d-taylor

So are you saying that I should add my domain name to this list, or it will query the domain automatically as a domain member? The issue I am having is this: Weird DNS issues, DC's not seeing the domain - Spiceworks

Hi, I'm having some odd DNS issues I'm struggling to get to the bottom of, which I started investigating months ago. I'm looking at the DNS suffixes on the DNS server when you view the network adaptor properties, click on the advanced button in the IPV4 properties, then click the DNS tab. Could someone with at least 2 DNS servers on their network please look at the attached screenshot and tell me if the settings match their network or not? Also, I need to know if you use .local in your domain name or not (e.g: schoolname.net, schoolname.org, schoolname.local etc.) as we don't, and I'm wondering if this has an impact on this setting or not. We're also an RM CC4 school, so would be interesting to see the same info from another 2 or more DNS server RM School. Many thanks, Dan

Hi, I'm looking for recommendations on AV installation companies in the North of England. We want to make sure we are getting best value for money and we think there may be better suppliers out there. We have some Activboard mk 2's with short-throw projectors, and we are getting these retro-fitted with Casio short throw LED projectors with adaptor brackets. Whilst we will attempt long throw projectors in house, I still want to go out to an AV company that will supply and fit for the short throw installations. Does anyone have any recommendations? Thanks, Dan

Just implemented this ADM template, nice quick fix! Thanks!

You just need to restart the RM Service Host service on student machines, no need to delete any files. If you need to restart RM Service Host on a large number of workstations regularly, I'd recommend logging a call with RM

Cheers Jason, that's more concrete then I can think of at the the moment, I'll pass that on Dan

And they love shifting their employees between departments and job roles every few months. Just to keep us on our toes when we ring up

I hope so! Emailed them last week, still waiting for a reply.

Many thanks, I would only consider clean install, but I can't come up with a convincing enough argument on WHY I'm right- I just know I am. Jay, do you have any more detail on what went wrong so I can show some examples? Thanks, Dan

Good afternoon! The College has decided to move away from CC4 to a vanilla network for reasons I won't go into here. What we haven’t decided on yet is how to achieve this. There are two methods we have discussed. Method 1 My preferred option is to build a clean network in the background, on virtual servers on it’s own VLAN, and test heavily in the isolated environment, with help and input from the users. When the network is good and ready, during the summer holiday, turn the CC4 network off and move the vanilla network onto the main infrastructure. Based on the CC4- CC4.3 migration that happened here, this would involve 1 week of complete downtime, 1 week of limited data whilst I restore it to the new domain, and from then on computers would need to be rebuilt, so staff would be restricted to where in the school they could work (not a massive issue in the summer holidays.) There is a lot of work involved with this route, but on the whole the clean break from the upgraded CC4 network to the CC4.3 network has paid off massively, in that I am no longer fighting issues each week caused by the upgrade, some of them which were very long and drawn out. I am very keen to avoid fighting unknown issues for the next x amount of years. Method 2 My colleague's preferred method is to create new OU’s in Active Directory, as much of the RM network group policy is contained in the establishments OU. In the new OU’s, our own group policies can be set up and configured, and computer and user objects instead moved to there. The network in theory could be gradually migrated across, moving users/ computers into the OU’s a few at a time. Also, there would be no issues with moving data or NTFS permissions (see below!) as all the groups SID’s will stay the same. When we did the CC4> CC4.3 migration (which used method 1), the first 2 months of term were disruptive, and my colleague seems determined to avoid this at all costs. While I want as little disruption for the College as possible, I would rather see 2 months of teething issues than years of hidden faults that will be a nightmare to resolve. Those 2 months of disruption are nothing compared to the 3 years that followed our initial CC4 install. The two big issues with the migration were self inflicted- we went from about 30 Windows 7 stations to the whole site as Windows 7, yet no-one had tested all of the remaining software for Windows 7 compatibility. I had also put 'check remaining NTFS permissions' on the gant chart I created and assigned the task to someone else, but this wasn't carried out properly, so when the users came back there were quite a few issues accessing shares. We have learnt from this and it wouldn't happen again. I feel the second method of a gradual migration will cause issues further down the line, and lingering RM components still on the network could cause issues and making solving what would normally be a simple Windows network problem more difficult. However, I can’t give technical details of what these issues might be. I have some incline as to what could go wrong, but as I don’t know in as much detail as RM how CC4 works, and I only have 5 years networking experience under my belt. I feel I’m not best placed to answer these questions. There’s also things I could’ve missed out. I would greatly appreciate the community's opinion on what could go wrong using the second method to move away from CC4 -or even if they think it would work well and I'm coming from it the wrong way Some of my inclines as to what could cause issues include: • Settings that could still be in the Default Domain Policy, which is outside the Establishments OU • Changes RM have made to the active directory schema • The CC4 build process interfering with WDS • Does CC4 write anything into the user profiles that would be undesirable to carry forward onto a vanilla network (e.g: custom RM reg settings in the NTUSER.pol files?) • RM software components still running on the servers after we move the computers and users out of the OU’s (e.g: the RM database) • What changes have RM made to the registry on the servers? Given how service host issues have caused issues with basic Windows features in the past (e.g; logons) • What happens if we move users into the new OU’s and they roam between computers still on CC4 (where settings are applied by custom ADM templates that control the RM software) and non-CC4 stations? • How well will we be supported in this configuration? From our meeting with some RM guys, it seems that this has not been attempted before, it has always been a clean migration The above list isn’t meant to be exhaustive, it’s just some thoughts that came to mind. I am really interested to know what you guys think that I've missed out/ am struggling to explain Many thanks, Dan

Could also be set in two places, the All Users registry policy, plus the individual policies (Standard, Staff etc.) Make sure it is changed in both. However, I always do this by deploying the wallpaper to the local hard disk first, either by batch file or MSI, so each user isn't pulling down a 10MB bitmap file each time they log on.

I've not needed to use the Server 2003 ones fo ra while. If you are fully up to date with RM updates, you can take the DNS stop and start out, and see if it runs

Done: http://www.edugeek.net/forums/scripts/107273-scripts-restart-rm-service-host-cc4.html#post918270 This might also be useful: http://www.edugeek.net/forums/network-classroom-management/107272-quick-fixes-common-cc4-problems.html#post918263

As discussed in another thread, run on the FRDC to solve many niggly CC4 problems that come up Server 2003 Server 2008 R2:

A quick reference sheet I have created for my team which I thought CC4 Customers might find useful: Start menu shortcuts not delivering properly Reassign RM Desktop Agent and RM Keeplist. If this fails rebuild Drive mappings and printers not delivering properly Reassign RM Computer Manager Query. If this fails rebuild Builds keeps failing Single computer repeatedly fails: If infrastructure is suspect (e.g: Room2a) try building in a known good area If still failing delete from RMMC and try again If still failing delete from RMMC and do an FDisk and use a build disk If still failing follow the following procedure: • Delete from RMMC • Wait for 5 minutes, then in the forest root server go into DHCP and 192.168.0.0 scope, address leases, and find the station name. Make a note of it’s IP address, then delete the station from DHCP. • Go into DNS, forward lookup zones, domain name, then look for the station (you can browse by hostname or IP) and delete the entry • Still in DNS, go to reverse lookup zones, {subnet IP address was on}, (again you can browse by hostname or IP address) and delete the entry Wait 5 minutes then try the build again Batch of builds repeatedly fails: Restart RM service host on forest root server Strange behavior in RMMC Close and re-open RMMC. If this still persists, restart RM service host on forest root server If this still fails, do a full service host restart How to do a full service host restart 1. Whilst logged in as administrator onto the forest root server --> Start --> Administrative Tools --> DNS --> right-click on --> All Tasks --> Stop 2. Then restart the RM service host as follows: 1) On the forest root server, open Services and Stop RM Service Host. 2) Delete the folder and contents of C:\Program Files\RM\Connect\Comms\HostedProxies\. 3) Delete the folder and contents of C:\Program Files\RM\Connect\Comms\ RemotingHost\. 4) Browse to C:\ Documents and settings\all users\application data\rm\connect\comms\ and rename seccache.rmcache to oldseccache.rmcache. If SR1 is installed the file name will be seccache2.rmcache. 5) Start RM Service Host . 3. Once this is done, back in DNS right-click on All Tasks --> Start --> wait for about 5 mins and check

Below is the batch file for the FRDC on Server 2008 R2. Running this can solve many CC4 oddities that crop up: @echo off rem ******************************** rem Restarts service host and deletes cache rem ********************************** @echo on net stop /yes "RM service Host" @echo Waiting for RM service Host To Stop :loop6 @Rem Wait for 30 seconds @PING 1.1.1.1 -n 1 -w 30000 >NUL @echo Checking Service State @sc query "RM service Host" | @FIND "1 STOPPED" @If %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 goto loop6 @echo Confirmed: RM service Host Service Stopped @echo Clearing service host cache @Rem Wait for 30 seconds RD /Q /S "C:\Program Files (x86)\RM\Connect\Comms\HostedProxies" RD /Q /S "C:\Program Files (x86)\RM\Connect\Comms\RemotingHost" del /Q /F "C:\ProgramData\RM\Connect\Comms\*.rmcache" del /Q /F "C:\ProgramData\RM\Connect\Comms\*.cache" del /Q /F "C:\Users\All Users\Application Data\RM\Networks\RMMC\CacheManager\*.rmcache" net start /yes "RM service Host" @echo Waiting for RM service Host To Start :loop7 @Rem Wait for 30 seconds @PING 1.1.1.1 -n 1 -w 30000 >NUL @echo Checking Service State @sc query "RM service Host" | @FIND "4 RUNNING" @If %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 goto loop7 @echo Confirmed: RM service Host Started

We have a batch file that stops RM Service host, clears out the cache files, then starts it again. We have to run this everytime we get a powercut, and also with the odd quirk when it happens. Won't fix your issue, sounds like something much nastier, but RM Service Host isn't very resilient and I resent that I have to run this batch file each time when a vanilla network would just work. I'm sure 3rd line will get to the bottom of your issue. We have multiple DC's but if Service Host fails network is knackered. There is still no redundancy in CC4 which is just silly. Something we've also noticed is the RM Database grows over time and RMMC starts to slow (several updates addressed this but it still happens.) RM will dial in and tidy the database, this does help for a couple of years then it happens again.

If you are printing and copying to that copier only in B+W, can you just remove the colour toners, or will the device not work with a missing toner? Is there no setting on the device control panel itself or in the Web GUI for the device itself to block colour copying? Daniel

Hi, Is anyone else seeing issues with reliability with BBC Learning Zone video clips? I had a teacher today try to play the below clip: BBC - Learning Zone Class Clips - The Apprentice - buying ingredients for sausages - Maths Video The clip played for the teacher yesterday. Today, it gave a generic error 'This content is unavailable, please try again later.' Tried a CTRL + F5 refresh, nothing, went back to the office and it worked in Google Chrome on my computer. I then tried it in IE (what the teacher was using) and it also worked. I've had issues with these clips randomly not working before, on a mixture of filtering solutions. Is anyone else seeing this? I'm just wondering if the resources are more popular than the BBC's servers can handle. Regards, Daniel

Many thanks for the replies, glad there's nothing to worry about. My SIMS database is 2GB so following that rule 6GB is about right Daniel

Hi, Our memory usage on our SIMS server is behaving oddly, I was just wondering how much memory other schools are using so I know if ours is normal or not. We have around 1,000 students, 150 staff, 10 servers and 480 computers. MIS server specs: Virtual server 2 processors 6GB RAM 1 Gbps network connection Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard SP1 SQL Server 2008 (fairly sure this is running SP2) CPU usage and network usage is low. However, the initial memory was 2GB, and the server used about 96% of this, so I bumped it up to 4GB and then 6GB. However, it's maxed out at 96% yet again. I'm wondering if it needs more, or if SQL server just utilizes what's available. What are other schools seeing, and how much memory are you using? Server has 71 process running, and SQL server is using 4.7GB of the 5.6GB used memory Regards, Daniel

We were using Symantec Corporate edition (RMVP4) which was a load of ****. Not always clear through the console which computers were infected, had to visit the client tray on the management servers as well as the console to check for infections, often didn't update for no reason, needed re-installing once a year as it would suddenly bring the servers to a halt, and had issues deploying to workstations after CC4 SR1 for a few months and it was overpriced. Last straw was it let a USB virus through, and RM were dragging the Windows 7 version release. We switched to Sophos, and because we got it through the LEA, it is so cheap no one else can match the price. Most schools in North Yorkshire will be using it because of this pricing. Not only that, it actually works! Much better detection rate than Symantec, the console actually alerts you to infections, you can clean most infections remotely with the console, and it deploys all the time to clients no problem. Detection rate is excellent, it's never let us down yet. Yes there was the recent ssh\updaterb issue but they were on the case quickly, and it's one issue in the 3 years we've had the product, so I'm not grumbling.

I spoke with them on the phone, and they've basically ditched one off purchase network software in favour of online subscriptions. The existing software on the network won't expire, so I'm stuck with it until the science department feel the content is out of date and they decide to subscribe to the online version for that particular title. I think testbase might be the GCSE content and exampro A Level but don't quote me on that, they are both from the same company though.

Hi, Could someone please explain to me how this software works in terms of licensing? In the 4 years I've been year we've been handed 2 or 3 Testbase KS3 Science CD's and we've always replaced the version. I've noticed we have quite a few odd titles too (e.g: exampro A Level Biology, exampro 21st century science), although we've only ever had one version of these. The last product that was purchased is accessed entirely online. Am I right in thinking this software is bought on a subscription, and new media is sent out when available? Are they moving all their software online now, as I can't find any reference to CD/ network versions on their website. Thanks, Daniel

My colleauge has spent a good few hours with this switch and with the manual. The switch assigns itself a 169.x.x.x address by default, you then can connect to the web GUI with this, and you have to run through a setup wizard. There doesn't appear to be a way to change most of the settings indivdually. Don't want to make the switch any worse at it is at least supporting some WAPs.