Enable staff to access school docs from anywhere

[leco]

I am seeking solutions to this issue.

• The school is behind/inside the YHGfL
  
• Current server is running on Windows Server 2008
  
• We have an Exchange server - currently 2003 but to be transitioned through 2003 to 2010
  

 

So questions:

What are the options for remote access to files and email?

What security settings/authorisations will be required?

Do I need further licenses for Office? (currently have a School Agreement in place but only for in-school equipment and users)

 

Should I be looking at Outlook web access, a VPN, both or what? All suggestions most gratefully received.

[clareq]

We are also behind YHGfL, and use OWA for e-mail, and frog VLE for document access.

[leco]

We are also behind YHGfL, and use OWA for e-mail, and frog VLE for document access.

 

So do your staff upload their docs to the VLE for home access?

[glennda]

We use owa and SSL explorer (adito vpn) for remote access for files aswell as remote desktop to some virtual XP machines

[round2it]

hi leco

 

we are also on YHGFL here

 

you will need to speak to the yhgfl people to set up a reverse proxy for your exchange server so that the staff can use outlook web access from home.

 

why do you think you will need more licenses for office?

 

 

if you require full remote desktop access then you can get a cryptocard fob from yhgfl and you can use a cisco vpn

 

 

VirtualPrivateNetworkInstructions < YHPublic < TWiki

 

has a picture of the cryptocard and a brief explanation of the vpn it self.

 

it does cost money though

 

our staff use owa and frog vle to access files.

 

but i like to have rdc to the servers

Edited March 15, 2010 by round2it

[FN-GM]

We use a Sonicwall SSL VPN appliance.

[mb2k01]

Exchange 2010 with the correct ports opened up will do a lot of what you are looking for.

Do a bit of searching on the feature list including Outlook Anywhere and UNC links in email

[Trapper]

Exchange 2007 OWA for email.

 

We use Sharepoint as our VLE. We've bought the webparts from Salamander which let you use a network share such as users home directory, or a shared area like a normal MOSS document library.

 

They have two tabs one for their home directory, and one for the common dump share. Only niggle is you have to download the document you are working on, save, and re-upload.

 

Despite all this, the solution works well for our school. The good thing is all this is done over port 443. Nothing else is required, as we do not use Outlook Anywhere.

 

Myself and my boss have VPN. We are looking at sharing remote desktops/ TSWebApps for students to use from home.

[clareq]

So do your staff upload their docs to the VLE for home access?

 

No, frog allows access to the users home folder on the network.

[leco]

Thanks one and all - something for me to ponder on. I'll take a look at the Sonic wall and Adito VPN solutions thanks.

 

round2it - I do have a Crypto card for my own access to the server remotely. But I didn't really want to go that route for the staff.

 

Another thought would be them having local accounts on their laptops. With the proviso that they save to the server when connected to the school network. Would that work do many people do that rather than using off-line files?

[leco]

No, frog allows access to the users home folder on the network.

 

Ah that wouldn't work then as our VLE is Fronter which is not hosted by the school.

[skeep]

How about google apps for domain it is free for education?

[leco]

Thanks for the suggestion skeep, but I really don't want the school documents scattered across Google's numerous servers, thank you. The staff get into enough of a muddle without adding in the "Google" factor.