Article: RM Profits down as UK education budget redistribution takes effect

[Dos_Box]

You can view the page at http://www.edugeek.net/content.php?r=277-RM-Profits-down-as-UK-education-budget-redistribution-takes-effect

[russdev]

I suspect that the international arm of business will pick up in next quarter with improved funding (hoping) from us government for education and number of tenders being bid for (that assumes RM win some).

 

Russ

[mthomas08]

Strangely enough we used to be an RM network here, moved away when we wanted more control. Just before my time that was, also I know two other schools who have left RM to become a Vanilla Network so perhaps people have lost faith?

[the_quick]

Few things play role:

1. Budget cuts, not only harnessing technology, but general school budget shrinks

2. RM network is not cheap, at least in school view, so many will find it cheaper to run vanilla network with some additional tools to replace RM tools

3. More and more Network Managers in school are now proper IT professionals, when in old RM CC2.4 and beginning cc3 days, there were lot of ex teachers/science technicians etc.

[TechMonkey]

Few things play role:

1. Budget cuts, not only harnessing technology, but general school budget shrinks

2. RM network is not cheap, at least in school view, so many will find it cheaper to run vanilla network with some additional tools to replace RM tools

3. More and more Network Managers in school are now proper IT professionals, when in old RM CC2.4 and beginning cc3 days, there were lot of ex teachers/science technicians etc.

 

3) Also is a case of the tools provided don't give as much of a benefit as they used to. The cost vs benefit has swayed the other way. The only reason I can see it swinging back again is if IT bods start abandoning schools due to cuts, budget strangulation and conditions worsening so the school decides on a more managed solution with basic support in-house.

[russdev]

Over number one yes in UK but certainly not in rest of world (well not to degree are in the UK). As said think international arm will pick up for them..

 

Russ

[Big_Ted]

Seen CC4 demo'd a few times to me - seemed to do a lot of cool things

[TechMonkey]

Seen CC4 demo'd a few times to me - seemed to do a lot of cool things

Oh it looks to do lots of very cool things, but most can be done with vanilla, Opensource tools or with a bit of scripting. Does the time saved by not having to get them yourself then justify the cost? This time round I don't think it does.

[CyberNerd]

we need a 'like' button

[PEO]

Sorry RM is poorly over engineered, They rip schools off when It comes to licensing and are not the most reliable network in a school. In all I would not except an rm Network gift wrapped.

[webman]

... and are not the most reliable network in a school.

 

Where is your source of information for this statement? You can't just claim all RM networks are unreliable.

[dayzd]

Like many have and are looking to do, we're wanting to move to a vanilla network and get rid of CC3. For one thing, it has too many quirks. For another, as mentioned, most of what CC4 offers can be achieved by other means. We've also found recently that RM's support isn't as good as we'd like it to be, high cost/low availability of spare parts, poor spec laptops (we've found better elsewhere that are RM compatible) etc.

 

Mostly however, we're not happy with the cost. I would imagine that we'd take a closer look at CC4 if it wasn't going to cost us around £65k just for licenses, without even mentioning hardware upgrades, new servers and commissioning...

[bodminman]

I've just got wind of a quote that RM done for a free school. Keeping in mind that the school requested an initial solution to provide them with a network that will start with 24 computers which will then increase to a maximum of 60 computers over the next 2 years.

 

RM quoted for Rack mounted cc4 virtual setup

San solution with redundancy

Loads of other useless stuff

 

How can RM engineers specking something like? Have they lost the plot!?!

[JBoyd]

Moved from RM to vanilla over a year ago and it has been an uphill struggle re-learning stuff that was done in the background by the management console. We had them in to quote for a possible return but they were far too high, even with our old licences being upgraded so looks like we will have to get ourselves on a MCSE or something like......

[bodminman]

Moved from RM to vanilla over a year ago and it has been an uphill struggle re-learning stuff that was done in the background by the management console. We had them in to quote for a possible return but they were far too high, even with our old licences being upgraded so looks like we will have to get ourselves on a MCSE or something like......

 

Keep at it mate. The learning curve is steep but well worth it!

Edited April 12, 2011 by bodminman

[MrStrategy]

Strangely enough we used to be an RM network here, moved away when we wanted more control. Just before my time that was, also I know two other schools who have left RM to become a Vanilla Network so perhaps people have lost faith?

 

Anyone recommend a compnay that will help remove RM, and install other add on tools that would help manage PCs in classrooms and across the Acacdemy.

[machman]

Strangely enough we used to be an RM network here, moved away when we wanted more control. Just before my time that was, also I know two other schools who have left RM to become a Vanilla Network so perhaps people have lost faith?

 

We used to have an RM network about 7 years ago but have been Vanilla ever since and to be honest I do not miss them , expensive , elitist , controlling.... resistance is futile , unless you get out of their grip...

[irsprint84]

We used to have an RM network about 7 years ago but have been Vanilla ever since and to be honest I do not miss them , expensive , elitist , controlling.... resistance is futile , unless you get out of their grip...

 

I moved from CSE to vanillia about 2 years ago and that was a hard job! couldnt imagine the work load to get rid of RM

[machman]

Yeah , but it's much more satisfying looking after your own network and making executive decisions on hardware/software etc took me a year or so to straighten it all out but I'm pleased with our network , we even have our own exchange server , not that EMBC email thingy.. I did not like their mindset , like they all came out of the same thought factory

[exsupport]

Stayed with RM as vanilla networks tend to be created in the shape of the current technician. Technician leaves, result, new technician takes nearly six months to unpick the previous work and then change it into their image. At least with RM I have some stability as I am not dependant on an individual technician.

[irsprint84]

Stayed with RM as vanilla networks tend to be created in the shape of the current technician. Technician leaves, result, new technician takes nearly six months to unpick the previous work and then change it into their image. At least with RM I have some stability as I am not dependant on an individual technician.

 

Welcome to the private world

[machman]

I agree it's an easy path for some , just a very limiting and controlled one , for me it makes my job for satifying knowing I did this and that and fix it all myself rather than have some RM tech flick through pages on the phone with me ! whenever It falls over , but to each his own I guess

[GrumbleDook]

I agree it's an easy path for some , just a very limiting and controlled one , for me it makes my job for satifying knowing I did this and that and fix it all myself rather than have some RM tech flick through pages on the phone with me ! whenever It falls over , but to each his own I guess

 

However satisfying it might be for you, it might not been the most effective thing for the school ... without knowing a lot about your school I wouldn't want to say whether it is or not. There is a myth out there that folk using RM systems can't manage a vanilla network ... or that it has a seriously limiting nature. We have plenty of members on here that can show it is otherwise. A number of these folk only ring RM when something serious has gone wrong ... in the same way other might dig into MS support or Apple support.

 

As for controlled? I've seen vanilla networks locked down far harsher than any RM system I have come across. It is not about the systems ... it is about the way people make use of them. This applies to most middleware, etc.

[machman]

I agree with you , it might be an effective way to manage a school as you say it's down to the school , and I agree that even most people on RM Would possibly be able to manage a vanilla network , my point is for me and the way I want to be able to work , We were with RM 4 years but found we have saved money and gained more from managing our own than to have it managed for us, I like to drive , and prefer not to be the passenger , I only knock them from personal experience not anyone elses , goes for most things in life some people get by and have no real problems with anything but some do , .....

However satisfying it might be for you, it might not been the most effective thing for the school ... without knowing a lot about your school I wouldn't want to say whether it is or not. There is a myth out there that folk using RM systems can't manage a vanilla network ... or that it has a seriously limiting nature. We have plenty of members on here that can show it is otherwise. A number of these folk only ring RM when something serious has gone wrong ... in the same way other might dig into MS support or Apple support.

 

As for controlled? I've seen vanilla networks locked down far harsher than any RM system I have come across. It is not about the systems ... it is about the way people make use of them. This applies to most middleware, etc.

[exsupport]

As far as cost effective is concerned, with a vanilla network, you also have to weigh up the technician or network manager's wage, adding about 30% for on costs and then compare it with the cost of RM. Our solution is a semi managed network with some equipment guarantees e.g. Server and filters. We purchase our PCs from whoever we want and then add the RM stuff to them. We also employ a technician to assist us with development and the day to day stuff. I sleep at night because I have RM to rely on if my Technician should leave or become ill. There are times when I have found RM frustrating but when we had a major issue they were there to help me resolve the issue in a reasonable time frame.