Anyone know whats going on with HIC Connectivity Procurement.

May bail out and go with our own choice of provider if they go with someone else.

The SMT have never liked the size of it as our classrooms are not that big. We now have Yoga laptops in smaller desktop cabinets and wish to get rid of the LapCabby.

The Stone laptops we bought it for barely last 3 years before the batteries were rubbish.

Colin

07710390924

or PM me at http://www.edugeek.net/private.php?do=newpm&u=7115

The Twitter website has been accessible throughout the HICS network for a few years now. We always try to make sure that the web filtering policies reflect a consensus view of the schools that use them and permitting access to this was authorised by The ICT in Schools Partnership Working Group. Lots of schools use Twitter on their websites and as a means of communicating with parents. Some schools have also started to use it for various curriculum projects. That said, we do occasionally receive queries from schools asking for access to this website to be blocked. There are work arounds to do this, but as the question does get asked fairly frequently, we have arranged a brand new filtering policy to deal with this. WF4 has been created and will be in place alongside WF1, WF2 and WF3. The only difference between WF3 and WF4 is that Twitter is blocked on WF4. So if you currently use the WF3 filtering policy but you’d like access to Twitter to be blocked, you may want to look into deploying this filtering level. If you have any queries relating to this, please get in touch with the SITSS Connectivity Service Desk:sitss.internet@lea.herts.sch.uk

I just want to let you know that we are here to help answer any questions you may have about Ed Tech. We are located very close to Hertfordshire and work with quite a few network managers and schools in your area where we have been recommended to schools by the team at SITSS.

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On Friday evening, Updata implemented their emergency change. Previously there was a component called ‘Squid’ running on the proxies. The proxies are the servers that deal with the internet traffic. Squid has been replaced with something called ‘Authent’. Squid was causing major bottle-necks on the network and was slowing down the performance of the web browsing platform, particularly during a fail over scenario when all the traffic was going out to the internet through the one data centre. Authent is a modern HTTP/S proxy component which is compatible with Netsweeper (our filtering system that runs on the proxies) and offers significant performance advantages as well as new functionality. After Friday’s change, all appears stable and there is significant improvement in terms of CPU utilisation on the proxies. All is pointing towards the fact that the network can once again perform to the required standard, particularly when going through the one data centre. We won’t know for definite until we find ourselves in that scenario though.

 

Updata wish to monitor the network and are optimistic that as the Netsweeper platform is handling traffic in a more sophisticated way. There is hope that this may improve the ongoing issue of the firewall modules that keep failing.

 

In two weeks time the situation will be reviewed and assuming we haven’t had any further firewall failures, two things will happen:

 

1) Updata will intentionally fail over to one data centre one evening and we will monitor performance throughout the following day. If there are any concerns with performance, Updata will promptly manually fail back to both data centres.

2) Updata will then arrange a change being implemented whereby if the firewall module fails, like has been happening recently, then traffic will fail over to the other data centre automatically, keeping disruption to a minimum.

 

However, if within the next two weeks, the firewall module fails, this will confirm that the firewall module problem is still apparent, despite Friday’s change. Updata will then obviously be able to test the reliability of the service going through the one data centre and won’t need to intentionally fail over as advised above. Updata will also arrange the automatic fail over being implemented ASAP.

Twice this week there have been five-ten minutes spells where there has been no internet to schools connected to the LD5 data centre. The problems we are encountering this week are not connected to the firewall issues we have been experiencing of late. I am told that the issues are being caused by internet hacking attacks from South Korea and China. They are acting as Denial of Service attacks (DOS) and are taking place on an Xbox live port. The result is that the firewall grinds to a halt. We have asked Updata to stop accepting traffic from South Korea and China until we can get a proper analysis and defence plan worked out. This should stop the firewalls getting DOS and grinding to a halt for now.

 

This is a security hacking attack which the HICS network protects schools from. I am told that Updata remain hopeful that the previous firewall failure issues are now fixed.

Link: Updata Statement | HICS

Link: Schools and the Hertfordshire CCTV Partnership | HICS

I have forwarded it to our head and he is investigating it with a view to augment or replace our existing provision [This may not happen but I thought it worthwhile posting here in case anyone else might be interested]

DaveP.

Link: Cashback dividend … again! | HICS

If you have signed up to a 2012/13 HICS contract you should be receiving a letter shortly...

When we try to bring up a page on YouTube we get the WF3 block page displayed. I have reported it to HGfL helpdesk

Anyone else seeing the same?

Edit: Sorted now.

Many schools are currently experiencing problems with accessing web pages. A message indicating that the web filtering service is unavailable is shown instead of the web page requested. This is not affecting all schools and in those schools that are affected it seems that the web service is not always denied to all machines.

 

This is being investigated urgently by Updata as a Priority 1 incident but as yet we have no indication as to when it will be fixed.

 

We apologise for the extreme disruption that is is causing as schools return from half-term. We will keep you informed of progress to resolution through these pages.

Please forward [somehow] to other Herts based Techies who may not be able to see this message this morning.

The Parents’ Show is a unique programme providing tailored information for parents or anyone caring for children in the West Hertfordshire region. We aim to provide a one-stop, unmissable information source for local parents and carers. We also want to be an integral part of your community. The Parents' Show is presented and produced by an all-volunteer team of local parents.

Link: Herts and Borders Online ICT & Computing Community

Disclaimer: This free service is offered to Hertfordshire [Academy/LEA?] schools only

Link: Download the form to request electrical equipment pick-up. [Word Document]

Run by WasteAware/Hertfordshire Partnership.

Link 1: HGfL: ICT: What's new

Link 2: Start your BETT day the Hertfordshire way [PDF download]

This service allows schools to deploy an Internet service for which no proxy settings are required. All access through this service will be filtered by a chosen policy with the central WF1 policy still providing the baseline level of filtering. There are no additional charges for the service except for the cost of a router where one is required (see below).

 

The service is deployed by using a second port on your router and a separate subnet (it will be a 10. subnet rather than a 172. subnet). This makes it ideal for deploying as a wireless Internet access. Such a service could be used by staff and students to access the Internet from their own devices whilst still receiving an appropriately filtered service. It might also improve your attractiveness for evening and weekend lettings where visitors could have safe Internet access without needing access to your computers … they could bring their own.

 

There will be no access between this service and other devices in your school which are on your original subnet unless those devices have been deliberately set up to allow access from the Internet. This means that your main school systems will be secure from your transparent proxy users but that if staff and students can access certain services from home (eg RM EasyLink or your Moodle server) then they will also be able to access them through the transparent proxy service.

 

Of course this service does depend upon you having a suitable wireless infrastructure. It also requires a router for which there will be a charge if your school is currently connected without one.

 

If you are interested in using this then please discuss it with your ICT support provider and then contact the Service Desk if you would like to proceed.

Link: Web Filtering: Transparent proxy | HICS

Incorrectly filling out the Post 16 Census could be costing your school money. We have a produced a 5 minute video highlighting key issues and how you can make sure your school doesn't fall into this trap.

I would like to know how the move is going for other Technicians/Network Managers/Schools in Hertfordshire?

I have my reasons but I can't explain here. Please give any feedback you can.

Many thanks.

There are, from time-to-time, questions or situations that I would like a rapid answer to. These questions are not always technical in nature. So it would be useful to be able to call a helpdesk and ask a question and get a direct, specific answer. I think that Herts is offering support of sorts.

My query goes like this:

Is anyone taking support from Herts?

Who do I call/E-Mail to ask about the costs?

If you do take the support what do you think of the service you get?

Many thanks.