Wrighty01

Grays Convent High School has the following Vacancy:NETWORK MANAGER Salary per Annum: £23,160-£30,228 (depending on experience) Contracted Hours: 37 per week Hour of Work: Monday–Thursday 8.00am-4.00pm Friday 8.00am- 3.30pm The Governors are seeking to appoint a well qualified Network Manager. Educational background would be advantage with use of SIMS and FMS. Main duties include: ● Administrative and operational responsibility for all PC servers, desktops, notebooks, associated peripherals and all switch hardware configurations. ● To develop and implement plans for hardware and software purchase. Installation, configuration and maintenance in conjunction with technology enhancements. ● Provide support and training to staff and pupils to ensure efficient use of the network. Grays Convent High School is an equal opportunities employer and committed to the safeguarding of children, therefore the successful applicants will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check. An application pack is available by emailing [email protected] or on the school website www.graysconvent.thurrock.sch.uk. Please note that all applicants will be required to complete a Catholic Education Service application form and CVs will not be accepted. Closing Date for completed applications: Wednesday 17th December 2013 Interview Date: Thursday 9th January 2014

Thanks for the info. I havent had a read through all the documentation yet, but as I understand it, you set a code to access the device in SplashTop, and you can also set it to ask for a Windows password (as you describe). So, does this tie in with AD when it authenticates the Windows password?

Do you use the professional or enterprise version Oaktech, or have the teachers just used the personal version? I am just looking at ways to ensure it is secure.

Thanks timp, I'll take a look.

Thats why I was looking at the Enterprise solution. One of the staff has bought the app (the personal version) so I installed the Windows client on the PC. She is able to remote to the PC from her tablet, and control the PC as you would using RDP, plus she has the bonus of using the whiteboard add-on, which allows her to project interactive content onto the whiteboard. I can see the benefit, but I am just wondering how you control the software on an enterprise scale. Already have other staff sniffing around so need to read up on it I think. Thanks Jonny.

Thanks for the info Jonny. I think the most likely application of the software will be to control the whiteboards, but - and I havent looked into it thoroughly - my first concern is the security hole it may create by allowing a machine to be remoted on to. I know there is an enterprise version but i'm not sure at this stage if we need to make that sort of commitment without first trialing it. Thanks again.

Hello All, I have a few staff showing an interest in using Splashtop to access their classroom PCs from the tablets\IPADs. Primarily it will be used as a tool to control the whiteboards. Has anyone on here had any experience using the software? Have checked out the website blurb but would be good to hear from people who have hands on experience in a classroom environment. I am interested in ease of use, scalability, draw-backs etc, but would be interested to hear from anybody who has used the thing. Many Thanks.

Turns out this had nothing to do with the mandatory profile. Was a web filtering issue at the LA. Thanks.

Hi, I have recently used the silent installers for WPKG to update Adobe Flash Player to the latest version (11.7.700.224) on several of the PCS on my network. This worked a treat, and now users logging on to the PC have access to the latest version, which I can confirm in Add\Remove Progs. We also have a student population that log in with the use of a mandatory profile. When any student logs onto one of the PCs with the updated Flash Player installed, and try to run a web based application requiring the latest version, the application complains that Flash Player is still on version 9 and requires updating. Can anyone shed any light on any changes I need to make within the profile to have it utilise the updated Flash Player? Many Thanks.

Yes mate, current DNS server is staying at the moment. I do have backups of the current config if the worst comes to the worst, but i'm hoping that this will be a smooth transition. Many thanks for your input, much appreciated.

Hi Gareth, From reading up on the error, thats kinda what I suspected. You arent aware of any issues this may have with our internet facing services? i.e website, email etc. Thanks.

Hi Toby, Yep, have run the relevant adprep on the current forest, domain and gp schema, and all seemed to go through with out errors. Also ran dcdiag, which gave some warnings about a couple of invalid Root hint servers, but other than that, passed the DNS tests ok. Netdiag also passed without issue.

Morning Folks, Trying to promote my first 2008R2 DC into current 2003 domain so running through DCpromo. When I get to the DNS stage I get the following error: A delegation for this DNS server cannot be created because the authoritative parent zone cannot be found or does not run Windows DNS Server. If you are integrated with an existing DNS infrastructure, you should manually create a delegation to this DNS server in the parent zone to ensure reliable name resolution from outside the domain....... Now, I suspect that this is because the local authority will have DNS entries for our school, which the process is unable to update with this DNS Server, so am tempted to ignore. I am concerned what impact this may have on our internet facing infrastructure though, primarily, our website, exchange server etc. Will this mess up name resolution from outside my domain for these services? Does anyone have any experience of a similar situation? Many Thanks.

I would like to, but it also hosts my exchange server atm, which I will need to migrate to another box before I can think about it. I have heard varying reports about the ease - or lack of - transitioning exchange to another server, so it will depend on how confident I am feeling about it before I get rid of the old DC for good.

That is what was suggested to me, and sounds pretty sensible. My only other complication - in relation to backups - being my original DC is Server 2003, and the new DC will be 2008R2. But I dont suppose this is an issue if adprep has been run. Thanks again for the input.

Thanks for the input 3s. My question is more around a backup solution of multiple DCs, as opposed to using a second DC for redundancy (but this is also a consideration). From what you have said I assume you back up only the one DC? So do you even bother backing up your second DC, or do you just rely on the bare metal backup of the first DC? Cheers.

Afternoon Gents, My current DC is on Windows 2003. Been preparing for the install of an additional 2008R2 DC over Easter, to allow me to make use of the newer features within the OS. Will be keeping the 2003DC for the time being, and running both DCs alongside one another. Having checked out various backup solutions for the new DC (the 2003 box is backed up via Acronis) I came across an article which suggested having a backup solution for a secondary DC is pointless as you cannot restore a DC back into a domain with another DC operating, as the timestamps in the restored AD will cause serious issues. The suggestion being that if you lose one of the DCs, you would simply (or not simply) grab all the roles to the working DC, rebuild the downed DC, then re-add the rebuilt DC back into the domain. Does this sound like a credible solution to DC backups, or are their industry standard backup solutions that cater for backing up (and restoring) DCs (when you have more than one in your domain)? Thanks.

Hi folks, Im in the process of adding a new 2008R2 DC to the current 2003 domain. The VM I intend to use was set up by my predecessor, has had 2008R2 installed, and has been set up with a 75GB C: drive and nowt else. During my research for installing the Domain Services, I noticed it is recommended that the AD database and log files are saved to different disks (I assume for performance and fault tolerance?). The VM that has been set up is hosted on a HP Proliant G7, with 1.5TB of disk space. The storage is using RAID5, so I have about 800GB space (one hotspare). What I am wondering is, I could add a second Virtual disk to the VM, and distribute the AD DB and logs between the disks, but if the disk is just a section of the logical volume used by the VM, sitting on top of a RAID 5 set up, is there any point in this (in terms of performance and fault tolerance), or should I just save all to the C: drive? Thanks in advance.

Thanks again Sukh!

Thanks for the info Sukh. In reference to my 2nd question, once the new 2008R2 DC is installed, and whilst Exchange is still on the 2003 DC, will I have the Exchange tabs available to me in Active Directory Users and Computers (Email Addresses, Exchange General, Exchange Features etc) on the new 2008R2 box, or will these only appear on the old DC, where 2003 and Exchange are installed? Cheers.

Hello folks, Not sure if this should be in the 2003 or 2008R2 area. As part of my need to install some new DCs I am about to dcpromo a new 2008R2 DC into my current 2003 domain. The 2003 DC will obviously need adprep'ed before I can do this. The problem I have is that the current 2003 DC also hosts our 2003 Exchange Server (v6.5, build 7638.2 SP2). What I need to know is; 1. Has anyone ever experienced any undesirable side effects on Exchange or System Manager from running 2K8R2 adprep on their 2003 DC whilst Exchange 2003 is also installed. 2. If all goes smoothly with adprep, and I dcpromo the new 2K8R2 DC into the domain, will I need to install System Manager 2003 on the new box to allow me to control the Exchange features from the new DC? Long term, the plan is to migrate Exchange off the old DC, but need a backup DC in place asap. Many Thanks.

Thanks again for the input guys. Going by what you have said, and having read the imaging rights doc from MS several times, I think I have a handle on what I can and cannot do. To simplify my scenario I'll try and be a bit more specific. If any of this is wrong, then please do not hesitate to correct me. I need to know if i'm barking up the wrong tree here. I have (for example) 100 workstations. 70 purchased with OEM Win7 licenses, which have been downgraded to XP until ready for Win7. The other 30 are still boxed (also have OEM licenses), and just waiting to be installed. I have also purchased about 20 VLS Win7 upgrade licenses, which I may need for any workstations I have missed, and will need to be upgraded. According to this paragraph (if im reading it correctly) I can use the VLS key I will get with my 20 VLS licenses to create an image which I can then use on the 70 Win7 OEM machines as long as the OEM and VLS versions match (Win7 pro). I dont intend to use one of the OEM licenses to create the image, so I shouldnt be breaking any licensing laws. Volume Licensing customers who have licensed Microsoft software products from an OEM, through a retail source, or under any agreement other than their Microsoft Volume Licensing agreement may use copies made from Microsoft Volume Licensing media. Customers can use these copies from Microsoft media only if they are the same product and version, contain the same components, and are in the same language. Reimaging using Volume Licensing full version media requires that customers have licensed the Windows desktop operating system either preinstalled through the OEM or as an FPP retail product. Volume Licensing customers can use their Volume Licensing media to reimage their Windows desktop operating system from an OEM only if it is the same product and version as that on the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) label that came with the PC. So, I think I should be good to go in regards to imaging the machines (numbers and compliance wise). What I need to nail down is the best way to activate the machines once installed, and it sounds like VAMT is the way to go. Thoughts?

Thanks for all the info gents, pretty much what I needed to know I think, and thanks for being so prompt. synack\cybernerd - I'll check out VAMT in relation to the type of licenses I have. If I can use it, that would be splendid. Pretty much all of the machines were purchased from the same vendor, so will the key be the same for all of them anyway? tmcd35 - I do have the relevant CALs, and plan to do exactly what you have suggested and install a 2008R2 DC before I do the Win7 roll out. Office wise, we have purchased a VLS key for 2010, so I assume I shouldn't have a problem rolling it out and activating it? Unfortunately, we are talking about a large number of machines, so if I can avoid manually updating keys, that would be ideal. In regards to re-considering using EES...I did consider this tbh, but due to the budget having been allocated elsewhere, I don't think its an option at this point, certainly not for this upgrade anyway. Definitely looking at it again long-term though. jmak - The scenario you describe is pretty much what I have. Machines purchased with Win7 licenses, downgraded to XP, and now ready to go back up to Win7. If they activate auto-magically once upgraded, that would be great. Someone else had also suggested what you mentioned about licensing (that it doesnt matter the origins of the license, as long as it been purchased, its legal) and if that is the case then that too is ideal. My main concern (as well as limiting the time it will take to roll out the upgrade) is ensuring im compliant once the new OS is out there. Thanks again for the posts, very much appreciated.

Hello All, First time I have posted here, but have always found the site very informative, so thought I would put my question to the masses. I have recently starting working in the education sector, and have been tasked with upgrading an entire school infrastructure to Windows 7 (from XP). My predecessor purchased a large number of pre-installed Windows 7 PCs, which were then downgraded to Win XP until he was prepared to migrate the whole school. Each of the new PCs have a Win7 Pro license associated with it (stamped on the side). AFAIK, the school is no longer part of any EES\School Enrollment scheme. I plan to roll out a Win7 image to all the workstations when convenient. What I need to know is....If I create a Win7 image, then deploy it via WDS (for example) to all workstations, will I then need to walk around to each PC and update the license key within Windows to match the one stamped on the side of the machine? And also, using this method, will I be compliant within the licensing laws? Many Thanks.