L.Kay

I was quoted 20% of the cost of each license, per year. So, for us, that would have been approx £1,300 per year.

We were quoted approx £6,500 for all our PCs (approx 400), so we have today decided to go with Impero as you can get a site license for that at only £3,500 if you order by the end of this month. We looked at a lot of software and narrowed it down to two, and of those two we decided we are happy with either and now it comes down to cost. Site licenses are also a lot easier to manage and you don't have to worry about them.

I've not yet tested it out yet, but this sounds interesting, can you tell me how easy is it to specify which machines connect to which controller? e.g. we would want the teachers PC in IT Room 1 to connect to all the PCs in that room - do we put a list of all the PCs in that room into the abcontrol file? And if I want to connect to a specific PC in a room to fix a problem with that PC, is that easy to specify as a one-off? e.g. in our version of NetSupport it worked by having 2 modes: the one for teachers is where it connects to all PCs beginning with a certain value (e.g. 'Room1' as all PCs in Room 1 would be named something like Room1-PC1 and so on) but for network admins you could connect to a specific list and you could add/delete from that list at any time.

Thanks for the responses! We've ruled out LanSchool after trying it out and also I note no-one here recommended it. So that leaves AB Tutor and Impero. We've requested a trial of both and hopefully we'll get round trying them out by the end of the week. A very kind offer, but we're in Yorkshire! Thanks anyway.

Can anyone help advise us on what software would be most suitable? We're a secondary school, with a significant number of pupils who like to use the internet to play on games when they should be working. We need software on the teacher's PC that automatically connects to the PCs in a room (this could be based on PCs beginning with e.g. "Room10" or it could be an INI file or something), and lets the teacher easily restrict them to NO internet access, or to restrict to just a selection of appropriate websites of the teacher's choice. Obviously, we also require the other standard stuff like ability to blank screens, log off etc. We also want to be able to see the username of the user logged on. A room plan would be nice, but less important if you can see the students names. Also for the network manager's PC, we get emails saying e.g. "Can you see what Joe Bloggs is up to?" so we need to be able to connect to any PC in the school easily. We used to have NetSupport but it was unreliable. Blocking internet access sometimes didn't work and we don't know why. Also, pupils also got round it completely by rebooting their PCs! So a teacher would blank all PCs to talk to the whole class but someone would re-boot and start playing on games! Unless the teacher pressed refresh, then the rebooted PC would not be picked up. And refreshing would take ages. And it didn't show the username of who was logged onto the PC (you could ask pupils to enter their names using a log on option but they could type anything into that). I downloaded a demo of iTALC but it doesn't appear to limit internet access. I also looked at a school that uses SycronEyes but it appears to be quite limited and is of little use to a network manager. It only connects to a specific list of PCs and you can't easily connect to a PC just by knowing it's name or who is logged on. The school that used SyncronEyes told me they were not impressed with it and recommended something they saw at another school called Study Skills 100 Tutor but I searched the web and couldn't find it! I have looked at Classroom Management Software | LanSchool and AB Tutor Control - remote monitoring software for the classroom, office and home and they look good, can anyone say if they'll do what we want? We have around 450 workstations, and we'll need the tutor program on about 10 teachers PCs. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

We are using Outlook 2003 with Exchange, a PRF file runs at logon which sets up the users' accounts. This works brilliantly, with just one exception: users who have custom signatures lose their signatures (the next time they log on) if their email is set to HTML format. If they use plain text format, then the signatures are remembered! I have pasted the contents of our PRF file below. I would be very grateful for any help ;Automatically generated PRF file from the Microsoft Office Customization and Installation Wizard ; ************************************************************** ; Section 1 - Profile Defaults ; ************************************************************** [General] Custom=1 DefaultProfile=Yes BackupProfile=No OverwriteProfile=No ModifyDefaultProfileIfPresent=FALSE ; ************************************************************** ; Section 2 - Services in Profile ; ************************************************************** [service List] ServiceX=Microsoft Outlook Client ServiceEGS=Exchange Global Section Service1=Microsoft Exchange Server ServiceEGS=Exchange Global Section ;*************************************************************** ; Section 3 - List of internet accounts ;*************************************************************** [internet Account List] ;*************************************************************** ; Section 4 - Default values for each service. ;*************************************************************** [serviceX] CachedExchangeMode=0x00000002 CachedExchangeSlowDetect=TRUE [serviceEGS] CachedExchangeConfigFlags=0x00000000 MailboxName=%UserName% HomeServer=YHS3 [service1] OverwriteExistingService=Yes UniqueService=Yes MailboxName=%UserName% HomeServer=YHS3 AccountName=Microsoft Exchange Server ;*************************************************************** ; Section 5 - Values for each internet account. ;*************************************************************** ;*************************************************************** ; Section 6 - Mapping for profile properties ;*************************************************************** [Microsoft Exchange Server] ServiceName=MSEMS MDBGUID=5494A1C0297F101BA58708002B2A2517 MailboxName=PT_STRING8,0x6607 HomeServer=PT_STRING8,0x6608 OfflineAddressBookPath=PT_STRING8,0x660E OfflineFolderPath=PT_STRING8,0x6610 [Exchange Global Section] SectionGUID=13dbb0c8aa05101a9bb000aa002fc45a MailboxName=PT_STRING8,0x6607 HomeServer=PT_STRING8,0x6608 RPCoverHTTPflags=PT_LONG,0x6623 RPCProxyServer=PT_UNICODE,0x6622 RPCProxyPrincipalName=PT_UNICODE,0x6625 RPCProxyAuthScheme=PT_LONG,0x6627 CachedExchangeConfigFlags=PT_LONG,0x6629 [Microsoft Mail] ServiceName=MSFS ServerPath=PT_STRING8,0x6600 Mailbox=PT_STRING8,0x6601 Password=PT_STRING8,0x67f0 RememberPassword=PT_BOOLEAN,0x6606 ConnectionType=PT_LONG,0x6603 UseSessionLog=PT_BOOLEAN,0x6604 SessionLogPath=PT_STRING8,0x6605 EnableUpload=PT_BOOLEAN,0x6620 EnableDownload=PT_BOOLEAN,0x6621 UploadMask=PT_LONG,0x6622 NetBiosNotification=PT_BOOLEAN,0x6623 NewMailPollInterval=PT_STRING8,0x6624 DisplayGalOnly=PT_BOOLEAN,0x6625 UseHeadersOnLAN=PT_BOOLEAN,0x6630 UseLocalAdressBookOnLAN=PT_BOOLEAN,0x6631 UseExternalToHelpDeliverOnLAN=PT_BOOLEAN,0x6632 UseHeadersOnRAS=PT_BOOLEAN,0x6640 UseLocalAdressBookOnRAS=PT_BOOLEAN,0x6641 UseExternalToHelpDeliverOnRAS=PT_BOOLEAN,0x6639 ConnectOnStartup=PT_BOOLEAN,0x6642 DisconnectAfterRetrieveHeaders=PT_BOOLEAN,0x6643 DisconnectAfterRetrieveMail=PT_BOOLEAN,0x6644 DisconnectOnExit=PT_BOOLEAN,0x6645 DefaultDialupConnectionName=PT_STRING8,0x6646 DialupRetryCount=PT_STRING8,0x6648 DialupRetryDelay=PT_STRING8,0x6649 [Personal Folders] ServiceName=MSPST MS Name=PT_STRING8,0x3001 PathToPersonalFolders=PT_STRING8,0x6700 RememberPassword=PT_BOOLEAN,0x6701 EncryptionType=PT_LONG,0x6702 Password=PT_STRING8,0x6703 [unicode Personal Folders] ServiceName=MSUPST MS Name=PT_UNICODE,0x3001 PathToPersonalFolders=PT_STRING8,0x6700 RememberPassword=PT_BOOLEAN,0x6701 EncryptionType=PT_LONG,0x6702 Password=PT_STRING8,0x6703 [Outlook Address Book] ServiceName=CONTAB [LDAP Directory] ServiceName=EMABLT ServerName=PT_STRING8,0x6600 UserName=PT_STRING8,0x6602 UseSSL=PT_BOOLEAN,0x6613 UseSPA=PT_BOOLEAN,0x6615 DisableVLV=PT_LONG,0x6616 DisplayName=PT_STRING8,0x3001 ConnectionPort=PT_STRING8,0x6601 SearchTimeout=PT_STRING8,0x6607 MaxEntriesReturned=PT_STRING8,0x6608 SearchBase=PT_STRING8,0x6603 [Microsoft Outlook Client] SectionGUID=0a0d020000000000c000000000000046 FormDirectoryPage=PT_STRING8,0x0270 WebServicesLocation=PT_STRING8,0x0271 ComposeWithWebServices=PT_BOOLEAN,0x0272 PromptWhenUsingWebServices=PT_BOOLEAN,0x0273 OpenWithWebServices=PT_BOOLEAN,0x0274 CachedExchangeMode=PT_LONG,0x041f CachedExchangeSlowDetect=PT_BOOLEAN,0x0420 [Personal Address Book] ServiceName=MSPST AB NameOfPAB=PT_STRING8,0x001e3001 Path=PT_STRING8,0x001e6600 ShowNamesBy=PT_LONG,0x00036601 ; ************************************************************************ ; Section 7 - Mapping for internet account properties. DO NOT MODIFY. ; ************************************************************************ [i_Mail] AccountType=POP3 ;--- POP3 Account Settings --- AccountName=PT_UNICODE,0x0002 DisplayName=PT_UNICODE,0x000B EmailAddress=PT_UNICODE,0x000C ;--- POP3 Account Settings --- POP3Server=PT_UNICODE,0x0100 POP3UserName=PT_UNICODE,0x0101 POP3UseSPA=PT_LONG,0x0108 Organization=PT_UNICODE,0x0107 ReplyEmailAddress=PT_UNICODE,0x0103 POP3Port=PT_LONG,0x0104 POP3UseSSL=PT_LONG,0x0105 ; --- SMTP Account Settings --- SMTPServer=PT_UNICODE,0x0200 SMTPUseAuth=PT_LONG,0x0203 SMTPAuthMethod=PT_LONG,0x0208 SMTPUserName=PT_UNICODE,0x0204 SMTPUseSPA=PT_LONG,0x0207 ConnectionType=PT_LONG,0x000F ConnectionOID=PT_UNICODE,0x0010 SMTPPort=PT_LONG,0x0201 SMTPUseSSL=PT_LONG,0x0202 ServerTimeOut=PT_LONG,0x0209 LeaveOnServer=PT_LONG,0x1000 [iMAP_I_Mail] AccountType=IMAP ;--- IMAP Account Settings --- AccountName=PT_UNICODE,0x0002 DisplayName=PT_UNICODE,0x000B EmailAddress=PT_UNICODE,0x000C ;--- IMAP Account Settings --- IMAPServer=PT_UNICODE,0x0100 IMAPUserName=PT_UNICODE,0x0101 IMAPUseSPA=PT_LONG,0x0108 Organization=PT_UNICODE,0x0107 ReplyEmailAddress=PT_UNICODE,0x0103 IMAPPort=PT_LONG,0x0104 IMAPUseSSL=PT_LONG,0x0105 ; --- SMTP Account Settings --- SMTPServer=PT_UNICODE,0x0200 SMTPUseAuth=PT_LONG,0x0203 SMTPAuthMethod=PT_LONG,0x0208 SMTPUserName=PT_UNICODE,0x0204 SMTPUseSPA=PT_LONG,0x0207 ConnectionType=PT_LONG,0x000F ConnectionOID=PT_UNICODE,0x0010 SMTPPort=PT_LONG,0x0201 SMTPUseSSL=PT_LONG,0x0202 ServerTimeOut=PT_LONG,0x0209 CheckNewImap=PT_LONG,0x1100 RootFolder=PT_UNICODE,0x1101 [iNET_HTTP] AccountType=HOTMAIL Account=PT_UNICODE,0x0002 HttpServer=PT_UNICODE,0x0100 UserName=PT_UNICODE,0x0101 Organization=PT_UNICODE,0x0107 UseSPA=PT_LONG,0x0108 TimeOut=PT_LONG,0x0209 Reply=PT_UNICODE,0x0103 EmailAddress=PT_UNICODE,0x000C FullName=PT_UNICODE,0x000B Connection Type=PT_LONG,0x000F ConnectOID=PT_UNICODE,0x0010

I've got SIMS working on with SP3, but I did have problems. A laptop had to be reformatted, and then we thought "let's put SP3 on to save doing loads of updates", so we did that. We then had problems installing an update to .NET framework, so SIMS would not install correctly until we had fixed that. But when we got .NET framework updated, SIMS was fine. But that's just one laptop. I certainly won't be deploying SP3 anywhere else as Captia are saying it's not supported yet.

Yes, we could keep some here. The problems are that if they can just come to the office at any time for replacements, there's no way for us to verify that it's genuine or why the damage occured or who is requesting it, and it just seems that we are giving away a limitless supply of mice out! SLT have requested that no pupils go to our office as they want to cut down on pupils wandering the corridor and interrupting the ICT lessons, but some teachers send them anyway. There seems to be no incentive to reduce vandalism, and we are handing out up to 5 mice a day! I would hope they wouldn't see it that way. Should a broken/damaged mouse jump to the head of the queue and be replaced immediately is a key question I guess. I am not sure what the answer is. If it's "yes" then we could still require notification by email and say we'll respond as soon as we can, and keep supplies in the office to help us do so? Another idea is to give a supply of mice for each department and encourage them to take responsibility themselves, and say "here's 10 to last for the year, if you need more they are £x each"? At the moment, virtually none of the teachers check equipment is ok as they leave the lesson, and it's not unknown for teachers to get to a room that has suffered bad vandalism, and not tell us because they only need 10 out of 20 PCs themselves. I'd rather they told us there was a problem and that it was not urgent, than leave it until the next teacher turns up needing all 20 and finds the room in a terrible state then asks us to drop everything to get there immediately. If anyone has any ideas or experiences that can help that would be appreciated.

We have a big problem at the moment with pupils vandalising or stealing mice and damaging keyboards or taking the keys. We then get teachers sending pupils to us to get replacement mice or keyboards, or they sometimes phone us to ask us to bring the equipment. At the moment our store room is not in the same place as our office. We have an internal email system in place and staff are supposed to log calls using email. So, I was thinking of having a policy of saying 'We do not keep mice or keyboards in our office, we keep them in the store room. All requests must be e-mailed to us, we will then replace the equipment, we will aim to do this by the next lesson'. Does this sound a good idea or not? Anyone got a better idea? Thanks in advance!

I had something similar, with a program called Multimedia Science School. I downloaded an update for the exe and placed that in the program location, it worked for me as admin but died on students. I then realised it was because I had downloaded the exe from the web, I had to mark it as safe. It then worked!

If you have a clash of names, then not only will you need to rename and re-join the domain for the incorrectly named one, but you may also have to re-join the domain for the original correct machine to work too.

4 servers 70ish laptops 340 networked PCs 60ish laptops 37 networked printers 16 local printers 28 IWBs SIMS, Exchange, CCTV, etc... just 1 Network Manager ("Senior ICT Technician" ) + 1 ICT Technician