Technical & Systems (TSYS)
The Technical and Systems Workstream (TSYS) encompasses the specification, deployment and support of the system infrastructure that underpins the SITS application, together with the technical standards for interoperability between systems, and policies for management of configurations and customisations.
The first six months of the Technical and Systems Workstream (July 2011 – Jan 2012) is focussed on ensuring that the system infrastructure is adequately specified and deployed for a production environment, and that the ongoing support model is fully understood and applicable.
The subsequent six months (Jan 2012 – July 2012) will primarily focus on the technical components relating to interfaces with other systems (and other forms of interoperability, in conjunction with the System Tools workstream) and custom developments, whilst maintaining oversight of the infrastructure and associated environments.
Read more about this Workstream: Technical and Systems Workstream (TSYS) Charter 
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Progress update
For a progress update on this workstream, please see the Student Systems Programme news on Sharepoint.
Introduction from the Chair
Dr Michael Fraser is the Technical Coordinator for the Student Systems Programme, seconded from IT Services for two days per week, to lead the Technical and Systems workstream. Working closely with colleagues in IT Services, Mike leads the functional workstreams to capture requirements that may have an impact on the technical configuration (especially in connection with interfaces to enable interoperability).
I joined the Student Systems Programme from IT Services where I remain head of the Infrastructure Systems and Services group. The group includes services such as Nexus email and SharePoint, HFS backup and archiving, identity and access management, web hosting and shared infrastructure services (from the new University Shared Data Centre). I have also recently led or co-led projects relating to the management of research data, virtual research environments and the costing of IT services.
Objectives
This workstream is focussed in Years 1 and 2 on:
- Define and seek agreement on the System Infrastructure Specification;
- Oversee the infrastructure deployment and testing, ensuring adequate resource allocation;
- Oversee the deployment of the SITS application;
- Ensure a documented and readily understood support model and change management process for infrastructure and application support;
- Identify (e.g. from other workstreams), prioritise and oversee systems integration, interoperability and custom developments (as agreed with workstream implementation leads and the Programme Sponsors);
- Through the Technical Workstream Implementation Group (Twig) involve a broad range of senior IT staff in the workstream activities;
- Contribute knowledge and expertise to other workstream activities, as requested;
- Gain and share knowledge and expertise with other SITS institutions in the HE sector;
- Participate in the Tribal Technical Working Group and StuTalk Working Group.
Membership
The full membership of the TSYS workstream is as follows (July 2012):
Michael Fraser (Chair), Technical Programme Co-ordinator
Departments & colleges
- Ben Bridle, Lady Margaret Hall & member of ICT Forum Steering Committee
- Jeremy Worth, Archaeology & Chair, ICT Forum Steering Committee
- Waldemar Schlackow, Maths
- Greg Jennings, Hertford College
IT Services
- Andrew Byerley
- Richard McDonald
- Chris Cattermole
- Tony Brett
- Dominic Hargreaves
- Malcolm Howe
Student Systems Programme Core Team
- Alison Rothera, Student Systems Programme Director
- Victoria Brown, Head of Process and Change Management
- Ciara Mahon, Programme Administrator, Secretary
- Keith Zimmerman, Programme Sponsor, Director of Student Administration & Services
- Mark Dyson, Data Management Analyst (SSP and LMH)
Edinburgh University
- Iain Fiddes (ad hoc)
Tribal
- Chris Vowles, Technical Consultant
- Tony Foster, Service Delivery Manager,Technology
Milestones
The initial high level plan (milestone points) is outlined below:
| Activity | Output/Milestone | Delivery date |
|---|---|---|
| Infrastructure Specification | Technical Audit workshop | 22 July 2011 |
| Infrastructure Specification | Initial Systems Infrastructure Specification | 10 Aug 2011 |
| Infrastructure Specification | Sign-off Systems Design Infrastructure Specification | 30 Sept 2011 |
| Infrastructure Procurement | Additional hardware procured and on site | 31 Oct 2011 |
| Infrastructure Specification | Agreed policy for application environment management | 15 Nov 2011 |
| Infrastructure Specification | Agreed strategy for SITS:Vision client deployment and support | 15 Nov 2011 |
| Infrastructure Specification | Agreed strategy for SITS document object store | 15 Nov 2011 |
| Application Deployment | Agreed test plan for initial performance and load testing | 30 Nov 2011 |
| Infrastructure deployment | SSP system infrastructure build and tested | 30 Nov 2011 |
| Interoperability | Draft specification for strategy, standards and interfaces for interoperability | 15 Dec 2011 |
| Application deployment | Installation of System on Infrastructure for production-quality development environment | 16 Jan 2012 |
| Application deployment | System Infrastructure passes initial performance and load testing | 31 Jan 2012 |
| Configuration management | Configuration management process agreed | Feb 2012 |
| Interoperability | Integration with Single Sign On (SSO) | April 2012 |
| Interoperability | Interface with Core User Directory (CUD) | April 2012 |
Timings
Timings for workstream activity between July 2011 and July 2012 are as follows:
| Workstream Phase | Description | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Infrastructure Specification | Developing a detailed System Infrastructure Specification for sign-off by both Oxford and Tribal | July – 30 Sept 2011 |
| Infrastructure Build and Deployment | Procurement, build, deployment and testing of infrastructure on which SITS will be deployed. | 1 Oct to 30 Nov 2011 |
| Handover and Support | Completing documentation; defining infrastructure support and escalation process; Tribal installation of applications; ongoing support. | 1 Nov 2011 to 31 July 2012 |
| Configuration management | Agreeing between customisation/development teams and application support the process for managing, deploying and testing changes across environments. | Jan 2012 to July 2012 |
| Interfaces/Interoperability | This is a cross-workstream activity with a subgroup reporting to both TSYS and the TOOL workstreams. The initial priorities will focus on integration with identity and access management; understanding StuTalk (including evaluation of any additional 'middleware' solution(s) that may be required). | Nov 2011 to July 2012 |