Aging scanners, Windows CE, ActiveSync w/ Windows Server 2003, or Android
-
Current Setup
We currently have a number of Motorola/Symbol scanners roaming our shipping department. They tie into our ERP system over Wifi by Telnet. The scanners run Windows CE and we currently use ActiveSync in order to load applications to the scanners. The server that we are currently using is a Windows Server 2003 and is used to control the doors of the building and machines in production. The machines are currently being replaced and off of this old system. Doors are getting replaced with another system as well. I am on the march of retiring all 2003 servers as soon as possible/business allows. I want to retire this server but still need it for the scanners.
ActiveSync was discontinued like 10 years ago and is only available on Windows Server 2003 or XP SP2.
Choices
- Keep the Windows CE scanners, build an XP vm, airgap the vm, and load the scanners through a USB port on the host to the vm and the scanner. I would backup the vm in case anything goes bad, I would have something to restore from.
-or-
- Consider scanners that use Android with a telnet app. How would we load apps on the scanners and secure them down from users?
-or-
- Bring in a warehouse management expert for their professional opinion on this subject
-
bring someone in, bandaiding this seems like a bad idea.
-
Good luck. I know @gjacobse has some experience with these type of scanners.
Have you looked at an updated version of those scanners?
-
@nerdydad said in Aging scanners, Windows CE, ActiveSync w/ Windows Server 2003, or Android:
They tie into our ERP system over Wifi by Telnet
This seems wrong to me... I would definitely bring someone in.
-
@nerdydad said in Aging scanners, Windows CE, ActiveSync w/ Windows Server 2003, or Android:
Keep the Windows CE scanners, build an XP vm, airgap the vm, and load the scanners through a USB port on the host to the vm and the scanner. I would backup the vm in case anything goes bad, I would have something to restore from
This is begging for more serious issues down the road. Don't 'kick the problem down the road' fix it right the first time.
-
@nerdydad said in Aging scanners, Windows CE, ActiveSync w/ Windows Server 2003, or Android:
Bring in a warehouse management expert for their professional opinion on this subject
This is really the best thing to do.
-
@nerdydad said in Aging scanners, Windows CE, ActiveSync w/ Windows Server 2003, or Android:
Consider scanners that use Android with a telnet app. How would we load apps on the scanners and secure them down from users
Meh - likely would need to have an App developed (I would guess) to do this...
-
The telnet really isn't an option as it is set by the ERP manufacturer. How much more difficult is it to write software for SSH instead of Telnet? That would give us one more layer of security and still accomplish the same thing, just a hair bit slower.
-
@nerdydad said in Aging scanners, Windows CE, ActiveSync w/ Windows Server 2003, or Android:
The telnet really isn't an option as it is set by the ERP manufacturer. How much more difficult is it to write software for SSH instead of Telnet? That would give us one more layer of security and still accomplish the same thing, just a hair bit slower.
Zero extra effort. Time to drop that ERP vendor. And I mean that. And I meant it a decade ago when it was already a decade past time.
-
@nerdydad said in Aging scanners, Windows CE, ActiveSync w/ Windows Server 2003, or Android:
The telnet really isn't an option as it is set by the ERP manufacturer. How much more difficult is it to write software for SSH instead of Telnet? That would give us one more layer of security and still accomplish the same thing, just a hair bit slower.
WTf?!? the ERP vendor requires telnet? I thought you were just dropping a file for the ERP system to ingest. Drop them get a modern system.
-
@nerdydad said in Aging scanners, Windows CE, ActiveSync w/ Windows Server 2003, or Android:
machines in production. The machines are currently being replaced and off of this old system. Doors are getting replaced with
Now - I dare you to go to management and say - we have to drop the ERP vendor because they are old and outdated - and see what they say.
-
@coliver said in Aging scanners, Windows CE, ActiveSync w/ Windows Server 2003, or Android:
@nerdydad said in Aging scanners, Windows CE, ActiveSync w/ Windows Server 2003, or Android:
The telnet really isn't an option as it is set by the ERP manufacturer. How much more difficult is it to write software for SSH instead of Telnet? That would give us one more layer of security and still accomplish the same thing, just a hair bit slower.
WTf?!? the ERP vendor requires telnet? I thought you were just dropping a file for the ERP system to ingest. Drop them get a modern system.
If it uses telnet, it's not even a business class system. What does this say for how management views their own company?
-
@dashrender said in Aging scanners, Windows CE, ActiveSync w/ Windows Server 2003, or Android:
@nerdydad said in Aging scanners, Windows CE, ActiveSync w/ Windows Server 2003, or Android:
machines in production. The machines are currently being replaced and off of this old system. Doors are getting replaced with
Now - I dare you to go to management and say - we have to drop the ERP vendor because they are old and outdated - and see what they say.
No, drop them because they are unprofessional, think that their customer's businesses are jokes, and don't respect their customers or security.
-
@dashrender said in Aging scanners, Windows CE, ActiveSync w/ Windows Server 2003, or Android:
@nerdydad said in Aging scanners, Windows CE, ActiveSync w/ Windows Server 2003, or Android:
machines in production. The machines are currently being replaced and off of this old system. Doors are getting replaced with
Now - I dare you to go to management and say - we have to drop the ERP vendor because they are old and outdated - and see what they say.
Thank you. How would I be able to go to management and tell them that we need to drop a system that we base most of our company around like a bad habit? The choice to go with this vendor was made a long time ago by a person who had enough pull in the company but not enough technology experience to make this call, and that person is no longer here.
-
Can you name the ERP vendor? I know @RojoLoco likes a bit of vendor shaming during his day.
-
@nerdydad said in Aging scanners, Windows CE, ActiveSync w/ Windows Server 2003, or Android:
@dashrender said in Aging scanners, Windows CE, ActiveSync w/ Windows Server 2003, or Android:
@nerdydad said in Aging scanners, Windows CE, ActiveSync w/ Windows Server 2003, or Android:
machines in production. The machines are currently being replaced and off of this old system. Doors are getting replaced with
Now - I dare you to go to management and say - we have to drop the ERP vendor because they are old and outdated - and see what they say.
Thank you. How would I be able to go to management and tell them that we need to drop a system that we base most of our company around like a bad habit? The choice to go with this vendor was made a long time ago by a person who had enough pull in the company but not enough technology experience to make this call, and that person is no longer here.
So... something that doesn't meet the businesses needs anymore (or ever?) and should be looked at regardless?
-
@nerdydad said in Aging scanners, Windows CE, ActiveSync w/ Windows Server 2003, or Android:
@dashrender said in Aging scanners, Windows CE, ActiveSync w/ Windows Server 2003, or Android:
@nerdydad said in Aging scanners, Windows CE, ActiveSync w/ Windows Server 2003, or Android:
machines in production. The machines are currently being replaced and off of this old system. Doors are getting replaced with
Now - I dare you to go to management and say - we have to drop the ERP vendor because they are old and outdated - and see what they say.
Thank you. How would I be able to go to management and tell them that we need to drop a system that we base most of our company around like a bad habit? The choice to go with this vendor was made a long time ago by a person who had enough pull in the company but not enough technology experience to make this call, and that person is no longer here.
The real issue is whoever allowed someone without the necessary skills or allegiance to do that. The root issue isn't the guy that made the decision, but the person that empowered that person.
-
@dashrender said in Aging scanners, Windows CE, ActiveSync w/ Windows Server 2003, or Android:
@nerdydad said in Aging scanners, Windows CE, ActiveSync w/ Windows Server 2003, or Android:
machines in production. The machines are currently being replaced and off of this old system. Doors are getting replaced with
Now - I dare you to go to management and say - we have to drop the ERP vendor because they are old and outdated - and see what they say.
Careful with that - management is likely old and outdated as well, they probably wouldn't like that suggestion.
-
@coliver said in Aging scanners, Windows CE, ActiveSync w/ Windows Server 2003, or Android:
Can you name the ERP vendor? I know @RojoLoco likes a bit of vendor shaming during his day.
Not sure if I can name them or not. I'm about positive that they are not on either MangoLassi or SW as they are more focused on niche markets, such as the food manufacturing industry.
-
@nerdydad said in Aging scanners, Windows CE, ActiveSync w/ Windows Server 2003, or Android:
@dashrender said in Aging scanners, Windows CE, ActiveSync w/ Windows Server 2003, or Android:
@nerdydad said in Aging scanners, Windows CE, ActiveSync w/ Windows Server 2003, or Android:
machines in production. The machines are currently being replaced and off of this old system. Doors are getting replaced with
Now - I dare you to go to management and say - we have to drop the ERP vendor because they are old and outdated - and see what they say.
Thank you. How would I be able to go to management and tell them that we need to drop a system that we base most of our company around like a bad habit? The choice to go with this vendor was made a long time ago by a person who had enough pull in the company but not enough technology experience to make this call, and that person is no longer here.
This was the joke I was trying to make - Scott and others are telling you to drop it. Chances are, even if you make the best presentation possible, it's pretty unlikely that you'll get them to move to another product as long as the stakeholders feel that it's working for them.
