Jehanzeb

How would you setup WSUS in virtual environment please? We have very limited amount of Windows 7 and 10 machines but when it comes to updates it drags the entire network down. We are already using Mac Caching server for iOS and Mac updates and I'd like to do the same for Windows. Will be using Windows server 2016 in virtual environment. Any guidance will be highly appreciated. Kindest regards J.

I am also looking at options as we are currently using Meraki (Legacy system) and it's showing signs of limitations in many areas. I've looked at Lightspeed, Zuludesk, Jamf Pro and off course Meraki. They all seem to be serving the same purpose, just need to see who does more innovative but also adapt changes according to their customer feedback. I personally love companies that build upon their customer feedback and respond promptly I.e. Work as "partners". Kindest regards J.

Just wondered which MDM system would you rate the highest.... features could include ease of use, management, administration, deployment etc. 1. Lightspeed, 2. Cisco Meraki, 3. Zuludesk, 4. Airwatch, 5. Casper Jamf, 6. Profile Manager etc etc etc

That's exactly what was confusing me earlier but your comment (above) clarifies my query. Having managed Apple IDs seem a fantastic idea especially when a School can manage, reset passwords and deactivate and or delete Apple IDs however bearing in mind deactivating and deleting IDs do not delete the Apple ID from Apple Servers i.e. we cannot create the same (deleted) ID again nor we can delete an ID without deactivating it first. For me the biggest disappointment is the inability to deploy apps while using Managed IDs. Schools that are on legacy MDMs have to rely on creating bulk Apple IDs so that they can deploy apps onto devices. Meraki for instance does not support Device based assignment (on legacy system - but it does on the "free" offering system). Kindest regards J.

I enrolled our Year 6 iPad Mini on DEP and sync them with Meraki (legacy version) not knowing legacy version does not support Device assignment. I have to rely on Apple IDs which I have to create one by one for 60 odd students before Sept every year. It's so time consuming. I think Paid version is the way to go but until then will have to do things manually. ASM is annoying as well, I created managed Apple IDs but offcourse under Student profile none of the apps get pushed onto iPads and the error comes up You have no permission to buy apps. Regards J.

Thank Edu-IT, yep, brand new to the post so trying to gather as much information as possible. The first step would've been to have an access to a FMS handbook or manual. I am looking for a Bible guide to FMS just like we have for programming/development but it seems there might not be something like this. I am not sure if LA has printed a full manual to Year end procedure but I will check this tomorrow from them, I didn't think of login to MyAccount on SIMS portal but will do now to see if I can get more info on there as Cache prompted above. Thank you for the link Vikpaw, I have downloaded it, will give it a read. Many thanks everyone for a prompt replies and assistance. Kindest regards J.

Thank you for your quick reply Edu-IT, the LA training sessions are for beginners and very basic in nature. I think it is because they expect the rest of the work will be carried out by AFOs and PAAs so never go into that much details. The help file within FMS is good but is based on the interface for example does not explain the full procedure of how to do end of year procedure unless I have completely missed it. Kindest regards J.

Good evening all, I was wondering if someone has/knows where we can get/download a detailed user manual on SIMS.net especially personnel procedures explained and FMS including end of year procedures please? I need a full user manual and unfortunately I cannot find it. I have a file with FMS how to create invoices, credit notes etc but it is incomplete and in some areas it skips steps so is not really helpful. Any help/guidance will be highly appreciated. Kindest regards J.

For those Schools that are on the edge of renewing their hardware kit for example server upgrade, should they carry on and upgrade or should they look at what will be coming in SIMS8? Regards J.

I thought Primary was the one coming first? Am I wrong in thinking this? How stable is Primary SIMS8 is? Has it come out of pilot testing yet? Many thanks J.

I am guessing SIMS7 will have shelf life for good years to come? We certainly don't want to see it dead just as yet simply because we need more time to see and trust cloud service, feature options as well as financial viability. Kindest regards J.

Will the price of subscription to the service go up since we'll be totally dependent on Capita services? Reiterating my previous query, will Capita still be supporting legacy (now current 7.xx) version for those who'd like to stay on it? P.S. I am not denouncing Cloud service as I believe it is def the way forward but I'd like to know the options that Schools would have after SIMS8... Kindest regards J.

Will we be able to keep desktop version of SIMS? and will we still be getting updates on SIMS/FMS/Discover/etc etc?, even after SIMS 8? Kindest regards J.

I share exact feeling, I had a brief discussion with one of our teacher and the concerns were similar as you described above. Filtering is hindering teacher's work and so teaching staff wants unfiltered access but then how would you monitor/prevent strategy with staff? Constant monitoring and change of rules consume so much of our time, not everyone is dedicated monitoring manager in Schools. More often than less, staff in Schools have multiple job areas, not just one. Regards J.

I agree with your thoughts there @minimoo . Private cloud would mean Schools can keep their data inhouse whilst providing services to internal users. I also believe the way data recording is done should be looked at as now there are many people/teams involved in collecting recording and producing data for example the new intervention module in SIMS.net, the SEN team collects data and sends it to SEN head, the SEN head then inputs the entire data into SIMS.net, consuming so much of her time. This is because everyone uses Macs and the SEN head is one of the handful people who uses windows based machine. Collaborative work is way forward and so the new systems should accommodate that. Kindest regards J.

Firstly thank you for taking an active part in discussion Phil. It is nice to see some excellent questions and responses to it. Now with security, how much "secure" is "secure"? and are we making a system secure enough but not useable enough? There are other companies that are handling customer data yet providing single sign on system with ample timeout session. With TeachersApp, we're talking about sometimes as short as couple of hours of inactivity and it asks users to re login with Google/Microsoft credentials and then enter PIN number before the register loads up. I agree with your point of "educating" staff but we need to understand in the School environment, there is limited time from starting in the morning and in the afternoon. Systems should adapt to changes, people needs not other way round, or am I wrong in thinking this? With regards to high contrast, I believe it should be an option and not set as default. Not everyone is "old" and resistant to change. If student A was doing just fine, does it mean student B,C,D ... we're doing fine too? Too many options given to students and you need a dedicated assistant to help them. Students at Primary attract to colourful cartoon characters, moving objects, more often touching and moving them around not lots of text on a single page. Then again the screenshot provided was for GCSE level so it makes sense why it is the way it is... I will patiently wait for new screenshots to appear �� Kindest regards J.

Our teachers enjoy using iPads, constantly, how will this new system accommodate them? Teachers also have limited time and when something takes time or constantly asks for logins(TeachersApp), they get irritated and avoid it whenever possible. Teachers require instant data and also options to convert into PDF or word docx which can be shared with higher management (termly reports) as well as parents during parents evenings. If the system can allow to share data with parents, there will be plenty of time for them during parents evenings. With higher management they need trends, changed patterns and highly informative reports, budget drafting and forecasting. We need all of that without ugly interfaces, that is... Regards J.

I am dieing to see some serious improvements, especially on intuitive reporting and less of this "module" that "module" approach. recently released Intervention module need to follow the TeachersApp, ParentsApp strategy. We use Macs (99.9%) and currently struggle with SIMS Windows only approach. As you suggested you're working towards new system and not migrating SIMS7 based on user feedback. Can I please ask how you collecting the feedback as we have tub loads of suggestions. "This is not currently in the pipeline or near future" is not really an answer to feedback given - let's be open and and collect as much data and as many suggestions possible. Regards J.

Maybe it's just me but this interface is 'ugly' and reminds me of School pupil tracker....high contrast colours and full of text. Need refinement, a lot of it..... Kindest regards J.

By sounds of it you need a robust filtering service and then pass all traffic through it, you will lose some throughput speed but everything will be filtered (wireless and wired devices). With regards to having it free, profile manager with classroom app from Apple will achieve your goal (depending on iPad gen). If you want to go further step (paid service) then look at Meraki, ZuluDesk, Jamf MDMs. We use inHouse Smoothwall and all our wireless devices filters through it and for students taking devices home get proxies through our filter when offsite. We were also lucky to have free Meraki MDM and iPads are manage via this Mdm. Kindest regards J.

Yes. On iPad under Settings --> General --> Reset --> Network reset We have Synology with DHCP that assign ip to iPads and Smoothwall does not use any authentication (unauthenticated IP) as every device gets filtered. Kindest regards J.

Account manager route is the best, you'll get things done quickly. 9/10 times, posting your query on forums fixes it than hassle of getting hold of someone who will tell you to switch off xyz service to make it work! They also have a new forum which you can join and explain your issue, http://community.smoothwall.org/forum/ Kindest regards J.

Account manager route is the best, you'll get things done quickly. 9/10 times, posting your query on forums fixes it than hassle of getting hold of someone who will tell you to switch off xyz service to make it work! They also have a new forum which you can join and explain your issue, http://community.smoothwall.org/forum/ Kindest regards J.

Did you put Apple's 17.0.0.0/8 into exception list? We had the same issue until I look at the logs on Mac Mini to see where the issue was, ended up putting the above range into exception list and it started to work. I think lcdn-registration.apple.com has to be whitelisted to enable your connection to work. Additionally if you are with Swgfl then you need to ask them to sort it out as their firewall blocks Apple connections to caching server unless you request them. More addresses can be found here: Apple 17.0.0.0/8 Services – Richard Purves Kindest regards J.

Did you put Apple's 17.0.0.0/8 into exception list? We had the same issue until I look at the logs on Mac Mini to see where the issue was, ended up putting the above range into exception list and it started to work. I think lcdn-registration.apple.com has to be whitelisted to enable your connection to work. Additionally if you are with Swgfl then you need to ask them to sort it out as their firewall blocks Apple connections to caching server unless you request them. More addresses can be found here: Apple 17.0.0.0/8 Services – Richard Purves Kindest regards J.