Motivation

Pilot fish gets tapped to install a secure version of FTP on an existing FTP server. But figuring out when to do it turns out to be a challenge.

"The FTP server gets a lot more use than anyone realizes, because many of our processes are automated and EDI-related," says fish. "The new install will require some downtime for a reboot and configuration."

So fish begins working with the various groups that transfer files using the server, so he can schedule the downtime. Most of the groups give fish a choice of times when they can live without the system.

But one team leader is less flexible -- he insists that his applications are using the FTP server all day and all night. He tells fish that the only possible window for the installation is between 1 a.m. and 3:45 a.m.

The leader of another group suggests doing the work on a weekend, and everyone else quickly agrees -- except that team leader, who still insists that the graveyard-shift window is the only time the install can be done, regardless of the day of the week.

Fish decides to try another tack. He sends out an e-mail to everyone involved:

If the early morning is our only window, and jobs cannot be paused or held, then we'll do what we have to do. However, if I install this and set it up during this quiet time, it will have to be tested before the jobs begin again at 3:45 a.m. Someone on your team will have to do that.

To which the troublesome team leader promptly responds: "I have found another FTP quiet period: every Sunday from 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. Hope this helps out."

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