RM CC5

[mikes]

It's funny because I thought the same with CC3  going to CC4.  CC3 had its own bespoke software installer that ran every time the machines booted up; and had its own custom machine builder accessed with an external floppy disk (sounds arcane now but back then it was easy, plug in floppy drive, boot automatically from it, build station).  

 

CC4 you had to PXE boot which though standard now, it required configuring all the systems from it, making sure you could stop kids messing with it etc - this build would often fall over whereas the CC3 one always worked.  CC4 did use config manager to install software, it may have hid it from the user  which IMO was worse - I'd deploy software with CC3, reboot the machines, and it would be there (great for those unreasonable "we need it now" requests) - with CC4 I'd push software for install, then you'd have to wait some random amount of time, in 4 hours it might be on 2 or 5 random stations if you are lucky.

When we stripped CC4 out and went vanilla config manager etc, all these problems went away, and if you had problems the CCM interface showed you if any software was stuck.

 

Mind we had CC4 when it was only 1 year old, they might have fixed the problems by now. But for us it was worse than vanilla, spend about a week getting familiar with basic MS and I bet you'll find it easier.  

But yes Win 11 isn't really that architecturally different from Win 10 so I bet they'd make a bit of money releasing CC4 for it - perhaps they don't want to fund a CC4 dev team any more?

[APMerry]

I've worked with CC3 and CC4. What I don't like about them is you only learn how to do things the RM way, which no one else does.

[HarryMonkey]

I worked with CC right from CC2 and its basic job of relieving a busy head of IT of the everyday activities, well, it was good at its job. As school networks became more advanced, so did CC but unfortunately, as someone alluded to, you only learnt RM, so as the school became more tied in with RM, techs and NMs were missing out on the rapid advancements in the MS vanilla (real) world leaving many schools with a vanilla network looked after by staff who had become CC slaves.

[psydii]

I vowed never again after Connect 2.1. Not that it was bad, but it was clear NT5 was going to eat its lunch.

[David44]

48 minutes ago, APMerry said:

I've worked with CC3 and CC4. What I don't like about them is you only learn how to do things the RM way, which no one else does.

 

Indeed. What is good for ones career progression, may not always be what is best for the school.

I'd love to know MCM inside out and make a fortune somewhere else with international offices, multiple distribution points, multiple boundary groups etc. As it is, I am working for a school with one site. Having to set up and troubleshooting boundary groups is just a waste of my (and therefore the schools) time.

 

The biggest issue for me is the fact that MCM seems unable to display any error messages. If there is an issue, you have to first work out what part of it might be wrong and then work out what log file might relate to that part and then Google a line from the log file and then find a Microsoft page telling you to check the IIS configuration. Check it for what? It's 2025, Who uses IIS? Oh yeah, Microsoft.

[ITSystems_JamesE]

6 hours ago, David44 said:

It would solve so many problems for us (and probably RM) if they just released a Windows 11 client pack for CC4 like that have done for every other OS update.

Instead we are stuck battling with Microsoft Configuration Manager which just seems a lot more fragile and too complex for what a single school with one site requires. CC4 was far from perfect but it built PCs, installed packages and managed users which is all we need. MCM may do that too in theory but it seems like a full time job just to manage it's various issues and dependencies.

 

CC4 hid most of the Microsoft nonsense from us and I don't think I had appreciated how bad it had become until I tried to do anything even basic like build a PC without CC4.

Meanwhile, over here in IT Systems…

 

We understand that not all schools want to move to CC5. That’s why we’ve developed and deployed a fully functional Windows 11 Client Pack for Community Connect 4 (CC4), ensuring schools can continue using a system they know and trust without being forced into unnecessary and costly migrations.

 

Our tailored support services include regular security updates, compatibility improvements, and even structured plans for migrating CC4 networks to newer server operating systems like Windows Server 2022. Many schools are already benefiting from our solution and support services, saving them money and allowing them to extend the life of their CC4 networks well beyond RM’s planned discontinuation.

 

For those who are happy with CC4 and don’t want to move to CC5, we provide a sustainable supported path forward keeping your network stable, secure, and up to date.

 

For more information, visit: https://www.itsystems.uk.com/cc4/or send us a DM through EduGeek to arrange a call on how we can help your school.

James

[David44]

@ITSystems_JamesE

 

Are you doing this in conjunction with RM or are they likely to send you a cease and desist letter at some point?

Do you have access to their source code for changes to RMMC etc. or are you managing to make any required changes via settings files and registry entries?

What about the Smart Client for Windows 11? Is that a modified CC4 Smart Client with permission from RM or have you written your own?

[ITSystems_JamesE]

3 hours ago, David44 said:

@ITSystems_JamesE

 

Are you doing this in conjunction with RM or are they likely to send you a cease and desist letter at some point?

Do you have access to their source code for changes to RMMC etc. or are you managing to make any required changes via settings files and registry entries?

What about the Smart Client for Windows 11? Is that a modified CC4 Smart Client with permission from RM or have you written your own?

@David44

Hi David,

 

Thanks for your questions.  We are more than happy to have a conversation with you about our Windows 11 Client Pack and its deployment in a person to person manner.

Please give us a call on 0343 8868660 or email us at [email protected]

Thanks

James

[synaesthesia]

Not committing to an answer on a public forum? 

[ITSystems_JamesE]

17 minutes ago, synaesthesia said:

Not committing to an answer on a public forum? 

@synaesthesia

Hi Synasesthesia, David44 and all,

 

Thank you for your comments in relation to our CC4 Win 11 Client Pack.

 

We have created a Windows 11 CC4 Client Pack of our own volition to continue supporting the CC4 solution past its cut off point form both RM and Microsoft’s Windows 10 EOL.

This package installs in the same manner as previous RM client packs.  It follows the same rules as previously released RM client packs from either RM or third parties.  It has been developed by us to allow our customers to continue using CC4 after the afore-mentioned dates.

We support a large number of school networks which cover many sites, many thousands of machines and equally large number of users running into tens of thousands. As an RM Premium support partner ourselves we have also had limited notification with regard to CC4, or any specific migration plans that maybe included to move the process forward (yes we have seen the fallout of CC5). 

 

Our post is simply to raise awareness of our pack we have created. and give network managers the option to use Windows 11 on CC4 to give them time to decide what direction they wish to take their own school networks; be that continue with CC4, go to CC5 (whatever it may or may not look like) or go down a vanilla route.

 

Whether you are for RM or against RM in this larger forum posting is irrelevant.  

 

Given the short timescale between now and October 14^th2025 our Win 11 pack, in our view, is £195 well spent.  It gives you time to decide which direction you want to go without having a massive kneejerk project this summer.

 

If you are interested in our pack please get in touch.

 

James

[synaesthesia]

This wasn't anything to do with that, I was just wondering if you would commit to an answer to @David44's question publicly?

[ITSystems_JamesE]

@synaesthesia Here is a reply to the questions from @David44
"Are you doing this in conjunction with RM or are they likely to send you a cease and desist letter at some point?" -  As RM have stipulated an EOL date for CC4 at the same time Win 10 goes EOL we have created this pack ourselves to continue supporting CC4 after RM wash their hands of it.

"Do you have access to their source code for changes to RMMC etc. or are you managing to make any required changes via settings files and registry entries?" - You do not require access to the RM source code to create a client pack so no.  The client pack makes the necessary additional entries for management of Win 11 in the RMMC on the fly at installation in the same manner as all other previous client packs.

"What about the Smart Client for Windows 11? Is that a modified CC4 Smart Client with permission from RM or have you written your own?" - You can smart client with our pack installed yes.  We would not recommend it as smart client is always a bit messy.

Again, we have released our Windows 11 CC4 pack at £195 to give CC4 users time to decide what they want to do and not be forced by RM, Microsoft or the wider industry to make a kneejerk decision.

[johnpd]

Has anyone actually got a cc5 installed an operational intune solution?

 

I want to see screenshot and how they propose to maintain the policies throughout the year should they become retired to use Microsoft analogy in terms.

are they using policy  sets?

Are they using filters?

thanks