Computer Associates International, Inc. (CA) has announced that the Moroccan National Railroads has selected CA`s Unicenter TNG to bring its information systems, networks and databases under centralized, standards-based management.
The Moroccan National Railroads, officially known as the Office National des Chemins de Fer du Maroc (ONCF), sought a total solution integrating hardware, software and services as part of a comprehensive program to restructure the railroad`s physical and IT infrastructures. CA Global Professional Services is assisting in the implementation.
"The principal objective of our restructuring is to ensure the highest possible levels of service to ONCF`s customers and end users," said Rokia Belkebir, director of information technology for ONCF. "To meet that objective, ONCF sought one company capable of successfully undertaking the entire project, including supplying all software and hardware, providing professional implementation and training services, and integrating third-party solutions as required." ONCF selected Unicenter TNG after a feature-by-feature review of Bull Open Master and HP OpenView.
The railroad concluded that by virtue of its modular architecture, agent technology and support for the widest variety of platforms, Unicenter TNG best met its requirements. ONCF operates a widely distributed and growing network that consists of multiple servers supporting more than 1,200 nodes operating under DOS, Windows 3.11, Windows 95 and Windows NT.
To meet its goal of improving the manageability of its distributed systems, ONCF is implementing Unicenter TNG to provide network and asset management, software delivery, remote control, backup and recovery management, production scheduling and user support. Unicenter TNG will also manage ONCF`s heterogeneous database environment, which includes MS-SQL Server, Sybase and Oracle.
Network management will allow ONCF to manage a sprawling network that supports more than 11,000 employees, 1,900 kilometres of track and more than 100 train stations. From a central console at ONCF`s railroad command centre, technicians will be able to detect events across the railroad`s local area and wide area networks.
Software delivery gives ONCF technicians the ability to upgrade servers and workstations throughout the network from a central point of control. This feature virtually eliminates the need for technicians to travel to remote offices to install new software or upgrade an application. Given the long distances between railroad stations and the lack of IT expertise at the local level, ONCF expects this feature to be especially cost-effective, said Belkebir.
The railroad`s first use of the Unicenter TNG Asset Management Option is to build a precise database of all the IT assets under ONCF`s jurisdiction. Once this database is established, asset management will automatically keep track of the assets on a complete life cycle basis, from acquisition to final liquidation.
"We are confident that our partnership with CA will be critical in enabling us to better administer and supervise our entire infrastructure under the management of Unicenter TNG," Belkebir said. "Like many clients in Morocco`s industrial and banking sectors, ONCF favoured a CA solution because of the modular architecture of Unicenter TNG and its ability to integrate third-party solutions," said Nicolas Bonte, CA`s managing director in France. "CA is committed to strengthening our presence in Morocco so we can offer our clients there a wider range of services."
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Computer Associates
Computer Associates International, Inc., the world leader in mission-critical business computing, provides software, support and integration services in more than 100 countries around the world. CA has more than 17,500 employees and had revenue of $5.3 billion in fiscal year 1999. For more information about CA, please call 011 236 9111 or e-mail info@cai.com. CA`s World Wide Web address is http://www.cai.com.
ONCF
Created on Aug. 5, 1963, the ONCF is a public corporation that employs more than 11,000 people. It serves most of the cities and main ports of the Kingdom of Morocco. The ONCF railroad network is laid out as a corridor linking Marrakech to Oujda with branches serving Tangiers, Safi, Oued Zem, El Jadida and Benguerir. ONCF manages more than 1,900 kilometres of track and 100 train stations. Its rolling stock includes 117 main-line locomotives, 95 shunting locomotives, 14 train sets with electric power cars, 414 passenger coaches and 7,381 goods wagons. ONCF operates under the technical supervision of Morocco`s Ministry for Transport and the Merchant Marine, and under the financial supervision of the Ministry for Economy and Finance. In 1998, the ONCF transported 12 million passengers, 8 million tons of a variety of goods and 21 million tons of phosphates. For more information on the ONCF, please visit its Web site at http://www.oncf.org.ma.