Secret Service Runs At "Six Sixes" Availability

PCM2 writes "ABC News is reporting that the US Secret Service is in dire need of server upgrades. 'Currently, 42 mission-oriented applications run on a 1980s IBM mainframe with a 68 percent performance reliability rating,' says one leaked memo. That finding was the result of an NSA study commissioned by the Secret Service to evaluate the severity of their computer problems. Curiously, upgrades to the Service's computers are being championed by Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, who says he's had 'concern for a while' about the issue."

Wow.

[moogied]

They should just flip the availability numbers over and get rid of the decimal. "Sir, its not 66.. its 99! You have it upside down!" -- Fixed.

Upgrade...

[ak_hepcat]

To windows, and get 73% uptime!

Or.. that other OS that you don't have to license per seat, and get in the solid 90+% uptime.

Here's An Idea ...

[WrongSizeGlass]

... I have several old P4 1.6Ghz w/ 256MB RAM & 100Mhz FSB in a store room at a client site. They originally shipped with Win 98 but they've since been upgraded to XP. The Secret Service can have them fro free if they just come and pick them up. I would have put them on Craig's List but I don't trust a web site where they let just anybody post things.

Re:Wow.

[Anonymous Coward]

66.6666% -> 9999.99%????

Re:don't trust it, it's about pork

[Greyfox]

They'll probably contract it out to EDS and spend 3 billion dollars on Citrix licenses.

Re:Upgrade...

[TapeCutter]

"If your service depends on a single server, you're still doing it wrong."

666 666 -> Devilishly clever redundancy.

Re:Two Satans

[kitezh]

Can you convert that into a more familiar unit, like Library of Congresses?

You know the Library of Congresses is a pretty reliable machine. Does anybody know what its downtime is?

The downtime for the Library of Congress [loc.gov] is 4:30 pm - 8:30 am, Monday - Friday, and all day Sunday. That translates into an uptime of about 28.6%. If you take the Secret Service 68% as uptime, then it would be 2.4 Library of Congresses.

Security by Venerability

[gmuslera]

At last a computer that can be safe even in a cyberwar, no modern hacker would be able to enter there, or at least, do anything dangerous. Even the Morris worm would scream and run facing that technology. Leave that multivac running enough time and will eventually make light.

SS? SS!?

[Anonymous Coward]

Oh sorry, you mean Secret Service [wikipedia.org]. I keep thinking Schutzstaffel [wikipedia.org].

Re:Obama = Hitler

[Anonymous Coward]

Mrs Palin, don't you have more important things to do than troll blogs?

Oh, I forgot. You don't, do you?

P.R.

Re:Here's An Idea ...

[Runaway1956]

We're on slashdot, right? Emulators? Think about it. We should take a poll to see how many members keep an emulated woman in their bottom dresser drawer, under the socks, where they don't think Mommy will find it. I hear that some people actually prefer fake over real.

Re:Obama = Hitler

[Anonymous Coward]

Aww did some body make fun of your wank material?