Enterprise Architecture Practice 6 - How to do EA Impact Analysis in Casewise 3

- Meta Model Design:
1. Be familiar with Casewise Corpoate Modeler Suite through the Casewise online training of Draw Diagrams and Manage Models, and those Extensions & Models from Casewise website as well.
2. Out of the box POLDAT Object Types, Associations Types and Property Types, could not be deleted (This is the natural of Casewise), but could be rename (Casewise uses SCRPT_NAME handling behind the scene).
3. User Defined Object Types, some associated out of the box Property Types (i.e. Category, Description and etc) could not be deleted, but User Defined Property Types (i.e. Name_English, Description_English and etc) could be deleted.
4. Use out of the box or User Defined Association Types for the association, even hierarchy links used in the diagram (since hierarchy links only display on the digram, this is also why diagram also consider as a report).
5. Before creating an User Defined Object Type, always verify whether an existing Object Type with a User Defined Category could solve the problem as well. Taxonomic sense will be helpful.
6. Be familiar with Casewise Corporate Modeler Suite Report to feel Casewise dynamic one layer based, out of the box Reporting mechanism, which is a multi bi-dimensional information stems from a same Object Type.

Based on Casewise Corporate Modeler Suite dynamic one layer based, out of the box Reporting mechanism, and with more practice of this tools. Wondering somehow there should be a chain (To Be) existed somewhere ties all of those one layer based bi-dimensional information stems from a same Object Type together through (unlimited) indirect Association Types Chain and providing real multi-dimensional information for Impact Analysis.

Enterprise Architecture Practice 5 - How to do EA Impact Analysis in Casewise 2

- Impact Analysis Report Capabilities (To Be)
Every Casewise implementation intends to fit the organization's unique needs. With Casewise implementation, lots of User Defined Object Types, Association Types, Property Types and associated Objects are brought into Casewise model, even some other User Defined with the out of the box Object Types, Association Types, Property Types and associated Objects.
Casewise Corporate Modeler Suite Report handles those User Defined Association Types, User Defined Property Types for every Object Types dynamically at one layer base.
For instance, as the diagram below in Model (Casewise Framework Example), a Object Type (Applications) has Properties (i.e. General, Description and etc), Associations (i.e. Entities, Processes, Technologies and etc)

But as you can see, Casewise Corporate Modeler Suite Report only supports Object Type at one layer base, doesn't come out with next layer Object Type, next next layer Object Type, even next n layers Object Type through Association Types.
Is there a simplest best practice approach, which will have unlimited layers (indirect levels) limitation and do Enterprise Architecture Impact Analysis in Casewise in real time besides the currently Casewise Corporate Modeler Intelligence (2009.1) Reporting (which only supports a maximum of seven indirect levels for indirect associations and impact analysis)? If so, what will be a doable mechanism (an Intelligent Mathematics Model) behind this simplest best practice approach with unlimited layers (indirect levels) limitation and do Enterprise Architectur Impact Analysis in Casewise in real time?
This doable mechanism (an Intelligent Mathematics Model) 

• should be a real intelligent mechanism, which will handle User Defined Object Types, User Defined Association Types and Userd Define Property Types in one for all reporting pattern automatically. This is the first and the most key point to do Enterprise Architecture Impact Analysis in Casewise.
• should be able to build all possible Object Types chains via Association Types based on inputs (i.e. Model Name, Ascendant/Descendant, Start Object Type Name, End Object Type Name - optional).
• based upon the Object Type chains, should be able to build all of possible unlimited layers (indirect levels) Object Type associated Objects if one of Object associated with Start Object Type is given
• each of Objects should be able to include its own Properties (i.e. General, Description and etc), Associations (i.e. Entities, Processes, Technologies and etc) as Casewise Corporate Modeler Suite Report does.
• should also be able to flexible display report in specified language as well if bilingual (for instance, English, French) was implemented into Object Type.

Enterprise Architecture Practice 4 - How to do EA Impact Analysis in Casewise 1

- Physical database
What kind of Enterprise Architecture Impact Analysis are we expecting from Casewise? Is there an out of the box solution from Casewise ready to use for Impact Analysis? ...

Before answering these kind of questions, we'd better to understand some basic concepts of Casewise Corporate Suite.

Out of the box, Casewise has:

Object Types (i.e. Process, Organization, Location, Attribute, Domain, Entity, Application, Technology, etc)

Association Types between Source and Target Object Types (i.e. Source -> Target, Application -> Location, Organization -> Process, etc). Association Types are also part of Object Types.

Each of Object Type has its own Property Type (i.e. Id, Name, Category, Description, etc), and also might have multiple Objects.

After Casewise implementation, new Object Types (with associated Objects), new Association Types, new Properties (i.e, Single-line text, Multi-line text, Drop-down list, Check-box, etc), new Property Types for Out of the box Property Types, new Objects for Out of the box Object Types are defined, all of these are User Defined.

POLDAT is the abbreviation of Process, Organization, Location, Data, Application, Technology, which maps to Casewise Object Types: Process, Organization, Location, Attribute, Domain, Entity, Application and Technology.
In the hierarchy rule based diagram, Hierarchy Link only link 2 Objects on the diagram, doesn't provide any hierarchy associations from the database. But you could create an User Defined Association Type to enable this kind of associations (i.e. Used by, Using for) since Casewise's bi-dimensional associations feature dynamic make it possible.

Enterprise Architecture Practice 3 - Casewise Reporting Capabilities

In general, Reports often use persuasive elements, such as graphics, images, voice, or specialized vocabulary in order to persuade that specific audience to undertake an action.

What are the Casewise Reporting Capabilities?

1. Within Casewise Corporate Modeler Suite - Model Explorer, there are Reports associated with Object and  Administration. This Report mechanism provides a bi-dimensional associations between between Source Object Type and Target Object Type. 

For instance, Application (Source Object Type) could have lots of direct associations (Target Object Types, such as, Entities, Technologies, Process, Location and etc).

This Report mechanism results could save as a Microsoft Execl file. It's a very useful verification mechanism for the migration.

2. Based on the general Reporting definition, Diagrams also are reports.

3. Within Casewise Corporate Modeler Suite - Automodeler, Unload objects from a model as below could lead to File, Microsoft Word document, Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet and Microsoft Project. 

Note:

Automodeler has a command utility (called CWAM.exe), somebody might use this utility to export Excel file, batch parsing Excel file and delivery final Excel format reports. Actually this won't be a best practice, especially with indirect associations object types.

4. Casewise Corporate Modeler Intelligence came into market since October 2009, basically it autoloads (snapshots) from the live Casewise physical DB into a separated Casewise logical DB for reporting, Casewise CMI also provide a (SQL Server Reporting Services based) sample reports. The most impressive one is InDirectAssociationType for Impact Analysis, unfortunately which only has 7 layers (associations) limitation. During the autoloading, an extra Casewise CMI license is acquired. Even based on the Casewise logical DB (with more tables, extra views, functions, stored procedures), the customization for the reporting will still be required.

As an Enterprise Architecture Tools, Reporting capability become more and more crucial for Enterprise Architecture impact analysis.

Sun VirtualBox practice 3 - Dev Environment on Ubuntu 9.10

The configurations for my personal Dev Environment on Ubuntu 9.10 are pretty straight forward.

Install Ubuntu 9.10 Server

1. download ubuntu-9.10-server-i386.iso from http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download-server based on Alternative download options

2. install Ubuntu 9.10 server (guest) on Windows XP hosted Sun Virtualbox 3.1.2

3. select predefined OpenSSH server and Samba file server collection of software on top of the core system as my Dev environment

Install GNOME GUI in Ubuntu 9.10 Server
  sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktop

  with 'Y' to continue
  after installed Ubuntu desktop
  sudo shutdown -h -P now

Install Netbeans in Ubuntu 9.10

  sudo apt-get install netbeans
  with 'Y' to continue

Install Eclipse in Ubuntu 9.10

  sudo apt-get install eclipse

  with 'Y' to continue

Install Telnet server in Ubuntu 9.10

  sudo apt-get install xinetd telnetd
  with 'Y' to continue
  sudo vi /etc/inetd.conf to add
  telnet stream tcp nowait telnetd /usr/sbin/tcpd /usr/sbin/in.telnetd
  sudo vi /etc/xinet.conf to be
  # Simple configuration file for xinetd
  #
  # Some defaults, and include /etc/xinetd.d/


  defaults
  {


  # Please note that you need a log_type line to be able to use log_on_success
  # and log_on_failure. The default is the following :
  # log_type = SYSLOG daemon info
  instances = 60
  log_type = SYSLOG authpriv
  log_on_success = HOST PID
  log_on_failure = HOST
  cps = 25 30
  }


  includedir /etc/xinetfd.d

  restart xinetd service after the Telnet installation

  sudo /etc/init.d/xinetd restart

More display resolution for Ubuntu 9.10 guest on Sun VirtualBox

  Sun VirtualBox -> Devices -> Install Guest Addtions ...
  sudo sh /media/cdrom/VBoxLinuxAdditions-x86.run
  Full Screen (right Ctrl + F), Seamless Screen (right Ctrl + L) will be available after reboot.

Sun VirtualBox practice 2 - Package Software Testing Automation

Few years ago I was designing, programming some install package software (InstallShield, NSIS and etc based) with the silent install/uninstall feature enabled for few software projects.
A PERL script was also developed for testing the daily build based package software testing automation. The auotmation was configured on a dediccated server and doing install and uninstall on the server everyday. Sometimes, there was a package software defect, then after the analyzing, the defect could easy fixed, which is the purpose of the package software testing automation. But afterwards the server clean up toke some time.
Now using Sun VirtualBox’s VBOXManage command line utility and pre configured clean, fresh Sun VirtualBox guest OS (with snapshot).
It’s a doable solution to design and develop package software testing automation:
1. Use VBOXManage to get a pre configured clean, fresh Platform
2. Attached the the package software to the VirtualBox sharefolder
3. Invoke the silent install/uninstall 
…

Sun VirtualBox practice 1 - A Portable Personal Lab

I use to store my Personal Virtual Lab carrying with VMware workstation edition based guest OS (such as, Windows, Linux and Solaris) on an external hard drive.

With a simple customized customize VMware workstation guest OS Configuration file to the external hard drive, my Personal Lab was able to be easily plugged in and worked on different hosting OS (with same OS type), for instance, simple switch from one Windows XP desktop to one Windows XP laptop (both of hosting OS have the same VMWare workstation edition installed already) and continue your works in the Personal Lab.

This approach has been working with me for many years, did the great job and especially did save my lot of time. Sometimes, you might need a quick Lab testing based on an existing environment (for instance, Windows 2003 SE with SQL 2005), with this approach and VW snapshot, there will be no extra environment setting up time at all.

With the free PUEL (Personal Use and Evaluation License) Sun VirtualBox software, a similar approach could be configured to achieve plugging in and working on a different hosting OS (with same OS type) as below:

1. Open Sun Virtual Box, Sun Virtual Box -> File -> Preferences -> General, change the Default Hard Dish Folder and Default Machine Folder to the external hard drive, for instance,

Note: this configuration should be done on all of hosting OS

2. During Create New Virtual Machine, Save the Virtual Disk Location to the external hard drive, for instance,

3. Always copy the latest version of %UserProfile%\.VirtualBox (VirtualBox.xml is under .VirtualBox folder) to the external hard drive when finish works in the Personal Lab.
Note: this is the key to achieve our goal -- portable Sun VirtualBox guest OS on different hosting OS.
This latest version of .VirtualBox folder (with associated VirtualBox.xml) need be copied back into your new hosting OS under %UserProfile% folder if you do want to switch and also assuming the same version of Sun VirtualBox installed already on the new hosting OS.
4. If Enable Network Adapter is checked, Select an associated Network by simple picking the right one from the drop down list.

Note: All of VirtualBox guest OS should be Power Off.