Business as usual on the Web? LOL

From Sanger's Review

http://www.cruxnet.com/~sanger/y2k/

Thursday, November 12, 1998

Bug Threatens Most Wide Area Networks (Hooman Bassirian, Computer Weekly)

http://www.computerweekly.co.uk/cwarchive/news/19981112/cwcontainer.asp?name=c21.html

Gartner Group analyst Steve Prentice said that up to 90% of users would hit by some wide area network communications disruption on account of Y2K. In the highest risk categories: "intelligent network services, satellite links, 'in network' ACD/call routing, and scheduled polling services, such as meter reading and data collection."

Medium-level risks: "leased lines, cell-based services such as asynchronous transfer mode, and messaging services that relied on IT platforms." Prentice gave some advice to telecoms managers.

-- Buried in this story is this: "The Gartner Group believes at least 20% of Web servers installed before 1997 will malfunction owing to the millennium bug." This will probably cause delays and outdated information, and may cause some sites to be inaccessible; some 5% of users may lose connectivity altogether. (In other words, business as usual on the web!)

-- Anna McKay Ginn (annaginn@aol.com), November 12, 1998

Answers

I think Prentice is overreacting. It is well known among Network Managers and Engineers that router and hub software must be updated in many cases, and some (non UNIX) web servers must be patched. Unless someone has just flat decided to ignore the danger, they will fix the problem. In most cases it doesn't cost much - some practically nothing. I have had companies send me updated software for old equipment at no charge, just change out a floppy disk, reboot the machine and leave it. This is pretty typical. For a web server patches are available if needed in most cases - otherwise you replace the software (most web server hardware is fine). Hey, I don't want to sound like too much of an optimist here, but I have been doing this job - rocket science it is not.

-- Paul Davis (davisp1953@yahoo.com), November 12, 1998.

No, Paul, it is not rocket science -- the one thing everyone does seem to agree on about the Y2K problem is that the actual methodology of going about fixing it is very straightforward. Problem is, we are out of time, and this problem will not be fixed. To not see that at this late date is amazing.

-- Jack (jsprat@eld.net), November 13, 1998.