Bulk of experience
Rationalisation de la production d’éditions

A major bank wishes to be fitted with a multi-environment file server in order to centralise its mass desktop publishing, to keep it for 10 or 15 days, in order to be able to dispatch print jobs to different types of equipment in a highly secure manner.

This bank has operating centres where an IBM Host creates files destined to the various installed print servers. The files are mainly of the metacode kind and, in part, Postscript. The printing material is either page by page Xerox or continuous Xerox and Océ.

There are 8 printing and enveloping sites in France.

Each site has an IBM Host (under MVS) which creates cartridge based printing files, on different servers which allow to either direct Xerox printers page by page, or use continuous Océ, or use the print servers directly in channel mode.

An online connection between the host and the print servers is also possible; some older Xerox printers are still linked to the host on channel mode.

The Bank requires a server solution which is able to relieve the Host from printer management duties and to federate the different servers which are already in place: PRISMA (LCDS and POD) and VIP/VISTA end DocuSp.

First of all, a pilot site needs to be appropriately equipped. Following this, the others must be equipped in the same manner.

The IT department has drawn up a plan of action aimed at rationalising desktop publishing production centres over a period of two years with the following specifics:

• an optimal use and distribution of human and material resources
  
• an architecture which, whether material- or software-related is adapted using a production server,
  
• the gradual replacement of cartridges or bands with the network,
  
• removing all channel connections between the host and desktop publishing sites
  
• checking the correct functioning of the equipment in place through data recovery on the servers linked to the printers,
  
• organising the accurate scheduling of printing tasks,
  
• supplying daily statistics to follow up on the files which are received and handled.
  
• managing the link between remote sites
  
• automatic updating of the printing resources
  

The offer is based on a hardware platform, on which the software which is based on the Printnet PA. product is installed.

The file retention period is estimated at between 10 and 15 days. The solution incorporates a hardware backup server and an on-the-spot relief software system. Any file system transfer must henceforth be carried out using the Pelican transfer tool.

Following the installation of a prototype, a double server configuration was developed as a backup.

Test production was then launched. After two months of test production, the formula was released and other sites were launched.

This solution fully meets the customer’s and desktop publishing production centre’s expectations.

Operators have adopted this solution, which ensures reliable and secure desktop publishing in optimal financial conditions.