LINK and NonStop servers run the busiest single-platform ATM ...

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“Major U.K. banks all know of HP’s successful track record with the NonStop S86000 platform. They know it can deliver 99.99 percent availability in central switching and that is a significant proof point for LINK when seeking new business.” Steve Garlick, senior solutions architect, LINK The company’s reputation is supported by a scalable, mission-critical standard transaction payments processing infrastructure. To ensure the highest levels of reliability and availability across its shared ATM switching network, LINK relies on the HP NonStop S86000 system, the result of a relationship with the NonStop platform that goes back more than 20 years. “In the early days, we were looking for a proven system for mission-critical ATM switch transactions,” said Steve Garlick, senior solutions architect with LINK. “A NonStop system was the obvious choice because it was the only platform that could handle all our transaction processing needs.” The LINK network is powered by two HP NonStop S86012 servers. One is dedicated to the LINK Interchange Network production applications and the other, located 20 miles away, serves as a disaster recovery system. Software on the servers includes eFunds Connex Advantage, ACI BASE24 switch software, and Sterling Commerce Connect:Direct for file transfer. The HP NonStop system handles a very high, continually increasing volume of daily transactions, while providing 99.99 percent switch availability. Peak periods, which include Christmas holidays and spells of warm weather, place the highest demand on the system. In a recent summer month, LINK processed 226 million transactions with a value of £8.9 billion (approximately US$18 billion); on one particularly warm day that month, cash machine withdrawals soared to a record £408 million (about US$828 million). Despite these peaks, the HP NonStop system provided reliable 24x7 processing without a glitch. “Major U.K. banks all know of HP’s successful track record with the NonStop S86000 platform. They know it can deliver 99.99 percent availability in central switching and that is a significant proof point for LINK when seeking new business,” said Garlick. In addition to ensuring 24x7 reliability across the ATM network, LINK assists banks in checking the performance of internal systems that interface with the NonStop system. In this role, LINK acts as an external “watchdog,” looking for patterns and performance levels that might be of interest to the financial services providers that are its customers. As Garlick explained: “We pride ourselves on the fact that high-profile banks rely on us, not only to process such a huge volume of transactions, but also to help monitor the response times and availability of their internal systems. We often call the banks with this information before they are aware of it.” 2
On a peak day, the expectation is that the Faster Payments service will need to process 10 million standing orders in four hours. The broader picture According to Garlick, an important business challenge facing LINK today is where cash and the use of ATMs is going in the future. Working with HP, LINK will evaluate systems to handle mobile commerce, consumer-to-consumer transactions, and Internet payments. LINK is also diversifying its service range and customer base, including technology innovations and relationship development to create “win-win” solutions across the financial services, retail, mobile, and public sectors. Connectivity is in place at all major U.K. financial institutions, mobile network operators, and at the Post Office, forming a seamless community for processing shared, real-time electronic payments transactions. For example, consumers will be able to instantly top up their mobile phone prepay accounts at participating banks’ ATMs, at any time and with full security. The service benefits all parties: Consumers enjoy the convenience and flexibility of ATM-based top-up services; financial services providers can enhance their ATM strategy and build their brands’ value; and mobile operators can offer more choice for their consumers and reduce their cost base. MONILINK—LINK’s joint venture with Monitise, a division of Morse plc—provides retail banks in the United Kingdom with a real-time mobile banking solution that reaches their entire customer base, regardless of the mobile network they choose. The mobile application is an extension of LINK’s core payments capability, offering banking-grade security in the mobile environment. Currently available to HSBC, first direct, and Alliance & Leicester account holders (and soon to RBS Group customers), MONILINK transactions form a significant part of the LINK extended real-time payments infrastructure. Merging for even faster service Recently, LINK announced its intention to merge with Voca to create VocaLINK. Voca is the largest processor of Direct Debit and Direct Credit transactions in Europe. The combined company will be one of the leading payments processors in Europe; merger preparations are underway, awaiting approval from the U.K. Office of Fair Trading (OFT). This merger will no doubt facilitate introduction of the Faster Payments service, an immediate payments facility for the country’s banking customers. LINK and Voca have been appointed by APACS, the U.K. payments association and its members, and the OFT to provide the real-time processing element for the service. The initial scope will include direct credit payments originated through the Internet or telephone banking and standing orders. 3
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LINK and NonStop servers run the busiest single-platform ATM ...

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