What Is Y2K?
Millennium Bug or Millennium Bomb?
1900 vs. 2000
Is it the programmer’s fault?
Embedded processors
interdependencies of Y2K
Hardware
CMOS
RTC (Real Time Clock)
BIOS (Basic Input Output System)
System Clock
Software
Operating Systems’ clock uses RTC/BIOS
Applications rely on system clock
Impact of Y2K
180 billion lines of software code will have to be screened
The IRS has 88,000 programs on 80 mainframe computers to debug
fixing and testing all Y2K-affected software would require over 700,000 person-years.
There aren’t nearly enough programmers nor hours remaining before January 1, 2000.
How to solve the problem.
Inventory
Identify systems
Risk Assessment
Prioritize systems (Mission critical, etc..)
Testing
Danger Dates
Setup test environment (simulate year 2000 environment)
Danger dates
Documentation/Remediation
Expand your date fields to 4-digits (e.g. 99 to 1999)
Windowing
What must communities do?
all utilities – electricity, water, gas, phones
food supplies
public safety
healthcare
government payments to individuals and organizations
residents most at risk, e.g. the elderly, those requiring medications
What must organizations do?
how the organization will perform essential tasks in the absence of present systems
how the organization will respond to failures or slowdowns in information and supplies
what simplified systems can be developed now to replace existing ones
relationships with suppliers, customers, clients, communities - how we will work together
developing systems to ensure open and full access to information
What can you do?
Get involved with Y2K
Ask questions
begin to convene groups of interested friends and colleagues
engage local and business leaders
educate yourself and others
Are you too small to make a difference?
An African Proverb reminds us……..
If you think you’re too small to make a difference, try going to bed with a mosquito in the room.