Publication Date: June 21, 2001
Author: General Manager: SFA School Channel
Summary: Fourth installment of SFA to the Internet migration communication
Posted on June 21, 2001
SFA to the Internet – bringing you a faster, easier and more cost efficient way to transmit data! The Student Aid Internet Gateway (SAIG) leverages the benefits of Internet technologies without changing or interrupting users’ established business processes around data transmissions. Long awaited by users, the SAIG solution will benefit the entire SFA community.
SFA is pleased to bring you the fourth installment of SFA to the Internet migration communication. Testing and development continue on the new SFA to the Internet software products. We are also continuing to gather volunteers to be early adopters of the project. Simply contact CPS/WAN Technical Support at (800) 330-5947, or via email at cpswan@ncs.com.
Included in this fourth communication installment:
- What is Title IV WAN being replaced with?
- Will the default directories for imports and exports change when I install this new version of EDconnect?
- When will mainframe/non-PC transmission information, like the current Host Communication Guide be available?
- As a mainframe/non-PC destination point, does the COMM-PRESS software version 4.4.2M need to be installed before I can migrate?
What is Title IV WAN being replaced with?
Data transmissions that currently take place over the Title IV WAN are being moved to the Internet. The project that has been created to facilitate this migration is called SFA to the Internet. Once users have successfully migrated off the Title IV WAN they will be sending and receiving data via the Student Aid Internet Gateway (SAIG). Title IV WAN will cease providing data transmission service on December 19, 2001. That day will also mark the completion of the SFA to the Internet migration project. The Student Aid Internet Gateway (SAIG) will be the vehicle for all future data transmissions.
Will the default directories for imports and exports change when I install this new version of EDconnect?
The default directory of C:\IAM\DATA will not change with the new version of EDconnect. You will also retain the functionality to modify the download path and point files to any directory you choose. This decision was made to provide a non-intrusive solution and be compatible with your current business processes.
When will mainframe/non-PC transmission information, like the current Host Communication Guide be available?
SFA will release a draft of the SAIG Host Communication Guide by July 9, 2001. This document will be made available on the FSAdownload web site at http://fsadownload.ed.gov/index.htm. It will include the necessary access and communication information for customers who send and receive data using a mainframe or non-PC platform.
The EasyAccess client software for mainframe/non-PC users will be made available for testing purposes on the FSAdownload web site at http://fsadownload.ed.gov/index.htm in July 2001. We will announce the release via these communications.
As a mainframe/non-PC destination point, does the COMM-PRESS software version 4.4.2M need to be installed before I can migrate?
If you transmit data with a mainframe, you will not need to install COMM-PRESS software version 4.4.2M before you install EasyAccess. When EasyAccess is sent to you, it will already include the latest version of COMM-PRESS to ensure that you have the correct version of compression software.
How do I find out more about this project?
We will continue to send out communications twice a month through the end of July 2001 and then weekly throughout the migration process. Each communication will be entitled "SFA to the Internet status update". If you happen to miss any of the updates, all of this information will be kept collectively at http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSFAP/sfatech/sfafaq.html. We would encourage you to bookmark this location.
You can also access this from the school portal (http://fsa4schools.ed.gov/SCHOOLSWebApp/index.jsp), SFATECH, or IFAP web sites.
How will I be supported throughout the migration process?
If you have questions, please contact CPS/WAN Technical Support at (800) 330-5947, or via email at cpswan@ncs.com. There is no charge for technical support from CPS/WAN Technical Support.