The mere mention of the word Safecom has been causing a combination of panic and frustration over the last few months – and this just among IT staff. Just like you, our patient users on campus, we’ve been worn out by all the problems. However, the good news is, after months of pulling our hair out, we’re closer to a solution and the light at the end of the tunnel is, indeed, not an oncoming train.
The first time we started seeing problems with Safecom was in September 2012. At this time the load on the printers weren’t as high as it was a fairly quiet time academically. By the end of the academic year the effect on end users, in particular students, was prevalent.
The system we initially implemented was clearly not sufficient for a changing and growing environment. Both the production environment and the product’s attributes changed since the implementation (new upgrades were also released) and consequently the system design wasn’t optimal.
Keeping this in mind, there was decided to call in an international Safecom expert and also a local HP expert to advise us on the current set up and situation. With the assistance of said experts and the IT team significant decisions were made and plans put into place to resolve the situation as soon as possible.
Most of the suggested plan has been executed, but due to the fact that all printers on campus have to be upgraded with new firmware, this is a time consuming exercise. However, a visible improvement has been noted when compared to the previous quarter.
We are aware of certain issues that must still be resolved. IT is continuously coordinating and resolving the existing challenges as fast as possible. These include the creation of more internal system capacity, a more efficient printer driver able to generate smaller printing files, more stable printer firmware, implementing more stable Safecom software on each printer and the optimal functioning of this whole configuration.
We appreciate staff and student’s patience and invite you to report problems at your CUA manager or IT Sevice Centre.
Die woord Safecom wek die afgelope paar maande `n kombinasie van paniek en frustrasie – en dis net by IT-personeel. Want net soos julle, die gebruikers op kampus, is ons ook moeg gesukkel. Die goeie nuus is egter, dat ons na al die maande se gewroeg en naels stomp kou nader is aan `n oplossing en die lig aan die einde van die tonnel inderdaad nie `n aankomende trein is nie.
Safecom se probleme het in September 2012 ontstaan, maar omdat dit `n redelike rustige tydperk was met `n laer lading, was die probleem nie noodwendig sigbaar nie. Met die massas drukwerk aan die einde van die akademiese jaar was die effek op eindgebruikers, en veral studente, egter klinkklaar.
Die stelsel wat aanvanklik implementeer is, was nie voldoende vir ‘n veranderende en groeiende omgewing nie. Beide die bedryfsomgewing en die produk se eienskappe het oor afgelope paar jaar verander (nuwe opgraderings is onder andere ook intussen uitgerol) en gevolglik was die oorspronklike stelselontwerp nie optimaal nie.
Met die inagname van bogenoemde is daar besluit om `n internasionale Safecom-deskundige en `n plaaslike HP-kundige se advies oor die huidige opstelling en stand van sake, in te win. Met die hulp van hierdie kundiges en IT se span is daar sinvolle planne in plek gesit en implementeer om so spoedig moontlik `n oplossing vir die netelige probleem te kry.
`n Groot gedeelte hiervan is reeds suksesvol afgehandel, maar omdat sagteware op alle drukkers opgradeer moet word, is dit vanselfsprekend`n tydrowende oefening. Daar is reeds `n verbetering aan die stelsel se funksionering, in vergelyking met verlede kwartaal, te bespeur.
IT is deurlopend besig om die bestaande uitdagings gekoördineerd en so vinnig as moontlik die hoof te bied. Dit behels onder meer die skep van meer interne stelselkapasiteit, die verkleining van die druklêers deur die implementering van ʼn meer effektiewe drukkerdrywer, die implementering van meer stabiele drukker firmware, implementering van meer stabiele Safecom programmatuur op elke drukker en daarmee saam die optimering van die hele konfigurasie.
Ons het groot waardering vir die geduld wat personeel en studente aan die dag lê en nooi personeel en studente uit om probleme by die RGA-bestuurders of IT Hulplyn aan te meld.
