Exploring configuration and pricing options with your customer
Create local e-config files that can be used in ePricer to price or quote your product to your client. This step can be iterated; if the configuration needs to be updated after discussion
with the client, you can make changes in the configuration screens and generate new e-config files to represent those changes until agreement is reached for a final configuration for your
client order.
To create the local e-config files, follow these steps:
1. Click on the ellipse in the right-most column of the Solution Group row in the Products table view and select
Create e-config CFRs (zipped and in all available e-config formats).
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Note: The IBM Block STaaS for IBM Systems product is used in this example.
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Figure 123 Products table view of a Solution Group before CFR files are created
A CFR .zip file is created locally in Storage Modeller for each product in the Solution Group. For example, in
Figure 123, a
CFR .zip file is created for IBM Block STaaS for IBM Systems #1, IBM Block STaaS for IBM Systems #2, and IBM Block STaaS for IBM Systems #3.
When the CFR .zip files are created, a CFR button appears in the Solution Group row, as shown in
Figure 124.
Figure 124 Products table view of a Solution Group after CFR files are created
2. The CFR .zip files must be downloaded to your local computer and then uploaded to
ePricer for pricing information. The pricing and configuration process might involve some iterations before client-approval of configuration and associated pricing is obtained. When using
the Storage Modeller locally-generated e-config files, the user can return to the product-configuration panes in Storage Modeller to update the configuration as needed. Then, the user can
generate new e-config files that represent the updated configuration. All CFR .zip files that are created for your configuration are stored in Storage
Modeller.
3. Display the CFR Attachments page in one of the following ways:
– Click the CFR button in the Attachments column of the Products table view, as shown in
Figure 124.
– Click the ellipse in the right-most column of the Solution Group row on the Products table view and click View
Attachments, as shown in
Figure 124.
Figure 125 CFR Attachments - IBM Block STaaS for IBM System
– The State column shows that the CFR .zip files are preliminary at this point in the
process. The preliminary CFR .zip files can be imported into e-config and ePricer, but an order cannot be placed until the CFR
.zip files are orderable. The CFR .zip file is automatically changed to orderable when the user Finalizes their configuration in
Storage Modeller. This indicates that the pricing and configuration are agreed to and the user is ready to place the order.
– The Repository column lists either StorM or IMPACT to denote where the CFR .zip file
is saved.
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Note: See
“Comparing e-config CFR zip
files in Storage Modeller versus IMPACT” on page 203
for more information on the differences between e-config CFR files that are stored in Storage Modeller versus IMPACT.
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4. Choose the CFR .zip file to be used in your configuration, as follows:
a. To ensure that the current CFR .zip files are listed, click the refresh icon next to
each CFR file in the list.
b. To download the desired CFR .zip file to your local drive, click the download icon.
5. Unzip the CFR .zip file to extract the .cfr file to be
used to place your order.
When you unzip the CFR .zip file, eight files are extracted including two .cfr files.
(The other six files are two
.rtf files, two .txt files, and two .html files.)
– One .cfr file includes -base-MTM in the file name. This is the file that will be imported into e-config for the initial order. For example:
IBM Block STaaS for IBM Systems 1 2022_07_29 16_16_20 CFR-base-9601.cfr
The corresponding .rtf, .txt, and .html files also include -base-MTM in the file name.
– The other .cfr file includes
-variable-MTM-NOT-FOR-ORDERING in the file name. This is a variable-pricing CFR file and is not used for ordering. For example:
IBM Block STaaS for IBM Systems 1 2022_07_29 16_16_20 CFR-variable-9602-NOT-FOR-ORDERING.cfr
The corresponding .rtf, .txt, and .html files also include
-variable-MTM-NOT-FOR-ORDERING in the file name.
Variable-pricing CFRs never culminate into Project Office order fulfillment. This type of CFR file is for pricing approval only, which is required for accounting or budgeting purposes
if the client exceeds their capacity limit.
When configuration and pricing are agreed upon, place your order and prepare for your pre-install TDA.