Dear Link2ICT, we need to talk........(NM meeting)

[machin05]

The schools in the Edge collegiate (part of the SWAN network) do it and they have a rep from Link2ICT attend most meetings (Damian Bardham). I stopped going as we've come away from Linkt2ICT now but if anyone want the contact details of the chap that organises them, PM me.

[CHR1S]

Damian is our account manager.....

[chippo]

Think they should also invite those that have left, if they want to get better hear why people left & how they could win them back?

[foofighterjim]

So almost 48 hours after my first email with several questions that will help decide if I am going to renew for 6 or 12 months, I have still heard nothing back. I have called this afternoon and given my questions to a 3rd person. As they do read what we put up here:

 

This is why people despair! I know my questions may not be as simple as yes or no but a simple acknowledgement that they are being looked into would be nice!

[Little-Miss]

funnily enough, i was just thinking 'Hmmm my account manager hasn't got back to me...'

[CHR1S]

Ditto... after a very positive chat yesterday the required quotes and logins have failed to materialise!!

[foofighterjim]

@Little-Miss have you heard anything from your account manager? I still haven't had a word back about my questions, I'm giving them until lunch to respond. Am I being unreasonable to expect answers to (some quite complicated) questions having originally emailed Wednesday afternoon?

[Little-Miss]

Nope, nothing, nowt...

 

I only asked 2 questions, neither particulary taxing...

[Little-Miss]

So i'm being told we cant do a 6 month contract because supplier needs to be paid up front....(@foofighterjim)

[Michael]

Had it confirmed I can attend this meeting, so I'll see you all there

[foofighterjim]

I have just sent my paperwork off. It has cost about 60% of the price to do it; in order to cover Link2ICTs upfront costs. I got very poor answers from the questions I asked, all were to the effect of: its coming but we can't say when.

[Little-Miss]

Be nice if the account managers all said the same stuff really...

 

Cool @Michael, see ya there.

[foofighterjim]

Be nice if the account managers all said the same stuff really...

 

You and your idealistic dreams. Given my current situation I will probably be there in May although I may have already set wheels in motion by then.

[Trapper]

I had to fight to get 12 months on a line. I was told minimum of 2 years, but this was for a new line.

[Trojan]

Has anyone heard from their Account Managers IF/WHEN granular filtering might be making an appearance ?

[Michael]

Has anyone heard from their Account Managers IF/WHEN granular filtering might be making an appearance ?

 

This is one question that should be raised at the discussion - unfortunately until the stability issues of the firewall have been resolved, my understanding is nothing will be making an appearance.

 

At this rate (as I've pointed out), this could take 6 months, a year, or more... a line needs to be drawn somewhere. Even worse (as I have already highlighted), how can we be sure that turning on additional services (such as granular filtering), that this in itself could make things unstable once again.

[Trojan]

I'm just waiting for the "benefits" of the new firewall to kick in

[Michael]

Well exactly, it has delivered zero benefit at the time of writing. Quite rightly we should asking for a timescale when new tools/services will come into play.

[foofighterjim]

Has anyone heard from their Account Managers IF/WHEN granular filtering might be making an appearance ?

 

Two of the questions I was waiting on answers for were about when we would expect access to the filtering system & if we will be able to have differing policies based on group membership and / or VLAN ID. The answer to both questions was that they are working on it but are unable to give dates.

 

As a result I'm not hanging around, I renewed for just six months to give me the chance to move in the summer if needed. I was told last summer they would be upgrading to Moodle 2.4, we are still on 1.9. The lack of fixed dates means I can't plan for anything and it is therefore holding me back. The one thing I didn't ask is why they have gone for URL based filtering rather than content filtering.

Edited April 1, 2014 by foofighterjim

[Trojan]

Some of the Issues I have raised:

 

* Firewall Stability

* Zimbra 8 & Zimbra 8 Migration

* L2ICT Helpdesk

* Lack of Communication

* Large Price Rises (on the whole)

* ePortal Issues

* Shutting down of the Hive Server (Has made some staff very angry)

* Some others I cant recall right now

 

Anyone got any others for the meeting ?

[Trojan]

I was told last summer they would be upgrading to Moodle 2.4, we are still on 1.9.

 

I was told at the February 2012 Winter Conference that moodle would be updated to 2.x. we are still on 1.9 also.

Edited April 1, 2014 by Trojan

[Michael]

Some of the Issues I have raised:

 

* Firewall Stability

* Zimbra 8 & Zimbra 8 Migration

* L2ICT Helpdesk

* Lack of Communication

* Large Price Rises (on the whole)

* ePortal Issues

* Shutting down of the Hive Server (Has made some staff very angry)

* Some others I cant recall right now

 

Anyone got any others for the meeting ?

 

Lack of connectivity options (10Mbps and 100Mbps) with nothing in-between.

 

The answer to Zimbra is simple though - migrate to Office 365.

[Trojan]

The answer to Zimbra is simple though - migrate to Office 365.

 

Indeed. I am almost ready to make the switch

[CHR1S]

And once again, after a phone conversation this morning with our manager, nothing has appeared... again!

[InspireICT]

Has anyone looked into LGfL Trustnet or any other alternatives, I have mentioned it in a previous thread but from what I've read about Link2ICT you'd be getting a much better service at a lower cost - we honestly don't have any of these issues in our schools.