Free School Alerting and Notifications offer from NetSupport

[Al_NetSupport]

Thanks, Al. I have filled in the form and I expect someone will get in touch next week.

 

Meantime, as I am not familiar with the product, I am guessing that we can limit who can send messages?

 

I think our Head will want to use this from time to time once installed, but I also think that he might want *some* members of staff not to be able to send.

 

 

Glad to hear you have signed up Dave.

 

Yes, you can absolutely control who can use the system, so once you install the Windows App for sending the notifications ( or the mobile apps) when they conenct to your notification server ( can run on any PC tbh) you can define user credentials so only certain staff are authorised to send messages.

 

Take a look at the security section near the bottom of this brief feature summary. Hopefully reassures.

 

Al

 

 

 

Key feature highlights when sending notifications from a Windows Console:

 

Send alerts and notifications (up to 500 characters) instantly to any Windows, Mac and Linux desktop from a Windows PC operator console.

Send messages “full screen” to unattended devices such as large digital public information screens, with appropriate timeout.

Send targeted alerts dynamically to selected users/devices, specified departments or all computers.

In time-critical situations, send a pre-configured “emergency response” message by typing a hotkey combination.

Real-time message preview before delivery.

Supports unlimited number of connected user desktops.

Include clickable links to websites and network resources (UNC paths) in the body of the message.

Support for Terminal Server / Citrix clients.

 

 

Customising notifications/alerts in NetSupport NotifyCustomisation

 

Prioritise each message with clear and concise message types – News, Alert, Technical, Critical, Message.

Customise alert and font colours and include organisation logo in all notifications.

Include custom audio alerts and supporting sounds with each notification. The sound can be repeated every five seconds to really grab attention!

Flexible delivery options – auto close after XX seconds, close on user acknowledgement.

The same message can be sent to multiple sites, each carrying different local branding.

NetSupport Notify is available in a range of localised languages.

 

 

Pre-schedule Alerts

 

Schedule routine alerts to run at fixed times or dates: hourly, weekly, daily, even every xx minutes.

 

 

Reporting and Tracking

 

View Notification HistoryView full alert history, view and amend current scheduled alerts and export delivery results.

Central audit log and detailed reporting of all messages sent, received and acknowledged.

Specify the length of time that notifications are stored and accessible for reporting.

 

 

Security and Active Directory Integration

 

Unique security codes limiting access to only authorised Agents and Consoles.

Integrate within existing systems via the supplied browser-based notification template and COM object.

Agent configuration can be centrally managed via Active Directory (AD) policies or similar.

Control ability to send alerts by Active Directory policy.

No need for router changes or support for broadcast UDP.

Easy to install with MSI installer or by utilising supplied deployment utility or Active Directory.

 

 

Notification Server

 

NetSupport Notify is based around its unique Notification Server technology. Installed on any Windows Server/Desktop, the Notification Server manages connections to all desktop agents and ensures immediate delivery of all alerts.

 

The Notification Server controls all agent and console connections and authenticates these against unique user-defined accounts and security keys, making certain that the system is only used by authorised staff.

 

NetSupport Notify also includes redundancy, allowing multiple Notification Servers to be implemented ensuring if one is unavailable at any time, agent connections will automatically switch to the next available server. You can use as many Notification Servers as you want and they are included for free in the standard licence cost. Alerts can be sent to one or multiple Notification Servers simultaneously.

 

Utilise the Notification Server technology for existing NetSupport Manager Clients.

 

 

NetSupport Notify Mobile Console for Android/iOS

 

 

The NetSupport Notify Mobile Console for Android and iOS gives you the freedom to communicate with your Windows, Mac and Linux desktop users or unattended information displays on the move from an Android tablet/smartphone or iPad, iPod or iPhone.

 

Free to download from Google Play, Amazon App Store and iTunes, the Mobile Console allows you to send instant alerts and notifications to existing NetSupport Notify users via your established Notification Servers.

 

Key features when sending a notification from an Android/Apple iOS device:

 

Send alerts and notifications to Windows, Mac and Linux desktops from any Android or Apple iOS device.

Send full screen notifications to unattended digital public information displays.

Prioritise messages and alerts with clear and concise message types.

Support for clickable URLs in alerts.

Flexible delivery options: auto close after XX seconds, close on user acknowledgement.

Send targeted alerts dynamically to selected departments or all computers.

View full alert history.

Unique security codes limiting access to only authorised Agents and Consoles.

Send alerts to one or multiple Notification Servers simultaneously.

Available in a range of localised languages.

[dry]

I would like to be the first to welcome FN-GM1, FN-GM2, FN-GM3, FN-GM4, etc. to the forum.

Thanks, you made me spit my cheese twist out over my keyboard!

[burgemaster]

We have been using Notify for a few years now and it has been near perfect. This is a really generous offer from Al !!

[mullet_man]

Just signed up, we already use Netsupport and have just signed up for DNA too.

 

Thanks

[E_G_R2]

With what happened in Manchester and how it effected our school this seems a no brainer to sign up for

[Al_NetSupport]

With what happened in Manchester and how it effected our school this seems a no brainer to sign up for

 

Certainly hope none of our schools have to use it for that reason for real, but regrettably it's another useful tool to have available if you need to communicate to staff quickly and silently.

 

The original reason for developing the product was for US school districts and their security needs on campus. Fortunately it's rarely used for real. In the U.K. It's also used in most NHS trusts where they need quick communications but are often in "mobile free" environments.

 

Thanks all for the kind comments, always nice to hear from existing users such positive feedback.

 

Have a fab weekend everyone!

[ITGURU]

150 licenses is very good to be free for lifetime if there are no strings attached.. I generally only send notification emails to staff for SIMS updates etc..

[Al_NetSupport]

Wow

 

Really impressed with all the schools who have signed up so far. I genuinely hope the software will be a help and another tool to help save time. There is absolutely no cost or commitment so i hope others will give it a try too.

 

I see we have some schools who have multiple "Edugeekers" who have managed to get 300 or even 450 free licences out of us by applying in parallel !! I guess have to give you A+ for effort

 

Al.

[ITGURU]

Wow

 

Really impressed with all the schools who have signed up so far. I genuinely hope the software will be a help and another tool to help save time. There is absolutely no cost or commitment so i hope others will give it a try too.

 

I see we have some schools who have multiple "Edugeekers" who have managed to get 300 or even 450 free licences out of us by applying in parallel !! I guess have to give you A+ for effort

 

Al.

 

I signed up but not had any contact yet.

[6Foot2]

I signed up but not had any contact yet.

Not sure when you signed up, I did so over the weekend and I was contacted this morning.

 

[Al_NetSupport]

I signed up but not had any contact yet.

 

Sorry @ITGURU, we have had an awful of keys to work through today, and I know a fair percentage have already gone out. I have just spoken to the team, pulled yours and it will be with you in the next 20 mins.

 

Apologies for the delay, the elves can be a bit cranky on a Monday morning but are almost up to full speed now courtesy of a lot of caffeine.

 

Al.

[Netwacky87]

Sorry @ITGURU, we have had an awful of keys to work through today, and I know a fair percentage have already gone out. I have just spoken to the team, pulled yours and it will be with you in the next 20 mins.

 

Apologies for the delay, the elves can be a bit cranky on a Monday morning but are almost up to full speed now courtesy of a lot of caffeine.

 

Al.

 

I signed up within an hour or so of the original post and haven't received anything yet? Sorry, I know its a tiresome task to get through everyone!

 

Thanks!

[Primus]

Guilty as charged on the multiple accounts (though we are all genuine Edugeek users!).

 

Sadly no information as yet, but I understand you'll have been swamped!

[clockend25]

Fantastic. Looks like we could utilise this extensively.

 

I'll also be giving you guys a call this summer as we look for Impero alternatives.

[Al_NetSupport]

Will try and get yours out asap @mmoseley .

 

Al.

[Al_NetSupport]

Guilty as charged on the multiple accounts (though we are all genuine Edugeek users!).

 

Sadly no information as yet, but I understand you'll have been swamped!

 

Hey, you don't ask you don't get All valid accounts so i'm cool with it. Hoping to get all those who have signed up so far their keys by end of play today.

 

Al.

[Al_NetSupport]

I'll also be giving you guys a call this summer as we look for Impero alternatives.

 

Always happy to talk and ALWAYS happy to beat alternative quotes Feel free to PM me in the summer !

 

Al.

[RichCowell]

Looking forward to getting this! Wish I'd got the free licenses from the EDIT Conf last year too, I obviously hadn't quite realised what it was then...

[DJ-1701]

Many thanks again for this, a pretty cool system, getting to grips with the settings.

 

I did notice for some strange reason when I sent a message out to 1 Agent and it said it was sent to 2 PCs, it did record only 1 acknowledgement back correctly, but it does think it's out of 2. I am using Windows Server 2012 R2 and Windows 10 Build 1703 though, so blaming that.

[penfold]

Just had my code through now. Thanks

[DJ-1701]

Group Policy Configuration Note: In case you are like me and install your Windows 10 image is made from the VLSC ISO and you have copied over the ADMX templates provided with NetSupport Notify but recieved an error, copy the ADML files from the en-GB folder to the en-US folder as well to get rid of the error message.

[Michael]

Several questions -

 

- If it talks to AD for its database, can you message specific users and/or Security Groups?

- If a user isn't signed in, will the message appear when they next sign in?

- Will the window always appear on top of others?

- Can the end user kill the process used by the Alerting software (if they have access to Task Manager)?

- What port(s) does it use?

- Can I create favourite lists for regular messaging, instead of having to add all the same users/groups each time?

 

Thanks!

[Al_NetSupport]

Several questions -

 

- If it talks to AD for its database, can you message specific users and/or Security Groups?

- If a user isn't signed in, will the message appear when they next sign in?

- Will the window always appear on top of others?

- Can the end user kill the process used by the Alerting software (if they have access to Task Manager)?

- What port(s) does it use?

- Can I create favourite lists for regular messaging, instead of having to add all the same users/groups each time?

 

Thanks!

 

Thanks for the questions - I'll hopefully cover - mostly yes and a couple of no's ;(

 

 

- If it talks to AD for its database, can you message specific users and/or Security Groups?

Yes, you can target AD users, or departments via a group AD policy, or look at an AD container, but unfortunately no it does not support Security Groups.

 

- If a user isn't signed in, will the message appear when they next sign in?

 

If a message is sent to a PC, when logged out the message will still display, if locked, will be on the desktop when they unlock. But unfortunately no it doesn't save the message to show next time a user logs in ( intent is to be a real-time alert).

 

- Will the window always appear on top of others?

 

Yes, You can configure this as an option, If it always shows foreground, how long it is shown for if you need a user to acknowledge etc. You can also configure to be full screen for use on display screens.

 

- Can the end user kill the process used by the Alerting software (if they have access to Task Manager)?

 

A user would require admin rights to kill it as the notifier is running as a service on the PC.

 

- What port(s) does it use?

 

443

 

- Can I create favourite lists for regular messaging, instead of having to add all the same users/groups each time?

 

Sorry no. It remembers the most recent message text, and you can schedule a common message, but not groups. However, you could create a department ( with your common recipients) via an AD policy and then Notify could use it.

[Primus]

Hey, you don't ask you don't get All valid accounts so i'm cool with it. Hoping to get all those who have signed up so far their keys by end of play today.

 

Al.

 

Thanks Al, how do the three of us go about using the licences - will we receive 3 separate codes to enter individually or 1 code to cover us?

[Al_NetSupport]

Thanks Al, how do the three of us go about using the licences - will we receive 3 separate codes to enter individually or 1 code to cover us?

 

You can apply multiple licences to the notification server (it will add them together), as long as they are all named *.lic you should be good to go. So register each one and rename the licence file and you will be able to add them all together and end up with a 450 user licence - or PM me with the 3 separate licence details and and I'll sort you a single combined licence.

 

 

Al