Smoothwall connect for Chromebooks not loading

[ShorehamGeek]

We've just discovered that the "Smoothwall Connect for Chromebooks" extension isn't loading on our Chromebooks.

 

It appears that if a Chromebook has a profile cached locally, and that contained the Smoothwall connect extension, then everything works as normal.

 

If a student logs onto a Chromebook, all the other extensions load as expected, just not the Smoothwall Connect one. If a student logs into the smoothwall SSL login page, and leaves that tab open, then everything works as expected.

 

It appears the behaviour has changed over the weekend!

 

Anyone else experiencing this? Any ideas to try and resolve it?

 

Thanks in advance.

[ibpalle]

Not certain what could cause this - as far as I am aware, no changes were made to the extension. The SSL Login will work as it's not related to the connect other in that it's the same method the connect client use for authentication.

 

I would recommend taking a look at installing our cloud filter extension instead goping forward - it's included in the license and allows for a lot easier filtering on the Chromebooks, both local and remote and does not require proxy settings.

[DMorris]

Hi

 

We also have this issue this morning on March 28th 2022. You can log into the chromebook fine with the student or staff members Google account. However when you try to surf the internet or open another tab in Chrome it pops-up with the Smoothwall Domain login prompt box. To get around this the user must enter their Domain PC username. The Green Smoothwall Connect Shield is missing and not showing as an extension.

 

This needs to be looked into via Smoothwall and see what Google have changed or updated over the weekend as it worked fine on Friday 25th 2022.

 

Thanks

[ibpalle]

Looks like the Connect for Chromebooks extension is having an issue in the Google store at the moment. We are looking into that currently - I'll update this thread when I have news.

 

And just to repeat - Connect for Chromebooks will be removed at some point as we now have the cloud filter extension instead so if you have time, please look into our new extension.

[ShorehamGeek]

Thanks for the info.

 

I would hope to get lots of warning if this extension is going to get removed. We have everything working well here, with specific rules for pupils on a school device, and others for their own devices, that work really well. To have to try and work out how to migrate over to something that works differently isn't my first choice!

[ibpalle]

The only thing the Connect for Chromebook does is login on the SSL Login page. With the cloud filter extension all the same policies are still in use and the setup is simpler and requires no proxy settings. I's an improvement in every way for Chromebooks so take a look.

[DMorris]

Thanks for the info.

 

I would hope to get lots of warning if this extension is going to get removed. We have everything working well here, with specific rules for pupils on a school device, and others for their own devices, that work really well. To have to try and work out how to migrate over to something that works differently isn't my first choice!

 

Hi, I agree with this also. We had this fully working last week and would like it to be up and running again asap. I would like some warning if this is going to be removed in the future please so that we can plan to move to the other method you have mentioned. Currently though I would prefer the Smoothwall Connect App to just work again. .... Please. :-)

 

Thanks

[ShorehamGeek]

Thanks for the info. I will have a look.

I'm hoping it can be as flexible as our current setup, where we have different rules if a particular student logs onto a school chromebook compared to if they log on to their own device? Also, I really like the fact that the current setup works with any laptop the pupil brings to school, and the pupils don't have any way to bypass the filters just by using a different browser (which seems to be an issue if I understand the cloud filter extension correctly).

Anyway - useful to understand that there is a known issue with Connect for Chromebook, and that there is a potential issue in my future if this extension is discontinued.

[ibpalle]

As mentioned, we are looking into what is going on and I'll update here as soon as we find out.

 

Obviously we will announce if any of our features will be removed - just wanted to mention the cloud filter extension as it's the replacement, not just for the CfCB but for all OS.

[ibpalle]

Currently the extension has been blocked by Google - we have no idea why yet. This does not look like we can get it back online anytime soon - I'll update here as soon as I know more.

[Primus]

This is a bit of a nightmare for us, we use the old extension for staff only to prevent us filtering staff on their personal Chromebook offsite - yes I know they'd still have to log in with their school account to be filtered and we were going to address it at some point but sudden loss of functionality is a pain.

[the_quick]

I'm in the same boat as all of you, suddenly extensions stopped working - at least this is inset day, so gave us time to look at it. At this moment we just changed proxy On G Suite, but probably will give them SSL login page instead

 

Not great !

[ibpalle]

It is a pain, we are looking at what we can do. Would have been nice with a heads-up from Google but ...

[ibpalle]

Connect For Chromebook Update: we've resubmitted an amended version of the pulled extension to Google. Awaiting their review process.

[DeGrimmy]

...And just to repeat - Connect for Chromebooks will be removed at some point as we now have the cloud filter extension instead so if you have time, please look into our new extension.

 

Just to double check, this KB article from September 2019 is the latest article regarding the installation of the Cloud Filter extension through Google Admin?

[ibpalle]

Just to double check, this KB article from September 2019 is the latest article regarding the installation of the Cloud Filter extension through Google Admin?

 

Correct. If you do not have a cloud filter serial (The one starting with UNC) contact your account manager and they will issue you one.

[DMorris]

Connect For Chromebook Update: we've resubmitted an amended version of the pulled extension to Google. Awaiting their review process.

 

Hi Thanks for the update.

 

If this new extension is approved by Google;

 

Would this mean that the Updated extension would automatically update itself once the Chromebook Logged-in with the student/Staff Google account? Or will it be renamed and we would have to relink the app or set it up again in the Admin Portal?

 

Many thanks

[ibpalle]

The extension should work like before the pull. You will not need to do anything.

[the_quick]

Lets hope it doesn't take long

 

In the meantime I have requested cloud filtering to be configured.

Edited March 29, 2022 by the_quick

[the_quick]

And it is working !!!!

 

That was surprising quick to be honest. Well done Smoothwall @ibpalle

 

Thanks

[DMorris]

And it is working !!!!

 

That was surprising quick to be honest. Well done Smoothwall @ibpalle

 

Thanks

Yes I can confirm on a Chromebook the Green Shield is back and all seem fine. Just logged in with a student account. Many thanks.

 

IS there any changes to this app at all that we need to know or is it simply exactly the same but updated with Google Store?

 

Many thanks to IBPalle

 

(Test run at 12.30pm - March 29th 2022)

[ShorehamGeek]

Many thanks. We're back too.

[ibpalle]

No changes on functionality - it was a backend issue that caused the pull and that has been corrected. Thanks for being patient.