As you know, last Tuesday, April 24 th , the CME experienced a problem with one of our controllers. As a result, we had to move many of our firms to their back-up connections. This process took much longer than expected, because firm back-up circuits had been disconnected or changed without our knowledge. . The Exchange, all other member firms and their customers were adversely impacted. To ensure that we do not encounter this problem again, we are requiring that EVERY member firm and software/service bureau test all their back-up connections with the CME on a quarterly basis. We will test back-up connections for both the old leased line and frame relay connections.

The CME has always required that all member firms and facilities-managing service/software vendors maintain STATIC back-up circuit connections to the Exchange. They should also test those connections each year. Many firms voluntarily schedule a yearly, quarterly or even monthly test to ensure that recovery will occur efficiently.

The first quarterly test will be conducted Monday � Friday, May 21st through June 8th, between the hours of 6:45 am and 9:00 am for leased lines and over the weekends for FIN connections. On the attached form, please indicate the date and time you will test. Test procedures are also listed below. If you can not test during these hours, due to existing testing restrictions within your firm, please contact Karen F. McCoy via e-mail, kmccoy@cme.com and denote when you can test. We will try to arrange another time. No firm is exempt from testing! If your firm fails to successfully complete a back-up test with the CME, they will be required to send a letter explaining why they do not have a viable back-up connection to the President of the Clearing House. In addition, sanctions may be levied.

• SNA Leased Line Connections - Firms that are still on 9.6 and 19.2 leased lines have a dial-up (POTS) line number that is dialed by the CME, in the event the primary line fails. We store those numbers in both a primary and back-up modem here at the CME. If the POTS line number that you provided to the CME is inaccurate or not connected to the modem, the CME cannot access the firm. We must verify those number(s) before we test.
  
• FIN SNA and IP Connections - All firms that have a FIN (frame relay) connection, have an ISDN line that automatically switches over when the primary 56kb or T-1 line at the firm site fails. There is also a dial-up line that is connected to a modem that monitors the FIN router, which allows us to maintain and troubleshoot the connection. If your connection is in Chicago, the CME ordered that circuit and we have those numbers. However, should the circuits have been moved without our knowledge, we cannot re-establish a connection. For non-Chicago connections, the ISDN and POTS lines were ordered locally by the firm. The firm is then required to inform the CME of these numbers. Once again, if the circuits have been moved or changed and we were not given this information, we cannot re-establish a connection. We must verify both the ISDN and POTS number(s) before we test.

Each of these dial-up numbers is very critical for a smooth transition when primary circuit problems occur. In order to confirm/update our records, please enter your dial-up and/or ISDN circuit information for each location in the form (text boxes) provided below, and return it to Client Management by May 18 th , 3:00 p.m.

Please be aware that firms should never move or change any circuits that are utilized for trade submission or production TOPS without first notifying Client Management in writing! If circuits, modems or routers are changed in any way without our knowledge, it can SIGNIFICANTLY DELAY our ability to assist you in re-establishing communications for your firm. As a result, your ability to send to or receive any data from the CME is terminated.

Note: Clearing members already know that failure to submit trade data or meet other data processing deadlines, such as GUS acceptances, can result in a fine from the Clearing House. Furthermore, without a back up, firms are unable to submit orders to TOPS or download critical information from the CME such as GLOBEX and GUS confirmation records. Therefore, it is critically important that recovery from communication problems is expeditious.

We strongly encourage every member firm to verify that dial line(s) are connected to their related CME modem. Please make certain that this line has not been swapped in your communications room/closet with another dial circuit. Furthermore, modems that monitor the FIN routers should never be moved or duo-connected for some other purpose, like Internet or FAX access.

If you have any questions, please contact Karen F. McCoy at (312) 930-4524 (kmccoy@cme.com) or Farris Oweimrin at (312) 648-4780 (foweimri@cme.com) Thank you. Your cooperation is most appreciated.

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• Test Procedures Leased Lines