Rising Stars + Command Prompt

[Michael]

Hello all,

 

I've just been given a copy of a Rising Stars publication with regards to the internet and testing network connections.

 

It then reads (quote) "Ask your network manager to allow access to the Windows command prompt for this and the next two steps. Ask the pupils to have access to the ipconfig, ping, tracert and nslookup commands".

 

My immediate answer was obviously 'no', but the people who write these things haven't a clue about security and why it's disabled in the first place.

 

Question is have any of you come across this and are you aware of any child friendly (KS2) websites with a virtual command prompt they can use?

 

The websites they list do not offer a virtual command prompt (as far as I could see).

[plexer]

There's one that does ipconfig here Bill's Design Tips - Flash, Graphics, and much more

 

Ben

[Michael]

Thanks, but they just look like screen shots. They're not interactive (apologies if I wasn't clear).

[plexer]

No they're not you type in ipconfig /all in to the 2nd one and you get the output you'd expect.

 

Ben

[Michael]

You're right, just re-tried it and it worked. Just took time to load. Any suggestions for additional commands such as nslookup?

[plexer]

Would cisco packet tracer work?

 

Ben

 

- - - Updated - - -

 

Allthough you can only get that if you are registered.

 

Ben

[plexer]

Free online network tools - traceroute, nslookup, dig, whois lookup, ping - IPv6

 

Ben

[TG_MI]

Hmm, could you setup a virtual environment with a "virtual network" and let the kids play around with a VM that's less restrictive?

[Michael]

Hmm, could you setup a virtual environment with a "virtual network" and let the kids play around with a VM that's less restrictive?

 

I did think of that, however the teacher wants all pupils to be 'hands on' with this, so setting up VLANs or any other network isn't going to work unfortunately. If they just needed one as a test setup, I would do this, but every pupil needs to be able to run and enter commands.

[Michael]

Free online network tools - traceroute, nslookup, dig, whois lookup, ping - IPv6

 

Ben

 

They're all great tools, but not quite the Command Prompt which is what is required.

 

I'm glad it's not just me struggling with this. It's easy for people to write instructions/guidelines without any clear understanding why network managers disable the command prompt in the first place!

[Jon]

I can't really see what the problem is with letting the pupils use the cmd prompt.

 

As long as all of your security, share and ntfs permissions are set correctly I don't see what harm can be done.