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Article Detail:

This document is designed to provide IT workers with a brief introduction to some of the issues involved in installing and supporting AXIS. Where necessary, it also links to more detailed information on specific topics.  The document is broken down into the following sections:

1. AXIS Overview
2. Supported Software Platforms
3. AXIS Key Options
4. AXIS Distributed Processing
5. AXIS GridLink Module
6. Suggestions for Handling Error Messages
7. GGY Support Services

Section 1 - AXIS Overview

AXIS is a CashFlow projection system primarily used by actuaries at Life Insurance Companies.  It is multi-purpose software that can be installed on either a PC or a server that can be used for all actuarial applications including Pricing, Valuation, Asset Liability Management, Dynamic Solvency Testing (DST and DCAT), Stochastic Risk Analysis, Earnings and Experience Analysis, and Evaluating Blocks of Business.   

From a system administration perspective, AXIS is a fairly easy application to maintain - it makes minimal changes to the computers registry settings during installation and (unless being used in distributed processing discussed below) should not have any impact on network performance.  

For further information on AXIS performance and scaling, please see http://www.ggy.com/faq/kbdetails.asp?searchterm=&articleid=355

Section 2 - Supported Software Platforms

AXIS is compatible with all current versions of Microsoft Windows, including Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 2003 Server, Windows 2008 Server and Windows HPC Server. We have found them to be very stable and much easier to manage than previous versions of Windows.

New releases of AXIS no longer run on Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows NT or Windows 2000. Although older versions of AXIS will run on these operating systems, GGY can no longer fully support those operating systems since Microsoft itself no longer produces service packs for those older operating systems to fix the bugs. This means that, if a bug in these older operating systems affects AXIS, Microsoft will not assist us, or you, to resolve the problem.  Sometimes a fix can be found without Microsoft's help, but problems could potentially arise that simply can no longer be fixed.  Given this lack of support from Microsoft, along with the huge improvements in stability and usability that the newer operating systems include, we strongly recommend using an up to date operating system (noted above) for the best possible results using AXIS.   For a detailed discussion of AXIS hardware and software compatibility, please see the following document:

http://www.ggy.com/support/reqequip.asp

Section 3 - AXIS Key Options

AXIS requires a hardware based security key to run.  There are two versions of these keys available - USB and Parallel.  Typically, on a new installation, the USB key is the preferred method since it is more flexible and easier to install than the parallel option.  When you first install AXIS, it will attempt to install the security key driver.  In most cases, no other action is necessary, but occasionally problems might arise.  For more info on troubleshooting key installations, please see the following link:

http://www.ggy.com/support/kbase/kbsearch.asp?articleid=&searchString=usb+key&sType=and&select=&titleBox=header&summaryBox=shortdesc&bodybox=plaintext

Section 4 - Distributed Processing

Distributed Processing allows certain AXIS batch calculations to be spread over multiple processors or machines.  Distributed processing can be as simple as starting a second copy of AXIS on a dual-processor machine to take advantage of the second processor, or as complex as a 16 computer farm.  The following links provide further information on distributed processing:

http://www.ggy.com/support/kbase/kbdetails.asp?searchterm=&articleid=296

Section 5 - AXIS GridLink Module

AXIS GridLink is a Grid solution to managing the processor farm used for distributed processing of AXIS batch calculation runs. It offers a comprehensive set of tools that help you create and manage a more efficient and secure production environment.

With AXIS GridLink you can: 

• Control your farm without logging on to the farm servers.
• Initiate AXIS batch jobs from any AXIS workstation.
• When the job is submitted to the farm it is not running on the user's workstation anymore so it becomes free to do other work - even run AXIS and work in a different dataset
• Automatically start the appropriate Master and Helpers for the current job on the farm, and control the maximum number of helpers.
• Monitor the batch job running on the farm and the queue of jobs submitted by multiple users in multiple AXIS versions, from your local workstation or from home (using VPN).
• Move pending jobs up and down in the queue, or cancel them, if required.
• Review the history of runs with detailed documentation

The following links provide further information on GridLink Module:

http://www.ggy.com/gridlink/index.htm

Section 6 - Suggestions for handling error messages

If you encounter an error while installing / updating AXIS, there are several resources available on our website which may be of value:

1. AXIS Installation Instructions - detailed installation instructions for AXIS pre-requisites and program files.
2. GGY Knowledge Base - a searchable database of articles that detail common problems and their solutions.
3. Enhancements and Bug Fixes database - a searchable database of all bug-fixes and enhancements that have been introduced in various versions of AXIS.

Section 7 - GGY Support Services

GGY has a Client Support Team that deals with a wide range of client/user issues.  Questions vary from how to install AXIS to how a calculation is being done to the optimal setup of AXIS in a production environment with a processor farm.   When necessary, other system and IT professionals at GGY are brought in to investigate and help solve a client/user problem.  For further information on our support services, please see the following link:

http://www.ggy.com/support/csupport.asp

• AXIS on the Terminal Server
• AXIS Installation Instructions - Versions 11301001 and above
• AXIS Licenses and Keys
• AXIS And 64-bit Windows Operating Systems