The Navy *usually* has hardware and software support for each of its
systems.  Many of the systems are on "next day" support.  Sometimes there
are changes in contracts which cause the HP 3000s to be off of support
for a few weeks (usually at the end of a fiscal year).  When this
happens, it sometimes takes several days before HP comes out to make
repairs.

Why?  A lot of hardware failures occur when powering up after power
failures.  If there is a power failure that covers a significant area
(like when the power lines come down during a winter ice storm), HP may
receive two or three or more times the volume of calls they receive on a
typical day.  You will be one of many callers, and one of the few without
a contract.  Since you don't have a two hour response contract, you won't
be at the head  of the list of calls.  Since you don't have a four hour
response contract, you will be even further down the list.  Then there
are those "next day" response customers.  If the volume of calls is great
enough, you may end up behind them!

If the system isn't a critical system and you have other HP 3000s on site,
this may not be a problem.  If it is your ONLY HP 3000, and your company's
business depends upon it, you should have a support contract.


John
--------------------------------------------------------------
John Korb                            email: [log in to unmask]
Innovative Software Solutions, Inc.

The thoughts, comments, and opinions expressed herein are mine
and do not reflect those of my employer(s), or anyone else.