Among all the concerns that we have all on the Y2K problem, a number of
companies are recommanding to switch from UNIX environement to a NT platform .
We have at Merck Frosst a SSQ7000 and a TSQ7000, both running under the original
DECUnix 4.0. The TSQ has also BioWorks version 3.2 (the latest available) With
Y2K approaching, we had to upgrade the operating software to 4.0D, an operation
that has been labeled as "no problem" by a Finnigan tech representative.
However, we now by experience that we will probably experience a couple of
glitches that were not "foreseable" by Finnigan. It does not help that Finnigan
does not support anymore UNIX, of course.
Finnigan has approached us recently and suggested that we switched to Excalibur,
their new NT interface. The price to switch from our UNIX box to a NT
workstation is quite resonable and we do not have any major reason not to switch
(in particular, the SEQUEST version in BioWorks 3.2 contains a couple of bugs
that we know Finnigan will not correct for the UNIX operating software).
However, I am bit concerned about the stability of the system and the bugs that
might be hidden in the new software.
I would like to know whether any of you had the chance to run the TSQ7000 under
this new environement and whether you would be willing to share your thoughts
with me.
In advance, thank you for any piece of advice
Axel Ducret
-- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Axel Ducret, Ph.D. Senior Research Biologist Merck-Frosst Canada Inc. Dept. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology P.O. Box 1005 Pointe-Claire-Dorval PQ H9R 4P8 Canada
tel. + (514) 428-3428 fax + (514) 428-4900