ENCLOSURE (1) to COMDTINST 5230.59
DECEMBER 1999
U.S. Coast Guard Common Operating Environment (USCG COE)
The USCG COE Working Group recognized that IT standards form the basis of the USCG
COE. The Information Systems Technical Architecture (ISTA), COMDTINST 5230.45
(series), defines the IT standards of the USCG COE. Each standard described is linked to a
respective object within the USCG COE. The standards described in the ISTA must be
updated periodically as a result of the rapid changes in the industry. Commandant (G-SIA)
coordinates ISTA updates through the USCG COE maintenance process.
7.1. Common Products List
The USCG COE Common Products List describes the current components of the Coast
Guard's standard workstation image, which have been approved by TISCOM, and comply with
the USCG COE. The most current version of this list may by found on the TISCOM
INTERNET site at: http://www.tiscom.uscg.mil/isd/ENG1/ConfMgmt/cfgmgthome.htm
7.2. Certified Enterprise Applications
Shrink-wrapped applications are not to be installed on CG standard workstations unless CG-
certified installation instructions are included. U.S. Coast Guard Certified Enterprise
Applications (EAs) come with tested, and "TISCOM-certified" installation instructions.
Program sponsors are instructed to provide these instructions along with the software and a
copy of the TISCOM Certification Certificate when distributing an application for deployment.
Attempts to install an uncertified COTS (commercial-off-the-shelf) product using the vendor-
supplied, shrink wrapped "Setup.exe" (or equivalent) will not install correctly for the Coast
Guard architecture. This is because almost every commercial product -- even the ones that say
"network compatible" or "network capable" or that claim to support NTXXX -- are still written
to the "lowest common denominator," which is a stand-alone PC. COTS application
installation routines copy files to local C:\ drive and system directories which conflicts with the
U.S. Coast Guard standard workstation architecture. The certification process results in a
common directory structure and configuration where these applications reside on an
applications server. A list of certified applications, as well as additional information is
available from the following web page:
7.3. Workstation/Server Architecture
Workstation/Server Architecture standards describe the Coast Guard standard workstation
desktop computing architecture. This includes the standard directory structure and logical
drive configuration for standard workstation end-user file storage on workgroup file servers.
This information is essential for planning where prospective enterprise applications will be
installed. It also provides the information about the locations of operating system files, shared
folders, office automation software, etc. For more information please see appendix (3).
16
Previous Page
