Re: Follett Unsion Don'ts...

[Gwyneth Ellis <ellis_g@POPMAIL.FIRN.EDU>]

Hi Chris.
My media aide and I catalog together all the time.  We have our system on a
PS/2 486 and 5 user Novell acting as the server.  We have not had any
problems with data loss and we are also in an extremely high lightning
area.
However, we do have a UPS.  I think you have to have one - all of our file
servers do.  Otherwise, it's trouble.  We also do a tape backup of the
system weekly.  Good luck!
---Gwyneth

----------
> From: Chris Hart <hartc@OSCEOLA.K12.FL.US>
> To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
> Subject: Follett Unsion Don'ts...
> Date: Saturday, March 08, 1997 2:43 PM
>
> It's been a while since I've posted to the list, but I just didn't want
> anyone to go through the same problems that we have had at our school.
And
> I love our Follett Unison system, but I do get frustrated sometimes:-)
>
> I'd like to get your feedback on how your cataloging stations are setup
> using Follett's Unison Platform (ie. DOS/Windows).
>
> 1.  Do you ever have more than one person cataloging at a time?  If so
how
> many?
>
> 2.  What happens to your system while cataloging if you work at a school
that
>     gets hit by lightening all of the time and your power goes out
> periodically?
>
> 3.  Do you have your cataloging stations hooked up to a UPS
(Un-interuptable
>     Power Supply)?
>
> 4.  Do you own a Macintosh with a DOS compatible card that is able to
access
>     your Follett Unison System?
>
> 5.  Have you ever tried to catalog using your Mac with a DOS card?
>
>         Well just to let you know why I stated the questions above.  We
> have had to rebuild our MARC database numerous times in the past year and
a
> half to two years, due to one of the questions stated above.  We
converted
> our reference collection pretty much manually when switching from
Dalton:-(
> to Follett, mainly due to the fact that Gale did not produce microlif
disks
> when we originally purchased our materials from them when the school was
> built.  This ment that we often times had up to three of us cataloging at
> one time.  Upon calling Follett the only real answer I could get was:
> "well try having three people catalog and if your database gets corrupt
> then you will know that you can't have that many at one time cataloging."
> Does anyone out there know the answer to this question?
>
>         Next item.  We are almost always cataloging items throughout the
> day and of course the power will go out for one reason, or another.  What
> other program do you own that is on your computer that requires you to
buy
> a UPS for to keep the database from getting corrupt?  Is this the case
with
> other automation systems.  Our school is out in the middle of a gigantic
> cow pasture and we are the tallest building around for miles:-(
>
>         Next item.  Do you own a Mac with a DOS compatible card in it?
> DON'T use it to catalog any items using your Follett Unison system.  I
> guess I'm stretching the limits with our system, but I don't think so.  I
> tried this and got 6 items cataloged and then the database got
corrupted:-(
> Another 2 to 3 day process to fix everything:-(  I called Follett
> immeadiatley after this happened and they explained to me that they were
> not supporting what I was trying to do.  Okay I can accept that, but why
> don't they post it somewhere on their web site, so that other people
don't
> make the same mistake?  Maybe someone from Follett is listening in on the
> list and will post it:-)
>
> Let me know what you think.  Please email me personally and I will post a
> HIT listing all of the reponses.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Chris Hart
> hartc@osceola.k12.fl.us
> Library Information Specialist
> Poinciana High School
> Kissimmee, FL
>
> Web Site:  http://www.phs.osceola.k12.fl.us