IBM Says Do Not Install Windows XP Service Pack 2 - GoFuckYourself.com

KRL · 08-09-2004, 11:09 AM

IBM Just Says No to XP Update

While developers at Microsoft may be celebrating that they finished work on Service Pack 2 (SP2) for Windows XP, information technology departments around the world now are questioning whether or when they should update their systems.

IBM, for one, is holding off on installing the security focused update for Windows XP. In a note headlined "To patch-- or not to patch" posted Friday on its corporate intranet, IBM tells its employees not to download SP2 when it becomes available because of compatibility issues. A copy of the note was obtained by IDG News Service.

IBM Urges Caution

"While this patch may be good news for other Microsoft Windows XP owners, IBM is directing XP users not to install SP2," the note states. With close to 400,000 desktops, IBM is a very large Microsoft customer.

"IBM's large number of Web applications will need to be tested and some modified to work correctly with SP2. Currently, some high profile, business-critical applications are also known to conflict with SP2," IBM tells its employees in the note. "When the current issues and concerns have been addressed, IBM will deploy a customized version of SP2."

IBM alerted its users on the same day Microsoft started the process of delivering SP2 to end users by announcing release to manufacturing of the service pack. The Windows XP update will be available soon through downloads, retail distribution and free CDs, as well as on new PCs. A network installation package will be available for enterprise users.

SP2 for Windows XP is more than the usual roll-up of bug fixes and updates. Microsoft has made something of a trade-off, focusing on security at the expense of compatibility. As a result, SP2 can render existing applications inoperable. Microsoft has urged developers and IT professionals to test the update.

Not only IBM is showing evidence of compatibility issues with XP SP2. Microsoft's own software is also affected. Earlier this week the software vendor released an update for Microsoft CRM 1.2 because SP2 will prevent the original application from running correctly.

More Than a Simple Update

Because of the broad changes, analysts have compared the XP service pack to a Windows upgrade instead of a simple update. Business users typically take much longer to install a new version of Windows than a service pack because of compatibility testing.

Thomas Smith, manager of desktop engineering at a large Houston-based company, hopes to be able to equip his 5000 desktops with a customized version of the service pack before Microsoft pushes it out on Windows Update, he says.

Many of the desktops Smith manages are scattered throughout North America and connected using common high-speed Internet connections such as DSL or cable. While the company uses a remote management tool supplied by Altiris, Smith says he relies on Windows Update for patching. If the standard Windows XP SP2 distribution is applied to his machines, it will block access to several corporate Web applications, Smith says.

Microsoft will help users in Smith's position, says Barry Goffe, a group manager in Microsoft's Windows group. The software maker plans to offer simple ways to set a unique registry key on XP desktops that will instruct the systems to skip Service Pack 2, but still download other critical updates through Windows Update and Automatic Update, Goffe says. "We want to give customers some breathing room," he adds.

Nevertheless, Microsoft urges all users to install SP2 as soon as they can, Goffe says.

"This is not about fun and games. SP2 is about improving the security of our customers' infrastructure. We have spent a lot of time making sure that this delivers a lot of value to all our customers. We're urging all customers to deploy SP2 as soon as possible," he says.

Long Time Coming

Business users obviously need to test, but Microsoft can't be blamed if users are now unpleasantly surprised by SP2, says Michael Cherry, a lead analyst at Directions on Microsoft in Kirkland, Washington.

"Microsoft has been more than forthcoming about the number of changes in this service pack and making it available for testing," Cherry says. "I would say to IT departments that they want to get their testing done quickly because there are significant improvements in this service pack and I am not sure you would want to forego those."

A first beta of Windows XP SP2 was released in December, followed by Release Candidate 1 in March and a second release candidate in June. Hundreds of thousands of developers and IT professionals have already tried out the software. The service pack represents one of Microsoft's most broadly tested products to date, the company has said.

Project-Shadow · 08-09-2004, 11:17 AM

I'm actually not suprised. In all fairness windows is the easiest O/S to use.. but it comes at a price.

12clicks · 08-09-2004, 11:21 AM

you've never used a mac

zzgundamnzz · 08-09-2004, 11:23 AM

Damn I guess this answers my question in this thread

http://gofuckyourself.com/showthread...adid=338270&s=

Rich · 08-09-2004, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 12clicks
you've never used a mac

12clicks doing something smart, and the world sits in stunned silence.

12clicks · 08-12-2004, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rich
12clicks doing something smart, and the world sits in stunned silence.

oh look, the misfit elf still following me around screaming, "look at me, look at me"

crockett · 08-12-2004, 07:06 AM

it's amazing companies like IBM aren't given the release of something like this before it's officially released.. I'm sure they get betas but damn sounds like either they didn't get the latest release until just then.. or they have had a lot of problems with the test releases.

pxxx · 08-12-2004, 07:07 AM

Thanks for the information and the advice.

hova · 08-12-2004, 07:28 AM

interesting

MickeyG · 08-12-2004, 07:35 AM

it's standard practice for large companies to hold off on installing updates until they are tested with all of the companies applications. I dont see what the big deal is.

Internet God · 08-12-2004, 07:39 AM

"While this patch may be good news for other Microsoft Windows XP owners, IBM is directing XP users not to install SP2," the note states. With close to 400,000 desktops, IBM is a very large Microsoft customer"

"IBM's large number of Web applications will need to be tested and some modified to work correctly with SP2. Currently, some high profile, business-critical applications are also known to conflict with SP2," IBM tells its employees in the note. "When the current issues and concerns have been addressed, IBM will deploy a customized version of SP2."

Idiots. Just another attempt to bash Microsoft.

DarkJedi · 08-12-2004, 07:48 AM

Service Pack 2 rocks.

Manowar · 08-12-2004, 08:11 AM

Mac OSX for life, dawg.

08-09-2004, 11:09 AM	#1
KRL Entrepreneur Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: USA Posts: 31,429	IBM Says Do Not Install Windows XP Service Pack 2 IBM Just Says No to XP Update While developers at Microsoft may be celebrating that they finished work on Service Pack 2 (SP2) for Windows XP, information technology departments around the world now are questioning whether or when they should update their systems. IBM, for one, is holding off on installing the security focused update for Windows XP. In a note headlined "To patch-- or not to patch" posted Friday on its corporate intranet, IBM tells its employees not to download SP2 when it becomes available because of compatibility issues. A copy of the note was obtained by IDG News Service. IBM Urges Caution "While this patch may be good news for other Microsoft Windows XP owners, IBM is directing XP users not to install SP2," the note states. With close to 400,000 desktops, IBM is a very large Microsoft customer. "IBM's large number of Web applications will need to be tested and some modified to work correctly with SP2. Currently, some high profile, business-critical applications are also known to conflict with SP2," IBM tells its employees in the note. "When the current issues and concerns have been addressed, IBM will deploy a customized version of SP2." IBM alerted its users on the same day Microsoft started the process of delivering SP2 to end users by announcing release to manufacturing of the service pack. The Windows XP update will be available soon through downloads, retail distribution and free CDs, as well as on new PCs. A network installation package will be available for enterprise users. SP2 for Windows XP is more than the usual roll-up of bug fixes and updates. Microsoft has made something of a trade-off, focusing on security at the expense of compatibility. As a result, SP2 can render existing applications inoperable. Microsoft has urged developers and IT professionals to test the update. Not only IBM is showing evidence of compatibility issues with XP SP2. Microsoft's own software is also affected. Earlier this week the software vendor released an update for Microsoft CRM 1.2 because SP2 will prevent the original application from running correctly. More Than a Simple Update Because of the broad changes, analysts have compared the XP service pack to a Windows upgrade instead of a simple update. Business users typically take much longer to install a new version of Windows than a service pack because of compatibility testing. Thomas Smith, manager of desktop engineering at a large Houston-based company, hopes to be able to equip his 5000 desktops with a customized version of the service pack before Microsoft pushes it out on Windows Update, he says. Many of the desktops Smith manages are scattered throughout North America and connected using common high-speed Internet connections such as DSL or cable. While the company uses a remote management tool supplied by Altiris, Smith says he relies on Windows Update for patching. If the standard Windows XP SP2 distribution is applied to his machines, it will block access to several corporate Web applications, Smith says. Microsoft will help users in Smith's position, says Barry Goffe, a group manager in Microsoft's Windows group. The software maker plans to offer simple ways to set a unique registry key on XP desktops that will instruct the systems to skip Service Pack 2, but still download other critical updates through Windows Update and Automatic Update, Goffe says. "We want to give customers some breathing room," he adds. Nevertheless, Microsoft urges all users to install SP2 as soon as they can, Goffe says. "This is not about fun and games. SP2 is about improving the security of our customers' infrastructure. We have spent a lot of time making sure that this delivers a lot of value to all our customers. We're urging all customers to deploy SP2 as soon as possible," he says. Long Time Coming Business users obviously need to test, but Microsoft can't be blamed if users are now unpleasantly surprised by SP2, says Michael Cherry, a lead analyst at Directions on Microsoft in Kirkland, Washington. "Microsoft has been more than forthcoming about the number of changes in this service pack and making it available for testing," Cherry says. "I would say to IT departments that they want to get their testing done quickly because there are significant improvements in this service pack and I am not sure you would want to forego those." A first beta of Windows XP SP2 was released in December, followed by Release Candidate 1 in March and a second release candidate in June. Hundreds of thousands of developers and IT professionals have already tried out the software. The service pack represents one of Microsoft's most broadly tested products to date, the company has said. __________________ If you would like to develop your domains, you can lease inexpensive foreign labor from the leaders in the field at iWebmasters.com TO LOWER YOUR COSTS AND INCREASE YOUR PRODUCTION! * * * * * * * * * * * * Domains Adult News KRL's Newsletter Biz Tips Just Listed Domains

08-09-2004, 11:21 AM	#3
12clicks Too lazy to set a custom title Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: God's right hand Posts: 19,795	you've never used a mac __________________ I'm not a dinosaur, I'm a crocodile. I've seen dinosaurs come and go and I'm left unimpressed.

08-09-2004, 11:23 AM	#4
zzgundamnzz Confirmed User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 6,102	Damn I guess this answers my question in this thread http://gofuckyourself.com/showthread...adid=338270&s= __________________

08-12-2004, 07:06 AM	#7
crockett in a van by the river Industry Role: Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 76,806	it's amazing companies like IBM aren't given the release of something like this before it's officially released.. I'm sure they get betas but damn sounds like either they didn't get the latest release until just then.. or they have had a lot of problems with the test releases. __________________ In November, you can vote for America's next president or its first dictator.

08-12-2004, 07:28 AM	#9
hova Traffillionaire Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: ICQ:209371571 Posts: 22,430	interesting __________________ http://traffillions.com/ Sign up and get lifetime revshare on your traffic

08-09-2004, 11:17 AM	#2
Project-Shadow Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 7,340	I'm actually not suprised. In all fairness windows is the easiest O/S to use.. but it comes at a price.

08-12-2004, 07:07 AM	#8
pxxx First African GFY Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 12,114	Thanks for the information and the advice.

08-12-2004, 07:35 AM	#10
MickeyG Confirmed User Join Date: May 2004 Location: South Florida Posts: 4,134	it's standard practice for large companies to hold off on installing updates until they are tested with all of the companies applications. I dont see what the big deal is.

08-12-2004, 07:39 AM	#11
Internet God So Fucking Banned Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: RockStar Land, US Posts: 182	"While this patch may be good news for other Microsoft Windows XP owners, IBM is directing XP users not to install SP2," the note states. With close to 400,000 desktops, IBM is a very large Microsoft customer" "IBM's large number of Web applications will need to be tested and some modified to work correctly with SP2. Currently, some high profile, business-critical applications are also known to conflict with SP2," IBM tells its employees in the note. "When the current issues and concerns have been addressed, IBM will deploy a customized version of SP2." Idiots. Just another attempt to bash Microsoft.

08-12-2004, 07:48 AM	#12
DarkJedi No Refunds Issued. Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: GFY Posts: 28,300	Service Pack 2 rocks.

08-12-2004, 08:11 AM	#13
Manowar jellyfish Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 71,528	Mac OSX for life, dawg.