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PDO-NDS Upgrade to Windows 2008: Hardware Specs

Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2009-10/237 · issued 30 Nov 2009 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI mandates NDS members to migrate PDO-NDS from Windows 2000/Oracle 9i to Windows 2008/Oracle 11g/IBM MQ 7.0. Minimum server specs: dual-core processor (2 processors), 16GB RAM, 2x250GB HDD. Client needs Core 2 Duo, 4GB RAM, 160GB/250GB HDD, Windows Vista Business 32-bit SP1, Oracle 11.1.6.0 client 32-bit. Act now.
The rule, in the simplest words
How it plays out — a real example

A credit & lending officer in Indore checks the RBI circular and sees her bank must upgrade its PDO-NDS system. She tells the IT team to buy a new server with two dual-core processors and 16GB RAM, and a client PC with a Core 2 Duo and 4GB RAM. They set up two servers with Oracle Data Guard for live data copying, avoiding clustering, and wait for the new setup files from RBI's secure website.

What changed

RBI decided to upgrade the PDO-NDS application from Windows 2000 Advanced Server, Oracle 9i, and IBM WebSphere MQ 5.3 to Windows 2008 Enterprise Edition, Oracle 11g, and IBM MQ 7.0. Detailed minimum hardware and software specifications for both server and client machines have been provided. Members must migrate their systems to the new environment.

What it means for you

Banks and NDS members must plan and execute a technology migration to avoid disruption in PDO-NDS operations. The upgrade improves security, performance, and supportability but requires capital expenditure on new hardware and software. Oracle Data Guard is recommended for online replication, and clustering is explicitly not required.

What you must do

Who it affects

All NDS members (banks and financial institutions), IT teams managing PDO-NDS infrastructure, Vendors supplying server/client hardware and software

❓ Common questions

What are the minimum client specifications?

Client machines need a Core 2 Duo processor, 4GB RAM, 160GB/250GB HDD, Windows Vista Business 32-bit SP1, Oracle 11.1.6.0 client 32-bit, and Microsoft Office 2003 SP3.

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2009-10/237 DIT(CO) Circular NO. 6/09.61.002/2009-10 November 30, 2009 To All NDS Members Dear Sir, Up-gradation of the PDO-NDS application to Windows 2008 As you are aware that the PDO NDS application is presently running on Windows 2000 advanced server with Oracle Version 9i and IBM Websphere MQ series 5.3. 2. It has been decided to upgrade the PDO NDS application to the latest available software versions i.e. Microsoft Windows 2008 Enterprise Edition, Oracle 11g and IBM Websphere MQ series 7.0. 3. In order to facilitate the upgradation, we enclose the Hardware and Software specifications for the Server and Client machines. It may be noted that the hardware specifications mentioned are the minimum requirements. However, you may decide the size of the hardware based on your specific needs. 4. You are requested to initiate the activity for migrating the PDO NDS application at your end to work in this new environment. We will be uploading the new setup and the installation document in the PDO NDS link available on the RBI Secured Websitebe ( https://secweb.rbi.org.in ) in due course of time. A broadcast to this effect will be made through the PDO NDS application. You are requested to intiate the activity for migrating the PDO NDS application to this new environment at the earliest. Yours faithfully, (M.K. Mall) General Manager PDO NDS – Migration to Microsoft Windows 2008 environment- Hardware and Software Specifications- Minimum requirement 1.Member-end Application Serv Item
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2009-10/237 · issued 30 Nov 2009. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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Who does what — compliance checklist
💻 IT / Systems
  • Review the enclosed hardware and software specs and procure compliant server (dual-core, 2 processors, 16GB RAM, 2x250GB HDD) and client (Core 2 Duo, 4GB RAM, 160GB/250GB HDD) machines.
  • Plan migration of your PDO-NDS application to Windows 2008, Oracle 11g, and IBM MQ 7.0 at the earliest.
📜 Compliance
  • Set up two standalone servers at primary site with Oracle Data Guard for online replication; do not implement clustering.
  • Monitor RBI's secured website for the new setup and installation documents, and act on the broadcast via PDO-NDS.
Grouped from the action items above — a single circular may involve more than one team.
Worked example & action-note template

Example: if you are an IT/Systems lead at a bank this circular applies to (All NDS members (banks and financial institutions), IT teams managing PDO-NDS infrastructure, Vendors supplying server/client hardware and software), your first concrete step on “PDO-NDS Upgrade to Windows 2008: Hardware Specs” is: “Review the enclosed hardware and software specs and procure compliant server (dual-core, 2 processors, 16GB RAM, 2x250GB HDD) and client (Core 2 Duo, 4GB RAM, 160GB/250GB HDD) machines.” (RBI issued this 30 Nov 2009).

  1. Circular: RBI/2009-10/237 -- PDO-NDS Upgrade to Windows 2008: Hardware Specs
  2. Issued: 30 Nov 2009
  3. Action required: Review the enclosed hardware and software specs and procure compliant server (dual-core, 2 processors, 16GB RAM, 2x250GB HDD) and client (Core 2 Duo, 4GB RAM, 160GB/250GB HDD) machines.
  4. Action required: Plan migration of your PDO-NDS application to Windows 2008, Oracle 11g, and IBM MQ 7.0 at the earliest.
  5. Action required: Set up two standalone servers at primary site with Oracle Data Guard for online replication; do not implement clustering.
  6. Action required: Monitor RBI's secured website for the new setup and installation documents, and act on the broadcast via PDO-NDS.
  7. Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
  8. Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
  9. Evidence filed in compliance register on: ____________
Built only from this circular’s own published fields — not legal advice; always confirm against the official RBI source.

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Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=5389&Mode=0 — Plain-English summary by BankPulse (bankpulse.ai), reviewed by our expert reviewer, CA Amit Jain. Independent platform, not affiliated with the Reserve Bank of India; is our own plain-English paraphrase, not RBI’s original wording.
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