Access is deprecated because there are too many cases where people are relying on a database written by someone who was posted or retired a few years ago without leaving any documentation or passing on the arcane kludges that were put into it to make it work. This isn't too much of a problem for a relatively simple database, even something as important as the gen for running a flt, allocating duties etc - people can revert to pen, paper and complaining. However, where it's running important, operationally or financially critical stuff and will be broken by amove to a new computer it can cause all sorts of pain.

Why does a company the size of the RAF need so many different computer systems? Toyota plc UK is much bigger with far more employees. JPA was the final nail for my PVR--it is no wonder everyone is pissed off and thinking of leaving. PS It's a real shame cos the RAF in general is good place to be/was ruined by wanabe IT promotion seekers at everyone elses cost.

Just ask-" what is the benefit of this new system?" Sorry, my mistake, consultation at the worker level seems to be old fashioned-the managers know best.

Certainly in my top 3 failings of the RAF - perhaps even the No1. There are so many people on the shop floor with very useful ideas, but the Service never taps into this resource - the result is poorly thought out 'improvements', conceived by bosses who don't actually perform the task they oversee, but for whom any change is desperately sought so as to make their mark in a limited timeframe. I'm convinced ill-conceived change has cost us millions over the years and would cite this as a major contributor to the stretch placed on the defence budget. :*

Sorry to bring this up again, but our esteemed CIS guru's are now rejecting all requests for new networked capability (new post stood up, need a 'puter for him) as the network layout is now 'mapped' for DII.

What's that all about?

Countersunk,

Also time.

Atlas is contracted to 'roll out' Dii/f in 'Increments'. Increment 'n' will have been mapped and either already installed or sub-contracted for installation. Increment n+1 is already mapped and 'extra' capability planned against 'previous' requirements. Anyway it is not a new 'puter that you want, you need a UAD.

You have a new requirement so that will not have been foreseen in increment n+1. I guess it may be added idc to increment n+n OR you pay mega bucks for a special installation.

Given a budget or cost of £7.3bn you can see it will not be cheap. We were given a costing of £18k to move a cabinet 15 feet.

To get you new computer you must convince your AD and LCC of your need. I think your AD will be your CIS Eng guru and your LCC is the man with the cash. Even the new post, without a UAD will cost for his account.


AD = authorised demander
LCC = Local change coordinator
Increment = tranche etc
UAD = User Access Device = 'puter etc

PS

You can now demand a Netbook for a highly mobile post.
You can demand a 27 inch monitor.
You can demand a tracker ball.
You can demand a headset and microphone for voice access.

Yesterday, switched on, logged in, checked email - zip - nada.

Tried internet - nada.

Rebooted - unable to log in.

Checked colleague - nada.

Rang SPOC.

Is it Outlook?

No, no connectivity.

Is it the intranet or IGS?

No, nothing, no connectivity, its as if there are no wires to the outside world.

Can you see the wires? Are they plugged into the machine?

I suppose the question is not entirely stupid but it should have been obvious that I had checked the obvious. We had already established it had worked the day before.

Anyway, I was right, it was the wires somewhere "Thanks BT for a quiet day in the office."

DII(F) = £Ms of investment = reduction in storage capability = £Ms of future requirements for any sensible upgrade. "Well Done" that man who said that this was a really good idea.

Gasfitter,

Wrong

£Bs

Pontius Navigator

Touche

Strung up by the NEC?
 

Data-Lynx, you are lucky. Our unit, amongst several others, is not in the database so we cannot even get passwords and that 6 months after we went live.

You need to find a J6 wallah in your CoC and use some bare electrical wires ensuring they are not connected to an RCD.

Well, so much for Atlas "Joining Forces" here in the Cotswolds. The first lucky few users now have DII and can't even email across base. The next few months should be very interesting indeed.

Countersunk, bet I know the reason why :)

Above my pay grade to fix it though LOL

PN, couldn't you at least give our CIS Eng chappies a few pointers? ;)

Particularly liked the latest DARS Head Up about the significant changes to ATC services from next March:

Progress then.

Hats off to DII,

My working day is now 35 mins shorter, as thats the amount of time it takes just to boot the bloody thing up !

Feet up and cup of tea first thing then.

MM

Sammy, indeed, no sound cards, no audio output. I tried to run a training video - no dice, it froze.

It does however boot faster than Dii/c but still there is monumental waste. We had Dii/c in for less than 2 years. The Dii/c was wired using fibres and these were not used for f, it had a whole new set of wires.

At one point we had pairs of contractors turning up at the same time. One to take the system down to replace boxes and the second to test the system was up and running. They had not coordinated at all!

Talk about stepping backward. We have lots of top quality, high volume printer/scanners/copiers networked across the existing LAN. Ideal, users have a mailbox with a pin number. They send work to the machine, key in their pin (when they want to collect the work, great for privacy marked stuff), hey presto. Ideal for busy, open plan areas (ie Ops), great bits of kit.

What is the DIIF equivalent? Nothing. Back to the odd A4 mono printer here and there.

Lots of 19 inch (and bigger) TFTs around the place. Good for planners working BOCS. Guess what, DIIF will swap them for a 17 inch.

Had a quick browse through the catalogue. How on earth can they jusify the prices they quote? Even if that is including 3 years on site support, compared with high street prices they are really taking the michael.

Well done to whoever signed up for this..................... :ugh:

Countersunk - swap is the operative word. They are contracted to remove all the legacy stuff. No one seemed very interested when I asked about the HDDs or what happened to the legacy stuff. As far as I know they will be free to dispose of it as surplus with the money coming back to MOD, after expenses of course.

You can see why units will not provide new kit that is not from Atlas as Atlas will take it off your hands for free.

Any idea of keeping the old 19 inch monitors - forget it. Atlas will be contracted to remove X old monitors. If you retain some then you pay.

Swap the old 19 inch for the 17? Forget that too. Your old monitor will have a VGA socket the new ones have some special gucci connector.

Who signed off? Well the Scottish Gp Capt would seem to have had a hand in it or so I learnt here in pprune.

Nice Little Earner
 

The cost for every serviceman and MOD civilian to have a Dii/f account is about £10.5 million per month £126 million per year.