Expansion of the EIONET network in Phare Countries
Released on 2000-04-08The European Commission has in 1999-2000 entrusted Finsiel with two distinct contracts to be responsible for broadening the EIONET network in East-Central Europe, that is to extend it to two new Countries and to strengthen assistance for local users. The global target is to promote the use of an implemented network structure as a support for Phare Countries in collaborating with EEA.
New EIONET network nodes will be installed in Bosnia-Herzegovina and in F.Y.R. of Macedonia. System administrators and users will receive tailor-made training in order to rapidly integrate the new nodes with the already existing ones. The most recent version of CIRCA will be installed, in order to facilitate co-operation and exchange of information among the various Countries and EEA. Specialist on-site training courses have to be organised also in this case. The content of the courses and related schedule are being defined according to the requirements of each Country.
All the already existing 10 nodes in the Phare accession countries (installed during 1998) will be strengthened by:
- RAM memory expansion up to 256 Mb;
- Installation of a second Unix server for providing public web services, similar to the already existing one;
- Extending the network connection availability (for those Countries which required this).
In addiction, there will be a dedicated helpdesk service, specialised for Phare Countries and integrated with services offered by EIONET Network Management Centre. Operators of the helpdesk will work remotely (by e-mail, telephone etc.) and whenever necessary carry out specific on-site missions, in order to carefully solve operational needs of every NFP.
Lastly, use of EIONET will be pro-actively promoted by assisting users to enter their environmental information into the network and to identify opportunities in ways of using EIONET as a direct support for operational needs of NFPs. In particular, it will be possible to promote use and spread best practices across the EIONET user community by using this very network.
