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Reddit’s r_k12sysadmin Credits: @r_channels @reddit2telegram
Client not downloading updates from WSUS - Stuck at 0%
I rebuilt/updated a WSUS because it hadn't been cleaned in years and was bogged down by old updates.
I approved an update for one my PC to make sure everything was working correctly. Turns out it's not. The client will find the update that I approve but it will not download it and it's stuck at 0%.
I did some research and most people have this issue when the approved update didn't actually download and sync to the update server. I looked at my WSUS content folder and it is there and the client is at least seeing the update.
I'm running WSUS on server 2019.
Anyone have any recommendations I could look into?
https://redd.it/1amxr5e
@r_k12sysadmin
Acer 734T Chromebooks
Anyone here using Acer 734t Chromebooks? How has your experience been?
https://redd.it/1amt2jq
@r_k12sysadmin
Google play store disappearing from Chromebooks
Good morning everyone,
Starting Weds afternoon, we began to receive reports from users that the Minecraft EE Android app was disappearing from Chromebooks. After doing some research we found that Google Play was uninstalling itself from random devices. That problem continued on through Thursday and we are continuing to get reports of Play disappearing from devices that it has been working on for months.
To the best of our knowledge, we have only made 2 changes in our chrome admin console in the last couple of weeks: we moved from 118 to 120 last week and earlier this week we found enabled Verified Mode because we found that was disabled. We have reviewed all of the documentation we can find regarding setting up the Play store on Managed Chrome devices and as best we can tell, everything is configured correctly.
Just randomly throwing out things I have checked: I can confirm that I can see assigned, managed apps by checking my managed apps (https://play.google.com/work/licenses/apps). Google Play and Managed Google Play services are on and we have the allow users to install android apps toggle on in the apps settings. Android Management is enabled in subscriptions.
We tried to reach out to our Google rep but found they have left the company and we do not have info for a new rep yet. We are trying to work with google support but so far that is a dead end.
Again, everything has been working correctly all school year and we did not have any issues until 48 hours ago. We are at a loss and appreciate any help or ideas anyone else has. Thanks!
https://redd.it/1amowbx
@r_k12sysadmin
Security camera recommendation with 90 days storage
We need 90 days of storage, and I've been looking at Verkada and they are too expensive. Any recommendation? We need something cloud based and modern.
https://redd.it/1amhazw
@r_k12sysadmin
Someone installed a water feature in our data center without previous authorization
https://redd.it/1am5abj
@r_k12sysadmin
Staff district account Youtube playlist can't be view by students?
So one of our health teachers has made a few playlists of video's for students. When a student clicks the link for the Youtube play lists they get a message saying, "Sorry, you can't access this content with your account". BUT, each individual video works without issue. Also the creators channel has playlists and tested those playlists with a student account and it works without issue.
I changed the Youtube permissions in GAdmin from Moderate to Unrestricted and tested the Staff members playlist and it worked without issue. The staff members youtube channel/account also is approved for the district.
Any direction on what to look at next?
https://redd.it/1alymkq
@r_k12sysadmin
Best Filter/classroom control?
We had Lightspeed Rocket (which has aged out). We moved to AristotleK12 this last year and it has not worked well with our Microsoft Windows Environment. Right now, I'm investigating goguardian.
What I'm wanting
\- filter (different groups differently. Different times of days)
\- classroom control by teachers (see screen, history, open normally filtered sites)
\- Works with MS Windows and Edge.
We are k12 school of about 1200 students.
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Thank you!
https://redd.it/1al8uwz
@r_k12sysadmin
SANS live Language Labs
Has anyone installed this on their server? I have questions about the SSL they want. Windows Server 2022.
https://redd.it/1al2flq
@r_k12sysadmin
K12sysadmin product watchdogs unite! Pls amplify our voice! "ok reddit do your thing" - k12 edition
Hey fellow IT-Heads -
I'd love to get your support on changing NWEA assessments data reporting practices! In 2024 we are still downloading data teacher by teacher, wrestling it into a PDF, and then playing a high-stakes game of 'clean, split, and mail merge' to get those reports to parents.
This process is the perfect storm of stress, time pressure, and potential for error. And when those errors happen, oh boy, are they a doozy! Picture this: Explaining to a parent why a targeted report of their child's weaknesses was sent to their neighbor. But wait, it gets better. Imagine if the mail merge skews and suddenly, every kid in the district is getting the score of the kid just below them alphabetically. That's not just an 'oops' moment, that's an 'update your resume' moment.
NWEA is our only platform without the ability for users to log in! How hard is it to create a login (sso for privacy) for parents to access their child's data??
NWEA still insists on us unpackaging and repackaging and unpackaging their data! Why? Because it's cheaper for them and hey, less liability, right? We'd stop paying their ridiculous annual per-student costs If only switching didn't mean kissing goodbye to years of or students precious longitudinal data.
So, here's my plea, dear comrades in IT: please, lend me your clicks - "upvote" this issue on their (half social media / product feedback?) reporting system. Maybe, just maybe, the collective sighs of exasperation of schools beholden to subpar edtech platforms will echo loud enough for a change.
Upvote for Sanity
Keep fighting the good fight!
https://redd.it/1akm6h1
@r_k12sysadmin
Real time translation
We have a few non English students and would like to offer real time translation during class lectures, what have you guys done or have seen done?
I’ve looked at wordly but was wondering if you guys have an recommendations.
Thank you
https://redd.it/1akjbof
@r_k12sysadmin
Student Devices Question
Hello everyone, we are in the process of refreshing our student devices. We would like to save some money by using devices longer than we do currently. Our Chromebooks are breaking down quite often. We currently use chromebooks for 3rd-12th, and Ipads for K-2. I am wondering what other schools are using for student devices? We are going to keep Ipads for K-2 but are thinking about using Ipads is 3rd and 4th. Also we are considering Macbook Airs for 7th-12th, does anyone use Macs? Could I get that long out of them? Or does anyone have any device that they recommend?
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Thanks!
https://redd.it/1akdym9
@r_k12sysadmin
What do you or your school use to inventory Makerspace equipment?
I've been tasked with getting something in order to help the shrinkage in our Makerspaces. Basically tools, Arduino's and other non-consumables. We've got some solid ideas around process such as re-organizing, categorizing and using tool trays but I wondered what software or service other schools were using to actually inventory and/or check in and out?
https://redd.it/1akef5l
@r_k12sysadmin
Wizer-training vs KnowBe4
I was wondering if anyone with Wizer-training that transitioned from KnowBe4 or vice versa?
We are looking into leaving KnowBe4 and implementing Wizer(cost efficiency).
From the start, we have noticed that there is a lack of amenities which is assumed based on the annual savings that would incur.
https://redd.it/1akamki
@r_k12sysadmin
Respondus Intune
Has anyone installed respondous lock down browser on a Windows device managed by Intune and the students have basic priveleges? My past experience is that the browser will not install and launch without being installed with admins rights.
https://redd.it/1ajw85q
@r_k12sysadmin
Photo repository ideas
We're looking for some ideas for collecting photos in an easy way.
Ideally something that a teacher or staff can create a folder and drag and drop into. It would be sort of read only once uploaded.
I have this grand idea so they our PR person can grab photos out that are semi organized. The thought behind it is for teachers in classrooms or field trips or other school events.
Ideally web based. We are a Google district if there's anything that integrates for that even better.
https://redd.it/1ajkqpe
@r_k12sysadmin
Odd Google Services Outage?
Is anyone else having users report being unable to access Google Docs/Sheets while other services like Drive/Gmail continue working on Windows desktop? I had one initially this morning which I assumed was a fluke, especially considering I tried putting them on wifi for the same result while using a chromebook to access worked fine, and it corrected itself after about 10ish minutes but just had it happen to another user that hasn't resolved itself quite yet. This time it's a user whose connected to the same switch as I am and I can still access Docs/Sheets from my own Windows devices which rules out my theory that fixing the time on my switches the other day might be the culprit.
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On a similar note how are you even supposed to ping these individual services? Pinging the primary/secondary IPs for Google worked fine and I know they probably have multiple IPs for their various services.
https://redd.it/1amwk0x
@r_k12sysadmin
Anyone use an alternative option from the FUYL charging lockers?
I was eyeing up that product for our institution but I doubt we'd ever get approval at 10K per unit. Frankly all we would need is the charging and signing in and out capability. Has anyone tried out similar products and are happy with them and the price? It's a shame because this would solve a lot of student accountability problems we are having here.
Thanks!
https://redd.it/1amrgdu
@r_k12sysadmin
Fortigate SSL VPN vulnerability under active attack
All major versions of FortiOS from 6.2 to 7.4 are vulnerable and patches have been posted.
Link to advisory
Assigned CVE-2024-21762
If you can't patch immediately, you may want to disable SSL-VPN until you can.
Happy Friday!
https://redd.it/1ammtut
@r_k12sysadmin
Document Camera Recommendation
What’s best document camera that:
1) Isn’t IPEVO or their hot garbage Visualizer software
2) Is in that sub-$200 price point
3) Has a light
4) Tall/agile enough to show a full sheet of paper without having to stack books underneath it.
5) Has decent software that runs on macOS (bonus points for Chromebook support)
https://redd.it/1amcidh
@r_k12sysadmin
Domain joined Windows users not being prompted to change password
When we have to reset someone's password in AD, we always select the option to prompt the user to create a new password when they next log in with the temp password. Windows 11 has stopped asking them to create a password, so we end up having to go through the Windows account options. This leads to them having to sign in several times, having the process sometimes fail, and often frustrating the user. Is there a way around this, or what caused the prompt not to appear? Thanks.
https://redd.it/1am02hw
@r_k12sysadmin
CDWG Services
I have a wireless upgrade project coming up and got a response from CDWG, their pricing is super competitive, but I've never worked with them with the labor side of thing. Has anyone used CDWG for installation services? Good, Bad or whatever?
https://redd.it/1aldwuw
@r_k12sysadmin
MFA for non MFA Native devices/systems?
Can anyone point me into the direction of what I need to be researching? Our HVAC system which has a controller on site and is web facing does not have MFA or the capabilities on it's own. Is there a device or system I put in between the open web facing connection and the device to MFA it?
https://redd.it/1al9gh4
@r_k12sysadmin
Managing student, staff, parent accounts
Hi All,
First time working in a school (come from MSP background) so please be patient.
​
We are currently using MIM (Microsoft Identity Manager) to take data out of Synergetic, and push to onprem AD and Schoolbox.
​
We are looking at other options, specifically SDS, but are unsure if this would meet our full requirements with being able to sync the data out of Synergetic into AD and Schoolbox.
​
Anyone else using these systems?
Is there a better way?
End goal is to have a reliable system, that meets our needs, that we can understand and support.
https://redd.it/1akr05w
@r_k12sysadmin
Scrolling Announcements/Morning News Streaming
Hello! We currently have scrolling announcements 24/7 that is just some text on field trips, testing info, etc. At any point, we can transition the scrolling announcements into a live stream for our student news segment. We accomplish this by using a ZV sync encoder with LiveStream Studio. We will be undergoing building renovations and renovated rooms/new builds will not have coax run to the rooms. Anyone have a solution they use similar to our needs based off internet? I don't necessarily want to stream externally, but trying to weigh out all the options.
Thanks!
https://redd.it/1akj8ke
@r_k12sysadmin
Wi-Fi strength app
Does anyone here use an app on their Android phone to test signal strength in school buildings and classrooms? Which one works best? Thanks. Any other helpful apps for your role would be great to know, just switched phones.
https://redd.it/1akjli9
@r_k12sysadmin
Has anyone dropped 1:1?
Have you been in a system that went 1:1 and stopped? Money is drying up and kids are breaking these laptops just as quickly (though a decent % pay the bill). Decent increase of staff expense hiring more helpdesk techs but they are still overworked. I can see it going away or attempting to move to Google to save money (licensing, hardware, ease for Techs)
https://redd.it/1akfxnz
@r_k12sysadmin
Looking for advise on Classroom Management and Web Filtering options
Greetings,
A district I work with went with a single vendor for their web filter and classroom management, based on lowest price. That vendor, that sounds like Blockski, has been terrible for them. Numerous issues and no solutions.
So I am coming to the masses to see what you would recommend. They are no longer using "single pane" and pricing as their two requirements so it can be different vendors for each function. Their only requirement is that it work on IOS, Chromebook and Windows.
Thanks
https://redd.it/1akcsri
@r_k12sysadmin
ChromeOS Lenovo 100e
Has anyone else experienced Wi-Fi issues with the latest ChromeOS update and the Lenovo 100e Chromebooks?
https://redd.it/1ajxgk2
@r_k12sysadmin
Manufacturer Certification/Partner Programs
Short question: is it worth it to apply for partnerships with the manufacturers that offer programs (i.e., Dell/Lenovo/HP)?
Specific question: in the Terms for DellTech Direct I see a requirement for two individuals at each site. The issue here is that I am a one-person shop for a fairly small school. We currently have about 100 Dell Chromebooks, and that number will increase as I plan to continue to purchase Dell Chromebooks. I have not specifically contacted the Dell Care team with this question as of yet. I would like to hear back from you all about whether it is even worth investing the time and energy to enroll in the partnership programs available.
https://redd.it/1ajr3hi
@r_k12sysadmin
Degree vs certifications vs experience for upward mobility?
You have a clean slate. No degree, no certifications, no experience. You can go get your degree and wrack up student loan debt, you can study on your own and pay for the certifications out of pocket, or you can try to get an entry position and start collecting hands on skills and be able to meet the "or X amount of years of experience" substitute on most job applications.
Which route would you recommend to someone just starting out? Is the 15k-30k for a degree worth it? How far can certifications take you especially in EdTech? Will 10+ years of experience get you to those upper management jobs?
https://redd.it/1ajictc
@r_k12sysadmin