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Y2K Compliance:

Product: NetWizard® and NetWizard Plus®

Version: 4.1

Langage: This document applies to the following localized languages: English, Japanese

Core product functionality:

NetWizard® and NetWizard Plus® is a desktop management application whose core functionality provides electronic software distribution, appliction metering and license control, hardware and software inventory, end-user workstation registry editing and remote control.

Compliance classification:

Compliant. NetWizard and NetWizard Plus are compliant, according to Attachmate’s Year 2000 product compliance definition.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites.

Product dependencies:

Windows 3.1x, Windows for Workgroups 3.11, Windows 95, Windows NT 3.51 or Windows NT 4.0 with latest service packs.

DOS agents require MS-DOS v6.0 or higher for year 2000 compliance.

A computer’s BIOS / Real-Time-Clock (RTC) hardware combination must faithfully process and represent date changes related to the century rollover.

Description of how the product handles dates:

Storage: NetWizard and NetWizard Plus store all date-related information using a typical methodology known as a "32-bit integer value." In this way, all date-related information is represented as the number of seconds since 1970.

Consequently, all dates in this product family are stored and manipulated as full dates. In all instances the system clock is used for current date and time data.

Formatting: Dates are displayed using 4-digit year formats. Date-related input fields similarly require a 4-digit year format.

Date Fields: NetWizard and NetWizard Plus process date-related information during three operations:

  • Metering
  • Data Export (scheduling)
  • Software Distributions (scheduling)

2-digit shortcut handling: The NetWizard and NetWizard Plus products do not support 2-digit date field input. Similarly, NetWizard and NetWizard Plus do not process date information based on 2-digit date handling.

Attachmate Testing Procedures:

  1. Review of NetWizard and NetWizard Plus source code for programmatic date computations. (Cursory review completed as of Q2 1998)
  • Record as product deficiency. Provide immediate code update, if possible. (Anticipated final review completion date: Q4 1998)
  • Prepare ongoing testing criteria based on identification of date-related functions within NetWizard / NetWizard Plus code base. (Anticipated final review completion date: Q4 1998)
  1. Test product in an environment where date/time is set forward to December 1999 and beyond using criteria determined above.
  2. Define any hardware, operating system or operating environment dependencies.
  3. Interoperability testing. For NetWizard, this includes data export functionality.

    4. (Not completed as of this posting. Anticipated testing by Q4 of 1998)

  4. Additional, product-specific testing and remediation:
  • Verification of year 2000 compliance for OEM components through original vendor.
  • Disclose OEM component known issues/limitations (none reported).

Attahcmate Testing findings:

Wraparound Year / Valid Date Range: NetWizard does not require wraparound processing for 2-digit dates. However, date and conversions are based on a "32-byte integer value" which limits processing to dates between 1970 and 2038.

Normal operations for Netwizard and NetWizard Plus (i.e. scheduling and file version checking) do not require processing of dates prior to 1970.

Leap Year Processing: Date-related computations and Julian calendar functions are processed correctly for February 29, 2000. See "scripting" for additional leap-year comments.

Scripting: The "GetFileInfo" scripting command supports date comparisons (for date information) that include February 29 for years that are not a leap year. This does not cause a processing error.

API: NetWizard (an OCX Server) includes support for interaction by exposing a Windows programming interface. Although Attachmate does not support external use of this API, developers are instructed to use 4-digit year formats on any applications that interact or influence the operation of the NetWizard and NetWizard Plus product.

Directory View: When viewing files within the NetWizard Manager "directory view," file date stamps are shown using a 2-digit year format: mm/dd/yy. However, when a directory listing is sorted by date, the date range 1970-2038 applies and files are sorted properly. Further, data export which includes file information includes four digit year information.

BIOS Inventory: BIOS version information is collected and stored using a 2-digit format for the field related to year (mm/dd/yy). BIOS comparisons are typically done by version rather than date, however, exported data will sort incorrectly when reliance on the date field is required.

Testing guidelines and recommendations:

In general, avoid testing in a production environment because Attachmate cannot predict side effects with other non-compliant products. Furthermore, it is recommended that developers use 4-digit year formats on any applications that interact or influence the operation of an Attachmate product. This will ensure that the correct/desired date is entered and recorded by the user.

Roadmap to Year 2000 compliance:

Avoidance of known issues regarding scripting and API usage, as disclosed above, require due diligence on the part of the application user or administrator. When scripting or developing through to the NetWizard API, four digit date formats will ensure proper date handling.

When interacting with a workstation through NetWizard’s Directory View, the user should be aware that file date information is displayed using a two-digit field for year information. This UI limitation does not affect sorting by date or data export. Future versions of NetWizard will allow for a four-digit date field. However, date field display is determined by "Regional" settings in the Microsoft Windows™ Control Panel.

When exporting BIOS revision information, two-digit date information may be included. When viewing or sorting exported data, version information as opposed to listed date information can be used to avoid date-related errors. Note that if a hardware vendor’s BIOS date information includes four-digit date fields, this information is faithfully exported by NetWizard.

Attachmate Maintenance:

Attachmate will remain vigilant in testing its software for year 2000 compliance, and enhancing those products as required.

Attachmate may release new product versions or service patches in the future. A software maintenance contract is an automated method to receive such product updates. Alternatively, version upgrades may be purchased as required.

Reviewed :December 7, 1998

NB:The information contained in this Product Compliance Statement is provided to customers for the sole purpose of assisting in the planning for the transition to the year 2000, and is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, either express or implied including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Generix Limited assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions in this information. All other limitations on liability contained in the applicable software product end user license agreement shall apply. This Product Compliance Statement may include technical or other inaccuracies or typographical errors, and changes may be made periodically to the information herein. The information contained in this Product Compliance Statement is true and correct as of the posted review date. This information is subject to change and Attachmate recommends that all interested parties monitor this status by regularly visiting our Year 2000 Product Compliance Statements.

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