Any one using Sharepoint or class server.?

[tosca925]

Just wondered if anyone is using Microsoft Sharepoint or Microsoft Class server. We are in the process of rolling this out and i have been setting up our Sharepoint sites and our Head of ICT is setting up all the Class server side.

 

 

Just wanted to know if their is anyones brains i can pick or to get a few examples off?

[ICTNUT]

we have used it foe over a year now.

 

I have just got my Class server v4 CD but will only run on Win 2k3 but intergrates fully with sharepoint via the use of custom webparts.

 

Sharpoint is on the same server as class server and is our central resource for all things.

 

I have it setup so depending on your OU (Teachers / Students) you will see a different home page.

 

All document storeage is within sharepoint apart from class server which has it's own method of storage but this may have changed in V4

 

Shout if you need anything... ;-)

[Netman]

Thanks ICTNut - any pointers would be good - we are having a sharepoint portal server installed at half term although I haven't looked into class server yet.. even under the school agreement it seems quite expensive.. is it worth it?

 

There's a portal server 2003 training kit here: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/officeupdate/CD010845321033.aspx

(Not looked at it yet though)

 

There also seem to be plenty of useful looking plugins here: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/sppt/wssapps/default.mspx

 

Any feedback on quick ways to get it into everyday use would be great...

 

Thanks....

[ChrisH]

How much is sharepoint server?

[deedot]

Windows Sharepoint Services (WSS) is a free download for Windows Server 2003!

Windows Sharepoint Portal Server is something more complex for larger organisations and I don't know how much it is.

There are a lot of free templates available from Microsoft tho mostly for business - one is however for classroom management.

Also there is a community of developers who publish their developed 'web parts' for free for use on sites.

I am evaluating for my school at the moment so will watch this thread for tips and tricks/pitfalls etc... and post my experiences....

hope this helps

[steve]

Prices

 

http://www.pugh.co.uk/products/microsoft/index.htm

[Netman]

Having Sharepoint Portal Server installed next week - will add more when I've used it...!

[ChrisH]

Windows Sharepoint Services (WSS) is a free download for Windows Server 2003!

 

Thanks for clearing that up. I kept hearing about this free version yet all I saw were prices when I went and investigated.

[peterday]

If you want the "free" version then go here

 

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=efdc7227-549c-4de1-a063-783f71a8bb2b&DisplayLang=en

[sahmeepee]

For classserver we pay £1/student/year (if memory serves) on our schools agreement which was bought 18 months ago. I seem to remember the server license itself is about £250/year - not sure on that though.

 

Class server 3 effectively works as a standalone product (with AD integration for logins) - it has its own site which displays personalised content based on the classes you teach (or study) in. Class Server 4 also diplays personalised content, but it integrates into sharepoint via web parts so you can have a "My Assignments" part on a page telling kids what work they have to do.

 

Annoyingly I can't see any way of filtering the "My Assignments" list so that it only includes assignments relating to the department page you are on. The documentation (which sucks balls) suggests that it can't really be done unless you want to make a separate sharepoint site for every class - the thought of making about 60 sharepoint sites per school subject is about as appealing as sandpaper underwear. Anyone got tips? In CS3, it would automatically create a site for each class so there wasn't a problem. Does installing CS3 then upgrading to CS4 make this any better?

 

I've got a whole bunch of other issues with class server, but they probably need their own threads, or possibly wiki space, to sort out.

[sahmeepee]

Thanks ICTNut - any pointers would be good - we are having a sharepoint portal server installed at half term although I haven't looked into class server yet..

 

Make sure that the sharepoint root is installed at http://servername/ rather than a subdirectory like http://servername/sharepoint/ or you won't (AFAIK) be able to install class server into it!

[eejit]

I guess that we'll all be using Sharepoint pretty soon since Microsoft will be withdrawing public folders from Exchange 13 onwards