Websense on 2008

[timbo343]

Im not sure if I'm the first person to get to this problem but i have just found out that websense will not run on server 2008 32bit infrastructure with ISA or ForeFront TMG. This is how it is:

 

Websense running on Windows 2003 32bit:

Websense will run fine on Windows 2003 x86 as ISA 2006 will install and run correctly therefore Websense can integrate with ISA - No problems

 

Websense running on Windows 2008 32bit:

Websense will run fine on Windows 2008 32bit but ISA 2006 will not run correctly as you can only run the management part which looks at another ISA 2006 install on the domain. As for ForeFront TMG, this is only available as a 64bit version

 

Websense running on Windows 2008 64bit:

Websense will not run on Windows 2008 64bit but ForeFront TMG will only run on this platform.

 

If i have come at this wrong or anyone knows how to get round this problem and has managed to get Websense running on 2008 with some kind of integration can you let me know.

 

Thanks

 

Tim

[Stuart_C]

I have actually binned websense over this exact issue. Basically Websense couldn't guarantee that it would work on 64 bit OS. Every other company said their apps "it will work but only as a 32bit app". Websense said no!.

 

IJust be aware you need to be VERY carefull! Websense allowed be to renew last christmas (subscription up in March) to beat the VAT increase and websense's own price hike. When I found out about the 64bit issue I asked if I could cancel and have my money back for the 2010/11 subscription a month before it was due to commence. Websense said no and gave me what I consider to be a load of rubbish about the american accountancy system as to why I can't have my money back! They "gratiuously" offered a 6 months free though. So I've had to pay for next year, for something that may or may not work and may or may not be supported.

 

To quote websense with regard to 64 bit, "unccertified deployments"

 

“Websense will use commercially reasonable efforts to investigate potential issues with Websense software running together with these non-certified configurations. As part of the investigation, Websense may require the issue to be reproduced by the customer independently to isolate the issue from the non-certified configuration. Where issues are confirmed to be unrelated to the non-certified configuration, Websense will support its software in a manner that is consistent with support provided on Websense certified configurations. Where ssues are known or proven to be directly related to the non-certified configuration, Websense will require the customer to migrate to a certified configuration, as listed in the certified product matrix. “

 

So websense is gone and I have massively negative feelings towards them and wouldn't recomend them!

[timbo343]

Hmmm, i wish i knew this sooner to be fair... we have just stepped into a 3 year contract with them... oh well

[Stuart_C]

Ouch! I was only on 1 year contract. Do you need to upgrade the server? I was told as part of my compaints that 64bit support was on the roadmap for 2011. Unfortunately I was changing servers couldn't have one extra just to run websense (Plus I'd always had logging issues so it wasn't the end of the world)

[john]

Hmmm, i wish i knew this sooner to be fair... we have just stepped into a 3 year contract with them... oh well

 

MAD man Tim!!! You should have given our good friends at Smoothwall a call, there BECTA accredited (as I cannot find Websense on the list any-more but could have missed them) and work much better as I used to use Websense in a previous job!

 

As its not fit for purpose they should give you a refund.

[Stuart_C]

"No discussion of 64bit complience was had prior to purchasing" - To quote my correspondence with Websense.

 

You'd think with there being a 64bit 2003 server and Websnese releasing a major version upgrade to V7 in the last couple of years you would have thought they may have at least wrtten in 64bit compliance.

[timbo343]

Ouch! I was only on 1 year contract. Do you need to upgrade the server? I was told as part of my compaints that 64bit support was on the roadmap for 2011. Unfortunately I was changing servers couldn't have one extra just to run websense (Plus I'd always had logging issues so it wasn't the end of the world)

 

We can live with 2003 for a bit, the server doesn't need an upgrade just yet (touch wood), it was only replaced last year, as it only acts as a proxy server anyway.