RM CC3 - Buying non RM machines

[plkrtn]

I'm looking at buying some new machines (non RM) and then building them for use on the RM CC3 network we have.

 

Obviously RM CC3 uses XP Pro... So what suggestions are there regarding the purchasing of the machines. If I purchase a machine, do they have to have XP Pro and/or Vista Business on them?

 

I'm a bit stuck in regards to the downgrade... The CC3 Licence obv. doesn't include XP Pro, but then, I don't think I can purchase XP Pro Licenses anymore can I?

Am I stuck with purchasing from RM?

Edited February 10, 2009 by plkrtn

[Quackers]

I believe it would have to have Windows Vista Business or XP Pro for you to be able to build them without buying any upgrade licences.

[westleya]

We haven't bought client PC's from RM for some years - they're just too expensive for the spec you get.

 

All our new PC's are bought with Vista Business licences allowing us to downgrade to XP Pro.

 

Providing you can get hold of drivers to allow a network build and your covered with CC3 licencing, there's no problem.

[Avalon]

i started doing exactly the same last summer. The school had always bought Rm hardware (in particular RM One's) but managed to convince them to try HP and have never looked back.

 

i put in some Hp DC7900 machines with Vista Business and an XP Pro downgrade license.

[sparkeh]

No you are not stuck with purchasing from RM. All you need is the correct amount of OS licenses and RM licences.

 

IHowever, if you buy a machine and have OEM version of Vista then you might not be able downgrade (read the licence).In this case you could buy Volume licences which will allow you to downgrade to XP.

 

Also do some research in which machines are cooperative in the CC3 build process and which are going to give you a headache.

[ghannahuk]

I'm looking at buying some new machines (non RM) and then building them for use on the RM CC3 network we have.

 

Obviously RM CC3 uses XP Pro... So what suggestions are there regarding the purchasing of the machines. If I purchase a machine, do they have to have XP Pro and/or Vista Business on them?

 

I'm a bit stuck in regards to the downgrade... The CC3 Licence obv. doesn't include XP Pro, but then, I don't think I can purchase XP Pro Licenses anymore can I?

Am I stuck with purchasing from RM?

 

You will need to purchase PCs with Vista Business with a downgrade to licence to Windows XP. Many suppliers still do this, including RM. You can connect Vista Business stations to CC3, providing you have the Client Connect Pack but they will not be managed clients (ie no application deployment, etc.).

 

Therefore, it is probably best to stick with XP Pro (downgraded from Vista) but you should have many choices as to where to buy these.

 

ghannahuk

[plkrtn]

Are there no Vista Business to XP Pro downgrade licenses except with a new machine? Theres a lovely machine I've found thats Vista Home Premium, but the vendor just sells them as is... No alternative OS's available. I've found the Vista Business Upgrade license I could use, but it says nothing about downgrade to XP Pro rights. SELECT Licensing doesn't allow downgrading does it?

 

I wish Microsoft would just release ONE operating system. Windows. I'm getting tired of these multiple flavours.

[sparkeh]

Select allows downgrade read MS downgrade chart for more info.

 

As I said, when it comes to OEM versions you have to check the licence, some do some don't.

[Nedders]

Are there no Vista Business to XP Pro downgrade licenses except with a new machine? Theres a lovely machine I've found thats Vista Home Premium, but the vendor just sells them as is... No alternative OS's available. I've found the Vista Business Upgrade license I could use, but it says nothing about downgrade to XP Pro rights. SELECT Licensing doesn't allow downgrading does it?

 

I wish Microsoft would just release ONE operating system. Windows. I'm getting tired of these multiple flavours.

 

This can be done by upgrading using the Select agreement to Vista Business and then using the downgrade rights applicable to Vista Business to cover XP Pro. If you are looking for non RM PCs perhaps you could give me an opportunity to provide a quotation aswell??

[Butuz]

Yep all the above is correct - I would reccomend using XP on CC3 rather than Vista.

 

If your workstations come with XP Pro Pre-installed use Smartclient to add the PC to CC3.

 

Or if your workstations come with Vista Business you will have to a full rebuild using RM Workstation Build Manager - in this case you will probably have to load the Sound/Video/Network drivers into RM Workstation Build Manager manually.

 

Butuz

[Sylv3r]

Before you plump for a lot of non-RM pc's to go on your network it may be worthwhile asking for a trial machine to ensure that it builds fine onto your network without any issues. The majority of companies expecting a big hardware order should be willing to do this for you.

[PeterW]

Before you plump for a lot of non-RM pc's to go on your network it may be worthwhile asking for a trial machine to ensure that it builds fine onto your network without any issues.

 

Thats a very good call, this is something we can arrange for you should you need it.

[lyndonw]

We've just removed the last RM client machines from our CC3 network.

 

We've got mostly Acer laptops and PC's from Novatech - as long as you can get an NDIS driver for the network card and you load the drivers onto the build server the machines (mostly) build a treat.

 

Watch out for PC's with built in card-readers as this tends to confuse the build disks, we've got a room of Acer PC's that have to have them physically removed for the duration of initial build phase.

Edited February 12, 2009 by lyndonw
Clarification

[north-ict]

Hi guys I was just gonna put a post about buying non RM machines and I stumbled across this thread. Is there any specific models anyone recommends for using with the cc3 network? and how to obtain xp pro licences or the Vista business licence if the machine does not come with it. Im looking to get 15 machines for the ICT suite and with the ICT budget hit hard this year with the government and RM machines at crazy prices i am looking for capable substitutes. One of the good things about RM is there support when a machine is faulty and engineers come on site to repair but maybe thats just for the overpriced machines. Do these alternative machines you guys purchase come with on site repairs?

[the_quick]

I have not bough single computer from RM in last 3 years - there are lots of companies who do their own PCs and you can choose what exactly motherboard you want to have in it. Usually most of the realtec network cards works well with RM build disk

[Sylv3r]

Hi guys I was just gonna put a post about buying non RM machines and I stumbled across this thread. Is there any specific models anyone recommends for using with the cc3 network? and how to obtain xp pro licences or the Vista business licence if the machine does not come with it. Im looking to get 15 machines for the ICT suite and with the ICT budget hit hard this year with the government and RM machines at crazy prices i am looking for capable substitutes. One of the good things about RM is there support when a machine is faulty and engineers come on site to repair but maybe thats just for the overpriced machines. Do these alternative machines you guys purchase come with on site repairs?

 

Too be honest you should be able to buy PC's from a lot of suppliers and they should work without problems - you may have to spend an hour or so adding the necessary drivers to the build area, but well worth it for the cost saving.

[bossman]

I have never bought Workstations from RM but from Millenium business systems who build your workstations according to your spec we go for either the realtek Nics or the Intel pro 1000 both with WOL feature and the drivers you just put in the driver build area and you get 5 years onsite warranty in with the price plus I am sure you would be able to get a license with downgrade rights.

[north-ict]

Hi all just to give you an update on how things went. Due to not requiring a full out really high spec set of machines RM did some ecoquiet machines that when comparing to some other non RM machines at the time were not that much expensive so those were purchased. All in all wasn't too bad, its just really in the RM program licenses that kinda kills the budget rather than opting for window box licenses which have a lot of programs which where never used. I opted for sets of licenses to only specific programs that were actually used, that really saved alot of money. Since there was no on site technician and now there being one (Me lol) its helped the school realise what they have been wasting and how to reign it in.