Chris_Cook

I'm not sure. Gemini is suggesting the trigger and actions timer is re-triggerable, but I've not done this myself.

You could maybe do something with triggers and actions and the second relay. You can wire the button in series with relay 2 and set a rule to turn it on for a period of time.

I used dosbox to run the software for an old Dos/BBC Micro CNC mini lathe. Never actually connected it to the machine though as the school got rid of it. It would be interesting to try it out, but the drivers are only a part of the issue. for important machines, there should really be manufacturer support in place, and you would need to be careful with anything involving spinning blades or lasers. Not sure if most schools would have the experience to safely ensure that mechanical safeguards + interlocks are in place and the machines aren't pushed beyond their mechanical limits, as well as ensuring calibration and accuracy. Some machines might also use the PC for timing which could also be an issue. Whilst I'm all for keeping things going, if its important to the running of the school, then its important that the school finds the budget to fund its replacement. Anything that doesn't have compatible drivers is probably old enough to warrant replacing. And you then become the permanent tech support for that software until the school finally decides to stop bodging it along. I did engage with Gemini about replacing the control gear in our old GCC laser cutter, but the time estimate it gave was too much for the time I have available. It found some interesting solutions though that I wouldn't have found on my own.

When you say mostly, are you basing that on number of schools/sites or number of students?

I've tested using AP Group 'User defined Overrides' to move APs from cloud to on prem. Still have to claim and reboot and delete from the original, but seemed to work for the test AP i tried yesterday, and it seemed to save me logging into the AP. https://community.cambiumnetworks.com/t/migrating-cnpilot-e-series-access-points-from-cnmaestro-cloud-to-on-premises/63164 Many thanks to those who posted above about how to get the on prem appliance up and running. The main thing I haven't figured out yet is moving guest access codes/vouchers over, but I don't think re-generating those is going to be too big of a problem for us. Otherwise just downloading the JSON files for AP groups and WLans and re-uploading them. Has anyone fully jumped ship to on-prem yet or are you all waiting till half term?

I'd maybe try some de-oxit, contact cleaner or IPA to clean the sockets. Otherwise, if you can find a local TV/Electronics repair person, or amature radio operator, the might be able to resolder the connector. If its just a dry joint, it shouldn't be too difficult to re-solder it with a decent soldering iron.

Its really all about minimising risk using the best equipment possible/available. For a main hall/venue, I would strongly recommend a tower. The hire cost isn't going to greatly increase the project cost, especially if your site team can do a job at the same time. Our HSS does delivery on them. The mini towers are great - we've hired one in a couple of times for our primary schools, but we have a full size one for bigger jobs. The training course is easy. AGR towers are better than the 3-t ones. Cost is a bit more, but they are much quicker. When it comes to ladders, its good to read the HSE page on ladder safety and myths. When you aren't climbing/descending, kneecaps and chest can be a third point of contact for short periods such as putting a bolt or screw in. You just need to make sure you have a solid stance on the ladder, and lean into it With a projector it depends on the size, weight and bracket. With enough people, you can put a full size one in a hall roof using a rope, but I wouldn't recommend it unless experienced. Another option for a classroom projector might be a second ladder and one person holds while another does up the bolts. The risk with a table is there is no edge protection, so it would be easy to step off unexpectedly. A set of podium steps would be a great option if you do a lot of them.

Theres some great ideas above. I think having a checklist, risk assessment and/or policy is key going forward. All our software and systems need to be built and tested by competent persons (someone with training, skills and experience). We need to ensure we have taken all reasonable steps to ensure safety of end users from data release and system compromise. We should be aiming for best practice, rather than good enough, and also testing/verifying rather than just assuming or thinking that all hackers are limited by our knowledge or levels of patience/available time. You wouldn't let someone untrained fix the plumbing, electrics or gas boilers using AI. I'd argue they are all much simpler that coding an app, especially if its not using a no-code solution. At the end of the day, its not AI who's going to get sued, or have to defend themselves to lawyers, judges and the press. You should have the backing of the head, the governors and the schools insurers. You should probably also consult lawyers and cyber security/GDPR experts for advice. We should also make sure as schools that we aren't re-inventing the wheel and wasting tax payers money when pre-built solutions exist. Obviously bespoke software can be amazing when customised to the organisations needs, but the cost of ensuring the above best practice probably outweighs the cost of buying something in.

I should have said parent funded, therefor some parents think they know best. They are indeed filtered more or less the same as at school, but somethings are allowed if they are just blocked in school to keep kids on task. We direct parents to their ISP if they want stricter filtering at home as other devices are likely in use that would bypass our filtering.

Apparently our 11" chromebooks are too heavy for Year 9. Year 7 seem ok with it though... And the breakages we've seen. We laughed quite hard at the "My dog ate my chromebook charger" until the student got it out of his bag. 2 incidents of chromebooks being left on cookers. Several half chromebooks found on the field. Screen breakages are daily if not hourly. Water damage is common when it rains, as is damage on the football field and basketball courts at break time. I love chromebooks, but they are seen as a free option so don't get looked after. Mind you laptops don't get looked after either. Parents want various different things for web filtering at home. Some no access, some full access.

I've still found switches behind desks after 10 years of working in a school. Looking up Mac addresses on switches can be quite useful in tracing this sort of thing back. Unifi do a similar switch that can do vlans and be centrally managed. I still don't like having them hidden though.

The colour coding is global, but I think you have to switch between speed and VLan per switch, but it does remember it. I've left ours on VLan.

Joking aside, its probably worth searching AD for accounts with the description field set, or enabling the column in AD users + Computers. I did spot this on some of our user accounts by chance. It seemed to have been added by an automated account creation system that I know other schools on here use. I won't name names. Its certainly something I would never have done, and was too many for them to be done one by one. I'm assuming it was done for diagnostic purposes and then never turned off.

We used to use MRBS, and before that an excel spreadsheet/google sheet.

We've had 3, 1 failure, another took a lot of faffing to get the lock to fit and work correctly. I wouldn't recommend them for student areas, office only in a school. They do mention somewhere that they aren't intended for high traffic doors. The oldest one (installed during covid) is still going strong and is on one of our IT rooms. The 2 with issues were on staff toilets that the kids wanted to get into.