Community Connect 4

[amyr]

A couple of weeks ago I had a visit from one of the guys from RM and he was telling me about Community Connect 4 which is due for release at the end of the year.

 

I'm trying to find out some more information on what it will include but not succeeding.

 

I've been told it will involve vista and xp being able to be on the same network together, and that the management console will actually be an installed ap instead of a web-based program, but other than that i'm not sure on what else it will include that isn't already in CC3? it might possibly have the latest rm tutor on it as well (would be nice as it'll be easier to use than tutor 2)

 

has anyone else heard anything about it?

 

i'm desperately trying to find out so that i can write a report in preparation for preparing a 3 year plan on upgrades etc and i need to get it done before the end of the week (only got asked last week - was nice to have a weeks notice for a change!)

 

thanks

[bossman]

amyr: Why do you want to move to CC4 are you already on CC3?

I am personally waiting for at least another 2 years before even contemplating moving to vista as I feel it is not quite ready as client operating system to match XPsp2 yet but in a couple of years it might well be.

 

I too have a three year plan to sort but what the hell it will get done when everything else is sorted (least of my worries at the mo, what with managed systems through BSF i don't feel it is really worth worrying about) network is working fine no real problems minor issues, (hardware problems i.e. printers, kyocera mita FS5016n)

[amyr]

i personally don't want to but ICT Coordinator wants it put down in writing so it can go in the budget. I've already told her I wouldn't touch it for another few years and that there is no real benefits to educaton.

 

As far as I can tell with regards to CC4, the only improved bit is the management console, as I think it integrates local support tools as well as being an actual installed ap rather than being web-based.

 

i am tempted to say all we need to do for the next few years is minor upgrades - like flat screens, new mice etc rather than internals as upgraded this year to 512mb ram and 40gb hard drives - this to me will be sufficient until 2008/9 at least. i think i might try to get local support tools and rm tutor 3 out of them though as think they will be options that will be useful to have.

[russdev]

I will post a list of what's new in cc4 later see if can get full list or means will have rack my brain to remember all the bits..

 

Russ

[amyr]

thanks, will be much appreciated - rm website is being unhelpful and my account manager hasn't got back to me....

[russdev]

Right to buy or not to buy that is question..

 

ok rack brains time as can't get hold of a full list...

 

Lets start of what's in it first yes RMMC has been improved, expansion on the thin client stuff that is appearing RM My Connect.

 

Improved support for vista in the My connect product vista stations will need to be smart built but in cc4 they use the new RM build process.

 

Tutor 3 if not got it already plus two add on products Network recycle bin and other one escapes me now.

 

A new improved login screen if I remember right...

 

There is more but can't remember anything else...

 

What would say is look at cc4 if you are having new server installed then maybe look to cover costs that way..

 

Some people waiting till CC5 is best option for other going to cc4 is..

 

Disclaimer - this info based on the fact been involved in CC4 for past 12 months but it is every changing product until is released and maybe subject to change...

 

Russell

[russdev]

of course I meant the Client Connect and not my connect.

 

Also improved update mechanisms and improved my status..

 

Russell

[binky]

There is a tech seminar note on CC4 and Client Connect on the RM Knowledge base, but it has been removed because they are updating it (and this was before christmas)

[amyr]

thanks for that, will add it to the bit of blurb i'm putting together to say don;t bother for the next few years unless you want to buy me some new network management tools any ideas on how much its going to cost and whether there will be a straight upgrade from cc3?

 

thanks again

amy

[russdev]

All cc3 stations brought now are duel license cc4/cc4 and then cost of server upgrade.

 

The install will be a customer upgrade next big upgrade aka like moving from 2.4 to cc3 will I suspect will be with cc5 when in theroy that would be using longhorn server etc..

 

As said if buying new server then cost effective to upgrade to cc4...

 

Russ

[Optics]

Only things I can remember from the feature list is the trickle install/patching, the RMMC moving away from webUI to full app and it has a inventory module.

[russdev]

@optics When did you see it at rm tech semnair...

 

Russ

[flyinghaggis]

As far as I'm concerned there's no point in implementing Vista on a network until we get the next version of Windows Server to take advantage of all of the functionality (windows search/etc) offered by the client OS. I can't see any advantage in running Vista with the existing Server OS (2003).

We ran 2000 server in conjunction with XP and got burned on several occassions because of incompatabilities between the two OS's because holes/bugs in 2000 server hadn't been patched/updated to take into account windows XP which postdated it. Personally, I wouldnt go with a server release/update unless it's after the desktop OS has been out for a while in future again.

I guess RM may not have the luxury of being able to wait for the next server release to implement CC4 which is probably why they're hands' been forced to press on with CC4 ahead of time using Vista/2003 Server.

[amyr]

ok so its all a case of do i want to upgrade the server? hmm will have to have a look at the specs on it and do a projection on how long it will feasibly last before it really needs to be replaced, as the moment i think it's only 3 years old, so could feasibly last another 2 years or so...i'm not in any hurry to upgrade to cc4 when it comes out - would never go with a brand new o/s until at least 6 months after release date when most of the bugs should have been found and fixed!

[russdev]

Can I just say cc4 is not just about vista in fact CC3 will support vista via Client Connect.

 

Lots more just can't think off top of my head and also that is is changing product at moment.

 

What will say RM I think have realistic ambitions they know some people will move over to cc4 from cc3 some will stay with cc3. Also it will make some people still on 2.4 move over.

 

The time frame of release of longhorn is my guess why they had to move with cc4 so once take it into account delays of release longhorn will be couple years of and lets face it non of us are going to be jumping to longhorn sever any time soon.

 

Thing is if vista had been released on time then cc4 would of been around for two years or so is my guess.

 

I think moving to cc4 is an option if going to buy new or extra server for example.

 

Russ

[amyr]

thanks for that, time for me to start thinking about the 3 year plan then. it would be useful to know how much this is going to cost but that's unlikely to be made available until the summer I guess....

[amyr]

just had another thought. is cc4 more likely to want 2003 server rather than 2k server? as currently running a 2k server which is quite stable and don't really want to go down the route of trying to upgrade to 2003 server (especially don't want to do an ad migration as i'll need a spare machine to sort it all out on first) and i've never upgraded a server from one o/s to another before - have only done clean vanilla installs on servers.....

[russdev]

Not sure is answer to that can ask??

 

I know when we we migrated our 2k server to 2003 server we had new server installed and so got RM to do it and no issues with it..

 

Russ

[amyr]

ok, thanks would be useful to know i think.

 

[Butuz]

I think the thing to remember with CC4 is that it is a "evoloutionary upgrade" rather than a "revoloutionary upgrade" to quote the sales speak. The sales speak is correct this time though.

 

CC4 is kind of like a service pack for CC3. As long as you have Windows 2003 server installed on all your domain controllers - you can upgrade to CC4 yourself as it will be supplied on CD. No engineer time is neccasary.

 

This is a big plus for me - as the C2.4 to CC3 upgrade was a long, labourious, expensive process. CC4 will not be like that. Slap the CD in the servers, restart, and hey presto, CC4!

 

CC4 will allow you to run Vista Clients on the network and manage them through the managment console - but it will also allow you to run and manage XP SP2 clients as well - so you are not forced to upgrade to Vista (like we were forced to upgrade to XP with CC3)

 

Overall - I like the idea of CC4 - I will be upgrading to CC4 in the summer of 2008 - BUT I will be sticking with XP clients all round as they are faster and more responsive than Vista clients. Currently, I see no real reason to need Vista on the desktop.

 

Andrew

[amyr]

thanks for that, so i would need to upgrade my 2k server to 2k3 then. i might put it in the plan for a server upgrade early 2008 to make use of cc4 so that i don't have to try to upgrade my existing server, and might see if i can keep the current one as a file server/web server for webhosting. will have a think on that one.

[Butuz]

Yes - if you can get all of your servers to 2k3 then you will be in a good position when the time comes to decide.

 

In my case - our CC3 win2k forest root actually failed over Xmas and was unrepairable so we have just had a nice new forest root delivered with 2k3 and RM are comissioning it on Thursday!

 

Andrew

[webman]

just had a nice new forest root delivered

 

Don't forget to water it 8)

[Butuz]

I'll leave that to the RM Engineer! He spilt a cup of coffee over the last one!

 

Andrew

[Sylv3r]

Couple of things to add:

 

I am getting 2 new RM Servers commissioned in May / June holidays and will have 250 new workstations by September of this year added to our RM CC3 network. These machines will all be running Vista and smart cliented onto CC3 (This is the only way to do it, without CC4).

 

All servers for CC4 must be running Windows 2003. And as people have said the CC4 installation will be an upgrade similar to an Service Pack.

 

One thing I will say is that once you have installed CC4 your Vista workstations will build via the RM new building technique, but you will also have to rebuild every other workstation on the network immediatly after you have installed CC4 as they will simply not work. So by December 2007 or near abouts when CC4 will be released I will have over 600 machines to rebuild on the network. Oh the joys!!! )