STATION ID - 7047/3.12

9x Datakit Network
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

This is a 9x system, restricted to authorized persons and for
official 9x business only. Anyone using this system, network or data
is subject to being monitored at any time for system administration and
for identifying unauthorized users or system misuse. Anyone using this
system expressly consents to such monitoring and is advised that any
evidence of criminal activity revealed through such monitoring may be
provided to law enforcement for prosecution.
Britsh Telecom Work Management System.

         *[Hacking the British Telecom Work Management System]*
          a text written by gr1p for 9x. <gr1p@linenoise.org>

The British Telecom Work Management System is an internal system used
by BT Engineers to gain information on their work of the day, memorandums
etc. all without having to physically return to the telco to gain their
job information.

It is used to gain information of Line faults, Tests that need to be
completed, Job Management rosters, time organization and allocation, etc.

Although the Work Management System is an internal terminal system, it
does have 0800 access and local access in all regions which can easily be 
scanned for. 

The Engineer, using a minature palmtop style computer , often called a
HUSKY and a modem coupler connected to a mobile phone can then access the 
Work Management system and gain the Information that is required.

The 'common' login process for 'external users' ie. the majority of people
reading this text, is quite simple. All you need is some basic
information about the telephone exchange (its authorisation pin) which can
be easily obtained by trashing, you will often find network maps with your
local telco code printed on them, and a telco engineers authorisation pin.
This may sound difficult but a little bit of social engineering/trashing
can go a long way.  

However, I stated that this was the 'common' login process for 'external
users'.  The common login process for BT engineer's is much more simple.
It is all programmed into their field computer, or HUSKY, and all they are
required to do is hook it up to their mobile phone and then dialup using
the automated Work Management System (WMS) option.  This is all clear if
you take a look at a HUSKIE, these are very precious to people, and
contain a wealth of information which could benefit you.  All the internal
test numbers, contact numbers etc.  So getting your hands on one of these
field computers would seriously benefit you.  It seems to have been
heralded the engineer's 'bible' as without this he would be seriously lost
when out on field work.

Once connected to the Work Management System it is easy to use with a menu
interface rather than just a standard UNIX/VMS style prompt.  Therefore
no real computing training is needed to operate WMS which cuts down on BT
training costs.

The WMS is a two way terminal with capabilites to send and recieve data,
concerning jobs, tests etc.
The process of this can be illustrated in the following diagrams.

-= Data Recieved =-

Customer Services and Systems --> Work Management System --> Dialup -->
Terminal.

-= Data Sent =-

Terminal --> Dialup --> Work Management System

You may notice that 'Data Recieved' has more paths that 'Data Sent'.  This
is because all outgoing data must be originally processed by Customer
Services and Systems which is basically the mother of this process,
spawning the information of daily tasks and ther organisation, then 
feeding these tasks out to the Work Manager to finally reach the Terminal
that requested it.  That is the simple theory behind it.  If you wish to
know more about the theory of how this is done I would recommend reading
anything you can on Packet Switching Networks and general x.25 related
material.

The Customer Services and Systems branch allows no internal access via the
Work Management System due probably to the lack of security involved in
this system and also due to the fact that it is felt that basic engineers
do not need access to CSS in order to complete their jobs.

The Work Management System is an interesting network to play on, but it
does soon feel limited in what you can do with it, as access is basically
just to a interactive menu prompt which offers little chance of escape,
regardless of that, this network can provide you with some very nice
information on jobs, tests, rosters etc. which are very useful things to
know in the race to stay one step ahead of BT.   


* this is for informational purposes only, dont blame 9x.
    * chill on #9x EFnet for real hp discussion only, no lamers.

[eof]
