how do i get students to access work from home

[azziman]

hi

 

the school are not ready to take on a vle just yet but instead are interested in a 'x-drive' where staff and students could access their personal documents from home. does any one know how this can be setup?? tried searching forum but couldn't find anything.

[AliG]

Here we used published IIS servers then a https web page which uses WebDav to give students and staff access to there home directories and resource area's.

[7andY]

You could use IIS's ftp server. This can be set up to use Domain credentials for logging on.

[danrhodes]

Yeah, do you have an external line other than your LEA Broadband.

 

If so you can just specify a default DMZ and point it towards one of your server's running IIS or equivalent, then just use windows based authentication to map the drive to the username.

 

The difficult part comes when trying to identify who is connecting. I would go down the VLE route it makes life easier, but yes there is a way to do it without one.

 

If you want more detailed info please ask.

 

D

[mossj]

Yeah, do you have an external line other than your LEA Broadband.

 

If so you can just specify a default DMZ and point it towards one of your server's running IIS or equivalent, then just use windows based authentication to map the drive to the username.

 

The difficult part comes when trying to identify who is connecting. I would go down the VLE route it makes life easier, but yes there is a way to do it without one.

 

If you want more detailed info please ask.

 

D

 

Asking

 

I know how to make a FTP server in IIS and set the ftp home directory in AD but... I'm not sure how to secure it down using a DMZ? <- how do you make one?

Edited January 26, 2009 by mossj

[danrhodes]

Hi,

 

What firewall do you use? You can set a DMZ easily on Smoothwall. It may be worth installing a new Smoothwall Firewall, on SW you can have multiple NIC's. Meaning you can have your Broadband feed on the RED interface, DMZ servers on Orange, then Your secure Firewalled feed on Green.

 

Then all request that come into your Static IP on your broadband feed will be directed to your DMZ Server that will be running some service that will server the files / directories etc etc etc..

 

D

[andyfield]

Hi

 

We use this...

 

Web file manager - web based file manager - HTTP Commander ::: FEATURES

 

Works great and works with active directory...All you need to do is configure an XML file with your drives.

 

It's cheap and you only have to pay once

[Azhibberd]

Now this is something we are currently looking into setting up at where i work as well, and its something we are kinda keeping to are selfs because we dont want allot of pressure to get it setup within like a week or something silly but its something personally i think is really needed, Now i started writing a script that would automacically do all the IIS with the user accounts bit but kinda put that on hold as my NM stated that it can be done with share point does anyone know anything about share point can they confirm this?

 

Thanks

Azz

[kmount]

Consider Adito if your needs may expand beyond the provision of home directory access. We're using it for home directories, shared areas, TS inwards, Web Redirects to internal hosts for Webmail, Wiki, Intranet, etc.

[amfony]

i use parent of adito in ssl explorer - great product too bad what happened to it.

 

Kmount - how is adito in comparison? I hear it is on par with featuress but lacks some nice-ities like ipackage installer and the like?

[mossj]

Hi

 

We use this...

 

Web file manager - web based file manager - HTTP Commander ::: FEATURES

 

Works great and works with active directory...All you need to do is configure an XML file with your drives.

 

It's cheap and you only have to pay once

 

That looks really nice..... could you provide some screenies and pros/cons?

 

.....been on there site the demo part doesn't work (someone changed the passwords)

[Domino]

That looks really nice..... could you provide some screenies and pros/cons?

 

.....been on there site the demo part doesn't work (someone changed the passwords)

 

it does if you use the non ad integrated version

[TheFopp]

Stupid question I'm afraid.....

 

if you are going to use DMZ.... which server should be on it? Just the IIS server, or the fileserver as well? Or would IIS be running on your fileserver and that server be in the DMZ?

[andyfield]

There are screenshots available on their site. Using this system means that i can give users access to any network drive that they would normally have access to.

 

Pros...

Simple to install into IIS (now i have my config i can get this running in 10mins)

No need for alternate logins (AD version)

Simple to configure

Cost effective and no annual maintenance

Ability to zip within web browser

 

Cons...

Its a upload/download interface instead of working live on your documents

Users moan that they cannot download folders but hey thats what the zip is for

 

I have got this installed on the IIS server only. Users come onto the IIS server via SSL then the software talks to the file server internally. My only server that is available externally is the IIS server so nice and secure

[Azhibberd]

Stupid question I'm afraid.....

 

if you are going to use DMZ.... which server should be on it? Just the IIS server, or the fileserver as well? Or would IIS be running on your fileserver and that server be in the DMZ?

 

In answer to your question is generally you put it on your IIS but i wouldn't set it as a DMZ, As this is considered insecure really unless that server is fully secured, I'd recommend simply forwarding the required ports should be port 80 (http) and port 443(https) <-- Think that's right?

 

Also you can't have 2 DMZ's

 

Depending on what solution you use hopefully you just setup the port forwards to the IIS server and that then redirects to the network drives etc.(so IIS doesn't doesn't need to be on the file server)

[TheFopp]

In answer to your question is generally you put it on your IIS but i wouldn't set it as a DMZ, As this is considered insecure really unless that server is fully secured, I'd recommend simply forwarding the required ports should be port 80 (http) and port 443(https) <-- Think that's right?

 

Also you can't have 2 DMZ's

 

Depending on what solution you use hopefully you just setup the port forwards to the IIS server and that then redirects to the network drives etc.(so IIS doesn't doesn't need to be on the file server)

 

Cheers, that makes more sense to me. We use port forwarding at the moment, and I've never understood the need for DMZ.

[rasssp]

We use exchange 2007 for this.

 

outlook web access has a documents tab, our users were told how to do it

 

type in the document box: \\fileserver\username$

 

and it brings up up there home drive.

 

uses ad and ad's drive mapping

[Azhibberd]

We use exchange 2007 for this.

 

outlook web access has a documents tab, our users were told how to do it

 

type in the document box: \\fileserver\username$

 

and it brings up up there home drive.

 

uses ad and ad's drive mapping

 

Ye i read about the fact thats possible although unfortunately we don't have the money for an exchange server and licensing at this moment in time so I'm looking for more towards open source free solutions, as I don't mind putting in the extra work.

[TheFopp]

We use exchange 2007 for this.

 

outlook web access has a documents tab, our users were told how to do it

 

type in the document box: \\fileserver\username$

 

and it brings up up there home drive.

 

uses ad and ad's drive mapping

 

Still on Exchange 2003 here, but that is useful to know.