dcwhitworth

Yes it was for an older version which we no longer use. Glad to be rid of it to be honest. Far too many companies seem to churn out software where they think it is acceptable to turn off security features rather than they write the software properly.

Here's the contents of the PDF - Program: Web Companion Connection type: TCP Address: http://companion.hcss-web.co.uk IP Address: 162.13.175.251:80 Smooth wall filtering – This is web filtering. Most schools will have this installed on the server. There is a mode on the software called HTTP Strict mode. This, by default is enabled and has been known to cause a lot of issues. This is option can be found under “Web Proxy>>Web Proxy>>Settings” (Advanced>>Web filter options). At the time of writing it is not possible to disable ‘strict mode’ using the web interface (a known bug), and hence you will need to raise a support case with Smoothwall support to get this option disabled”. Squid Proxy – This is more than likely to be separate from the actual web server. If possible please add the command line “ignore_expect_100”. Proxy Settings – You can bypass the proxy settings in internet explorer. Select the settings option. Then select internet options and then connections. Untick the use proxy settings. This will usually allow access to the web companion and can be changed back once the import/export has been completed. Config File - The config file for the web companion can be edited with the following details: This allows the proxy address access if the web companion is failing to start. Anti-Virus – Please check if the anti-virus program is not allowing the web companion to run. It may have been blocked or the anit virus may see the program as a threat and stop it from connecting to the internet. Account Control – In Microsoft Windows 7 and Windows 8 type UAC into the search bar. Ensure that it is set to ‘never notify’. Administration Privileges – Please ensure that you are running the program with administrator privileges. You can either check you are logged on as an administrator or right click on the program and select run as administrator. LA Network – If you are supported by your LA or your network traffic is directed through your local authority please establish with them that the web companion has not been blocked and has been added to any exceptions lists. FMS Users – If the web companion crashes when you log into the FMS section of the web companion the most likely cause is that the following line is missing from the SIMS.INI (C:\Windows) Finance Directory= C: \Program Files (x86)\SIMS\FMSSQL should be under SIMSSetupsDirectory=C: \SIMS\Setups If none of the above is successful please download the fiddler program. http://www.telerik.com/fiddler This is a free web debugging proxy that will show where the web companion is been blocked. Helpdesk – 0844 249 0997 Monday to Friday 8:30 to 5:30

We had firewall issues with this software. It required having https strict mode disabled. The company have a PDF detailing the issues I think, so worth contacting their support.

Or get the money for just one upgrade for a vocal teacher and use that to prove the value of spending for all the others.

An important question to ask is in what way are they slow ? Long login times ? Freezing / delays while in use ? Generally slow ? Also you say they have become slow, do you mean since Windows 10 was installed or have they gradually become slower ? I get the feelingthat something is going on here that an SSD won't help much with.

Well that's very reassuring, sounds like a genuine mix up and they definitely seem keen to have you !

That would seriously wind me up too. Not a good start to your new club.

Yeah, same old, same old. The blurb around it sounds depressingly familiar, the first sentence sums it up for me. It's not that I don't believe the technology can do this, it's more that I don't believe it will be done the right way to enable this to happen on a useful scale. I'm sure we've all seen it time and time again, someone comes along banner waving for the next 'new thing' that will transform lives, outcomes, workload, save money, you name it. The technology gets implemented, staff get a presentation and then that's it. You then have another semi-adopted system increasing the complexity of your environment. Of course there will be those who love it but most will be indifferent. To make it work I think you need to - 1. Properly fund it. 2. Train staff prior to implementation 3. Appoint people who's job it is to promote the system and help staff 4. Implement the system 5. Make people use it and withdraw competing systems 6. Continually review use and retrain staff I doubt whether the government or most schools have the will or resources to do this.

WG Grace always believed you shouldn't move your back foot. To me the most important aspect of batting is to get your eyes in line with the ball, if you're not facing anyone too fast I'd also be heading forwards most of the time. Would love to face a bowling machine. I normally dip out of nets because they bear so little resemblance to the real thing, one session maybe to get the feet moving and things back in sync and that's enough for me.

Sounds like the same old waffle as usual, what's actually different ?

I just spent five minutes scouring the picture and couldn't see any cars at all !

Well our season is officially underway with the Norfolk ACO AGM. Oh lordy can they chunter on about minor stuff. Last year, loads of changes to the laws, not much fuss. This year one tweak to Law 41.7 and they're flapping. Also we're moving to a new web-based appointment system. I can see some people freaking out over this. They did a couple of presentation sessions to show the umpires the system and I've rarely seen a worse presentation. A really good example of why you shouldn't let a software developer try and explain his own product to a set of non-IT people. Plus he seemed to have no plan and no preparation.

Thanks everyone for your input. Lots of good stuff there. From our point of view the decision appears fairly clear cut. We already get inclusive cloud filtering and firewalling as part of our broadband contract and we are also paying for the same onsite. So bottom line is we are effectively paying twice for the same service. The onsite firewall is due for replacement, do we replace it or just switch to the cloud ? If there's no compelling advantage to a local solution (and looking at this thread I don't think there is) then we may as well drop it and save the money. The fact we're saving money is a big weight when it comes to balancing the options. Now I've just got to convince our change adverse IT Steering Group

Good luck. I was toying with doing a scorers course this winter but didn't get round to it, more for the insight into the job than any serious intent on scoring. I pushed the boat out over the winter and sent my bat to Newbery to be refurbished, despite being 14 years old it came back looking like new. Was so pleased I posted a picture of it on Facebook. My Mum's comment ? "What are you doing buying a new bat at your age ?". Thanks Mum . . .

That is true but the pitfalls of firewalls can be dangerous and non-obvious. You could misconfigure the set up, opening you to a lot of issues without seeing any immediate detrimental effect. No harm in having a second, more experienced set of eyes look things over. It comes down to risk and consequences. I simply don't deal with firewalling (and many other things) on a regular enough basis to feel 100% happy taking on all the risk myself.

Useful, but in a way I'd be a little wary of using this, one of the reasons for handing the firewall management to RM would be to have any changes scrutinised by their experienced staff. Would there be safeguards to guard against unwise changes ?

I think that's very much it. I've no problems with Smoothwall as a product, it's been solid and flexible for us and support has been good. When we bought it, it was absolutely the right choice, but times change and products and needs evolve so I'm reassessing our position.

I'm looking for some thoughts on the advantages and disadvantages of running our own firewall. We currently have an RM broadband connection and as part of that contract they provide remote firewall and filtering services. We don't use these services as we have a local solution(Smoothwall). However in these cash strapped times I'm wondering why we are paying twice for the same service and whether we wouldn't be better pushing at least the firewalling up the line. Advantages Cheaper Run by experts More resilient (failover) Disadvantages Slower changes Less flexible ? Less ability to monitor On the whole we don't do much with our firewall, nor can I recall a situation when not having a change made right there and then would have been a major issue. I am also not entirely confident in our understanding of the technology which is always a worry. So on the whole I'm leaning towards getting rid of our local device, but there seems to be a broad view high schools ought to control their own firewall and filtering locally. Maybe ten years ago I would have agreed but remote services are now much more mature and flexible than they were. So what do people think ?

Take it's legs off and you have . . . ?

I wonder if the naming of that building sparked any interest ?

Fish..

We got them to install Trust-E onto a PC then virtualised it. When staff need to connect to it they use an RDP session.

Well this seems . . obvious

we only allow the laminators to be used by our reprographics staff.

Perhaps designed for an environment where you plug and unplug RJ45 connectors very often, puts the wear and tear onto this thing instead of onto your wall socket which would be harder to replace. Or maybe there's some kind of a filter built in ? Final desperate idea, are the connectors actually RJ45, could it be an RJ11 to RJ45 converter ? (would such a thing even be useful ?)