Smoothwall Monitor - which minimum ChromeOS is supported?

[timbo343]

Given that we are due to start using Smoothwall Monitor with Chromebooks and we have a load of chromebooks that have fallen off the AutoUpdate cliff with some on v93 and v103, would Smoothwall montior still work on these devices if we deployed MV2?

[synaesthesia]

Technically yes, until MV2 functionality is properly turned off like it has supposed to have been for quite a few months. Could be tomorrow!

 

[Joeloman]

I would really advise against running these.
There are extremely many security holes in such old ones, today they are on version 142.

 

Today you can get laptops that do not support Win 11 very cheaply.

You can then install ChromeOS Flex on these, even though that version is not officially supported by Smoothwall and many others, they work great.

A large Google reseller has never heard of any problems (other than that something in the hardware may not work, as there are missing drivers) but never problems with the software.

[timbo343]

1 hour ago, synaesthesia said:

Technically yes, until MV2 functionality is properly turned off like it has supposed to have been for quite a few months. Could be tomorrow!

 

 

Aye, it's just a matter of time. I thought MV2 extenstions were not supposed to work after June 2025 but they still do.

 

31 minutes ago, Joeloman said:

I would really advise against running these.
There are extremely many security holes in such old ones, today they are on version 142.

 

Today you can get laptops that do not support Win 11 very cheaply.

You can then install ChromeOS Flex on these, even though that version is not officially supported by Smoothwall and many others, they work great.

A large Google reseller has never heard of any problems (other than that something in the hardware may not work, as there are missing drivers) but never problems with the software.

 

Yup, you're right. It all came to light when we did an audit the other day. We have tried to tell the headteachers but some still want to keep using them until they "no longer work", even though they have had the devices over 10 years.

 

[synaesthesia]

If anything it goes to show how useful Chromebooks can be over a very long lifespan. We already get a MUCH longer service period from them than a typical low-mid level Windows device just from the official support perspective, but for 10 year old devices to still actually be usable is very positive testament. It does obviously make it harder to let them go however! You could probably argue that an out-of-support ChromeOS device is still more secure than an in service Windows 11 one, however it then comes down to liability if something goes wrong. You get hit by something nasty, and any RPA insurance is pretty much void unless you can prove without doubt the devices were not involved.

This is why I struggle very often on a moral basis, I've spent just a year short of 30 years in IT, and throughout all that time I've cobbled, taped up, made do, stuck-with-blutac, hacked and scripted to keep things running on a shoestring and can't stand to see hardware go to waste. 

Unless it's Dynabook or Apple, then the only thing I can't stand to do is not use them as a frisbee before they are responsibly recycled.