Highland Technology Group consultants possess years of hands-on experience with AIX and PSSP in production commercial environments.  We provide customized solutions,  systems administration, specialized services, disaster recovery,  and outsourcing services for our clients..

Our corporate philosophy is to design and implement cost-effective infrastructure solutions that maximize system flexibility, while providing a stable, robust, and secure computing environment.

• Design and architect SP and RS/6000 environments for specific client requirements.
• Install and configure SP nodes (thin, wide, high, silver) with High Performance Switch.
• Install and configure RS/6000 Enterprise Servers (S70/S80) and incorporate into SP complex.
• Configure PSSP for management of SP and non-SP machines.
• Configure and cable SSA, SCSI, and RAID devices for high availability and performance.
• Install, configure, and tune SP Switch and high performance ethernet (10/100, Gigabit) adapters.

• Design and architect Enterprise Storage Server (ESS) 2105 SAN storage for AIX and NT environments.
• Install and configure Shark storage via ESS Specialist.
• Install and configure Brocade fibre switches.
• Configure dual paths from servers to Shark via SDD/DPO.
• Migrate existing SCSI and SSA data to Shark.
• Install and enhance custom scripts for monitoring and managing Shark environment.

AIX & PSSP

• RS/6000 and SP installation, customization, and systems administration

• Backup/Recovery via TSM/ADSM and automated tape libraries
• AIX system performance analysis and tuning
• HACMP (high availability) of RS/6000 and SP nodes
• SSA configuration and layout for maximum performance and reliability
• AIX and PSSP planning, implementation, and upgrade services
• SP Switch and Switch Router configuration and tuning
• AIX security planning, implementation, and management
• Mainframe, AIX, and NT Server integration with Windows desktops
• Implemented event-driven systems management with email and pager capability
• Automated operations and system scheduling and integration
• Disaster recovery planning, implementation, and recovery testing
• UNIX perl, shell, awk, and sed programming
• Project management, operations procedures, skills transfer and education
• TCP/IP network configuration including DDNS and DHCP
  

Tivoli Storage Manager/ADSM

• Design and implement TSM/ADSM environments using the IBM SP and RS/6000 platform.
• Tune the SP switch for improved TSM performance 
• Configure and implement the TSM Disaster Recovery Module.
• Configure and implement the IBM 3494 Tape Library for use with TSM
• Utilize TSM BackInt for "on-line" backups (Oracle/SAP)
• Interface TSM with 3rd party tools such as SQL Backtrack.
• Implement TSM in heterogeneous production environments (AIX,NT,MVS)
  

HACMP

• HACMP (high availability) planning and system design in large SAP and Oracle system environments.
• Configure and implement HACMP of RS/6000 and SP nodes.
• Thorough methodology for testing of HACMP take over.
• SSA disk configuration for maximum reliability and performance
• Automated notification of HACMP fail-over condition
• Educate existing staff regarding HACMP management
• Document HACMP environment

System Monitoring and Notification

• Scripts to monitor system and application events.
• Automated alpha-numeric paging system direct from systems monitoring tools.
• Command line and email execution.
• Page several individuals for one event.
• Full logging and email confirmation.
• Fully customizable "on-call" list.
• Command line and email execution.
• Fully customizable perl and shell source code.
• Interfaces to Web-based Paging systems (even via proxy server).
• Supports all popular paging services (SkyTel, PageNet, Bell Atlantic, etc.)

Planning and Installation

• Specializing in SAP on the RS/6000 SP with ORACLE, 2 tier to large 3 tier installations
• R/3 installation and configuration (Application Servers, Central Instance, Database Server).
• R/3 landscape design, Correction and Transport System (CTS) configuration
• R/3 add-ons: FAX servers, EDI, TAX packages
• SAPGUI rollout planning and execution
• Configuration of SAP documentation web server
• Configuration of SAP Online Support System (OSS) and ISDN connections
• High Availability (HACMP) of Central Instance and Database Servers (SP & RS/6000)

Global scheduling

• Batch inter-platform scheduling (AIX, MVS, AS/400, R/3, NT, SUN) using CA AUTOSYS and Tivoli Maestro

Security Management

• User administration
• Authorizations/profiles setup and maintenance; profile generator

Performance Management

• SAP Database analysis and index creation
• Ongoing R/3 and AIX performance/usage data collection for trend analysis and correlation
• Optimization of resource usage (multiple R/3 application instances on servers/nodes)
• Workload optimization through logon group balancing based on complete workload characterization
• Design of DASD subsystem for maximum performance using IBM SSA technology
• Optimization of disk allocation for the improved database
• Troubleshooting  of performance problems (R/3, AIX, ORACLE).

Problem Management

• Installation of custom scripts for system monitoring 
• Integration of third party monitoring tools tools: CA TNG and DBVision, , Tivoli Maetsro, Ecotools.
• R/3 system log, ABAP dump and alert analysis
• AIX errlog, syslog, disk space monitoring
• Automated pager/e-mail notification

Maintenance

• Application of OSS notes and Hot Packages
• Printer/FAX administration (AIX queues, R/3 spool, SAPLPD )
• Automation of routine R/3 maintenance jobs (e.g. spool consistency checks and reorgs, log cleanups)
• Oracle archivelog management via TSM/ADSM in SAP environment
• Processing of corrections/repairs via the CTS
• Automated system cloning and SID switch procedures
• SAP Client maintenance (creation, copies, deletion)
• R/3 Instance/Default profile optimization and maintenance
• SAP batch input programming (BDC) for systems management
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R/3 Upgrades

• Production upgrades of SAP 3.x to 4.x
• Project planning
• Execution of upgrade procedures
• Support of regression testing using automated scripting tools (Mercury Interactive).

SAP Backup/Disaster Recovery

• R/3 database backups using Tivoli Storage Manager (formerly ADSM), backint and/or RMAN (R/3 4.0 and higher).
• Configuration optimization for high volume streaming with 3494 tape libraries and 3590 tape drives for large databases (> 500 GB).
• Setup of Disaster Recovery (DR) procedures for off-site storage of system and application images and backups
• Execution of DR tests

• Oracle Database and SQL*Net installation and customization
• Oracle database administration (tablespace mgt, SGA, rollback segments)
• Oracle backup & recovery (including raw devices)
• Database design and layout for maximum performance
• Pro-active database monitoring via event-driven tools and scripts
• Generate email and pager messages for specific database events
• Oracle Enterprise Manager and Web Server installation and configuration

• Sybase Database installation and customization (client and server).
• Sybase System 10 to 11 migrations.
• Automated application deployment.
• Sybase database administration (log and space management).
• Sybase backup & recovery (via SQL Backtrack, TSM/ADSM, or "dd" scripts).
• Sybase database design and layout for maximum performance.
• Pro-active database monitoring via event-driven tools and scripts.
• Sybase Transact SQL coding.

Other Software Products

• Autosys Global Scheduler installation and customization

• Linux Installation and Configuration

• Tivioli/Unison Maestro installation and customization
• SQL Backtrack (Hot backup of Oracle and Sybase)
• Legato Networker installation and customization
• Compuware Ecotools
• Netscape Enterprise Server
• Apache http Server
• sudo
• samba
• perl
• expect (tcl/tk)
• Windows NT Server

Security

• Analyze AIX environment from security perspective.
• Simulate "hacker" attacks and document security exposures.
• Identify security breaches.
• Eliminate security holes.
• Implement software and procedures to minimize security risks.
• Implement tools and methodologies to minimize the requirement for "root" account usage.
  

Highland Technology Group assists Fortune 500 corporations with their AIX disaster recovery plans and associated testing.  We specialize in the technical aspects of Disaster Recovery, including the IBM RS/6000 SP and 3494 tape library with TSM/ADSM..

We deliver plans and methodologies that are solid and work. Remember, a fancy looking Disaster Recovery plan that doesn't work is useless.

Once the plan is developed and tested, we can perform the actual Disaster Recovery test at your commercial Disaster Recovery site.

"You worry about your applications, let HTG do the rest"

Highland Technology Group has the skilled and experienced personnel to design, implement, and operate your entire AIX environment. Over the years, we have developed sound methodologies for managing and administrating AIX based systems.  We provide 24x7 AIX operations support, along with automated system monitoring and notification.  We work at your site with your machines in your datacenter.  This way, you can be assured that the environment is solid and secure.

Services include

• Working with you to properly size and configure the necessary equipment and systems management tools.

• Installing and configuring AIX, PSSP, TSM and other system related software products.

• Upgrading AIX and associated products as required over the application's lifecycle.

• Implementing a robust backup and recovery methodology.

• Proactively monitoring and managing the environment.

• Implementing and maintaining a high level of system security.

• Developing and testing a solid disaster recovery plan

• Documenting the environment and associated procedures.
  

Highland Technology Group, Inc.
104 North Spruce St., Suite 1A
Ramsey, NJ  07446

Phone: (201)818-2630

mailto:gmcnally@htgusa.com