BANGALORE: Linc Software has announced the launch of a software analysis tool that identifies Y2K problems. The "Date Hound'' acts like a "sniffer dog'', spotting problems likely to arise as the year ends.
The tool is for customers using the A/S 400 platform, who have already done Y2K auditing, corrections, impact analysis and now presume their software systems are Y2K ready. According to Linc director Rajan Narayanan, the company will also extend the facility to those companies, which have not yet done any impact analysis. Linc has decided to provide an on-site consulting service built around the tool, which will provide solutions to meet the particular needs of a customer. The idea is to monitor data as it is created now and analyze it for possible problems later. Mr. Narayanan said the engineers for the Date Hound service would undertake a survey of existing software systems and Y2K solutions already implemented. The customer would then have two options if impact analysis has been done, to bridge the operation of impact analysis and the Date Hound. But, if no impact analysis has been done, it can be done and problem areas identified can be tackled.
Under the first option, the Date Hound also provides a diagnostic service, carries out an "integrity check'' on the existing database and reports on possible problem areas. All new data entries will also be checked for Y2K problems. The Date Hound can continue to be installed in a company as a long-term tool for some months after the critical dates.
Linc also offers three service options for customers who feel they may still face problems as the year-ends. The Millennium Eve Service will have engineers stationed at the customer's premises on December 31 night till the next day. The second is the Dynamic Resource Allocation Service with an analyst on demand, who will report to the customer within a guaranteed period of 24 to 36 hours at any major location in India. The third option is to engage an analyst at site, to monitor the data and support the customer till the critical dates are over i.e. from December 15 to January 15 at least.