Gibson335 Posted February 21, 2012 Posted February 21, 2012 Just had a decent quote in from RM for connectivty and filtering - can't help but wonder whether the emPSN providers such as Capita and KCOM are going to pitch their pricing accordingly. Anyone use RM already? I'd appreciate some thoughts on their helpdesk support and the filtering system. Cheers.
Heebeejeebee Posted February 21, 2012 Posted February 21, 2012 If you don't mind me asking; what did you quote for and how much? We are asking for an upgrade from 10Mb to 100Mb but haven't had a price yet. Oh and the standard filtering is basic but OK (can't separate staff from students etc.) I guess you can buy their SmartCache box which I think does it but we suppliment it with a local Smoothwall box. Cheers HBJB 1
glennda Posted February 21, 2012 Posted February 21, 2012 We have recently ordered a 100mb leased line from Global AXS - there pricing is as below and a Smoothwall Filter and Advanced Firewall. 10M on 10M fibre - Install: £2,700 Annual: £7,450 10M on 100M fibre - Install: £2,700 Annual: £7,975 20M on 100M fibre - Install: £2,700 Annual: £8,400 30M on 100M fibre - Install: £2,700 Annual: £8,925 50M on 100M fibre - Install: £2,700 Annual: £9,975 100M on 100M fibre - Install: £2,700 Annual: £12,550
Gibson335 Posted February 21, 2012 Author Posted February 21, 2012 If you don't mind me asking; what did you quote for and how much? We are asking for an upgrade from 10Mb to 100Mb but haven't had a price yet. Oh and the standard filtering is basic but OK (can't separate staff from students etc.) I guess you can buy their SmartCache box which I think does it but we suppliment it with a local Smoothwall box. Cheers HBJB It came in at just under 10 grand, incl router and setup spread over 3 years...another £500 for smtp service, and £350 if we wanted an adsl failover. I'd heard some negative things about the filtering and their support, but then I think if I asked that of most companies I'd get some grumbles no matter who they were. 1
tom_newton Posted February 21, 2012 Posted February 21, 2012 RM will now supply Smoothwall kit AFAIK, don't know wether it is the "default" though - worth asking what their quote includes.
Heebeejeebee Posted February 21, 2012 Posted February 21, 2012 (edited) Thanks Glendda. Are those prices including the firewall and filtering? For comparison (and they're pretty much the same) I've had a quote from M247 (anybody had any experience with these guys?). Their prices are: (up to) 10MBps (2 pair copper, optional ADSL failover), Install - £1,275. Anual £2,500 (up to) 20MBps (4 pair copper, optional ADSL failover), Install - £1,500. Anual £6,600 10M on 100M fibre (ADSL failover) - Install: £2,700 Annual: £7,975 20M on 100M fibre (ADSL failover) - Install: £2,700 Annual: £8,400 30M on 100M fibre (ADSL failover) - Install: £2,700 Annual: £8,925 50M on 100M fibre (ADSL failover) - Install: £2,700 Annual: £9,975 100M on 100M fibre (ADSL failover) - Install: £2,700 Annual: £12,550 External IPs supplied: 8. Cheers HBJB Edited February 21, 2012 by Heebeejeebee
Gibson335 Posted February 21, 2012 Author Posted February 21, 2012 RM will now supply Smoothwall kit AFAIK, don't know wether it is the "default" though - worth asking what their quote includes. The standard deal is their SafeyNet Plus.
Tallwood_6 Posted February 21, 2012 Posted February 21, 2012 We use RM and apart from the virgin fibre install taking an age the support and service is better than what we got from the LEA, touch wood we have had less downtime as well and the new line is good for 1gbps so i'm told so much more future proof. We where using smartcache 2 universal, its cheap and effective but i wouldnt recommend it until they sort out the authentication issues. 1
elsiegee40 Posted February 21, 2012 Posted February 21, 2012 We have SafetyNet with a standard ADSL line. There is the issue of can't do different filtering for different people and the line is pricey for what we get. One filter fits all. I have also, recently, experienced more difficulties with support which it seems has probably been out-sourced overseas and things that were resolved within hours are taking days. We're starting to look elsewhere for the line with the prospect of Smoothwall for the filtering. 1
Gibson335 Posted February 21, 2012 Author Posted February 21, 2012 We use RM and apart from the virgin fibre install taking an age the support and service is better than what we got from the LEA, touch wood we have had less downtime as well and the new line is good for 1gbps so i'm told so much more future proof. We where using smartcache 2 universal, its cheap and effective but i wouldnt recommend it until they sort out the authentication issues. Any chance you could elaborate on these authentication issues?
glennda Posted February 21, 2012 Posted February 21, 2012 Thanks Glendda. Are those prices including the firewall and filtering? No - I purchased the smoothwall seperately although M247 can resell you a smoothie I believe and bundle it in.
Tallwood_6 Posted February 21, 2012 Posted February 21, 2012 "Windows® XP and Windows Vista® computers use NTLM v1.0 to authenticate while Windows 7 computers now use NTLM v2.0. The result is that when schools connect more Windows 7 computers to their RM SmartCache2 with NTLM authentication enabled, the number of issues are increased. We are aware that this is particularly disruptive when it affects a school." Full statement on the RM support website which i think its public 2
Heebeejeebee Posted February 21, 2012 Posted February 21, 2012 Yes they can but we alread have one It seems the pricing is pretty similar with M247 and Global ASX. If going it alone you'd need a decent (preferably hardware) firewall, do your own NAT, change your internal IP range (if using an RM issued range currently) and get your own filtering solution in place that satisfies the required core filtering. Some (or all) are offered by suppliers as part of the packages. HBJB
glennda Posted February 21, 2012 Posted February 21, 2012 Yes they can but we alread have one It seems the pricing is pretty similar with M247 and Global ASX. Its the same company! M247 Ltd is the parent company they trade as multiple names such as global axs sointernet and Icecolo, vps247 for there different things they do 1
Gibson335 Posted February 21, 2012 Author Posted February 21, 2012 We have SafetyNet with a standard ADSL line. There is the issue of can't do different filtering for different people and the line is pricey for what we get. One filter fits all. I have also, recently, experienced more difficulties with support which it seems has probably been out-sourced overseas and things that were resolved within hours are taking days. We're starting to look elsewhere for the line with the prospect of Smoothwall for the filtering. RM say their support is UK-baed.
Tallwood_6 Posted February 21, 2012 Posted February 21, 2012 I'm pretty sure that the RM Internet for Learning lot are all UK based, the usual RM support is split between UK and India.
Gibson335 Posted February 21, 2012 Author Posted February 21, 2012 I'm pretty sure that the RM Internet for Learning lot are all UK based, the usual RM support is split between UK and India. That's not what they've told me directly, so I will query that.
Gibson335 Posted February 21, 2012 Author Posted February 21, 2012 RM say that whilst some of their 'back office' work is handled by staff in India, all calls are answered by UK staff.
Tallwood_6 Posted February 21, 2012 Posted February 21, 2012 The first line is i believe entirely UK based but they just take your details and pass you on to 2nd line where you can get UK or India. If you log a call online its like rolling a dice as well. 1
Heebeejeebee Posted February 27, 2012 Posted February 27, 2012 @frankst1989 Two posts out of two touting Vaioni? Rat smelt - prove me wrong. HBJB
synaesthesia Posted February 27, 2012 Posted February 27, 2012 (edited) That site looks too familiar, so does their sales patter. Hang on - taylor franks... frankst1989... Please, try a bit harder because I guarantee you've just lost any hope of scoring any contracts with anyone that reads this forum. Lying is NOT a good sales method. Edit: thought it looks familiar, they're just a reseller for Exponential-E who made some more than dubious claims to us. Edited February 27, 2012 by synaesthesia
synaesthesia Posted February 27, 2012 Posted February 27, 2012 Damn right too, any chances of custom gone with it. I will correct myself though, they're not a reseller, and I hope to god Mr Franks is just a sole idiot who didn't realise he's wrecking his companies reputation. He's up for discipline, I hope!
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