DrBeaker

@ICTDirect_Dave Sent you a PM as discussed. Thanks

PRObably less features

I'll be honest - when a high falutin AV company installed their kit in our hall, I did similar. The network cable they put in and expected me to use was far too short, there was simply no slack on it. The drawer I was supposed to put the PC in wasn't on runners, yo literally had to pull the PC out. So I used an RJ45 coupler on their network cable to connect to my own, with a decent amount of slack that makes it a LOT easier to remove the PC when needed.

There's a reason it's called "best practise" etc. Unfortunately however as we can all attest to, how things SHOULD be done in schools, isn't often the way it is ACTUALLY done in schools.

Depends on: * usage * print quality * colour or mono * single or double-sided * How often it's maintained. We had one last about 5-6x years before it started playing up. We had a single-sided printer that we used to flip over the cards to print on the back, not really ideal which likely contributed to more wear and tear over time.

Faceplate on the wall or in trunking for either VGA or HDMI. Then a VGA or HDMI flylead from the computer to the faceplate. Cheaper, easier to manage etc. Might add a SPoF I guess but compared to everything else, once it's in, it's likely to be in there for years and hardly move which reduces the risk. Either way once it's installed and working if it's damaged afterwards that's a teacher/classroom management/SLT problem then.

Kudos to all who can do this, but what would happen if you leave or something happens and they need the system updating etc? Your replacement might not have the skills necessary or even want to keep a home-brew system in place?

Not a massive fan but Inventry is what we have. * It works * I don't have to get involved with it - Yay! * Any issues are Inventry's problem as they supplied the hardware including computer and printer. * Can email staff to say their visitor has arrived - dependent on the fact that staff member has to be waiting at the computer/device for their email however. I've yet to see this feature being used. * Supports photos, logs etc. All staff have a badge with their name on it, photo, school logo etc and a barcode for scanning in and out of the system.

Interesting... Ours all get hybrid states etc turned off, hibernation disabled turned off etc. We do use RM CC4 here, but we've got WoL working on Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 builds 1709 - 1809.

It's to do with the suspend states (C-states I believe) etc and if the network card is on/active, waiting for packets/a signal or if it turns the Ethernet port off when it's asleep. WoL is fantastic - when it works. I use it at home with Android, NFC and an app to wake the PC up.

There was some advanced settings in the HP driver on some older models - Energy efficient Ethernet etc? Is there anything like that in there?

10-years - I think the school has got their money's worth then. I speak from experience when trying to get some old Canon Scanners working under Windows 7 x64 years ago. I did a bit of research and came across this post on a forum https://www.sevenforums.com/drivers/46741-canoscan-lide20-64bit-driver.html where Canon advised "Canon cannot guarantee the future compatibility of our products ad infinitum." so basically "tough, buy a new scanner". Rightly or wrongly it's planned obsolescence, not much we can do about it as IT people. Same reason why people buy a new iPhone every year.

How old are the devices?

Same as you supply1, supply2, etc. Inherited but works OK. Logins given out by the Head's PA/cover staff. That's what I've tried to implement, anything longer than a week or more should have a proper account. That's up to HR, admin etc with onboarding and staff planning, not an IT issue AFAIC. E.g. I got asked today by someone about a new starter that's been here since September, doesn't have an account but and wasn't on the list I was given or any emails. Not my problem AFAIC. I've said exactly the same thing here and .... Same as witch, they've done nothing about it, GDPR officer etc.

Any particular stress tests you'd recommend? Never really had to do something like this before, we'd have just replaced the lot as it was cheaper in the long run. I've got in mind DBAN to wipe and test the HDD, Memtest for a RAM test and the UBCD for a strestest, keeping it on for 24x hours for stability etc. The PAT-tester has passed them, but it's the same one in Easter who did a visual inspection and literally just stuck a sticker on stuff as I watched him in another room.

This https://pbxbook.com/ipoffice/vmpssrst.html any help?

New space station? Hmmm...... Spacey McSpaceSpace

I can get away with it, I'm not a mod

I don't trust any printer. https://twitter.com/blakemessick/status/815315662713323520?lang=en

Got shown some similar units to those from Stone. Just after a couple of neatish units for our staff room.

Hi @ICTDirect_Dave, Are you getting in any line of All-In-One (AIO) units in at all? You've got the Refurbished HP ProOne 600 G1 All In One 21.5", Core i3 listed but this seems to be the only one, not any i5's like previously? Also on the link, Refurbished HP ProOne 600 G1 All In One 21.5", Core i3 - ICT Direct at the bottom for the spec, it's a dead link.

Yep the batteries on one unit were nearly as much as a new UPS when I was doing some research on it. Unfortunately the items I'd like to purchase to "future-proof" as much as possible are simply too expensive. The use case may change over the next few years as well, which would render the unit needing to be uprated. So at this point in time this is the only real option it seems. Plan to connect to the NAS via USB for now to get things going. Then to price up a network card for use.

That's interesting. Last year in November when we had a new SIMs server and looked at that Groupcall Emerge it looked interesting https://www.groupcall.com/product/emerge and I hadn't heard that.

That's what I'd worked it out to on the 35-50W usage. However APC UPS selector (https://www.apc.com/shop/uk/en/tools/ups_selector/) then turns around and tells me it's 250W. It's like who's giving me the true info? lol

Ha! These if working, will be upgrades for the admin computers which are still using Core 2 Duo RM PCs! I've said from an IT viewpoint that their reliability is now in question now going into a "production" environment (staff actually using them) with no response back. I've said I'm concerned from an electrical safety point of view for staff and students (with no response back), but if the PAT test has 'passed' them I assume that would cover me in that area and push it back to them if there's any issues or comeback. We got recently got rid of most of those affected/failed Dells with a e-recycling company. I would want to at the least: - check it over for damage/dirt/corrosion inside with a visual inspection. - Do a memory, HDD or other stresstest of the unit