Multi-Schedule Shutdown / Classroom Control

[riverphoenix12]

Hi,

I know there are lots of posts on scheduling and classroom control, but none of them are quite what I am trying to find.

I wondered if anyone knew of any software which was completely free that provided scheduled shutdowns. We have different IT suites which need to turn off at different times, depending upon the day.

Also, we currently have browse control in our classrooms for management, but are having problems with it working properly. We just need a tool to be able to lock all computers (screens, keyboard and mouse) during teacher input and then unlock them. Ideally preventing some apps from running too would be great.

Tried iTalc in the past but couldnt seem to get it working everywhere. It was a bit unstable in our network environment.

The current climate means we have no money, so anything as close to free would be great.

Thanks.

[DaveP]

Can I suggest Shutdownertron?

Link: Shutdownertron

We use it and we have no issues that I have identified so far. I am sure that you will find a similar positive view of Shutdownertron from other Edugeek members.

[riverphoenix12]

Thanks for that. I had a quick look but it wasnt clear that:

- It supported Windows Server 2008
- It could support multiple schedules for different rooms and times for different days.

Do we know if it does?

[DaveP]

I have it running on my network. The domain controller is 2008 so yes it will shut workstations down from server 2008.

Multiple schedules: What you would need to do here is attach GPOs to the AD OUs yjat contain your stations with the relevant shutdown times for your stations in those OUs.

For my network it is easy. If the stations haven't already been shutdown by 6:30 Shutdownertron shutsdown all desktops and laptops regardless of day of the week. There is a five minute grace period where if there is a user sitting at the station they can abort the shutdown. However for the whole network there is a single Group Policy Object set for Shutdownertron for all workstation and laptop Organisational Units.

I think what you would need to do is set up Shutdownertron GPOs for each area of your establishment that requires a different shutdown time.

[nobleguy]

Have a look at PowerMAN. It lets you schedule shutdown and also sleep etc. You can configure it with group policy and it's got a cool reporting feature. Sorry, it isn't free but I think they do some good school discounts.

[powdarrmonkey]

Thanks for that. I had a quick look but it wasnt clear that:

- It supported Windows Server 2008

Yes (there is no software for the server, only policy templates).

- It could support multiple schedules for different rooms

Yes

and times for different days.

No.

Do we know if it does?

I take it by 'we' you mean 'you'. If you knew already you wouldn't be asking...

[nobleguy]

The v5.2 version of PowerMAN supports multiple policies for different times per day. It has been a release candidate for a while but isn't on their website. I've got a copy and seems to work very well. The software is managed using an ADM template in Group Policy. You only need to install the server software if you want to run the reporting. Some resellers (like Ergo) offer this as a hosted system which means you don't need to get your hands dirty with the reporting side.