BrianG

About 3 miles to my closest school and 5 miles to my furthest. ABout 10 minuutes in the car. I can't cycle or walk as I take all my tools, spares etc.. with me

I look after 5 primary schools across my area with each school getting one days visit per week. I'm planning a server install for either just before christmas or just after. One of my schools has a 3 year old HP Proliant and as it's running out of warranty very shortly I'm going for a replacement. I'm looking at server 2008, keeping the workstations as XP for now, to keep costs down ( not all in one bulk) and so I can start the migration to Windows 7 slowly over a period of a couple of months, so staff and students have chance to get used to it. I'm going for another proliant, the ML115, 4Gb RAM with a 160Gb drive for system and 500gb drive for data. Backing up all data to an external ( networked) drive which is kept in a different part of school. We don't bother with Raid as, with a backup, a rebuild of the server can be done in a matter of a few hours so the cost implications aren't worth it. The external drive back up isn't ideal but as it falls under the councils guidelines the schools won't pay any more for a proper back up procedure.

I use ad-infinitum to create bulk users, such as in the new year or when setting up a new server. It's a great bit of software.

ooo sounds interesting.. Thanks !!

As I'm removed from the whole BSf thing, for now anyway, I don't know how it all works, properly. Do the schools save any money, or get to spend the saved money in other areas if Civica don't have to take on as many staff? I'm just trying to see where the incentive is to downsize so close to the take over.

I suppose, like you say, at the end of the day they will do what they want. If it's a case of saving money they will do what they need to do.

I've just re -read your post. Why does the Finanace manager work it out based on square footage of the school? How does he justify that way of calculation? Surely it would then depend on how fit the support staff were. Maybe the next step will be for fitness tests for you guys. See how long it takes to get from the office to the Phoenix building. I thought that the, albeit rough, guidline on support ratios was 1 technician to 100 computers?

A Sheffield school I used to work for currently have 2 senior technicians and one " normal" technician. Up until a year ago they have one Network Manager, one Senior technician and a technician. I wouldn't say, given the size of your school, that you are over staffed. If anything I'd say you are under staffed. I'd heard that redundancies were on the cards.. sad times A Secondary school in Rotherham that I know of currently have 1 Network Manager, an Assistant Network Manager, a Senior Technician and 2 technicians, a Media Tech and an apprentice.. and they are about the same size as you guys. Lee

I've got a set of speakers that do exactly the same. A really powerful blue LED on the front that, at night, can light the entire room up, often calling for my other half to shout at me for leaving the PC on when I'm not in there, because she thinks its the screen.

My Appologies if people have posted about this already but I've just heard about it this afternoon. What do people think of the 'God Mode' in Windows 7? I think God Mode might be the wrong name for it, as all it is is a list of settings that you can get to from other places but it still looks quite good, better than trauling through menus. I'm going to have a play when I get home

I noticed is last night at one of my schools. I was setting a laptop up for a member of staff to take home. I ran the updates and i noticed it downloading the new update. But when it came to installing it just popped up with the intstall IE8 setup screen, there was no option screen for any other version.. Am I missing something?

I agree. There are for more important issues that the Government needs to be sorting. Yes, I can see their point when it comes to business and helping growth but first things first. Also, I think it's a little unfair that people who get a decent speed have to pay a tax so the government can give others a decent speed. Probably sounds selfish, but in todays climate I'm a little sick of paying out to help others every two minutes.

I'm definately getting that !! 99 Tapes worth of games on one CD !

In my schools I just have one DC. A HP Proliant ML115. Great little servers and with 50 + 60 machines around school and around 400 kids it bares the load really well. I've only just finished installing new servers in all my schools. The old ones are going to be turned into Linux servers to run FOG, possibly a second backup site ( I'm paranoid about backups) and anythign else I want to play with.

I can use my schools as an Example. I have 6 schools ( Primary) One out of the 6 doesn't have an ICT suite. THey are a new build, and like you, they were advised that it was best not to have an ICT suite. They, instead, have a trolley of 30 laptops. It's a nightmare. They haven't and won't invest in a good enough wireless system. The laptops are constantly being damaged. Not malicious but just through young hands getting them in and out of the trolley. They get dropped, knocked off desks etc.. The schools with the ICT suites love that they, as you say, can go in their during lunch and breaks. They can hold staff training in there. Staff can go in there for the PPA time. I don't understand the thinking behind getting rid of ICT suites.

I'm wanting to use it at a pupil referal centre. They have about 40 machines spread out over a couple of rooms so a paid for option is abit of an overkill for this scenario. I'm hoping iTalc will do the job and if it's buggy they may have to put up with it. I'm wanting to roll out a similar things in my other schools ( primary ) not so much for the monitoring part but for the ability to share the teacher desktop with the students and things like that. I think we may go down a paid for option then though as it will be used on a much larger scale.

Just curious. What are your reasons for stopping iTalc. I'm thinking of using it at one of my schools and I'd be interested to know why you're moving away from it Cheers

My schools are locked down heavily. They have no rights over the machines at all other than to open applications, print, view the internet and access shared drives. Their documents are redirected to the server. The students can't do anything. The can't even right click on the desktop. The staff are the same. They are locked down too. I find it's often staff who are better at breaking computers than the kids. We have one GRO sitting at the top which covers all the security settings, proxy settings, wallpaper etc.. We then have a GPO for the staff OU and the student OU which deals with mapping drives in. ( The staff have student and staff shared drives mapped in. The students just have the students drive mapped in) I give each department an OU which i then link GPOs for mapping printers

I'd say this was correct. The aim, at the end of the day, is to maintain as little disruption to teaching and learning as possible. Like you say, the head can use another computer, and should agree that teaching and learning comes first. I had more or less the exact same question in my interview 10 months ago, and answered along the same lines and I got the job and was told my answer to the question was what they were looking for.

Well after a long chat he's decided that it would be best to get rid of Winsuite... WOOHOO !!!! This summer I'm giving it the boot out the door !!

We have a colour laser from them. I couldn't tell you off the top of my head what model is it ( i'm not on site ) but it's brilliant. Fast, fairly cheap to run ( compared with other similar printers) reliable.. Can't comment no the support as we've not had to call them out. We've had it about 7 months now.

Where's the DVD player... I want to watch it now !!!

Must be nice.. our virgin film thing never works. We've had them out to look at it lord knows how many times. We've given up on it now. I feel the need to ask are there any good looking female roles in this film ?

I'll have to watch it now. even if it's bad.. i want to see how bad it is It would sometimes be nice that, instead of something spelling disaster to come, that they actually get on with it and show us the disaster.. Like you say.. lots of fighting, explosions and action

ahh I see. What about this? Acer Veriton N260G Nettop PC - Misco.co.uk Seems it would handle most applications. it's Vista installed but has downgrade to XP Pro if you're not wanting to go the vista route. It's got enough USB ports to power the board and mouse keyboard etc.. The only downside i can see is if your board is an older type with serial connection then you'd have to buy a serial to usb converter