Technologies

Microsoft Access 2000, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 95, Visio 5, Segue SilkTest, Intel LANDesk, Lotus Notes Client.

Duties

• Collaboratively developed an Applications Compatibility Testing process.
• Diagramed the process using a series of 16 linked flowcharts in Visio.
• Designed and developed an Intranet web site to publicize the process containing approximately two dozen pages, including a process charter and many linked image maps of subprocess flowcharts with explanatory text and related documentation.
• Designed, built, and configured one Ethernet and one Token Ring test network for application compatibility testing of workstation software. This included racks, Cisco routers, 3Com Fast Ethernet switches, Token Ring hubs, network interface cards, 3 Windows NT servers (including one Compaq Proliant ML-series server with a RAID 5 array), 16 workstations to dual boot Windows 95 and Windows NT, printers, cabling, and keyboard/video/mouse switches.
• Created extensive "as built" connection diagrams, rack layouts, and floor-plans using Visio 5. Developed many custom Visio SmartShapes to accurately represent the hardware being used.
• Administered Windows NT 4.0 servers.
• Developed and documented a process to create test workstations with identically configured operating systems across hardware models and software across operating systems.
• Installed and configured over a dozen company-standard software packages on each of 16 dual-boot Windows 95/Windows NT workstations and verified that the software was configured identically for all 32 bootable images.
• Developed and documented a process and the necessary scripts to create and maintain an archive of hard drive image files for each set of installed software on each operating system for each model of test workstation.
• Created the program specifications and user interface design for a Lotus Notes application to manage test requests and progress tracking.
• Created a database and SQL queries using Microsoft Access to link individual business unit data regarding which employees and computers belonged to them with Intel LANDesk software inventory data that listed software by employee number to determine the most commonly used applications both corporate-wide and by business unit.
• Researched and analyzed client/server and Internet capture/replay testing tools, and made a purchase recommendation resulting in the purchase of SilkTest from Segue Software (now a Borland product).
• Wrote simple test scripts for several "shrink-wrap" applications using the 4Test scripting language that is part of SilkTest.

Duties

• Simultaneously managed a variety of Y2K-related projects, coordinating the work of over 70 people in 14 departments using Microsoft Project 98, Marin Research Project Gateway, and Lotus Notes.
• Inventoried client/server hardware and software installed throughout a major utility, identified the groups responsible for each product and obtained statements from the various managers agreeing to take responsibility for the testing of a specific list of products.
• Analyzed the hardware needed and determined the optimum physical arrangement to create an appropriately scaled isolated test network. This included racks, Cisco routers, 3Com switches and hubs, network interface cards, AIX, HP-UX, Open VMS, OS/2, and Windows NT servers, EMC Symmetrix Enterprise Storage System, OS/2, Windows 95, and Windows NT workstations, printers, cabling, and keyboard/video/mouse switches.
• Created extensive "as built" connection diagrams, rack layouts, and floor-plans using Visio 5. Developed many custom Visio SmartShapes to accurately represent the hardware being used.
• Analyzed, summarized, and reported on data using Microsoft Excel Pivot Tables.
• Created and maintained a software source code archive using PVCS.
• Trained other consultants in the use of Microsoft Excel Pivot Tables, Microsoft Query, Microsoft Access, and PVCS.
• Created a software inventory tool using Visual Basic that captures all possible information about every executable file on a Windows NT server remotely through a LAN. Created a VB program that discovers all the servers on a network and describes the operating system build and service pack level of each.
• Created a user-friendly multiuser Microsoft Access application to track client's client/server applications, test requirements, test network equipment, testers, and the assignments of resources to applications. This consisted of 16 tables, 50 queries, 22 forms, 50 reports, and 59 macros.
• Created a system in VBA using Microsoft Project, Microsoft Excel, and Lotus Notes to communicate project data. Kicked off by a single keystroke, it automatically creates personalized task reports for each resource and their manager, and emails them as editable Excel spreadsheets with cover letters using Lotus Notes. The resources could then update and modify the information and email the spreadsheets back to the project manager.
• Used various tools to analyze the size and scope of applications code, identify the source language and databases used, and provided preliminary assessments of Year 2000 impact on the applications.
• Collaboratively wrote Year 2000 test plans for over 80 products representing approximately 80% of client's installed base of servers, workstations, operating systems, middleware, and desktop applications.
• Researched and analyzed over one hundred Year 2000 tools for client/server environments.
• Made purchase recommendations for File Scanning, BIOS Test/Fix, Code Assessment and Remediation, Date Simulation, Data Aging, Test Coverage Analysis, and Application Testing tools, and provided internal support for the selected software.