VLC Upgradation

Presentation By

R.M.Johri Principal Director

( InformationSystems)O/O CAG of India

Background

VLC up gradation was envisaged as a result of the recommendations of AGs conference 2008.

A committee was formed to examine the issue in its totality and give recommendations.

These recommendations were approved by CAG in March 2010 and the project was assigned to IS wing for implementation.

Recommendations of committeeThe application system shall remain the same

and we shall limit ONLY to the up gradation of platform from Oracle 8i to 11G.

We shall move from a 2 tier architecture to a 3 tier architecture.

It shall be done urgently as there is a possibility of disruption as oracle 8i is not supported anymore and the present operating system is not compatible with new servers.

Present Situation

The VLC system ( including GPF Module) runs on a Oracle 8i platform .

The operating system prevalent at the moment is SCO unixware version 7.1.1. to 7.1.4.

Oracle does not provide technical support for the 8i version and hence we do not have any technical support agreement in place.

Steps takenA test site has been created at all the sites

( 26 states and 39 locations ) completely independent of the existing system to ensure no disruption to present working.

All servers have been installed and operating system loaded .

Oracle 11 G licenses have been bought and supplied to all the offices.

Steps takenAn open tender was invited to award the work

of migration from Oracle 8i to Oracle 11g platform.

The open tender has been finalised and the work has been awarded to M/s CMC ltd and M/s Access Infotech ltd .

The work of migration has to take place in 5 stages and is likely to be complete in 16 weeks where only VLC work is there and 24 weeks where both VLC and GPF is to be done.

Stages of ImplementationStage 1 ( 3-4 days) – Preparatory actions – It

will involve -Installation of server, its configuration,

loading of operating system and loading of Oracle 11 G licenses .

Preparation of list of hardware required for testing of migration .

Taking a copy of source code and back up of all database forms and reports for migration.

Stages of ImplementationStage 2 ( 6 to 8 weeks) – It would involve

migration of Oracle database , forms and reports from the 8i to 11 g platform. It can be done offsite or onsite.

Stage 3 ( 4-6 weeks ) – It would involve patitioning of server keeping the 3 tier architecture in mind, loading of migrated database , forms and reports, generation of reports and records , automated and manual checking , training , documentation and acceptance testing

Stages of ImplementationStage 4 ( 4-6 weeks) - It would involve

complete migration to the new platform, complete backup of database, data entry in the upgraded system, transmission of data from branches to HO where ever required, generation of one month’s accounts.

Stage 5 ( 2-4 weeks) – It would involve performance of accounting procedures by our staff under the guidance of service provider for finalisation of annual accounts and annual closing of GPF.

Issues / ChallengesNon availability of source code.Multiplicity of backend and front end

softwares /data.Accounts for the year 2010- 11 shall be

complete in all respects as this forms the base year for migration.

Archival policy .Close supervision by Core Group during

Stage 3 and Stage 4 as complete manual testing is involved and input has to be done on 2 systems.

Freezing of change management.

Thank you