The number of computer units including servers of the Institute has increased during 1998 and is near to achieving the goal of one computer per staff member. In 1998, improvement of computing services was accomplished with the addition/upgrade of two new servers within the PIDS Local Area Network, the upgrade of two existing servers, the fully operational PIDS Dial-Up Facility, the designation of I.T. coordinators per department and the training taken by the new MIS personnel.
Local Area Network
The number of server and client computers connected to the Institute’s LAN has increased. On the server side, the old GATE server that handles the DNS and serves as a mail server to Dial-Up Users was replaced by a new Pentium II Vectra VL. The new GATE server runs under a newer version of Linux operating system. The old GATE server now functions as a back-up DNS and temporarily houses the Philippine APEC Study Center Network Home Page. A new server, DIRP3, was added to serve as the Web Server of the PIDS Homepage. It is a Compaq Prosignia 200 Pentium II system. It runs under a Windows NT operating system and IIS as Web Server. There are now ten (10) servers that the MIS administer and maintain.
On the client side, every new PC acquired by different departments is configured to support the networking protocols used by the PIDS-LAN. Also in 1998, one room was connected to the PIDS LAN which added six (6) more client workstations/PCs to the sixty five-plus (65+) client workstation/PC of the Institute.
The use of the PIDS Intranet that resides in server PIDSERVE was limited to the PIDS domain. The PIDS Intranet was reconfigured to facilitate information exchange only within PIDS. New pages such as the MANCOM Highlights and Brownbag Schedules were added. The on-line calendar was updated.
The server PIDSNET continues to serve as the main e-mail and file server within the LAN. The version of Pegasus mail in PIDSNET was updated. The PIDSFTP still serves as the file transfer server and the PIDSLIB server handles the on-line library catalogue system (CD-ISIS).
Internet System
The Asian Institute of Management continues to serve as the Internet Service Provider of PIDS. The Institute is connected via a 64 Kbps leased line that provide uninterrupted connection to the World Wide Web.
The MIS houses the Web Server for the PIDS Home Page (http://www.pids.gov.ph) and the Web Server for the Philippine APEC Study Center Network (PASCN) Home Page (http://pascn.pids.gov.ph). In 1998, the MIS facilitated the transfer of the PIDS Home Page in the new DIRP3 server. The MIS also assisted the DIRP personnel in shifting to FrontPage 98 as the web page editor and assisted in training designated web page administrator/editor for each department. The PASCN Home Page was also transferred to the GATE3 server (now PASCN Server).
Software Architecture
All of the Institute’s workstations run under Windows 95 Operating System. For word processing and spreadsheet, the staff uses Microsoft Office and Corel WordPerfect for Windows. The staff uses a combination of Pegasus mail client and Microsoft Outlook for Internet e-mail and messaging. All client workstations’ Pegasus mail were updated to the latest multipop version. The staff uses Microsoft FrontPage 97 and 98 for creating web pages. Downloaded copies and CD copy of Internet Explorer 4.0 and 4.01 are also available as well as the latest version Netscape browser.
The Institute has acquired a new version of the Econometric Views (Eviews 3.0) and continued the use SAS 6.12 for Windows for the Research department’s statistical needs.
Training
The MIS assisted the DIRP personnel during the FrontPage 98 training of designated web page editor of the different departments. During the last quarter of 1998, a MIS personnel attended the Windows NT administration course. In 1998, I.T. coordinators for different departments were chosen. These I.T. coordinators with the MIS personnel attended the 1998 GO-IT Convention in Baguio City.
The Institute’s 5 year Information Systems Plan was completed in the second quarter of 1998. With some revisions after its completion, the Institute ISP is waiting approval from the National Computer Center. Upon its approval, new systems will be developed and existing systems are expected to be updated and upgraded.
1997
1996
