Steven_Cleaver

Taken a differen't tack with this built our own remote access solution around RDP. SSL web server only exccepts SSL traffic. SSL Tunnel sort of to from web Server to PC RDP connection Small Service on PC's to control this. Students and Staff can access PC on the Network. We have about 10 PC or Virtual PC's constantly on someone logs on one boots up someone logs off one shuts down automated. Can't access MIS systems without Encrypted key (Encrypted code) on memory stick or PC\laptop, can't copy this key anywhere as it is coded in a specific way automatically when setup so to access MIS system Encrypted Key and Username and Password so Dual Factor for MIS, this is Seamless to user as they just click the app this loads up the logon web page and does the authentication then the logon with their username and password. Can set this to Disconnect the session when you want if not in use so 1 minute or whatever you like as this is set against resources (PC's) can set MIS systems to 1 minute others to 5 or what you like. Someone loses the Laptop or USB can't get in unless they also have staff username and password if they try to guess both key and User get disabled after so many tries. Has logging and a lot of other features built in as well as other Security features. Just interested if anyone can see issues with the above and to other things that we may need to build in or take account of.

I can see what you mean about it not being efficient just think it might allow me more flexibility in what I wanted to do with it in regards to customisation.

Thanks thats clear now and can see your point.I get what you mean about the context and the needs of the user. Do you think this would be feasible by divising a system or appliaction that only pulls the relevant information from the SQL database in SIM's into another database which you could then add in your own fields that SIM's may not hold, be interested in or manage as well, which you could then customise to suite. Sorry if this is off point just interested in opinions really.

Hi @penfold excellent points but could you explain what you mean by "One of the key things MIS's should do but currently don't (I haven't seen anything that does) is scope which students an application access." Thanks

I haven't used matrep but did use Aim High for a few years and as @BKGarry says is a bit fiddly to setup but works reasonably well you can also if you have the yearly support contract with them get them to design some reports that will do some analysis of the data for you and provide instant analysis for staff here. We use SIMs reports here and seems to work ok just requires our MIS Officer, Exams Officer (who is charge of reports) and myself communicating well when things change so we make sure the changes feed through, we have also now stopped printing all but final report and just displaying the others on Parental Portal Insight for Parents, Staff and Students to view.

Hi all Not really Data Manager but line Manage that area so MIS Officer and Exams Officer and am heavily involved for 18 months here and six years at my previous school so hope I qualify. About the School: 1039 pupils 11 – 16 looking at Sixth Form possibly next year MIS: SIMS .Net. Pars for registration, Insight for Parental Portal. Analysis: Either basic in AM7, Excel (which is linked into Progress Bar App we designed so auto load when staff login, critical data password protection access), SISRA. Access to school network and MIS systems using our own Secure Gateway with Dual Factor Authentication using Encrypted App only to access MIS systems. Student Surveys system: to test students understanding of Targets and how to make progress. Student Intervention System : In access but using linked data from SIM’s, Run by SLT group but looking at putting this into SQL with form front end. Class Room Observation: Analysis Excel Templates. Job title : ICT Admin Manager. Moodle VLE Target setting KS3 we use a variety of data KS2 average points English and Maths (Reading and Writing marks where available),MidYs tests done first few weeks for year 7, Department baseline tests, Historic school data compiled over the last 5 few years, do initial review, with departments then second setting before targets go home to parents. Set all this taking into account expected progress. KS4 as KS3 but use Yellis tests that students complete at the end of year 9 and also take account of KS2, KS3 data, historic again last five years.

@GREED We use SIM's but use Insight for parental portal which sits on a seperate Server and communicates with SIM's to extract Student information for parents into Insight is this the kind of thing you mean and requires a SIM's user account authentication to do this so it has virtually live data going across this is all done internally.

If I was accessing any MIS system remotely either internally based system or Cloud based I would expect Dual Factor Authentication, to be honest the main reason we built this into Remote Access solution so to access our MIS system you need to have encrypted app and your Network username and Password as well as your (MIS username Password) no encrypted App can't access MIS systems. This makes it reasonably seamless for the user as they click the App and this does encrypted Authentication then they just login as they normally would.

Thinking of using 1. Sun Virtual box, 2. setup Windows 7 on these. 3. Setup programming language and configure how required, 4. snapshot so have backup on machine. 5. Export a machine and import onto other PC. 6. Might create an image so can just re-image with everything back.

Is anyone using Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 we are tempted to try that here and using C#.

Have you had a look at Ubiquiti UniFi UAP-PRO very scaleable and might save you some money a few people on here a raving about these Ubiquiti UniFi UAP-PRO 3 Pack, just ordered a set to have a look at.

Done looks like your in the lead good luck .

Changed it to Canada UK rebooted and all looks good so far looks like the installs running so many thanks.

Hi I need to manually install SIM's setup on a workstation becuase of an Issue I have had with installing a patch for Exams by running SIMSINST.EXE from the Server but am getting an error saying the date and time do not match and aren't in the required format even though when I check Control Panel --> regional settings they seem correct see below;

Cheers Phil very interesting will deffinately keep an eye on this as I did look at the SLG along with other systems before we settled for Insight, but completely agree with this statement below off the blog. "One of the biggest drawbacks of SLG has always been the very data driven view it offers. Now, in most systems, this would be great - but in this case, remember the target audience. Sadly, the viewpoint has been from most "users" that it is unfriendly and not very pretty or inspiring." This is one of the main reasons I went with Insight as felt the interface was very user unfriendly and sorry to pick out just one point as their is some very good positive points raised in the blog, but would just need to see the end result. Obviously if this were to change I would deffinately be interested in looking again at SLG as I am looking at Lesson Monitor although we use PAR's and if things change or systems develop you need to revisit these.

As you have guessed PAR's sits on the same same Server as SIM's and these seem to run fine togther, I have Insight on a seperate Virtual Server but this is just how I set it up and any web facing Servers have to be Https council requirement if using as web facing Servers but makes sense and I am not sure I would want my SIM's Server directly accessible over the internet as I think our LEA would have concerns about that. If you are looking at registers online so staff access these online as it were I think you would need Pars Connect as well or used to but not 100% sure this is still the case. We tried Pars Connect as a demo and seemed to work fine but we use our own Gateway for access to anything internally and use an Encrypted App for access to anything MIS so Dual factor encrypted Authentication to MIS systems.

Interesting.

Rang Orange again as they hadn't rang me back and they have conceded this is a mistake on their part and had someone that could actually deal with the problem this time and are refunding the money but this will take 5 to 7 days wtf, I rang the bank but because this was done on my wifes card they can't recall this, but said it should take upto three working days not 5 to 7 so have fired off another email to Orange CEO explaining all this, really enjoying my saturday off .

Yep that is what I was planning.

Might give that a go, Cheers.

My wife rang up Orange as her contract was up so renew and have an Iphone 4S no problem £32.40 a month and £30 upfront ok she says, checking Internet banking this morning Orange have decided to take £330 out of our account and check the delivery note and yep £330 to be taken to your account so again WTF Orange. So she rings them to query this having difficulty understanding the service desk india somewhere, can't see this on our system even though we gave them all the details, Account no,Phone No, Customer order No and Delivery No we will need to ring you back in 24 Hours my wife that isn't good enough can I speak to your Supervisor oh we can ring you back in two hours anyway still waiting almost two hours up. Myself not happy with this so use CEO e-mail addresses - Email address for Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and Managing Directors - list - UK - US - Asia - customer services - customer care to fire off an email to CEO as this has worked a few times with other companies once I have raised the Issue with Support. Anybody else got any other ideas obviously wait a bit to see if we hear back. Rant over.

It is usually so they can construct the timetable on Nova 6 and play with Time Table changes without going anywhere near SIM's or the Time Table in school we have a couple of Staff using this our Deputy Head and MIS Officer so they can work on changes together and as our MIS Officer is new she is attending the Nova 6 timetabling course with Capita before having a go at constructing the schools new time table with Deputy Head and is using this on the training so she can work on the schools Time tabling on the course and get advice, if this makes sense but feel free to ask anything else, it is reasonably easy to do with the guide just follow this step by step, I always use this as I only do this rarely and never can remember how to do it. Once completed on their laptops they can transfer this to SIM's.

Hi I got this off the internet sometime back it might help.

I do use these for a few things usually large projects (Virtualisation, Managed Wireless etc), I also have used their management software for a few years now and have used these at the two schools I have worked at, they have been excellent about three schools in our Borough use them for various and diffrent things.

You could try these guys Burconix - Professional ICT Solutions for Education and SME pretty much cover everything you are looking for, help you move to a Virtual Vanilla Environment, I know they have moved over migrated a few RM Networks and other Managed Service schools, provide remote support, have their own set of Tools to add some functionality to a vanilla environment if you want, ticket system, telephone support etc. Feel free to PM us if you want a look as you are in Birmingham.