sharepoint what's it for?

[browolf]

a guy from who was giving us a quote on something else told me that schools are installing sharepoint server and a non-county-controlled dsl line to allow pupils access to files from home. anyone here actually doing that?

 

can u do the same thing with sharepoint services? is it as secure?

[ChrisH]

Im pretty sure as part of our agreement were not alowed to have another external line are we not?

[browolf]

probably not still wondering if other schools outside lancashire might have done this sort of thing

[penguinpowered]

I was just thinking the same thing. I think NGfL wouldn't be too chuffed about you running an 'unsecured' second line into the school.

 

Besides, it'll just be cheaper to wait till the remote access trials are done and then set up a Linux box to allow authenticated remote access.

[DMcCoy]

Im pretty sure as part of our agreement were not alowed to have another external line are we not?

 

Thats rather unfair.

 

I tried to get RM (segfl) to send me the forms for change request but they haven't. I wonder if its because I asked for a completely unfiltered ip address. They just go on and on about how its a bad idea and that it will let stuff in and out. I know that, thats the WHOLE POINT!

 

I'm quite capable of firewalling off an ipaddress and I don't need to be treated like a madman or a child when I ask 8O

 

I have a 10Mb lan etension, still have a 2Mb line that no one seems to be bothered about (replaced by the 10). They took my router away for that anyway. I could always use the 2 isdn lines in the server cabinet I guess.

[browolf]

indeed. i was wondering more about sharepoint than actual method of entry.

We havent got the skills to do anything with critical with linux plus our network manager doesnt like linux either.

[ChrisH]

Miles still there then?

[alan-d]

If all you want to do is grant access to users to there home directories or shared areas you don't need sharepoint.

 

All you require is something like wexlite and a front end page with a reverse proxy from your LEA.

 

Not quite as simple as that as a little scripting and knowledge of AD & GPO is required. We (should I say my tecchie) set it all up in house at no cost other than manhours.

 

Ours gives access to Home Directories, Shared Areas, Room Booking, Email, School forums and even ECDL training. All secured with SSL.

 

If you want to know more I'll pm his contact No.

[Geoff]

Im pretty sure as part of our agreement were not alowed to have another external line are we not?

 

Yeah, but its ignored in these parts.

[Vegas]

Thought about terminal services?

[Dos_Box]

Im pretty sure as part of our agreement were not alowed to have another external line are we not?

 

Yeah, but its ignored in these parts.

 

Serious note Geoff. Don't get caught being naughty. There have been a few breaches in the past due to schools running second lines and opening up CLEO

through them. These schools got jumped up and down on. Big time. It is in the

schools agreement that they should not fit second lines. You know we are doing remote access trials and with the new web storage array in place pupils will soon have access to online folders which are accessable from home. Just ask the web team.

[Geoff]

Im pretty sure as part of our agreement were not alowed to have another external line are we not?

 

Yeah, but its ignored in these parts.

 

Serious note Geoff. Don't get caught being naughty. There have been a few breaches in the past due to schools running second lines and opening up CLEO

through them. These schools got jumped up and down on. Big time. It is in the

schools agreement that they should not fit second lines.

 

I know all about that. This DSL line I'm thinking of was in before I got here. Not my problem/decision basically. We do have another line elsewhere but thats off the main site and was because CLEO refused to give us a connection there.

 

You know we are doing remote access trials and with the new web storage array in place pupils will soon have access to online folders which are accessable from home. Just ask the web team.

 

Yeah I know. We're on the reverse proxy trial and VPN here at Carr Hill remember.

[Dos_Box]

Noooo. The web folders is a seperate project as part of the MyLGfL package. Full of online niceness it is.

[Geoff]

Was that the stuff that was demo'd at the technicians meeting?

[Dos_Box]

Part of it. It had been hindered due to lack of storage. this has now been addressed by this installation of the web storage array.

[browolf]

will we be able to get remote access into our school then? for anything or just for certain things?

[Dos_Box]

The problem is not one of granting access, but of security. Because we are a closed system anyone coming in must traverse the wider network forst. And any curious kiddies witht he relevent tools may be able to wreak havoc. We are trialing several possibilities at the moment and will let you know in due course which will be most suitable for schools. We need to find a solution which is best for everyone, ane not on a case per case basis. RDP is the next stage as we have already trialed VPN. Reverse proying is also looking promising.

[browolf]

what's RDP?

[Geoff]

Wikipedia to the rescue:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remote_Desktop_Protocol

 

RDP is the next stage

 

And will you support other terminal service protocols? Such as X11? and Citrix?

[browolf]

so that means accessing the network from the internet using terminal services type functionality. cool.

 

so what does vpn let you do?

[ChrisH]

It will allow you to connect securely through an encrypted tunnel.

[Geoff]

Yep, because all terminal services protocols are generally unencrypted by default.

[kevinmcaleer]

I found the reverse proxy and IIS sharing the user folder was sufficient. Actually the data available on the web was read only (just in case someone had a weak password) so that data could be accessed but not modified. Anyone wanting to modify work could simply email the changes back or copy it to a memory stick etc.

 

We've used that system for a few years.

 

Sharepoint is really useful for departmental websites. Just create the workspace and assign permissions then forget about it. What the department does with it is up to them. It means less hassle for Network admins and more empowerment to staff. win win.

To see sharepoint (services) in action visit http://www.thornleigh.net

 

I'd highly recommend sharepoint for use in schools, it makes an excellent intranet. Meetings and events can be managed very easily through it. It works even better if you have Exchange 2003.

 

-Kev

[Dos_Box]

I use NetSupport Manager accross the VPN tunnel from home, and dammed nice amnd useful it is too.

[Geoff]

I'd highly recommend sharepoint for use in schools, it makes an excellent intranet. Meetings and events can be managed very easily through it. It works even better if you have Exchange 2003.

 

Whats the cost of sharepoint these days?

 

I use NetSupport Manager accross the VPN tunnel from home

 

Putty and VNC here. re-tooling my routes for all the primary schools hanging off Carr Hill is a chore though. I really should script it.