Enzomatrx

Drag and Drop. Had one for review, gave it to a friend (still use G6 Real and MS Simply). Good card though, the DSOne.

We have a home.fc in every teacher's login, and still find that at completely random times for no reason it just goes missing and the teacher gets a "locate settings" dialog box when they start FirstClass. But in the rare instance that happens, we just fetch the file from the public share we've thrown it in and paste is into the right directory and they have no problems again. I'd love to just script a "home.fc in each folder forced" thing, but so many teachers save their passwords and username fields that if they lost it, they'd forget their damn password!

To log on a whole classroom you have two options in iTALC. Load the classroom in classroom manager, so you have 20 screens or so for the 20 or so computers. In the top bar will be buttons like "Demo on, Text Message, etc" One of them is "Logon" (next to "Power Down") Just hit that and you'll get a dialog to enter the user, password, and domain. When you hit okay, it logs on all the visible computers. the domain could be entered in the preferences as well, in the italc configuration under "Settings for Multi-Logon" Basically the commands on the toolbar, and actions for right-clicking a classroom in the list and choosing "actions for [classroom name]" will do the asked action on all visible computers. "Actions for [Classroom name] --> Administation (sic) --> Execute Commands" is a great way to run a text command/install script on all visible computers.

I like the iMac idea, honestly. Put it in a computer lab, in the corner isolated from the other computers. Leave it on and lock it down with a screensaver you can't disable, and when the mac zealot students and teachers ask to use it, explain it functions as a "cyclic redundancy checker for your DNS server with DHCP scraping". They'll be pissed they can't use it, but have no clue wtf you just said and accept it as a "tech thing". I constantly use "cyclic redundancy check" when people ask why something isn't working. It makes the teacher feel a lot better than "because you forgot to turn the fucking power button on, moron" when they inquire what wwas wrong with their printer.

Oh SVN is the code repository for the source code. I set up a VM on my laptop just so I can compile the code, then drag the created Win32 package to my Windows XP (yay folder sharing VMWare). And DNS scavenging definitely plays into the above problem a few posts up. During the summer when iTALC was being implemented and few computers were regularly in use, we had so many DHCP overlaps on our server it was a bitch to maintain. Now, with every comp in use daily iTALC is up-to-date on all of them and we don't have overlaps.

But it does work, that little change in the source. It now sorts it by name, not IP. Just tested it. So you could post on the sourceforge page about implementing that officially.. or do the fun thing and get a VM set up with Ubuntu and get play with compiling the SVN. I'll remove the school logo as the lock when I am back home from work today and see what my options are for just getting it to you.

I don't know if I can distribute because of the whole GNU thin. I guess technically I have to submit modifications to the source to the SVN, even if they're just changes for my own use. But I'll look more into it and test tomorrow. I'd have to recompile it without my school's custom graphic.

i just compiled a version but can't test it until I'm at work tomorrow. I changed a line in classroom_manager.cpp that handles the sort, I believe. bool clientIPSort( const client * _1, const client * _2 ) { //return( _1->remoteIP() < _2->remoteIP() ); return( _1->name() < _2->name() ); } I'm going to install it first thing on my laptop tomorrow and see if it works. I've been customizing little things in the source, like changing the "locked" background to our school logo, which just makes it look a bit more professional.

iTALC setup... man it can be a bitch. I use a script from a recorded install for clients. It runs on machine startup. (Code 1) 1) First it checks if iTALC client is on the machine by using a generated TXT file with the computer's name on a share (e.g.-\\SERVER\completions\) 2) Then it installs the DFMirage drivers, which the author recommends (when I upgrade iTALC clients --when i modify the source -- this step is rem'd) 3) It installs the iTALC client using a recorded installsettings.xml that I modified to point to existing keys placed on a network share with read access (Code 2). The "exportdir" does nothing in there, since keys are shared, but I kept it in. The "keyimportdir" is the deployment dir, and it contains the italc_dsa_key.pub file. 4) Just to make sure the keys directories get place properly in the registry, I import a .REG file pointing to the shares containing the keys (Code 3) The extra double slashes are needed... that was something that caused a problem until I fixed it. It also opens the firewall ports. Code 1 @echo off IF NOT EXIST "\\SERVER\completions\iTALC\iTALC %computername%.txt" (goto INSTALL) else (goto EOF) :INSTALL \\SERVER\deployments\italc\dfmirage-setup-1.1.68.2.exe /VERYSILENT /NORESTART \\SERVER\deployments\italc\setup.exe \\SERVER\deployments\italc\installsettings.xml > "\\SERVER\completions\iTALC\iTALC %computername%.txt" reg import \\SERVER\deployments\italc\italc.reg :EOF Code 2 Code 3 Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\iTALC Solutions\iTALC\keypathsprivate] "teacher"="\\\\SERVER\\SHARENAME\\iTALC\\keys\\private\\teacher\\key" "admin"="\\\\SERVER\\SHARENAME\\iTALC\\keys\\private\\admin\\key" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\iTALC Solutions\iTALC\keypathspublic] "teacher"="\\\\SERVER\\SHARENAME\\iTALC\\keys\\public\\teacher\\key" "admin"="\\\\SERVER\\SHARENAME\\iTALC\\keys\\public\\admin\\key" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\DomainProfile\AuthorizedApplications\List] "C:\\Program Files\\iTALC\\ica.exe"="C:\\Program Files\\iTALC\\ica.exe:*:Enabled:ica" "C:\\Program Files\\iTALC\\userinfo.exe"="C:\\Program Files\\iTALC\\userinfo.exe:*:Enabled:userinfo" Wheeeee.... Also, I've compiled iTALC's latest SVN and removed the "unauthorized" popup boxes from the tray, since it's one less thing I need our technophobe faculty to have pop-up on their screens. I also removed the "allow access" box that pops up when you have multiple masters, because it interferes when I -- a master on my laptop -- go to view a classroom which has a computer that also is a master. The prompt would block me from viewing the computer, and show on the screen for others to see. The modified source has the prompt always reply with "always allow", so it doesn't display. Of course, being the dick I am, I made sure the version *I* run on my laptop has all the dialogs in place... I ain't letting anyone spy on me Installing a master is simply the same script, but it uses a different XML file for the pre-recorded install. I run it while logged in. Basically it just adds an installmaster="1". I also set it to copy a globalsettings.xml containing computers I've already setup to the current person's profile directory (which I then edit to remove computers that room doesn't need access to). Phew! Hope that went through clearly. I love iTALC but admit it is a finicky bitch. But well worth the price!

True dat. We have smartfilter set up as well, but without requiring students/faculty to log in to use the internet, all we get from that is a bunch of IP's internet usage. Thankfully, we really don't have any kids powering off the computers. They're actually instructed to never shut down the PCs, only log off. Amazingly, they obey.

FYI: It sorts in the "auto-sort" by the IP address/hostname you enter. Kinda annoying when we have a freak computer named LAB2 in a series of LAB001, LAB003, etc. LAB2 always ends up as the last one. I guess the source could be modified to sort by name. I guess it's off to my VM

Make a script to pop up a dialog box when the kid logs in asking if they wet the bed. If they click "no", force a log off. When they click yes, play a WAV that says "THIS BOY WETS THE BED" God I love the whole "screwing with people from a remote location" aspect people seem to forget we can do.

We had some permission things, so be sure to test it before applying the GPO. I set up a share called "inet" on \\server for a folder named "inet" (e:\inet... contains common things like the log dirs, italc's key dir). I created a subfolder for the logs, so now i was at E:\inet\logs (\\server\inet\logs) I made sure the inet share had permission to browse folder, read, list contents. the "logs" folder had custom permissions for basically full permission, sans-deleting. Yes, I know this means our little shits could potentially browse around, find the share, and view the browsing logs of every other kid. But since they can't exactly browse the network without meaningfully wanting to.. and the fact even if they modify their own files (or someone else's), the person's file will become part of their browsing history and therefore be added to their list at logoff... we're not that worried. We don't tell them how we monitor or what we do, they have no idea it's a bunch of html files somewhere; they simply know we can tell where they've been. Plus, they've watched me use iTALC, so they assume it's simply all through that, and they can' run it if they wanted to.

I use a vbs script someone posted it, runs at logoff via GPO for whoever we apply the GPO to. It parses Internet Explorer's History and compiles a HTML file based on the username of the person. We currently run it on our Junior High students, since they're the ones we trust the least You can see in the script where the output files are created, modify it as needed and make sure there permissions for everyone to at least be able to write/modify in that dir. Be sure to change \\SERVERNAME\SOMEFOLDER\ in the file to your share (I think there 3 instances of that), and WinNT://CHANGETOYOURDOMAIN/ to your domain in AD, to get the username sites.vbs

Just to add in with the "force shutdown": We use iTALC and I just upgraded my phone to a Treo (WM5 PPC). Using WM6's Terminal Services Client (which is available as a separate install), I connect to my laptop at work when the mood strikes in a post-work hour and launch the iTALC master application on my laptop via RDP. Cycle through the classrooms and see who's left their system on, make a note, then force shutdown of all systems. Freaks the kids the hell out when they realize I can monitor their PCs from my cell phone... they think it's the coolest thing in the world but also realize they really can't screw around anymore.

I'm stealing that idea. We have about 3 constants, and I think a nice round of "you left your system on and a cleaning script happened which is why we ask things to be shut down on weekends... I'll have to restore your documents and it may take a bit" should wake the lazy tarts up. Very good idea, thanks!

I user iTALC for waking up, shutting down, rebooting, etc. of our PCs. Just have to get a list of MAC addresses from the computers and put them in the config box for that box in iTALC, then I can just wake them up from anywhere. LanView3 looks good too, I had iTALC rolled out from a custom-compiled source before noticing LV3. I don't think we'll switch though, as iTALC is functioning very well now that school's back running. the only problem I have with iTALC (and it's a Windows Server thing) is duplicate entires in the forward lookup zones for DHCP addresses. It's usually fine when every computer is running daily, but we're now setting up 20 tablets, and since we only image and set up 7 at a time, sometimes there's a gap between setups and a newer one gets an older one's IP. obviously, we expect this to be fixed when we have all 20 logging on at once. I could Static them, but really the only thing affected by it is iTALC, and I'm the only one in the building using it. sorry for the side-rant. WOL is fun.

I like the ones who start a print job, go "oh no i don't want it" and turn off the printer, then someone else starts a print job, sees it's not printing, so they proceed to hit "print" about 6 more times. Then the printer is turned back on, starts spewing ASCII garbage, and they just turn it off again, and we have to log in as administrators to delete the previous user's printer queue so at least the next person's stuff can begin processing, but usually the jibberish is just too much and we have to flush the whole queue and do a bunch of power cycles until eventually it's back to working order. And they then proceed to repeat the entire process about 30 minutes later! I know schools should have color printers and inkjets and all that; we print tons of stuff the kids use for projects, teachers use for demos, etc. But seriously, I am sick of the "everything needs to be in color" mentality. Print it on the fucking Lasers, which we never have a problem a simple power-cycle can't fix, and stop wasting your time and energy with slower inkjets because you wanted that flower to be pink.

We don't have anyone tech savvy enough at our place to even open the lids of the printers. Seriously. We've handed ink cartridges to people who just stare at us then try to place it on top of the printer. I am thinking it's a humidity/heat situation, and something in the Y/K reacts. Basically, we had our AC blow at our building a month ago, and they still haven't fixed it. There are fans in the room going, but they are not always going (teachers turn them off, etc.). And when I entered in the afternoon it was full of students and was a god-damn steambath. So I'm leaning toward "both failed at the same time on the same day because they both hit the boiling point at the same exact time". I just am hoping they can be salvaged in their current state; I really detest HP's punjabi help line with people who can't speak a word of English telling me their name is "David".

It is funny you mention that, and it makes me wonder why you did. This is because we literally just had BOTH our K5400s YK printheads fail AT THE SAME TIME in the same room! I found that to be just a little too convenient. a K5400dtn and a standard K5400 both began having the YK light begin blinking at the same moment on a Wednesday morning. Our other two K5400s are, knock on wood, still okay. I have to call HP when school resumes Monday and sort this out with them, but I just am hoping I am not the only one who has had this happen to him. Why the hell would two of the same print heads in two sep printers just fail on the same day. One printer was installed roughly 2 months before the other one, btw.

We're about to make a "Tablet Cart" (ugh) once I image the two dozen of those gimmicky laptops. Part of the setup will be, of course, a printer on top of the cart. We have wireless bridges and I'm not looking forward to this at all. We already have enough problems with printer swaps and networking fun. Initially, printers were hard-coded into the OS image per location, which was fine until you did a swap. So now I've been going through computers and deleting the printers and using KixScript to add the printers at user logon. Of course there are still computers with residual old hard-coded printers in them I did not get around to because why should I be allowed to access everyone's computer during summer break? So my shit aside, I concur with reservations... wireless printer on a cart will not be fun... and will flake out more often than not, I am damn sure. Of course I'll explain this fact to everyone, and we'll still go ahead and put a printer on the cart with a wireless server, and then be called out to any room using the "Tablet Lab" most likely every time it's used because OMG IT NO PRINT. Gah.... gimmicky technology can go to hell.

I had this problem with GPO and Sysvol replication between our two DCs. I fixed that problem (don't have the link now), but it led to me deciding to not use AD for deployments. I set a GPO to use a Kixscript "computer_on.kix" file that every computer will read at startup. In that file I set the deployments (which are just CMD batch files) as a 'shell' command and make it so if a computer is in a certain group, it gets the command. This way I don't have to mess with GPOs to deploy anything and hope computers "sync up". I just edit the kix file and save it and I know the computers will definitely get whatever changes I want them to have at the next bootup.

I just did quicktime installation using the MSI appdeploy has a great guide, here's the script I'm using BTW: to get the MSI, just run setup on a machine, and then navigate to your TEMP files folder BEFORE CANCELLING SETUP... a folder for setup will have been created, containing the MSI. Details are at appdeploy, but just remember to copy the files BEFORE cancelling setup. Then just cancel setup after you got the msi. Full script that runs at computer startup is as follows: @ECHO OFF IF NOT EXIST "\\SERVERNAME\deployments\completions\quicktime\Quicktime %computername%.txt" (goto INSTALL) else (goto EOF) :INSTALL del /S /F /Q C:\Windows\System32\QuickTime*.* msiexec /i \\SERVERNAME\deployments\quicktime\QuickTime.msi ALLUSERS=1 REGSRCH_INSTALL_ASU=0 DESKTOP_SHORTCUTS=0 ProductLanguage=1033 /qn /log "\\SERVERNAME\deployments\completions\quicktime\Quicktime %computername%.txt" copy /Y \\SERVERNAME\deployments\quicktime\QuickTime.qtp "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\Apple Computer\QuickTime" :EOF It checks for the existence of a TXT file named "Quicktime COMPNAME.txt" (like "Quicktime CLASSLAB014.txt") on the server. If it finds it, it skips installation. If it isn't there, it first deletes two annoying files in the system32 directory (quicktimevr.vtx or something) that tend to cause constant "Quicktime needs to be updated" dialogs, then it runs the MSI with the switches that make it not install the autoupdate service, use English language, and add no desktop shortcuts. It outputs the results to the "Quicktime COMPNAME" file on the server. The "quicktime.qtp" copying is a trick from appdeploy, where you setup quicktime on one computer how you want it, then copy the quicktime.qtp file from that computer to each computer quicktime is on.

Quick question: Can RIS images be stored and deployed from an external USB hard drive? Would it be as simple as mounting the \REMINST share on the server to the external drive? We're out of room on our partition for images and we're thinking just throwing in some external 300GB drives will be easier than anything. Thanks for any help.

Between that and your previous post with registry keys (applied via GPO using PolicyMaker here), I can only say the utmost THANK YOU. I discovered iTALC today and had it up and running in one of our computer labs perfectly. Wonderful little program.