http://www.microsoft.com/TechNet/analpln/cs/callahan.htm (PC Press Internet CD, 03/1996)
| Updated: March 14,1996 |  Go To TechNet Home Page |
Industry
Agricultural products
Business Solution
Migration from mainframe to client-server environment for access to sales and management information
Architecture
AS/400 connected to two systems running Windows NT Server and 40 local and 20 remote PCs running Windows for Workgroups; local connection through Microsoft SNA Server on a 16-megabit-per-second Token-Ring network and remote connection through Microsoft Remote Access Server over regular phone lines
Products Used
Customized accounting software from J. D. Edwards
Microsoft Office Professional
Microsoft Remote Access Server
Microsoft SNA Server
Microsoft Windows for Workgroups
Microsoft Windows NT Server
Microsoft Windows NT Workstation
NetSoft Elite 400
NetSoft Midrange Bundle
Showcase ODBC
Showcase Vista
Benefits
Has expedited the flow of product and sales information to managers locally and remotely, reducing their wait for such information from 1-2 weeks to minutes; has eliminated the need for complex network configuration; has reduced pressure on the Information Services department; and has enabled one person to support the company's information services
Figure 1
For nearly two decades, Callahan Enterprises Inc. has helped farmers build a better harvest, with seeds and seed treatments for hardier, healthier crops. Based near Indianapolis, the growing, mid-sized company markets a number of products, in particular a specially coated soybean designed to survive early planting. With this coating, however, the soybean can be sold only as seed and only in one season. Inventory cannot be held from year to year, and disposal is costly and environmentally problematic.
As a result, it's imperative that Callahan keep extremely close tabs on product stock and sales trends. Information must be accessible, current, and complete for everyone from accountants to upper-level managers to some two dozen sales consultants located across five midwestern states.
Until recently, however, this accessibility wasn't possible. For eight years Callahan had run its major information activities on two IBM® System/36TM machines. This system offered limited documentation, costly support, and slow turnaround. Product sales and inventory information, which was stored on the System/36s, could be hard to decipher and was slow to arrive. Employees seeking information might easily wait up to two weeks for reports to be generated through the Information Services (IS) department-or spend extra time at the office.
"It was common to see people working weekends just to get information for themselves or management," says IS Manager Sean O'Farrell. Information quality was another problem. "It was virtually impossible to disseminate complete and current information, particularly to employees who were on the road or working from home."
Launching a Solution
To improve matters, in mid-1993 a team led by O'Farrell replaced the System/36s with an AS/400 system running customized accounting and manufacturing software from J. D. Edwards. Simultaneously, developers began building a client-server environment to network the AS/400 with some 60 personal computers at headquarters and in the field.
After four months of research, O'Farrell and his team decided to use an AS/400 and the Windows NT and Windows® for Workgroups operating systems in their client-server environment. In late 1993, they had Windows NT running on a Gateway 2000® PentiumTM/90 network server and Windows for Workgroups on 10 client PCs, all on a Token-Ring network using an MS-DOS®-based, Data Link Control, direct-data 802.2 link to the AS/400.
Before long, however, configuration under the DLC approach became a problem. "We could easily spend anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours configuring DLC for each PC," O'Farrell says. In response, the developers selected Microsoft® SNA Server as an alternative connection from the AS/400 to the PCs. "Windows NT was already on the server, and because of the network and the AS/400, a Token-Ring card was already in place," O'Farrell explains. "Moreover, Microsoft SNA Server needed no special hardware. It seemed the obvious choice."
In late 1994, developers removed DLC completely. Today, Microsoft SNA Server connects 40 local Windows for Workgroups-based PCs and O'Farrell's Windows NT Workstation-based PC to the main server, which now runs Windows NT Server. The main server attaches to the AS/400 over a 16-megabit-per-second Token-Ring network.
In the field, SNA Server enables the 20 sales consultants to connect their desktop and laptop systems over Microsoft Remote Access Server and use the J. D. Edwards software residing on the AS/400. For mid-range 5250 terminal emulation, the consultants use NetSoft Elite 400; for direct access to the AS/400 they use NetSoft Midrange Bundle, which is a set of utilities that runs on top of SNA Server. All training has been direct from O'Farrell to department managers and department managers to their own employees.
"The Right Tool for the Job"
According to O'Farrell, SNA Server has proved to be remarkably effective. "It's the right tool for the job," he says. "Removing the need for DLC configuration has been a big plus, and SNA Server is also a lot more stable than DLC." Reducing overhead on the client computers is a corollary advantage. "We save about 40K in lower MS-DOS memory, which becomes available for other applications," he points out. SNA Server also enables direct AS/400 connection for other client-server components, such as the high-performance Showcase ODBC and Showcase Vista.
Figure 2
As for bottom-line benefits, O'Farrell reports that managers now have a cleaner and more comprehensive way to work with vital information. Instead of working from the often cryptic "green bar" report of the AS/400, they can transfer data from that system directly into a Word document, a PowerPoint® presentation, or a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. They also can perform an array of mission-critical activities-running "what-if" analyses, changing order rates, comparing sales results, setting allocations-and receive up-to-date results instantly. "No one has to work weekends any more to build these reports," O'Farrell remarks.
According to O'Farrell, SNA Server's ease of configuration and support for remote users are also benefits. "Through its support for Remote Access Server, SNA Server is the only reliable way I know of to connect a remote PC to an AS/400 and have it act as a full peer, just as you can in the office," he explains. "A robust connection like RAS is particularly important for users accessing the system over less-than-ideal rural phone lines in remote farm communities, a common event at Callahan."
Moreover, using their notebook computers, employees can get information whenever and from wherever they want. "The solution empowers people throughout the organization and, at the same time, takes a load off the IS department," explains O'Farrell.
Ease of support is another advantage. "Not only has SNA Sever been bug-free, but it also is one of the few products I've worked with that does exactly what it says it will do," O'Farrell says. "This means that the whole company can get by with basically one computer person."
Poised for Expansion
For the future, Callahan is planning to add ISDN (integrated services digital network) lines so that users can work from home and have near-local response time. As O'Farrell sees it, SNA Server alone makes this possible. "I suppose we could do something like this with another product, but I wouldn't want to try it," he says.
O'Farrell is also considering acquiring Microsoft SQL ServerTM to act as middleware between the AS/400 and users in the field running Windows®-based PC applications developed with Microsoft Access or the Visual Basic® programming system. Once Microsoft SQL Server is in place, developers would use Visual Basic to further customize the J. D. Edwards software, creating an executive information system for field personnel. "It would be like having a miniature J. D. Edwards solution on their machines at home or on the road," he explains.
Whatever happens, O'Farrell adds, having the Microsoft BackOffice products in place provides a major advantage. Because Callahan is growing, the products' scalability, compatibility, and flexible connectivity are particularly important. "We're already poised for expanding the AS/400, so it's nice to know we can do the same to the servers, add new platforms with different operating systems, or tie into leased lines if necessary and not miss a beat," he points out. "Having the AS/400 and Windows NT Server in partnership gives us the potential for great future business-and SNA Server is the glue holding it all together."
For More Information
For more information about Microsoft products, call the Microsoft Sales Information Center at (800) 426-9400. In Canada, call the Microsoft Canada Customer Support Centre at (800) 563-9048. Outside the 50 United States and Canada, please contact your local Microsoft subsidiary.
© 1995 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
This document is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY.
Microsoft, MS-DOS, PowerPoint, Visual Basic, and Windows are registered trademarks and Windows NT is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Gateway 2000 is a registered trademark of Gateway 2000, Inc. Pentium is a trademark of Intel Corporation. AS/400 and IBM are registered trademarks and System/36 is a trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.
Microsoft Corporation One Microsoft Way Redmond, WA 98052-6399
0495 Part No. 098-58441 (printed document)
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