CC4...Hows it goin?

[Tallwood_6]

In fairness, that pretty much applies to CC3 as well, considering the demands of many newer apps.

 

CC3 these machines are at least usable for office and basic web-surfing, you cant do anything with them on CC4 they take about 20 minutes to startup and then page into infinity. So what was the point in developing low ram builds exactly?

We have many new members of staff coming from vanilla windows environments and they cant believe how sluggish comparable machines are on CC4 and we replaced half the site with new machines during the summer as well.

[Tallwood_6]

OK so no total rebuild, but how much time am I looking per PC as i was told to set aside 'dedicated time' as it is a lengthy process

 

That depends on the number of core components being updated, going by previous updates using the package updater i would set aside about 30- 40 minutes per batch of 20 or so and some additional time to rebuild those 5% of machines which dont update correctly.

[Guest Leonafj]

I then have to rebuild every machine in the school (starting after feb half term), but was told yesterday by RM that with SR1 in mid-march, it will require total rebuilds of machines again.

 

we have also been told this, we are due to get CC4 on Monday and to be honest im really nervous about it! I think we are going to leave the 2 main IT suites on CC3 and rebuild the other 2 suites on CC4 and iron out the issues in the two other rooms before disturbing the main IT lessons (thats the thought anyway!)

 

To add to my doubt is the fact that the upgrade was attempted during summer and it didn't work. Our project manager changed a couple of week ago and the new one didn't seem to know the history of the project and all she could tell us was that in the past 3 weeks they had upgraded a lot of schools and they are working fine. Well reading on here and the RM forums i dont think that is the case!

[Trurl]

we have also been told this, we are due to get CC4 on Monday and to be honest im really nervous about it!

Good luck, mate. I don't want to sound negative, but I seriously doubt any CC4 upgrade can be classified as 'fine'.

[MK-2]

our CC4 install began about an hour ago.

[Guest Leonafj]

our CC4 install began about an hour ago.

 

oh please let me know how it goes!

[sparkeh]

our CC4 install began about an hour ago.

 

Could I ask you to keep us updated. Very interested in how it goes

[enjay]

our CC4 install began about an hour ago.

 

I hope you have a number of sacrificial chickens on stand by...

[MK-2]

http://www.edugeek.net/forums/blogs/mk-2/107-our-cc4-install.html

 

will keep it updated that way rather than starting threads

[Butuz]

Good luck!

 

Butuz

[Moffatman]

SR1 is now split in its roll out depending on what you are after. - From their support page said this morning -

New CC4 installs Release eo May,

CC3 to 4 SR1 eo May.

Existing CC4 Release eo June.

Stop holding your breath guys!

 

If you can access their support stuff take a look at the graph on the following:

Log In

Do a bit of basic maths and work out the sizes of user vs deployment - Scares the hell out of us with over 1500 users!

[Michael]

Thank you for the informative blog MK-2. I'm really shocked and appalled at the service you've received and I don't blame you one little bit with regards to your comments.

 

Clearly RM's intentions are positive, but unfortunately they don't appear to be delivering whatsoever and have basically wiped their hands clean. This is really unprofessional and isn't how businesses should conduct themselves.

 

I agree that the fault is without a doubt with the site surveyors. The school after all are paying for a service from A to Z, but again I would say their communication is at fault. It happens a lot in many large organisations, but it's by no means any excuse.

[Oops_my_bad]

Wow - I'm really disgusted at the way RM have conducted themselves here - I'll be sure to point other schools in our area who are considering a CC3 upgrade to these threads.

[K.C.Leblanc]

Can I just ask what do you really gain from a product like community connect? In the days when you had NT4 servers and Win95/98 on the desktop I could see why you'd need something like CC. User management is NT4 was pants, and the built in security in Win98 was utter cack.

 

But in this day and age you do pretty much everything you need with a vanilla network. If not you're better off getting a specialist industry standard tool to do the job.

[matt40k]

The problem with vanilla network is that there are so many options, you need to document it, RM has a standard set of tools, so it's the same across all the sites, or at least that's the idea! RM targets schools with no ICT Technicians who want a simple ready made network who they can just phone up any (RM training) professional and just get it fixed.

[Tallwood_6]

This is true but the idea with Community Connect is RM supply all this in a single managed package. Where as in industry you would often need several different solutions to meet the same end. The reality is somewhat different however but what with RM winning most of the BSF soon alot will not have the choice.

[webman]

Can I just ask what do you really gain from a product like community connect? In the days when you had NT4 servers and Win95/98 on the desktop I could see why you'd need something like CC. User management is NT4 was pants, and the built in security in Win98 was utter cack.

 

But in this day and age you do pretty much everything you need with a vanilla network. If not you're better off getting a specialist industry standard tool to do the job.

 

To answer your question, search the forum. It has been discussed about a trillion times already.

[Oops_my_bad]

It looks to me the only thing you gain is a big headache along with a bigger hole in your school budget!

[matt40k]

It looks to me the only thing you gain is a big headache along with a bigger hole in your school budget!

 

Sounds like what parents say about having kids.

[webman]

It looks to me the only thing you gain is a big headache along with a bigger hole in your school budget!

 

Are you referring to CC3 or 4?

[enjay]

Can I just ask what do you really gain from a product like community connect?

 

This has been discussed to death on other threads - for the purposes of this one, can we just settle that some people need/justify RM products and others don't, and then leave the thread clear for the discussion of CC4 over CC3 without muddying it with the vampiric "why RM?" discussions?

[powdarrmonkey]

This has been discussed to death on other threads - for the purposes of this one, can we just settle that some people need/justify RM products and others don't, and then leave the thread clear for the discussion of CC4 over CC3 without muddying it with the vampiric "why RM?" discussions?

 

+1. Bored of hearing the arguments now; systems administration is about making an educated choice between the tools that work for you, not anybody else.

 

On the other hand, if there's a serious discussion in the offing about the differences which we can use to educate each other so that we're all equipped to make that choice, let's have it in a sensible manner in a new thread, and keep it there.

[CHR1S]

We have been working closely with 3rd Line support and various high up people to get our issues fixed.

With several new bugs being acknowledged (Long cold boot times, freezing at the desktop and annoying gina issues etc) and worked on, the future for us CC4 people is looking better.

 

The support we have received, albeit a bit later than it could have been, has been great and I do truly think they are close to refining the product to how it should have been released.

Edited March 23, 2009 by CHR1S

[Edu-IT]

So, anyones opinion of CC4 changed recently? Are there any success stories?

[Tallwood_6]

Some sucess with small primary, fresh install's, larger cc3 upgrade sites such as ourselves still have issues. We are mostly sorted now, but still have a few customer complaints open relating to poor station performance and startup times which isn't going to be fixed with SR1 and program sets failing to deliver on stations which again is awaiting a fix probably post SR1. Network recycle bin still isnt fixed after undergoing redevelopment as far as i'm aware. SR1 shoud bring some stability improvements i think but i think it will take another 6 months before they finally reach a point where RM are no longer firefighting and instead delivering some of the functionality promised at release.