Italc IP's reallocated

[runedog48]

Greetings, about 2 weeks ago a teacher came to me and asked me to put software on the computers in his classroom so he can monitor student activity and prohibit them from messing about when they're supposed to be working. I knew that my school had previously installed Italc in one of the other computer labs, but for whatever reason removed the software. Since I already knew that they got Italc to work previously, and since I have limited knowledge on what classroom management softwares are available, I decided to install Italc on all the computers in his lab. I was able to successfully configure the software and had it up and running. Everything was running smoothly until the IP address of the client computers was reallocated. Every single computer in his lab had their IP changed.

I was wondering if there was an easier approach to assigning clients over a domain rather than having to go to each computer an copying it's IP down and changing it. If there's no way to easily assign the clients, and I would have to reconfigure the software every time the IP's get reallocated, then I would be open to installing an alternative software rather than Italc.

[steveking]

I tried and gave up using italc to look at student linux machines - I was struggling with the same issue about dynamic client IPs. I remember looking for a while and deciding it was pointless trying to make it work.

 

In the end I installed epoptes which literally "just worked", but the teacher computer has to have a static ip (or hostname which resolves I guess). It's even in the debian repos so was a 2 min job to install, perfect. I think it's a linux only program though, so possibly no use for you. For our windows network we use Impero, but that's £££ I think (but the network spending is nowt to do with me, I'm just a classroom teacher who looks after my linux server and clients at school)

[mikeprice]

I have used Italc in my current school but have given up due to issues

 

Previously I have used AB Tutor whcih was dramatically better - and useful for IT support as well. The licensing policy is good too as you only have to pay for 'teacher' machine (which would include 1 tech computer. The client can all be configured free

 

ALthough I think the company has changed hands and the price has gon eup it is still cheap compared to most - and far more useful than ITALC

 

There is a free trial is you want as well

 

and - no - I don't work for them - I just loved the software!

[runedog48]

Thanks for all the replies. I think it's become clear ITALC isn't a good choice anymore, but I don't know of any free alternatives. Paying for software isn't an option unfortunately. They're all windows machines.