EdugeekDJ

thanks for those suggestions, Burconix and DSM both look like good options and seem at the right level for first and primaries. Anyone used them before?

Yeah, I'm a bit similar to you MattD, learnt to blend the good bits of Ranger with native windows roles like AD and group policy. I only support first and primary schools on a part time basis (I'm not LA) and most only have one server that runs everything, with usually 50-60 workstations and perhaps 200-300 user accounts. Probably not the best scenario but budgets rule and a extra server is a luxury most cannot afford. Will probably stick with the Ranger/Windows mix until forced to change - CSE and even CC4 seem to be aimed at larger networks and are probably not cost effective for networks this size?

I've used Ranger for Networks (primary version) for over ten years now and thought its was great for some things like viewing devices on the network, managing desktops and folder redirection but not so hot in others, say successfully applying policies or rolling out software packages. However, it seems to me that Ranger is a product at the end of its life cycle with no visible support or development around these days and I'm pretty certain its just a matter of time before the plug is pulled and RM announce its retirement. Does anyone have any suggestions for alternatives to Ranger? Something simple(?!) that will sit on a windows server for example, and take the work out of running a simple AD based network, help with roaming profiles and desktops etc? Or is it time I learned how to do it properly with Windows?

its win 2008 R2. I can see an entry in the foward lookup zone/servername.local/_tcp - its called _RAM and I've manually created this then tried to install again but am still getting same error unfortunately

anyone come across this problem - I've had to re-install Ranger Account Manager but it's getting stuck when trying to add a new DNS service record. I think this is a known problem as its in the RM knowledge library but as the school doesn't have a support contrct with RM then I cant access the details of how to resolve this - has anyone else had this problem and does anyone know how to resolve it? thanks

well i use a logon script to map some shared drives and the printers but theres no logoff script. I just think its one of those impossibly obscure problems that dont have an easy answer!

I'm having a problem with worksations in our school where, randomly, they will hang at 'welcome' or 'logging off'. We then have to manually power them off (bit awkward as they are concealed under benching) in order to recover them. Its a smallish network with approx 50 Win 7 workstations with a single win 2008 standard server. The school still uses Ranger (primary v8) and Symantec v12.1.4 - I did have similar problems with symantec v10 where it locked profile files, hung for ages and caused users to be logged on with a temp profile but at least they evetually looged on - with this issue, affected clients never timeout and stay stuck on the welcome or logging off screens until manually rebooted. I had one of the technicians from the local authority test the DHCP and DNS settings and they confirmed these were ok. I've updated the nic drivers to the latest version, and tried rejoining clients to the domain but nothing has resolved this problem yet. I also support another school who have the exact same clients (Stone PC's) and they aren't getting this issue, althoiugh their server is 2008 R2. Has anyone else had a similar problem or have any suggestions?