Who is using Google File Stream?

[jthompson]

A lot of our teaching staff are in love with File Stream. I'd say it's been a killer app in terms of getting staff to use Drive instead of storing all their stuff on their laptop. Seems rock solid. Our existing remote access to user areas and shared drives is admittedly a bit clunky for teaching staff (RDS).

 

Planning to explore the device approval mechanisms more fully when I get some time, as I don't want File Stream signed in on non-school devices (Team Drives exposed to family members? *shudder*).

[TwistedHelixis]

If anyone sets up endpoint to control which devices can run File Stream can you post back. I have no time at the moment to look at this, but am really interested in real world usage.

[Danp]

If you mean the desktop shortcut don't use it, just use the normal G drive in File explorer.

 

BTW we have been using it at 4 schools for over a year without any real issues.

 

We've had issues where the version updates and then needs logging in again and then mapped drive doesn't show until it's logged in. I expect this is more of an RM thing for most users. I know on my non-rm machine the mapped drive is always there

[TwistedHelixis]

We've had issues where the version updates and then needs logging in again and then mapped drive doesn't show until it's logged in. I expect this is more of an RM thing for most users. I know on my non-rm machine the mapped drive is always there

 

We do have that, but its not really seen as an issue as the users just click on the File Stream app and it maps the G Drive within a few seconds.

 

EDIT - Although not recently

[Danp]

We do have that, but its not really seen as an issue as the users just click on the File Stream app and it maps the G Drive within a few seconds.

 

EDIT - Although not recently

 

This goes back to what I was saying, the app shortcut then does not always work, once the version number has changed, it needs a new shortcut

[FN-GM]

This goes back to what I was saying, the app shortcut then does not always work, once the version number has changed, it needs a new shortcut

There is an application on the large File Stream thread that resolves this issue.

 

You point the application to the .exe and that finds the current version and opens file stream.

[TwistedHelixis]

This goes back to what I was saying, the app shortcut then does not always work, once the version number has changed, it needs a new shortcut

 

Or do not use the shortcut but the app itself, just type 'file' in the search box and click on 'Google file stream', only takes 5 seconds :0)

[fiza]

I am trying to enable File Stream for authorised company devices only. According to this Google blog I should see a setting for "Only allow Drive File Stream on Authorised devices" but I don't see it in my Admin Console. Can someone else check please?

 

What I see:

 

What I should see:

 

[fiza]

Ok - having spoken with Support, they are saying this is still rolling out and should be with us within the next 2 weeks.

[TwistedHelixis]

Ok - having spoken with Support, they are saying this is still rolling out and should be with us within the next 2 weeks.

 

thanks that is good to know :0)

 

While I wait I need to workout how come at each of my schools I have some laptops listed as approved in the endpoint page, when I have not set anything up.

[TwistedHelixis]

I would just like a list of anyone connecting from file stream, in a list of auto blocked users where I can simply click allow.

[fiza]

So i have now installed Endpoint verification on a couple of Windows machines. You need the Endpoint Verification Chrome Extension and a Native Helper msi to be installed.

 

One big problem seems to be that once the extension is installed the logged in user has to agree to the extension sending info to the Admin Console.

 

 

 

This is a big flaw!! Students will just click "Not Now". I would like it to be a forced "agree" as these are school owned computers so users should have no choice.

[Danp]

Or do not use the shortcut but the app itself, just type 'file' in the search box and click on 'Google file stream', only takes 5 seconds :0)

 

RM network , only shows shortcuts that have been set by us. if shortcut points to Drive File Stream 29.1.81.1921 then it won't work for Drive File Stream 29.1.85.2056

[Danp]

There is an application on the large File Stream thread that resolves this issue.

 

You point the application to the .exe and that finds the current version and opens file stream.

 

I'd missed that, thank you for the letting me know, just tried it on a couple of machines and it's worked.

[colly72]

thanks that is good to know :0)

 

While I wait I need to workout how come at each of my schools I have some laptops listed as approved in the endpoint page, when I have not set anything up.

 

Has this appeared for you now? It's still not showing up for me...

[CHSGM]

I spoke to Google as I also don't see it and said it is still in rollout. Just said it should appear in coming weeks.

[TwistedHelixis]

OK so I found this on setting up the End Point verification system

 

Endpoint verification devices—Approving or blocking a device doesn’t change the device’s ability to access corporate data. Instead, it adds a tag to the device that can be used to configure access levels with Access Context Manager

https://cloud.google.com/access-context-manager/docs/

 

That's about as far as I have got at the moment as I have some projects on

[TwistedHelixis]

Also just read this

 

Note: If you tag an endpoint verification device as blocked, it can still access corporate data until you enforce Access Context Manager policies.

 

Why not just block it from accessing corporate data?

[colly72]

I spoke to Google as I also don't see it and said it is still in rollout. Just said it should appear in coming weeks.

 

First proper day back for us today and this is still not showing. Does anyone have this option available now?