Is There An MSI for SMART Notebook Basic

[Fazza]

Is there an MSI available for the Basic version of SMART Notebook?

 

I've got the .exe but I'd rather have an MSI if there is one as I'd like to put it in the SCCM Software Center and if you have an MSI you can add a logo/icon to it to make it easier for staff to locate.

 

Thanks.

[slugshead]

If you can run the exe with /quiet or something similar you can put it in sccm as a script installer

[localzuk]

You can access it via the SMART tech site - https://www.smarttech.com/products/education-software/smart-learning-suite/admin-download

 

Download the MSI, then download the Install Manager and customise it as you see fit to generate an MST to go with the MSI.

 

Basically, all SMART installs are Basic unless someone logs in to them to make them a higher version (as licensing is per user).

[Fazza]

If you can run the exe with /quiet or something similar you can put it in sccm as a script installer

 

I can run it with /qn to do a silent install as it is but within SCCM (as far as I'm aware) you can only assign an icon to an MSI file - how have you assigned a logo/thumbnail/icon to a script as I dont have that option?

 

 

You can access it via the SMART tech site - https://www.smarttech.com/products/education-software/smart-learning-suite/admin-download

 

Download the MSI, then download the Install Manager and customise it as you see fit to generate an MST to go with the MSI.

 

Basically, all SMART installs are Basic unless someone logs in to them to make them a higher version (as licensing is per user).

 

Thanks - I'll give that a try as if this works then should they want to upgrade to the subscription version in the future then it'a already installed! I just hope there isnt a 30 day free trial included as they may get used to features that will become unavailable to them outside of the trial...

[slugshead]

how have you assigned a logo/thumbnail/icon to a script as I dont have that option?

 

Make the deployment once complete

 

Right click the Application under Application Management > Applications > Properties

 

Software Center Tab, down the bottom

 

I'm running config manager version 2103 though, fresh install about a month ago

[TwistedHelixis]

Basically, all SMART installs are Basic unless someone logs in to them to make them a higher version (as licensing is per user).

 

We have site licences still, or do you mean something different?

[localzuk]

We have site licences still, or do you mean something different?

Even with a site license, users have to have licenses assigned to them in the admin centre - the availability of the new features is done by their logging in, not via a license key any more.

 

A "site" license seems to not be a real thing either as it is still limited by the number of rooms/staff you have from what I've been told.

[Fazza]

Make the deployment once complete

 

Right click the Application under Application Management > Applications > Properties

 

Software Center Tab, down the bottom

 

I'm running config manager version 2103 though, fresh install about a month ago

 

 

That's how you do it for an Application (i.e. an MSI file) scripts are .bat or .cmd so are Packages where there is no such option or am I missing something? We too are on 2103 after a fresh install the other week...

[slugshead]

That's how you do it for an Application (i.e. an MSI file) scripts are .bat or .cmd so are Packages where there is no such option or am I missing something? We too are on 2103 after a fresh install the other week...

 

You can use script installer to install an EXE.

 

 

[TwistedHelixis]

Even with a site license, users have to have licenses assigned to them in the admin centre - the availability of the new features is done by their logging in, not via a license key any more.

 

We never login or have any accounts and all teachers have full features.

[localzuk]

We never login or have any accounts and all teachers have full features.

Which version are you running? And do you have the PCs all connected to SMART screens?

[TwistedHelixis]

Which version are you running? And do you have the PCs all connected to SMART screens?

Some are on 21 some 20, just depends if the teacher has upgraded or not and yes they are all connected to Smart screens, but the screens are about 3+ years old now.

 

- - - Updated - - -

 

i seem to remeber being told not to add any users to the Smart web system if I wanted to keep using the older site licening system, otherwise it uses the new user based system, but I could have made that up.

[JJonas]

Some are on 21 some 20, just depends if the teacher has upgraded or not and yes they are all connected to Smart screens, but the screens are about 3+ years old now.

 

- - - Updated - - -

 

i seem to remeber being told not to add any users to the Smart web system if I wanted to keep using the older site licening system, otherwise it uses the new user based system, but I could have made that up.

 

So you are probably not properly licensed because you have found a way to dodge the new licensing system. Part of the Role of Network Manager is to make sure your school complies with licensing not find a dodgy way round it.

Almost sure nothing will happen but I would not want to be in that kind of situation. I would be trying to make sure my position was covered by seeking clarification on the licensing.

[localzuk]

Some are on 21 some 20, just depends if the teacher has upgraded or not and yes they are all connected to Smart screens, but the screens are about 3+ years old now.

 

OK, so the software appears to go into full mode if it is plugged into a SMART screen, regardless of being logged in or not.

 

i seem to remeber being told not to add any users to the Smart web system if I wanted to keep using the older site licening system, otherwise it uses the new user based system, but I could have made that up.

This doesn't sound right - the system wouldn't know if you had users in your account or not, if no-one logs in. As there's no license key any more it has no way of identifying you.

 

I think you may be just seeing the effects of simply having a SMART screen plugged in only. We see that as well. But when a user unplugs and opens Notebook, it reverts to Basic edition unless they log in.

 

Your site license will have specified how many users you have paid for and you can then add this many to the admin page.

[TwistedHelixis]

So you are probably not properly licensed because you have found a way to dodge the new licensing system

 

Well when I spoke to Smart a few weeks ago to renew our site license they seemed fine with this method.

 

I think you may be just seeing the effects of simply having a SMART screen plugged in only.

When a license expires it goes into non licensed mode and lots of features are no longer available, so this cant be the reason.

[thimon]

We’re still using license keys, have renewed for the last two years with no problems being given license keys instead of using user accounts. Using the software with smartboards.