Configurable Network Computing or CNC is

JD Edwards J.D. Edwards World Solution Company or JD Edwards, abbreviated JDE, was an enterprise resource planning (ERP) software company, whose namesake ERP system is still sold under ownership by Oracle Corporation. JDE's products included World for IB ...

's (JDE) client–server proprietary architecture and methodology that implements its highly-scalable enterprise-wide business solutions

software Software is a set of computer programs and associated documentation and data. This is in contrast to hardware, from which the system is built and which actually performs the work. At the lowest programming level, executable code consists ...

that can run on a wide variety of hardware,

operating system An operating system (OS) is system software that manages computer hardware, software resources, and provides common services for computer programs. Time-sharing operating systems schedule tasks for efficient use of the system and may also in ...

s (OS) and hardware platforms. Now a division of the

Oracle Corporation Oracle Corporation is an American multinational computer technology corporation headquartered in Austin, Texas. In 2020, Oracle was the third-largest software company in the world by revenue and market capitalization. The company sells da ...

, Oracle continues to sponsor ongoing development of the

Enterprise Resource Planning Enterprise resource planning (ERP) is the integrated management of main business processes, often in real time and mediated by software and technology. ERP is usually referred to as a category of Business management tools, business management ...

( ERP) system, While highly flexible, the CNC architecture is

proprietary {{Short pages monitor ">JD Edwards Forums – JD Edwards Jobs – JD Edwards Enterprise One – JD Edwards World: We cannot proceed
/ref> Based on the size of the company implementing a JDE system, there may be one or more CNCs. In some small companies, there is no resident CNC, but some of the day-to-day CNC functions such as security and business program object builds and deployment is done by a JDE developer on staff while a third-party CNC is called in for non-routine, critical, and/or high-risk CNC work such as system upgrades and expansion. CNC is one of the three JDE areas of expertise, the others being the JDE developer who changes code and the JDE functional analyst who is the business subject matter and business processes expert.

What's in a name - CNC

In recent years, there has been much discussion among the CNC community on the title, "CNC." On many websites including such sites as

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and

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people who have worked in the CNC field for many years have proposed a new title to replace the traditional CNC term. One of the most popular is "JD Edwards Systems Architect" or "

EnterpriseOne J.D. Edwards World Solution Company or JD Edwards, abbreviated JDE, was an enterprise resource planning (ERP) software company, whose namesake ERP system is still sold under ownership by Oracle Corporation. JDE's products included World for IBM ...

Architect" even simply "JDE Architect." This seems to be driven by the fact that many senior CNCs become involved in planning and implementing the underlying CNC architecture and that the term CNC really conveys no meaning as to the actual job description. While the discussions go round and round, recruiters who continue to use the CNC job description or dispense with the CNC term may refer to the job as "JD Edwards System Administrator." Unfortunately, this latter term is largely misunderstood by recruiters and IT people unfamiliar with the complexities of a JD Edwards Implementation and have told CNCs that from the title JDE System Administrator, their responsibilities are fairly simple and probably mimic that of an email administrator or operating systems administrator adding/deleting users and resetting user passwords. JD Edwards "Infrastructure Engineer" is often used which better explains the functions that go beyond simple administration. Despite the discussions on the utility of the CNC title, IT seems to return to it as the only industry-wide accepted way to term the job description.

CNC-related functions

The CNC function entails a number of responsibilities or functions. Large companies may have an entire staff of CNCs, some working on security, others software change management which deploy changes in the JDE ERP system through the various stages of development, testing, and production. Other CNCs will troubleshoot performance issues, others will work on batch process automatization and finally, a Senior CNC will manage the entire group and, in that capacity, will often function as the chief JDE systems architect.

Basic CNC tasks

In order to support this architecture, CNC analysts perform a wide variety of tasks. A frequent criticism of the CNC field is that it is too complicated to be learned in any less than 2–3 years. A number of overlapped functions are involved. Some or all of the following functions: *CNC Systems Administration which includes user and application security, user (profile) account set up, user groups (roles), task relationship (menu), and task (menu item) management *Planning and installation of business application patches also called electronic software updates or ESUs as well as underlying foundational code or programs called tools releases or service packs *Building and deploying changes to the business applications called package builds *Management of various development, testing and production business environments which are self-contained sub-systems *Printer configuration *Server Manager (the Tools Release 8.97 and above) system management console basic skills *Refreshing and optimization of the underlying database, working with database administrators *Basic system auditing and performance tuning tasks *Development of software tools and processes automate repetitive CNC tasks *Remote CNC management through various secure access systems *Training both business analysts, programmers, and end-users on the overall use of the JDE ERP system

CNC Schedulers

*Batch job queues setup, batch job administration *Workload automation *Service Oriented job scheduling

Senior CNC tasks

*JD Edwards installations and upgrades *Proven experience/expertise in complicated EnterpriseOne installations/upgrades in large-scale (often global) implementations *Database management and experience/expertise with SQL databases such as Oracle, SQL Server, and DB2/400 with regards to EnterpriseOne *Data Conversion using EnterpriseOne development tools *Performance tuning of applications and web servers using Server Manager to analyze kernel processes and obtain log files for detailed analysis *Advanced problem solving and troubleshooting skills (which requires a wide range of skills beyond JDE CNC skills such as networking, storage, database, operating system, and virtual infrastructures and the ability to work with people who are experts in these areas) *Advanced expertise in the technical architecture for EnterpriseOne (e.g. Citrix servers, WebLogic servers, WebSphere servers, deployment server, batch/enterprise servers, BSSV servers, RTE servers, mobile apps/AIS servers plus multiple OS including Windows, iSeries, Unix/Linux) *Experience in adding custom environments and custom data source setups *In-depth knowledge of CNC mapping configuration changes using Object Configuration Manager (OCM) *Expertise in multiple JDE system software configurations (multi-foundation), Tools Release Updates *Experience in designing and implementing highly available infrastructure solutions using VMware Virtual Infrastructure 3 (ESX, Virtual Center/VCenter, VMotion, HA, DRS) and Oracle VM.

CNC training

Because of the scope of the CNC functionality, the CNC function requires intensive training. Oracle JD Edwards manages the officially required coursework but many JDE business partners also offer training. A frequent criticism of CNC training is that far too many trainers and the syllabuses that they employ are so complicated as to be almost indecipherable to an incoming novice. The training is couched in techno-speak: terms such as ''path code'', ''environment'', OCM mappings are bantered about with overlapping and circular explanations that leave novices and introductory CNC students quite confused. As of 2000, there is no official certification program. A typical list of classes is as follows: * Common Foundation – The common end-user JDE experience * System Fundamentals – An introductory top-down look at the CNC architecture * CNC Foundation – Introduction to CNC architecture and function * Installation and Upgrade Overview – A combined look at installing and upgrading JDE * Installing and Implementing – A one-week class on how to install and configure JDE * System Administration - Security, Object Management Workbench (OMW) change management, etc. * System Administration Accelerated - A rapid-pace approach to JDE system administration * Advanced CNC Functions - An advanced look at the CNC architecture * Advanced CNC Troubleshooting - Analysis of CNC issues and troubleshooting techniques * OMW Change Management Solutions - JDE Objects Change Control using the Object Management Workbench (OMW) application * Package Build - The process of building and deploying object changes * Solutions Explorer - The JDE software applications security and menu management solution * Packaged Software - Exporting changed or custom software for deployment to external JDE systems * Programming Workflow - Building workflow tools * Maintaining C Business Functions - How to build business functions using object development tools * Upgrades and updates - the process of upgrading the JDE business toolset (B7333 - E900) or the underlying system/foundation "look and feel" code * Development Tools Parts 1 and 2 - The use of the JDE software Report Design Aid, Table Design Aid, and other object development tools * Optional training - Report writing and other development tools and functional business training (how the business processes affect the design and implementation of JDE ERP)

Oracle's CNC certification program

After more than a decade of discussion, Oracle has resurrected a JDE-CNC certification program. *The certification link is at https://web.archive.org/web/20110929025144/http://education.oracle.com/pls/web_prod-plq-dad/db_pages.getpage?page_id=439 *Exam details are at https://web.archive.org/web/20110929025144/http://education.oracle.com/pls/web_prod-plq-dad/db_pages.getpage?page_id=439 * Currently listed CNC Exam topics as of January 2011. JDE-CNC Exam topics

Independent support for JDE CNCs

A worldwide organization, Quest Oracle Community as well as local, statewide and regional JDE user groups have CNC sub-groups that support JDE CNCs. Among the useful user websites that support JDE CNCs and other users is JDELIST which has a website a
jdelist.com

References

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External links

JD Edwards on the Oracle WebsiteJDE OneWorld Xe Implementation on IBM iSeries AS/400 Serversa popular free site that has discussion forums on JDE issues including the CNC functionFree LinkedIn group hosting many discussions administered by CNCs
ERP software Oracle software