Annie GriffithAnnie GriffithInfrastructure Programme ManagerInfrastructure Programme Manager

July 2007July 2007

UK Link Technology RefreshUK Link Technology RefreshUK Link Technology RefreshUK Link Technology Refresh

UK Link Background

UK Link applications running since 1996, last Technology Refresh completed 2001

UK Link Risk Assessment Carried out in December 2004 UK Link lifespan indicated as 2008

UK Link ownership transferred to xoserve May 2005

UK Link performance deterioration identified 3rd Quarter 2005

3 Month UK Link Technology Feasibility Review sanctioned December 2005

Review recommended upgrade to hardware, database version & application toolset

Scope

Technology Refresh is an upgrade of the technical components that make up Sites and Meters and Invoicing systems

Technology refresh is essential to Enable continued delivery of a reliable and robust set of UK Link

systems Allow xoserve to continue to provide services on behalf of Networks Extend UK Link system lifetime for a further 4-6 years

The Technology Refresh IS NOT an application re-write

No functionality changes to be implemented alongside upgrade

Progress since last update

Key progress made since last update:

Successful conclusion of POC on 7th May

Installation and configuration of all servers at Peterborough Data Centre completed, installation at Wellingborough commenced

VPN Link established between Peterborough and Bangalore ODC (interim until WAN Links Delivered) enabling development activities to continue

Network Operations Centre (NOC) set up in Bangalore and all support tools selected

Interface and network design agreed with National Grid

Proof of Concept

Sign off of this milestone required successful deliveries across four areas1. Confirmation of compatibility of selected hardware and software stack

2. Data Migration Including compatibility testing of interface between Oracle v8i and v10g Bulk data migration approach and application of Delta data migration updates

3. Upgrade of the development Toolset, AllFusion:Gen and Oracle Forms and Reports

4. Business Processes Input and Output files processed correctly and generated as per current format Online functionality same as now works on current desktop platform Oracle Reports and Forms functionalities unaffected Testing of at least one of each type of interface Online screens and batch processes perform database updates as now

Overall Testing Approach

Full code migration and upgrade commenced (unit testing)

OAT – being done in 2 phases Jun ’07 – Jan ‘08 OAT1 – machine build confirmation OAT2 – performance testing, operational running against schedules, fall back

and recovery testing, testing all associated support procedures, including those across NG data centres.

System testing to start : mid Aug - mid Oct

UAT : Nov – end Jan to include Shipper Trials : late Nov - early Dec

Minimum of 2 further full scale trial migrations planned over summer period to allow for tuning

Dress rehearsal of cutover end Jan – early Feb

Shipper Trials

Only file routing tests to be executed, limited to sample files only SPA files – inbound and outbound Invoices – outbound, with inbound delivery receipt Read files – outbound in case of data logger reads

Involvement optional

File test approach to be same as followed in past by other projects Use test file naming convention, such as xxx01.TN123456.IDB

Shipper trials planned during UAT - late November / early December

Planning for this phase due in September

Cut-over and Implementation

Following POC, initial theoretical estimates for cut-over and implementation timescales produced based on: Data volumes Network Capacity Reconciliation checks needed

Potential outage of 3 - 4 days currently Detailed implementation planning activities commenced Looking at cut-over activities and catch-up processing Timescales being challenged, seeking alternative approaches and

tuning to reduce outage Minimum of 2 further full scale trial migrations planned over summer

1 or 2 non-effective days may be needed

Cutover Approach

Data cutover Likely to start 3 weeks in advance of main cutover, then will require

“delta” data updates This will have no effect upon the operational service

Final cutover starts 22nd/23rd February 2008 REC invoice to be issued early on Friday 22nd – due dates will be

unchanged Other production runs on 22nd will be unchanged

Outage start time Considering what is most beneficial overall to reduce total elapsed

time needed for cut-over, catch-up and return to normal operation Starting after Datalogger issue on Saturday 23rd seen as optimal start

High Level Timetable (Draft)

Invoices Friday 22nd - REC Invoice issued early, due dates unchanged

Non-effective Days Mon 25th Feb - Tuesday 26th Feb Relief from DM Read liabilities Sun 24th – Weds 27th

Datalogger files Issued from OLD UK Link Sat 23rd

Suspend daily issue of data logger files Sun 24th – Weds 27th Issued from NEW UK Link Thursday 28th

Transfers Last files processed 11pm Friday 22nd Feb on OLD UK Link Next Transfer Run – Weds 27th Feb on NEW UK Link

Next Steps

Code migrations and initial testing activities to continue

Commissioning of Wellingborough Data Centre and WAN Links

Continue with more in depth Implementation Planning Firm up on outage timings Confirm non-effective days requirement Understand catch-up and return to normal operation

Report back at August UKLC with formal notification of outage