
When Athena is ported to a new platform, Layered Athena should be ported
immediately after the first system packs.  The new platform should be
supplied to ACS, CSS and SIPB, who can use the xlayer GUI to take
updates as work progresses on the port.  This way, work can begin on
courseware, utilities and other locker software early on.

When a vendor introduces a new OS version with binary compatibility, a
workstation should be installed with the new version ASAP, and Layered
Athena should be used to make it into an Athena workstation.  This will
help potential problems with the new OS version be identified quickly.
