology director, indicated several more test periods will be exercised before the end of the calendar year. There are remaining Y2K issues with the following campus systems: long distance billing, Internet connections, voice mail systems and the modem pool equipment. These systems will be upgraded and tested as vendors release the required Y2K software solutions. Trietsch said, "Our mission includes providing reliable technologies for the ACU community. Testing and correcting technology components involved in the Year 2000 issues are tasks vital to that mission during the rest of 1999 and well into 2000." -30- If you are a member of the media who would like more information about this release, please contact Tom Craig, director of media and community relations, at craigt@nicanor.acu.edu or call 915-674-2692. Last update: March 22, 1999 This page is maintained by Tom Craig, craigt@nicanor.acu.edu. http://www.acu.edu/people/news/990315-y2k.html