Equipment Inventory Database committee

SCD staff are responsible for a very large array of equipment used for computing, networking, and storing and visualizing data. For decades this set of equipment has been in a continual process of being deployed, refurbished, replaced, or relocated throughout the many buildings of the various NCAR/UCAR campuses. Staff responsible for this equipment need quick access to accurate, up-to-date information about each item. SCD formed the Equipment Inventory Database committee to develop a comprehensive, organized database that catalogs all significant equipment controlled by SCD and that provides current status information.

The committee is charged to:

Determine what needs must be met
Determine what information is required to meet those needs
Recommend procedures needed to 1) generate and record this information and 2) identify which SCD staff members are responsible for which equipment
Recommend templates for reports and inquiries needed to establish and maintain the equipment inventory database

Work completed to date

The Committee has determined the following needs that must be met:

Provide up-to-date inventory and location of equipment under SCD's control
Provide current description of SCD's computer systems (manufacturer, model, name, memory, number of processors, disk capacity, and primary use)
Provide a means to track equipment removed from one system and added to another
Provide warranty and maintenance contract information
Provide "who-to-call" information for system problems and maintenance
Provide a means to record and track "sensitive" equipment (i.e. equipment that is not on the UCAR property list but that needs to be tracked)
Provide online accessibility to all SCD staff

The Committee has determined what information is required to fulfill the needs listed above.

Work remaining to be done

Determine what information about network connections for equipment is required
Recommend procedures for generating required information
Recommend how to get the database designed, developed, and implemented, and estimate the associated effort and/or cost

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