What does it do?

[woody]

For the benefit of those of us who are not in a position to test it yet, please relate interesting features / usefull parts of LNM so that we can build up a good picture of what it actually does.

 

Thnx

[indie]

Inbuilt bulk import of users from CSV or text file is one of the things that's good about it.

 

I've literally just installed it and skimmed over it though, so I can't tell you much more!

 

The Learning Network Management bit is all web based, so it's easy to access from wherever you are.

 

Going home now, so more tomorrow!

[Norphy]

Windows 2003 already has that though, there is a command line tool called CSVDE which lets you import users from a CSV file.

[indie]

Some people get confused with CSVDE as they need to know LDAP syntax, with LNM its a real basic FirstName,LastName,YearGroup etc etc.

[Rozzer]

So is that all it offers importing of users?

[sahmeepee]

csvde doesn't require knowledge of LDAP syntax IIRC, that's LDIFDE. Out of interest, does it really want the year group and what does it do with it?

[DMcCoy]

Erm, there is a vbs script from microsoft that I have been using for years to import a csv from sims into the AD. Just put the columns in an excel file, modify a few bits here and there and double click, wait 10 secs, done.

 

Importing users can't be all there is to it?

[ajbritton]

No, it attempts to put an easy to use face on RIS and the Software Installation component in Group Policy. It also makes group management easier and supports the 'promotion' of all student accounts from one year to the next.

 

The other main feature is that it allows a group of schools to be managed/monitored from a central point (e.g. LEA).

 

To be honest, if you are sufficiently tech savvy to be hanging out on EduGeek, then you probably don't need much from LNM.

[m25man]

It set's a benchmark in vanilla 2003 School network setups that any newbie or even hardened veteran can learn from.

Admins whom have never setup a 2k 2k3 network can use it to set one up from scratch that works well first time and can be tweeked til the cows come home.

 

The veterans can see how M$ recommend school networks are setup and learn from it, tweek and pinch the useful bits for the benifit of their own systems.

 

It doesnt give you any additional functionality you couldn't do yourself or buy a third party solution to do, It does build a bloody good system entirely by itself in a relatively short space of time.

 

I would add, the training labs that go with this product recommend it be used in conjunction with the SCT (the M$ version of deep freeze) so it teaches you how to configure RIS for multi partitions and operating systems.

 

So now I expect you want me to post the training lab documents as well eh!

[tosca925]

Yes......................

[m25man]

Here is Lab #3 the only one I have to hand until we get our servers back on-line after the move from Buncefield.

lab_3_workstation_deployment_with_multiple_os.doc

[petectid]

so it teaches you how to configure RIS for multi partitions and operating systems.

 

RIS, only supports single partition images, are you saying otherwise if using LNM?

[Dos_Box]

You can configure RIS to create multiple partitions. Ask Ric. He's done it.

[ICTWizard]

RIS, only supports single partition images.......