LAN Ranger alternative

[cookie_monster]

We have been using Ranger for a couple of years but really don't use many features so are considering not renewing our licence. The only feature i think we will really miss is LAN Ranger as it allows us to see which stations are turned on or logged on in real time and you can also shutdown all stations with one click (i know psshutdown will do this but it's not a slick).

 

Has anyone here moved away from Ranger and found a good alternative to LAN Ranger?

 

Cheers.

[strawberry]

for an admin i'd recommend bozteck vnc http://www.vncscan.com/

 

its basically a vnc manager but it does all that lan ranger does and a bit more.

[Ric_]

@cookie_monster: If you currently use Ranger Remote Control you will like NetSupport Manager/School. This will show you what you need and do much more besides. Ranger OEM NSS for their product.

[cookie_monster]

The problem there is that we use Ranger Remote and Dameware for management of stations so don't really want another remote management package running.

[cookie_monster]

We don't licence RRC for all stations as it's too expensive so we can't manage office or admin PC's using that.

[antoeknee]

Though I've not looked at it or seen any costs there is a Ranger alternative called Impero. Seems to combine features of LR and RRC

[maniac]

We moved away from ranger this year, and built our own custom vanilla network enhanced with a range of VB scripts. LAN ranger is a good product thou, and there are bits I do miss. Removing it really sped up our login times and workstations general speed, and it cut down on network traffic too.

 

To track user logins, I've got a VB script that logs logons and logoffs in a mySQL database, and a PHP front end to display logged on users.

 

To stop duplicate logons I used a VBscript from this site that works fairly well.

 

For desktop and startmenu icons, initially I used redirected startmenus and desktops that pointed to a network share. I changed this to directing the desktop and startmenu to a local folder on the machine, where the correct shortcuts are copied from a network share at machine startup. This was mainly to help wireless laptops that lost their desktop icons and startmenus if the wireless coughed.

 

For machine shutdown, I have a scheduled task added to each machine that calls a batchfile on the netlogon share at a set time. This batchfile calls the windows shutdown command. The reason I did it this way, is if we ever want to cancel the shutdown for any reason, we simply alter the batchfile. I could have called the shutdown command directly from the task scheduler, but it would have been more awkward to have changed it at short notice then.

 

I wrote a simple password changing utility in VB.NET to take the place of Ranger Account Manager for staff. It's one click to reset a users password to a pre-defined password, and it forces a change at next login. Was going to offer copies of this to interested people, but it's hard coded to our network so it wouldn't work on anyone elses at the moment. Working on changing it to use an XML settings file, so may be available soon. Adding new users etc. we do using Active Directory which, if you have it set up properly, creates the users homefolder and sets the permissions for you too.

 

We also use RRC, and havn't found the replacement for this yet as we still have until April left on our license. We will probably use netsupport school thou, as it's identical to RRC so the staff will already be used to it.

 

Mike.

[kylewilliamson]

Isnt't Impero that curse from Harry Potter?

[cookie_monster]

Hi Mike, we have almost everything setup the same way you have here the ranger client does pretty much nothing now which is why i'm looking into removing it. We do use shutdown scripts to close down any stations that are left on each night or we can use this to reboot rooms when needed but there isn't an easy way to like opening LAN Ranger and looking which machines are on in real time (network places just isn't good enough).

 

We also have a VB script that allows staff to reset passwords and force a change at next logon and VB logging but at the moment it logs to an access Db.

 

Like i say it's mainly a couple of features in the LANRanger console that were holding me back, executing a program on all stations instantly is another good example.

 

I'm having a look at Dameware NT Utilities at the moment it seems to fulfil most functions and is a one off purchase which i like the look of.

 

Cheers.

[maniac]

We also have a VB script that allows staff to reset passwords and force a change at next logon

 

I think you found the same script I did which I've then re-packaged into VB.NET to add a fancy front end to it.

[Ric_]

@cookie_monster: I suspect that netSupport could be talked into giving you a very good deal to move to 'proper' NSM as opposed to OEMed NSS... the price difference between NSS and NSM isn't huge and it sounds like ALL the features you desire are there. You will also be saving a large chunk of money by ditching Ranger.

[cookie_monster]

One of the problems there is that we use Dameware to manage office and lesson monitor PC's and RRC in classrooms so we couldn't manage all PC's from RRC. All of the features in NNS are supposed to be in RRC but i've noticed that the WOL feature only works if the MAC adds are cached which isn't very usefull when you want a PC you haven't connected to in ages.

Dameware NT utilities is looking good so far it's only £150 per admin licence for unlimited clients which is very cheap when compared to RRC or NSS.

[robk]

We are in the process of moveing from Ranger to impero, we get the activity logging etc and remote control for much less than Ranger would cost us.

 

Worth looking at the impero demo, as it co-exists with ranger nicely.

 

Rob K

[cookie_monster]

Impero looks like it has some good features. Have you any idea how much it costs?

[robk]

Impero cost us much less than ranger, but I can`t remember if we got a deal or not. Worth mentioning that you plan to move, it seems to reduce the costs a bit....

 

HTH

 

Rob

[logan_x50]

I'd stick with Ranger if I were you. Yes, you could cobble together similar utilities to achieve a solution but the case for Ranger is that it gives this flexibility but also retains the overall management in a core application which should give the SMT confidence that they do not have a unique network that is unsupportable by anyone else except their existing network manager and technicians. I have to admit I maybe bias here.

[cookie_monster]

Ranger isn't really all that flexible and i've found an alternative to almost everything other than LAN Ranger, we stick to mainly standard MS solutions especially now we have 2003 R2 for printer deployment and disk quotas. I don't think anyone who is familiar with Windows domains would have much trouble picking it up so i feel Ranger becomes an unnecessary expense.

[boomam]

For the remote log on/log off/power on/power off/ect; functions i highly recommend NetSupport Schools.

We use it here, and although its mainly a teaching app, i find it invaluable myself, as i can ban internet sites through it faster than the kids can find them.

[burgemaster]

Any1 tried LanView ? its 100% free

 

 

What is LanView3?

LanView 3 contains many features such as listing all network stations, and their respective users, including their full names (if linked with User Extractor 3). In additon, LV3 boast the following;

 

Manage PC's and Users individually or by group

 

Remote Control using the popular VNC tools

Shutdown, reboot and logoff machines

Turn on PC's remotely (requires Wake On Lan support in stations BIOS)

Turn on or off internet access for a station or user (where ever they sit!)

Allocate a user or station to the Ignored group for 'Always on' Internet access

Defrag or Scandisk remotely, and without logging in.

Syncronise Time across remote PC's

Send Messages to remote PC's

Watch users and be warned when they login

Allocate a user or station to the IAM Managers group so that they can control their own group's application access with simple Red and Green Buttons. (ideal for teachers controlling their classroom)

Get Attention Screen. Stop the distractions. Customise the 'The teacher requires your attention' message

Full support for scheduling. Wake up or shutdown groups of PCs at a pre-defined time.

Enable or Disable application access at predefined times.

[sLiDeR]

We just started using Impero. A bit Primative in the interface but works well.

 

Defo alternative to Ranger Remote Control & Print Manager(when the print plug in is released)

 

Cost us £5k but each year the rolling cost is £1000 which will save us in the long run. COnsidering im saving £2750 each year now on Ranger RC thats not bad.

 

But I still need to use Lan Ranger & Ranger Administrator to enforce desktop environment & security policies.

 

Ive not found an alternative. Net support etc run on the same engine so no point moving to them.

 

But further suggestions would be welcome all..........

[Peterrobert]

Have a look at NetOp School 5.5 the latest version works with Vista and a very high level of security policies

[jamin100]

Any1 tried LanView ? its 100% free

 

.

 

Yep I use LanView and Slideshow here. Works 100% I've got a dedicated workstation setup just scrolling through all the active screens on the network.

 

All you do is install the server software on a normal machine then install the small client application on each machine and its done! You can control the PC's remotly which is great when you get a call from someone the other side of the building who cant seem to change their font!

[cookie_monster]

The problem with NetOP, NSS, Lanview and Ranger Remote is that they are all remote control apps they don't provide similar features to LanRanger.

 

We do use Ranger Remote currently i've been impressed with LanView but i see it as a potential replacement for Ranger Remote but not Lan Ranger.

 

Cheers.

[Peterrobert]

NetOp School also allows real time monitoring among it's features. NetOp Remote is a different product?

[cookie_monster]

How much is NetOp School per station approximatly?

 

It seems to be a remote teaching package am i looking at the wrong product?

 

http://www.netop.com/netop-8.htm

 

 

 

It looks good but it's still not a replacement for LanRanger really. It's still more of a teaching tool rather than a network/admin tool.

 

Cheers.

Edited May 14, 2008 by cookie_monster