Re: [802SEC] +++EC Email Ballot+++ Motion for Network Equipment Upgradesl+++ends 19 August 2005

["Rigsbee, Everett O" <everett.o.rigsbee@BOEING.COM>]

Geoff,  I would venture that Boeing has a very similar policy for maintaining configuration control of its fleet.  When they have decided that an upgrade is necessary they send out an announcement email which tells you where to go to get the upgrade and warning that on a certain date the upgrade becomes mandatory at which time when you next login it gives you 30-seconds warning and then it does the update for you automatically.  So we get the BIOS Upgrades and the driver Updates, and the Windows and Office Updates as soon as they have been certified as being necessary and safe for general deployment.  We have a web page for each Boeing owned Desktop and Laptop Model, which shows the original configuration and all approved updates.  We also have pages for user selectable/installable options that allow you to access those as well.  Virus & Firewall updates are always done automatically at the first login opportunity (you can't defer on those).  All Boeing machines will have up!
 -to-date AntiVirus and Firewall protection (no exceptions).  

Does any of this sound familiar ???  

Thanx,  Buzz
Dr. Everett O. (Buzz) Rigsbee
Boeing - SSG
PO Box 3707, M/S: 7M-FM
Seattle, WA  98124-2207
(425) 865-2443    Fx: (425) 865-6721
Cell: (425) 417-1022
everett.o.rigsbee@boeing.com



-----Original Message-----
From: Geoff Thompson [mailto:gthompso@nortel.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, July 26, 2005 3:29 PM
To: Rigsbee, Everett O
Cc: Geoff Thompson; STDS-802-SEC@listserv.ieee.org
Subject: RE: [802SEC] +++EC Email Ballot+++ Motion for Network Equipment Upgradesl+++ends 19 August 2005


Buzz-

I don't think that solves the problem. It is an issue of configuration 
control of the fleet that our IS department is supporting as well as 
whether or not some item is an appropriate upgrade.

Their roll-outs of fixes are staged pretty carefully and have a lot of 
considerations (of which I am blissfully ignorant) beyond mere availability 
of the fix.

Geoff


At 10:59 AM 7/26/2005 , Rigsbee, Everett O wrote:

>Geoff,  The BIOS Upgrade is provided and certified by Dell, and VeriLAN 
>is
>merely advising you that with that model of computer without the upgrade 
>you are likely to experience some of the problems to which Matt has 
>alluded.  If you don't think your company would approve of you using 
>Dell's BIOS Upgrade facility to fix the known bug, then you should refrain 
>from doing it and installing the Tri-Mode card.  Where's the problem ???
>
>VeriLAN's role is support-only.  They would advise you of things to 
>check
>before attempting the install, any things to watch out for during the 
>install, and suggest some remedies if you should experience a 
>problem.  They do not "mess with your machine."  OK ???  Are we clear on 
>that now ???
>
>Thanx,  Buzz
>Dr. Everett O. (Buzz) Rigsbee
>Boeing - SSG
>PO Box 3707, M/S: 7M-FM
>Seattle, WA  98124-2207
>(425) 865-2443    Fx: (425) 865-6721
>Cell: (425) 417-1022
>everett.o.rigsbee@boeing.com
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Geoff Thompson [mailto:gthompso@nortel.com]
>Sent: Monday, July 25, 2005 4:05 PM
>To: Rigsbee, Everett O
>Cc: STDS-802-SEC@listserv.ieee.org
>Subject: Re: [802SEC] +++EC Email Ballot+++ Motion for Network 
>Equipment
>Upgradesl+++ends 19 August 2005
>
>
>Buzz-
>
>I am QUITE sure that my company's IS department would not be very happy 
>at
>the
>prospect of an upgrade to my BIOS being done by an unknown (to them) party.
>
>In this era of security issues,  I would agree with them.
>
>Geoff
>
>
>At 10:46 AM 7/25/2005 , Rigsbee, Everett O wrote:
> >Matt,  I'm aware of lots of "horror stories"  with early provider 
> >products.  And Dell's D600 problem is well known and solved by doing 
> >a BIOS upgrade.  The reason we are recommending the Tri-Mode card is 
> >so you don't have to be swapping it in and out, which is where all 
> >the problems come in.  With a new Tri-Mode card you install once and 
> >then just use it wherever. Part of our proposal is that our 
> >experienced Network Service Vendor, VeriLAN, will hand out the new 
> >cards and provide support for those wishing to upgrade, so that we 
> >avoid 95% of the pitfalls that way.  They will ensure things like 
> >required BIOS Upgrades are made prior to attempting installation.
> >
> >I know we can't expect 100% trouble-free upgrades, but if we do out 
> >homework we should be able to minimize the problem scenarios to a few 
> >simple work-arounds.
> >
> >Thanx,  Buzz
> >Dr. Everett O. (Buzz) Rigsbee
> >Boeing - SSG
> >PO Box 3707, M/S: 7M-FM
> >Seattle, WA  98124-2207
> >(425) 865-2443    Fx: (425) 865-6721
> >Cell: (425) 417-1022
> >everett.o.rigsbee@boeing.com
> >
> >
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: Sherman, Matthew J. (US SSA) 
> >[mailto:matthew.sherman@baesystems.com]
> >Sent: Monday, July 25, 2005 9:47 AM
> >To: Rigsbee, Everett O; STDS-802-SEC@listserv.ieee.org
> >Subject: RE: [802SEC] +++EC Email Ballot+++ Motion for Network 
> >Equipment
> >Upgradesl+++ends 19 August 2005
> >
> >
> >Frankly I have an 802.11a card and rarely use it.  I find that the 
> >integrated 802.11g card in my primary laptop works fine normally, so 
> >it is more trouble than it is worth to reach into my bag to install 
> >and configure the 11a card.  It may be convenient for the network 
> >provider to use 802.11a, but less so for the user.
> >
> >I'll note, that when I ran this 11a card under WIN2K the 802.11a it 
> >regularly crashed my computer, which is why I rarely used it.  I 
> >could never get the card provider to fix the problem.  It works fine 
> >under XP I believe, but if someone else wound up with this network 
> >card (which would cause random crashes on my machine often losing 
> >significant data under
> >WIN2K) I can see the liability issues.
> >
> >I have another card that runs fine in any computer except a Dell D600 
> >(which of course is all we field at work).  While it does not cause 
> >system crashes it freezes the machine completely until you eject the 
> >card.  The funny thing is that while it is apparently a Dell design 
> >flaw, only certain network cards exhibit the problem.  There is a 
> >particular reference design that I find this problem follows.  I 
> >think I purchased the first cards based on that reference design.  I 
> >complained to the provider of those cards and (after several months) 
> >they developed a work around.  I recently purchased a card from a 
> >different provider that I know is based on the same reference design 
> >since as soon as I popped it into my D600 exhibited the same exact 
> >symptoms.  I started to complain to the card provider, but quickly 
> >realized this was going to be another 4 month cycle of finger 
> >pointing, so I never even bothered to get a fix.  It happens to be a 
> >fantastic design except for that one bug (whi!
> >  ch actually is in the computer, not the card), so I just don't use that
> > card in any of my D600's.  I do sometimes plug in that card (which I need
> > a little extra range) when I'm on the road.
> >
> >Moral of the story - There's a lot of gotya's out there.  Be very 
> >wary!
> >
> >Mat
> >
> >PS - Somehow I feel there should be a Bugs Bunny joke after that last 
> >line...
> >
> >Matthew Sherman, Ph.D.
> >Senior Member Technical Staff
> >BAE SYSTEMS, CNIR
> >Office: +1 973.633.6344
> >email: matthew.sherman@baesystems.com
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: Rigsbee, Everett O [mailto:everett.o.rigsbee@BOEING.COM]
> >Sent: Monday, July 25, 2005 12:27 PM
> >To: STDS-802-SEC@listserv.ieee.org
> >Subject: Re: [802SEC] +++EC Email Ballot+++ Motion for Network 
> >Equipment
> >Upgradesl+++ends 19 August 2005
> >
> >John,  I believe the motion gives permission to acquire the 802.11a 
> >modules and direction for us to come up with a proposal for how to 
> >proceed on encouraging 802.11a usage (whether it is FREE or not) and 
> >certainly your option would be one of those considered.  Whatever we 
> >come up with for the latter the EC will have a final review and 
> >approve before we do anything.
> >
> >So let's complete the motion and then explore our options for 
> >encouraging 802.11a usage.
> >
> >Thanx,  Buzz
> >Dr. Everett O. (Buzz) Rigsbee
> >Boeing - SSG
> >PO Box 3707, M/S: 7M-FM
> >Seattle, WA  98124-2207
> >(425) 865-2443    Fx: (425) 865-6721
> >Cell: (425) 417-1022
> >everett.o.rigsbee@boeing.com
> >
> >
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: John Hawkins [mailto:jhawkins@NORTEL.COM]
> >Sent: Monday, July 25, 2005 5:38 AM
> >To: STDS-802-SEC@listserv.ieee.org
> >Subject: Re: [802SEC] +++EC Email Ballot+++ Motion for Network 
> >Equipment
> >Upgradesl+++ends 19 August 2005
> >
> >
> >I'm not sure there's a mechanism for this now that the ballot is out 
> >but... Can we hold off on this a few days?
> >
> >I have a potential source for FREE APs. I'm trying to determine with 
> >Tim, whether they would measure up to his standards. They are 
> >A/B/G's, SNMP manageable, etc... but the devil's in the details.
> >
> >And best of all they will be FREE! ! !
> >
> >Can I have a few days to look into this?
> >
> >(the budget needs all the help it can get).
> >
> >john
> >
> >P.S. If this offer for FREE APs doesn't come to pass, I still have 
> >some reservations (even though I agreed to second). I would want to 
> >see a budget (no blank checks please) and I still have reservations 
> >about giving away wireless cards (again, budget, and liability 
> >concerns).
> >
> >john
> >
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: Paul Nikolich [mailto:paul.nikolich@ATT.NET]
> >Sent: Sunday, July 24, 2005 6:49 PM
> >To: STDS-802-SEC@listserv.ieee.org
> >Subject: [802SEC] +++EC Email Ballot+++ Motion for Network Equipment
> >Upgradesl+++ends 19 August 2005
> >
> >
> >Dear EC Members,
> >
> >This is a email ballot to make a determination on the below motion.
> >
> >Motion:
> >"Whereas our Network Manager, Tim Godfrey, has recommended that we 
> >proceed with acquisition of the 802.11a modules for our Cisco 1200 
> >APs that are not currently so equipped, and that we make an effort to 
> >encourage our attendees to migrate to 802.11a for reduced congestion:
> >
> >
> >I move that we proceed to acquire those additional 802.11a modules 
> >(20), and further that we investigate a promotional deal to encourage 
> >more of our attendees to upgrade to Tri-Mode (802.11b, 11g, 11a) 
> >interface cards, which would also allow us to regulate client 
> >transmit power levels in dense configurations.  Terms of deal will be 
> >reviewed with the Network Services Advisory Committee, and presented 
> >for final approval by the 802 EC prior to implementation."
> >
> >
> >Moved: Rigsbee
> >Second: Hawkins
> >
> >The ballot opens 7PM ET Sunday 24 July 2005 and closes Friday 19 
> >August 2005 2005.
> >
> >Regards,
> >
> >--Paul Nikolich
> >
> >
> >----------
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> >
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