We (on behalf of a client) just upgraded to the  new version of HP Openview
for Windows (version 7.2) - along with the accompanying new DTC Manager
(version 14.2)  and newly-included FTP client software from FTP Software
Inc., which is now bundled with the HP DTC Manager for Windows software.
 
Actually, it wasn't really an upgrade - rather a new install on a new
workstation, where we manually re-configured the three associated DTC's
from the hardcopy listings of the existing production DTC manager
workstation. The existing worksation comprised HP Openview for Windows
version A.04.00, DTC Manager version 12.00, and the HP NS/ARPA PC service,
which had been operational virtually problem-free for at least the past 3
years.
 
Nothing real fancy involved here. Two local (to the 947) DTC's, one
remotely located 350 miles away. One local DTC includes a Telnet Access
Card. The other local one includes an X.25 card.
 
We converted to the new HP Openview DTC Manager Workstation at noon on
January 12. Between then and January 17 around 5pm we experienced an
average of around 2 critical failures per day (usually, though not always
for all 3 DTC's at once) which caused all users on the affected DTC(s) to
be aborted. In a couple of cases, all affected DTC's automatically came
back up within 2 minutes. In a couple of other cases, we had to manually
reset all the DTC's (via DTC manager) to bring them back on line.
 
On January 17, we reverted back to the old reliable clunker (Vectra 386/16
sx w. 40mb disk) with its ancient DTC manager software and have not had a
problem since.
 
Incidentally, the error messages accompanying the failures are extremely
uninformative - something to the effect  that a critical error has occured
on a particular DTC.
 
The response centre has been as helpful as possible in the circumstances,
and seem to be conceding a likely problem with the software. We are
awaiting further information - and perhaps a patch or three - before we
again risk incurring the wrath of our users with more incidents of down-time.
 
Your mileage, of course,  may vary, and I'm certain not everyone will
experience problems.
 
However, if anybody out there is contemplating a similar upgrade,  please
proceed with caution. If  anybody has had any experiences, good or bad,
with this new software version, I would love to know about them.
 
Thanks in advance.
 
****************************************
Gilles Schipper
GSA, Inc.
Tel: 905/889-3000
Fax: 905/889-3001
****************************************