Ranger Primary

[flashsnaps]

Can someone who uses Ranger at their school please outline the key features and/or benefits to them and their school.

 

I am interesting in rolling it out at a new school I've began working at, but want some key selling points before I head to the finance office!

[kesomir]

• If you don't know how to use Active Directory, then the ranger policies will help you.
  
• (but if you do, then they can get in the way)
   
  
• The User Quota tool is very useful at helping to keep people within quotas
   
  
• Drive, Path and application title security checks are nice
   
  
• Restrict multiple logons is also nice
   
  
• User creation tool automates things nicely
   
  
• infraction screenshot is useful for auditing user activity, plus notice on login.
   
  
• Can secure older OS unsupported by AD
  

 

You can do most of what ranger does without ranger, but it brings a lot of tools together, especially if the school it's deployed in lacks expertise. Downside is that you end up learning to use ranger and not how to do it using other free or already available (with windows) tools.

 

YMMV

[Michael]

I think the prime advantage of systems like RM and Ranger is they're more GUI/wizard orientated, but it all comes at a price. AD is without a doubt the best however.

[Psymon]

I think the prime advantage of systems like RM and Ranger is they're more GUI/wizard orientated, but it all comes at a price. AD is without a doubt the best however.

 

The job of these systems is to make it easier to manage with less technical knowledge (without being rude).

 

If you plan on doing MS Training (MCP, MCTS etc...) and learning all of AD, DNS, DHCP etc... then dont put it in place, it will hinder your training with wizards and an interface that is not what you will see in MS literature.

 

IF you are planning on moving into industry at a later point in your career, chances are your not going to be able to get this software in.

 

If you want to batch import students into the system, learn CSVDE. If you watn to lock down computers and users, use microsofts security templates as a start. In the long run your doing yourself a favor learning it.

 

Personally i prefer the Windows Server Tools as they are, File Server Resource manager to do quotas, Group Policy to lock down computers and users, and AD as is to manage accounts printers etc...

[Michael]

The job of these systems is to make it easier to manage with less technical knowledge (without being rude).

 

I agree with you and that's what I meant. And as you said yourself, like me you prefer Active Directory