TOPICS FOR D/CO, D/ODP MEETING WITH WANG

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85-00142R000100290004-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 20, 2010
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: March 15, 1983
• Content Type: MEMO

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/04/20: CIA-RDP85-00142R000100290004-8
ROUTING AND TRANSMITTAL SUP ( APR 1983
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building, Agency/Post)
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clearances, and similar actions
FROM (Name, org. Symbol. Agency/Post)
5041-102 OPTIONAL FORM 41 (Rev. 7-76)
Msuib.d bpyy GSA
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Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/04/20: CIA-RDP85-00142R000100290004-8
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/04/20: CIA-RDP85-00142R000100290004-8
ROUTING AND RECORD SHEET
SUBJECT: (Optional)
Topics for D/C0, D/ODP Meeting with Wang
FROM:
Chief, OC-ED
EXTENSION
NO.
0CE-M83-Q
DATE
18 MAR 1983
TO: (OfRcer designation, room number, and
building)
DATE
OFFICER'S
COMMENTS (Number each comment to show from whom
RECEIVED
FORWARDED
INITIALS
to whom. Draw a line across column after each comment.)
1.
D/CO
A point paper can be
prepared for each paragraph
2,
if needed for presentation.
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3.
as you require.
Internally the Agency
4.
communications on Wang needs
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not discuss this with Wang.
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Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/04/20: CIA-RDP85-00142R000100290004-8
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/04/20: CIA-RDP85-00142R000100290004-8
OCE-M83-~_
1 MAR 198,;
Chief, Engineering Division, OC
SUBJECT: Topics for D/CO, D/ODP Meeting with Wang
Based on our experience, the following topics warrant discussion
with Wang management:
1. Communications with non-Wang systems is so limited as to
preclude the use of Wang in any but a very limited communications
environment. For example, the Alliance asynchronous communications
package is so cumbersome that it is being redesigned to provide
adequate performance. Communications options have been slow to
develop and still do not meet the expected goals. Its use as a
communications terminal in any but the smallest applications is
impossible because even a large hang system will not allow adequate
processing of normal message functions. On this subject, hang seems
bound to acknowledge only an all-Wang environment making interface
to existing systems unnecessarily difficult. Other systems do and
will continue to exist.
2. Wang's reluctance to provide information on their product
has hindered key developments. In the case of 1ROC, five months was
spent in getting approval to share interface information and agree-
ing to a confidentiality statement. At the last minute hang aug-
mented that agreement in an unacceptable way and the information was
withheld. Similarly with the data base encryption project, Wang is
reluctant to provide necessary information. It required two months
to obtain answers to written questions about VS performance after
three months of discussion failed. This area is a major impediment
to use of Wang in anything but a very limited application - stand-
alone word processing.
3. There is evidence that as systems become loaded - files
filled and concurrent users expanded - they slow down and response
times become unacceptably long. Developers should be alert to this
problem and seek remedies and provide advice on how to avoid it.
4. Adaptability to new tasks is cumbersome. While we want to
minimize customization, it should not be as difficult as it is,
given that commercial microprocessors are used.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/04/20: CIA-RDP85-00142R000100290004-8
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/04/20: CIA-RDP85-00142R000100290004-8
SUBJECT: Topics for D/CO, D/ODP Meeting with Wang
5. Where equipment is installed and maintained by Agency
personnel at remote sites, every problem of hardware or software
failure, procedural complexity or degraded performance is exag-
gerated by the difficulty of finding a remedy. It is imperative
that the quality assurance program remain tight, that documentation
be clear and that maintenance aids be appropriate to the level of
complexity of the systems. In particular, restoration of system
operations after a failure by a system administrator who cannot
telephone for help must be considered in developing recovery
procedures and documentation.
6. Wang has been very helpful in supporting our efforts to use
the VS/Mailway product. The product was over-sold and efforts have
been directed to overcoming shortcomings. It has been effective and
appreciated and should lead to expanded use of the VS system.
Perhaps it should be more the model for customer/vendor relation-
ships which might lead to further business.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/04/20: CIA-RDP85-00142R000100290004-8