| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Ealing Council Web Site Goes Kaput | |
| Posted by: | Niall Connolly | |
| Date/Time: | 10/06/09 12:46:00 |
| Sorry - Windows 5 or 6 - do you mean Windows NT or 2000? I can only assume your naming of the operating system demonstrates your familiarity with the Microsoft software as the current versions of the OS are Windows 2008, with maintstream support for Windows 2003 still going strong. However - I suspect that lack of knowledge of the MS software probably contributes to the failure of your systems. Microsoft make it quite easy to setup a system that will fail by adding lots of out of the box quick setup features. These make it too easy to set up a crap system if you are unfamiliar with the underlying systems and requirements for the applications you are using. Open source is not the panacea you think it is - most people don't understand Unix or Linux or whatever underlying Operating System is or the other software used. If and when it goes wrong you do need to have a good understanding of and OS or application in order to repair it. This is true for ALL computing. I have run with Microsoft software for over 20 years in both corporate and public sector environments - I know it has failings and foibles - but by following the best practices of IT these don't fail very often. (I run/manage systems for a large insurance company which relies on IT heavily and this is reliable - but you cannot rest on your laurels and these need constant review to address new requirements and issues all the time) It is all very well running a small operation on Open Source - but try telling a board of directors or shareholders that you've not ot any formal support arrangements for your business critical systems and see how long you stay employed. Yes - this is STILL the sideshow for the real problem with the Ealing systems failure - apparent failure of the control of their system access (use of removable media) and apparent failure of their antivirus systems. This is all something that should be focused on and not the operating systems. As Ealing IT is outsourced - the comany that provides this should be held accountable for their failing to control and maintain the systems to prevent this failure. |