Activations

[phil_hynes]

Yesterday, I had a major problem with the internet activation of software on one of our production machines. It caused quite a bit of downtime and I found the help files for this system inadequate.

My frustration is echoed by many previous posts. I often have had good luck with the tech support

that I have received, but as happened yesterday sometimes I find it lacking.

[wrwessel]

I wouldn't call this a fair comparison.  Music downloads are files used by an application, the activation is on the software application, not the files it accesses.  I still see activations on Windows and Office.  Do Apple have activations on OS X and iWork or do they just trust that you have bought it?

Imagine if rockwell put activations on the project files, then we would really have something to complain about.

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TJ McDermott wrote:

JHutch, there ARE other options, activations are NOT the only reality of the world.

Apple used to have strict digital rights management for their music downloads.  Now they don't.  They realized they were alienating their customers.

Take a page from the Apple book.

[AlexW]

The question then is at what CPR do we stop upgrading if we want to stick with EVRSI (as the lesser of evils )?

[fuzzy_logic]

AlexW, see HERE a similar request and the respecive answers.

Hope this helps…

- fuzzy logic

[arcsalot]

I administrate well over 2 Million dollars worth of AB equipment in a billion dollar plant.  I pay for 24x7 support, a sizeable Parts Management Agreement, annual field service account (time, whether needed or not), training vouchers, etc.  It REALLY pisses me off when I have to pay for dongles and send emails for each of the several programming machines, including problems when a "Pro" package has multiple authentications.  These machines have been running for years on disk activations.  My automation network is firewalled (of course) from the internet.  The genius at AB that makes me install factory talk security complicates my world by adding layers that have to be administrated when the machine has administrator passwords that cannot be shared with the technicians using the AB software on them.  I would rip and replace the whole lot over this issue if I could.  The local distributor and my friends at AB (30+ years) seem all to be apologetic, but "these decisions are made at the highest levels..." .   Anybody listening there?

[Ken_Roach]

Keep talking to your contacts within A-B.  Your opinion is going to get a lot more traction with them and through them than it will on a User Forum.  

Forum posts, especially on threads that began as inauspiciously as this one, are not going to be well received by decision-makers.

Diskettes are just plain going to be obsolete, so activations have to be done somehow.  Before FT activation, we would get dozens of calls a day asking how we expected a new user to connect this dadgum diskette to their computer.   Now we get dozens of phone calls a day complaining that we don't send out diskettes anymore.

Concurrent activations and dongles work beautifully for a lot of users and let them maintain security and maximize their software investments.   But they aren't going to be perfect for everyone, and I think that FT Activation should be greatly simplified.

But RA needs to hear directly and calmly from users who have real business issues.  The Forum, and especially this thread, are not going to have the ear of the RSI decision makers.

[JHutch]

Ken is right.  You're preaching to the choir as far as I'm concerned.  And I do send these issues up the chain.

But, it's just a natural law of the world that these issues get much more attention when they come up through Sales and Distributors.  I have no idea why, but that does seem to be the way of it.

So, keep bugging your distributors (and have them bug their sales folks) because that's the best way to get this issue heard.

JHutch

[TheKash]

JHutch,

I am the origianator of this thread, and i have been viewing all the postings over time with amazement and laughter. I have long since moved my control hardware and software purchases (including PLCs) to other manufacturers, it just amuses me (even though it's not funny, and even though Rockwell Automation has, in my mind,ruined the good name of Allen Bradley) to see everyone struggling with these activation issues, and then to see Rockwell Automation keep going around in circles. So, now, even though numerous users have vented their frustration on this forum (which is moderated by Rockwell Automation personnel), you are telling them that that is not good enough, and that they must vent their frustration through sales persons and distributors.

It will be interesting to see if you allow this post to actually post.

[JHutch]

Sure, I'll let it post.  It isn't that your voice doesn't get heard through this forum (I send all the comments on for all sorts of issues).

But I'm just being honest.  You'll get heard more readily through distributors and sales channel.  I used to see the same thing in TechSupport (both for Rockwell and other companies).  When it comes up through TechSupport, there is a tendency to give feedback less weight than feedback that comes through Sales and Distributors.  I have my theories as to why that is, but it seems to be a universal truth (no a Rockwell only truth).

Basically, I'm here to help as much as I can, I can honestly say, going to the sales guys will get your changes heard the quickest and the loudest.

JHutch

[arcsalot]

Give me a NAME........