Let take a look at the hardware and software that some US government agencies are...

[Svnla]

using right now.

http://www.networkworld.com/article...t-federal-it-systems-still-wheezing-away.html


Yike. Those are old.

.

 

[Hacp]

Does it still work? If yes, then that's good. Last thing I need is for the government to waste my hard earned tax dollars on new machines.

 

[Gunbuster]

"operates on an IBM mainframe" writer failed to research... you can get a brand spanking new IBM mainframe. If the program works why change it?

 

[PliotronX]

 

[Blackjack200]

Does it still work? If yes, then that's good. Last thing I need is for the government to waste my hard earned tax dollars on new machines.

"operates on an IBM mainframe" writer failed to research... you can get a brand spanking new IBM mainframe. If the program works why change it?

Seriously?

Maybe because something newer would be more efficient, more effective, and more secure?

Here's an incredible story about OPM processing government employee retirement documents in an old mine. They need an old mine because they're using paper records, and there are a lot of federal employees.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/national/2014/03/22/sinkhole-of-bureaucracy/

But hey, "it works", right?

 

[TheGardener]

Please don't disrespect the punch card and reader.

 

[Gunbuster]

Maybe because something newer would be more efficient, more effective, and more secure?

efficient? the mainframe does just fine, cranks right through data and takes up one standard DC rack.

effective? it's doing its job, data is processed, people get paid

secure? probably the most secure system in the building.

We're moving away from it but it's mostly because there is no new talent out there to work the system and people are dying off.

 

[sdifox]

Please don't disrespect the punch card and reader.

Pretty sure read heads are not made anymore.

 

[IronWing]

Government inefficiency is the last bastion of freedom.

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

Seriously?

Maybe because something newer would be more efficient, more effective, and more secure?

Here's an incredible story about OPM processing government employee retirement documents in an old mine. They need an old mine because they're using paper records, and there are a lot of federal employees.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/national/2014/03/22/sinkhole-of-bureaucracy/

But hey, "it works", right?

Sounds like the real issue is that paperwork wasn't properly handled during the employees employment and now when they retire someone has to go digging through everything because someone didn't sign off on something 10 years ago when someone moved departments.

I think that article is just more of a "look, employees are working out of a mine!" than the underlying issue of poor record keeping. Digital records don't mean much either if they aren't complete.

 

[Svnla]

Billions spent? http://finance.yahoo.com/news/govt-report-feds-spend-billions-run-ancient-technology-072440755.html

 

[SparkyJJO]

secure? probably the most secure system in the building.

This. Security through obscurity, nobody would have a clue how to even start hacking into it

 

[IBMJunkman]

Well, since we are talking punch cards please check www.ibmjunkman.com and browse/search away.

 

[John Connor]

And yet they waist money on frivolous programs, shrimps on tread mills and studying if cheerleaders in groups are sexier than not in a group.

Like Rome, we will meet our demise.

 

[John Connor]

Speaking of punch cards. My mom had a job using punch cards! LOL

 

[Dr. Zaus]

This. Security through obscurity, nobody would have a clue how to even start hacking into it

beat me to it!

 

[skimple]

studying if cheerleaders in groups are sexier than not in a group.

Need proof of said research.

For reference

 

[pauldun170]

Duplicate
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2474120

 

[Sonikku]

Just imagine what they could replace and improve for the cost of a single F-35.

 

[Homerboy]

Just imagine what they could replace and improve for the cost of a single F-35.

Education?
Care for veterans?
Health care?
Infrastructure?

 

[pauldun170]

Summary -
Agencies that have been around for more than a couple of generations run stuff that is not a smart phone or some thing that is not like what google says is current\ nor like what everyone thinks is current based on personal work experience.

GAO is GAO'in because agency have old systems that are increasing expensive to maintain and involve stuff that many at the GAO had to hit wikipedia in order to find out what it is.

Everyone now inserts comment about "government waste" or some more stuff about "why can't it be like facebook or twitter"

Outsource firms are probably creaming their pants at this news story. I expect major lobbyist\PR effort to push "IT worker shortage" narrative for at least 4 weeks.

 

[John Connor]

Need proof of said research.

For reference

#8 Page 24. http://www.flake.senate.gov/public/...n.-jeff-flake-s-twenty-questions---report.pdf

LOL :awe:

If you're using a VPN, the site won't let you download the pdf.

I don't know about the government. She's not in a visible group, but is awfully hot.

NSFW https://wastingcotime.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/songgirl.jpg

 

[pauldun170]

#8 Page 24. http://www.flake.senate.gov/public/...n.-jeff-flake-s-twenty-questions---report.pdf

LOL :awe:

If you're using a VPN, the site won't let you download the pdf.

I don't know about the government. She's not in a visible group, but is awfully hot.

NSFW https://wastingcotime.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/songgirl.jpg

I see your lol with a lulz
http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016...ing-study-obscures-government-s-role-training

#1 rule when dealing with legislative branch. Accept no statement as accurate
something about the coffee
http://dailynexus.com/2016-05-10/fo...enators-claim-that-he-squandered-grant-money/

might post up some more as the day goes on

 

[SearchMaster]

I assure you it's not the hardware that's keeping those systems alive, it's the cost and risk of rewriting the software. You have to find a consulting group willing and able to hire people capable of reading and understanding the outdated languages and converting to a new platform. And there are no test suites in place to help confirm the proper functioning of what is written.

My first programming job out of college in the late 80s was working on small mainframes with a custom accounting software package, and there are still several customers that use that system.

 

[TallBill]

I can speak for Army computer systems... they are terrible. End of story?