REMINDER New Customer Network Implementation

TO:	ALL CLEARING MEMBERS
FROM:	BUSINESS SYSTEMS GROUP
DATE:	November 13, 2000
SUBJECT:	New Customer Network Implementation

The Clearing Corporation has set a deadline of December 1 as the date on which it will not support the old SNA network. Firms who are not completely converted to the new network and disconnected from the old SNA network by this date will be charged for connecting to both networks past December 1, 2000.

On October 19, 1999, the Clearing Corporation published Volume 19 – Bulletin # 283 announcing the construction of a new customer network as a major strategic objective. To meet the needs of increased communication traffic and allow for the development and implementation of new technology, it is necessary for the Clearing Corporation to install this new network. Firms should be aware of the impact to their back office operations if they do not devote resources to the testing and installation of the new network. Outlined below is an impact assessment list if firms do not convert to the new network.

1. Firms will not be able to access the following data files via RJE provided by Clearing:

• Give- up duplications

• APS duplications

• SPAN Arrays

• Settlement Prices

• Broker Delegate File

• Firm/Broker Edit File

• Trade Register Data File

• GAINS

• ATOM

With the elimination of the RJE Give-up Duplication process, firms are urged to either use the Give-up API (Applications Program Interface) or the Automatic Feeds of Give-up Allocation and Claims. The Give-up API that offers firms the ability to automate give-up processing via MQM using the TREX record format has been available since January 2000. Please see Volume 20- Bulletin # 294 for more details. The Automatic Feeds of Give-up Allocations and Claims which offers firms the ability to receive records from OTIS to their MQM queue in the TREX record format has been available since May, 1998. Please see Volume 20- Bulletin #295 for more details.

The RJE APS Duplication process will also be replaced by sending an APS duplication record in the TREX record format via MQM. To request APS duplication records firms will use the current OTIS on-line APS duplication request. The firm will receive all APS transactions since last requested. The new APS MQM messages scheduled to be available October 20, 2000.

The Clearing Corporation will provide the above listed information on back-up media only in the event of a disaster. This data is critical to the firm’s ability to edit trade entry data, process bookkeeping and balance to clearing as well as for generating the appropriate transactions for accounting department general ledger systems.

2. End of day re-transmissions of trade duplication files such as give-up allocations and claims due to problems with MQM will not be supported on the old network. Our back up to these transmissions is to FTP the data, which can only be performed over the new network.

3. RJE will not be supported. Firms will not be able to transmit via RJE the following data files:

• Large Trader

• Open Interest

• Related Accounts

• SAFE

As submission of this information is required, firms will have to key this data on-line to meet their obligation as a clearing member.

There is no front-end entry system supported by Clearing for SAFE or Related Accounts. Firms who are unable to FTP SAFE information via the new network will no longer be able to use the SAFE system or receive any SAFE reports. Firms will need to contact the CBOT’s Office of Investigation and Audits (OIA) if they are unable to FTP Related Accounts data to Clearing.

4. There will be no access to the ACT system on the Clearing Corporation Intranet. Access via the Internet will be available; however, system performance for the following applications will depend on the firm’s ISP (Internet Service Provider). In addition, each firm has its own policy on their staff’s ability to access the Internet. If the Internet is chosen as the method to access the following systems, firms must ensure that the appropriate staff has access to:

• ACT

• Pay/Collect

• Clearing Manual

• EFP processing outside of the API (future development will also include APS transfer, position transfers, misclears and Give-ups)

• Data Mart

5. Firms will not be able to print reports from the Xerox printers leased from Clearing. The new customer network only accommodates IP (Internet Printing) printing. Please see Volume 20 – Bulletin # 292, New Customer Network Helpful Hints. Specifically the section on IP printing.

The Clearing Corporation plans to have all clearing members utilizing and benefiting from the new customer network by Friday, December 1, 2000. The installation of the new network is providing the necessary room to expand – without it, we would not be able to support your future business needs.

Please complete the attached form requesting SNA network disconnection and email it to bsg@botcc.com or fax it to us at (312) 786-0152.

Should you have any questions, please call or e-mail one of the following Business Systems Analysts:


Firm Name:	_________________________________________
Firm Numbers:	_________________________________________
Contact:	_________________________________________
Phone Number:	_________________________________________
Email Address:	_________________________________________

The following applications have converted to the New Customer Network:
TN3270 (Telnet)	_______
FTP File Conversion	_______

MQM Messaging	_______
IP Printing	_______
Web Applications	_______
Signature to Disconnect the SNA Network Line:	__________________________________________