Computer Emergency Notification System CENS

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Computer EmergencyNotification System (CENS)
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CENS Application

• The implementation of the Computer Emergency
  Notification System (CENS) application will
  potentially save lives and ensure the safety of
  employees.

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CENS Application

• The (CENS) application enables organizations to
  send electronically emergency or informational
  messages to notify personnel of emergencies,
  building related alerts, and messages in a
  designated environment.

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CENS Features

• The CENS application works in the Microsoft
  environment (Windows 2000,98, 95, NT, XP).
• Effectively and efficiently communicates with all
  the staff, specified groups, or areas via
  Specified Area Messaging (SAM).
• Provides the ability to notify employees of
  building or location-specific emergencies.
• CENS can be used for non-emergency messaging.

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CENS Features

• Authorized personnel perform administration and
  use of CENS.
• Complies with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation
  Act.
• Minimal impact to network performance.
• Utilizes security features.

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CENS Features

• The client runs in the background and does not
  interfere with employees daily work.
• Flexible and adaptable.
• Low cost solution.

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CENS

• The CENS application consists of a Message
  Generator, Database and Web Server services, and
  a Client that resides on individual workstations.
• 1. The CENS Message Generator is the interface
  used by authorized personnel to create messages.
• 2. The CENS Server software provides connectivity
  and database transactions and it creates HTML
  messages.
• 3. The CENS Client software resides on individual
  workstations as a small application. It polls
  the server at intervals and receives messages, as
  appropriate.

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CENS Process Diagram
Database Server
Web Server
Backup
Backup
Polls database. Creates HTML header and message
files on Web server
Process Flow Steps 7 - 87. Client polls server
and server responds with acknowledgment (lt 30
bytes)
Process Flow Steps 1 - 5Message generation and
submittal
OR
8. Client polls server and server responds with
message to client workstation
Process Flow Step 6 System Administrator
installs CENS Client on Workstation
Message SenderWorkstation
Client Workstation
Message Generation Application Server
Componenton Message Sender Workstation
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CENS Message Generator

• An authorized Message Sender logs in and
  authentication is used to access the server
  software.

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CENS Message Generator

• Using the Message Generator the sender selects
  different types of messages.

The same message is sent to all personnel,
specific groups, or areas irrespective of the
location of the emergency via Specific Area
Messaging (SAM).
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CENS Message Generator

• Once all options are selected, the message sender
  previews and confirms the message.

The user has to confirm twice before sending the
message.
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CENS - Server

• The message sender submits the message, which is
  then written to the primary and backup databases.
• The message sender will receive a notification
  from the CENS Server that the message was sent
  successfully to each server. If there is a
  problem with either server the message sender is
  notified.

Message Generation Application Server Component
Process Flow Steps 1-5Message generation and
submittal
Message SenderWorkstation
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CENS - Client

• The Client application is installed on Windows
  desktop computers. Users will know if CENS has
  been loaded on the desktop by the appearance of a
  black triangle in the icon tray.

Process Flow Step 6System Administrator installs
CENS Client on Workstation manually or
automatically using managed software tools or a
login script.
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CENS - Client

• The CENS client polls the CENS server at
  configurable intervals via a HTTP request
  (typically via port 80).
• The CENS server application acknowledges the
  client request by sending a HTML message back to
  the CENS client, currently about 30 bytes in
  size.

Web Server
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CENS - Client

• If the message sent from the server is a new
  message, the CENS client will
• Sound a siren for emergency messages.
  Non-emergency messages are a non-obtrusive
  audible sound on any desktop computer. Either
  internal or external speakers will sound the
  siren.
• Display a full screen message that cannot be
  removed without deliberately closing the
  emergency message.
• CENS uses redundant servers for protection of
  possible network communications problems.
• A message is considered new if the message ID
  is greater than the users last received message
  and the message timestamp is less than 46 minutes
  old. The 45 minute value is configurable.

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CENS Software Architecture

• CENS is written in Visual Basic.

• CENS has a client side and a server side and uses
  pull techniques.
• The CENS server uses a standard Intel-compatible
  system running a MS SQL database and an IIS
  Windows 2000 web server. The database and web
  server do not need to run on the same platform.

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CENS - Servers

• Server sizing is dependent on customers
  requirement and, therefore, may change.
• Current Primary and Backup specifications
• 2 Intel Servers
• 2.40 GHz processing speed
• 2 GB main memory (1x1)
• 400MHz system bus
• Windows 2000, 98, 95, NT or XP Operating System
• MS SQL Server 2000 (Enterprise Edition) for SQL
  Database.

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CENS Security

• Server Security
• Access to the server housing the HTML messages
  can be locked down by a system administrator as
  deemed necessary. Restriction by IP address
  range is possible.
• Client Security
• The client software is loaded automatically at
  startup (Windows login) for all users however
  the client cannot alter or send messages.

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CENS Benefits

• CENS ensures that its user organizations are able
  to effectively and efficiently communicate with
  staff in the event of a crisis situation. The
  application requires no additional software other
  than the standard Windows environment.
• CENS delivers a consistent message to all
  personnel.
• CENS indicates the specific problem and what
  action to take.
• CENS works continuously if a user is logged on to
  system.

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NITC Services Offerings

• NITC will
• acquire and/or host a CENS server or utilize
  customer-owned Windows server.
• partner with the customer to provide technical
  project planning and coordination.
• provide applications development expertise to
  modify the most current USDA code and customize
  it to meet customer requirements.

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NITC Services Offerings

• NITC will
• provide CENS application level support during the
  development, installation, and maintenance
  phases.
• coordinate with the customers emergency command
  authority to create a database of message types
  and message content.
• provide application-level technical assistance
  with systems setup, installation, testing, and
  deployment.

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NITC Services Offerings

• NITC will
• provide application-level Help Desk.
• provide application-level web-base knowledge
  expertise for testing and deployment.
• provide application level CENS systems and end
  user CENS documentation.

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NITC Services Offerings

• NITC Services Pricing
• Fee based depending upon
• customization requirements.
• CENS Application Pricing
• Available at no charge.

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Partnering for Success
Business Contact
888-USE-NITC www.ocio.usda.gov/nitc