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Reddit’s r_k12sysadmin Credits: @r_channels @reddit2telegram
End of life policy/procedure for student Chromebooks
Hello fellow K12 staff! I was wondering if some of my counterparts on this sub wouldn't mind sharing how your district handles classifying "old" Chromebooks as obsolete and then retiring them. Currently we keep devices in circulation as along as they are still receiving updates. Once a device is no longer receiving updates we will mark that asset for decommission and retire/recycle it. I have been asked to reach out to other districts to see what they do because we have started to receive complaints from a staff member (Who can't be ignored due to the position they hold) that those devices could still be used for something and we are discarding "perfectly good" technology. I have explained security concerns as well as not being able to guarantee that those devices will continue to work as expected when they are not updated. In any case I would appreciate any input, thanks!
https://redd.it/1jrduve
@r_k12sysadmin
Prometheans ActivSuite aka Androidless Panel - what's your opinion?
Hi everybody! So, we have Promethean ActivPanels (and also other vendors) in some of our schools.
Promethean has recently announced their new ActivPanel 10 which comes ... without an OS. Instead, they have a software called ActivSuite, where one can use the Promethean Apps like Whiteboard (ExplainEverything), ScreenShare, etc. The ActivSuite can be installed on any device, either on an OPS (Windows, Linux, ChromeOS, Android14) or on a device connected via HDMI.
This means, the Panel itself has no longer an OS (Android), but rather a minimal firmware to integrate the buttons of the Panel into the ActivSuite.
I think, this new approach is awesome. I was never happy to have some old Android 8 running around (even If Promethean provided their own maintained version). Our staff was confused to have the Panel OS and a Windows OPS, so it is even simpler now. The administration of the Panels were never a fun job to do, so I am happy with that.
Apparently, this new change will be also be available for older models like the AP9 and (as I heard) AP7.
So, you see, I am happy and enthusiastic and I cannot wait to see it in action.
What is your opinion about this?
https://redd.it/1jr3r01
@r_k12sysadmin
Campus Internet Speed
At my k-12 private school we pay for Cox business 500mbps fiber. We own around 1700 iPads and 930 of these are deployed to high school. Next week high school has ACT/PreACT and state testing. Personally, I don't think our internet is fast enough, it never has been, when kids are all using Canvas at the same time, it bottlenecks pretty quickly. We are thinking about pulling the trigger and upgrading to 1gig internet. All of our infra is gigabit. I just wanted to ask moreover, what speeds you guys pay for and get on your campuses and what yall would recommend.
https://redd.it/1jqyfus
@r_k12sysadmin
How to Best Protect Outdoor Access Points
https://redd.it/1jqo7qt
@r_k12sysadmin
blocking File:// in web browsers
Got a question for those who have blocked file://* in their school web browsers.
Has it affected students ability to upload documents for assignments at all?
https://redd.it/1jqph8a
@r_k12sysadmin
Infinite Campus Ad Hoc Filter Designer
I'm trying to create this filter and got it mostly done. Except it's pulling multiple instances of students due the phone number. Is there a way to filter out so there is only one instance of that student? I have their student as well.
https://redd.it/1jqn2q6
@r_k12sysadmin
Tech and Maintenance Dept
Does anyone else find that the tech and maintenance departments butt heads? Specifically, I see the leaders of these groups not getting along. It could be about small items or major projects. I've seen some "loudest person in the room" is better conflicts between the two result in no steps forward.
Usually the department staff get along very well and support one another.
https://redd.it/1jqhy8j
@r_k12sysadmin
PrinterLogic Issues
Does anyone here use PrinterLogic for cloud, printer management?
The biggest complaint that I've been getting from my end-users is the long period of time it takes between pressing print and the document being sent to the printer over the cloud. Is there anything that I should be looking at on my network that could be creating this type of bottleneck or slowing this down?
https://redd.it/1jq2tzu
@r_k12sysadmin
Blocked PHET simulation loading
Hello! We have a PHET simulation that has stopped loading in for students on chromebooks. (it works for teachers on chromebooks) https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/cheerpj/electric-hockey/latest/electric-hockey.html?simulation=electric-hockey We have isolated that the cause is not GoGuardian and believe it's something in GAC. Anyone experience this? Any ideas?
https://redd.it/1jptl8m
@r_k12sysadmin
YARA/Snort rules and malware
I just got forwarded some Department of Security whitepapers on malware that's been increasing in prevalence recently, especially being used against educational organizations. It's good info, but I'm not completely clear on what I can do to be proactive except to keep an eye out. We use a Meraki network and have no way of using YARA or Snort rules. What do you folks do at your district to check for and keep abreast of certain malware threats? Thanks for any guidance.
https://redd.it/1jps1xy
@r_k12sysadmin
Google Chrome Not Auto-Launching on Chromebooks?
We have our managed Chromebooks set to auto-launch Google Chrome when a student logs on. We've had it set this way for many years.
Currently, when students log into Chromebooks, the user has to manually click on the Chrome icon to launch the browser. This isn't a big deal, but for our youngest users this is proving frustrating. We are on the LTC channel on Chrome v132.
Is anyone else seeing this or know of a solution?
https://redd.it/1jpuw4t
@r_k12sysadmin
WiFi RADIUS
Hello!
I am over a school district that is wanting to get away from PSK WiFi SSID channels and move to a RADIUS solution. I've been researching it for weeks and did some trial and error but not having success. I've read a few of the posts here and on r/sysadmin and they've been helpful but most are 2+ years old and want to make sure what the current best practices are.
I made a post over there also while waiting for approval in this subreddit and got some feed back but wanted to see if you guys had any other input. So this post is a slightly edited copy of that one.
My general understanding is that Windows NPS can be finky with non-windows devices. We are currently using Windows NPS is the RADIUS solution we're using for our BYOD channels for personal devices. It works well enough but it requires windows AD auth to log in while we're going to try to do certificate based for district owned devices.
We're not a huge district but have around 300 Windows devices 400 iPads and probably 1200 Chromebooks. Enrolling them all would be a summer project but trying to have the process down and tested before then so I'm building the infrastructure for it now.
If anyone has any good documentation or suggestions on how to set this up that would be great, Thanks!
https://redd.it/1jpsf4e
@r_k12sysadmin
What to do? Apple MDM Admins
So like many school districts mine is downsizing due to lack of finding. Which means remaining staff get more "hats" to wear. One of the new "hats" I have to Apple MDM Admin. While I have used the MDM's to complete tasks, I wasn't the Admin for the MDM.
So my question is basically what are your daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual tasks as a Apple MDM manager.
https://redd.it/1jpps6p
@r_k12sysadmin
Gmail end-to-end encryption
https://workspace.google.com/blog/identity-and-security/gmail-easy-end-to-end-encryption-all-businesses
https://redd.it/1jp9ym0
@r_k12sysadmin
Drive Wipe Program
Is it just me, or are there no good free drive wiping options anymore? What are you using, and is it bootable from a USB drive?
I have a small stack of drives that I need to sanitize before sending them off for e-waste.
https://redd.it/1jp65oy
@r_k12sysadmin
FreshService Labels
Trying to set up label printing from Inventory. What tips/tricks have you found helpful?
https://redd.it/1jrd6t1
@r_k12sysadmin
Google Workspace - all admins locked out
I made a big mistake today when enforcing 2FV in Google Workspace and I locked out all admin accounts, including my own. I am trying to regain access but we purchased via a reseller, who purchased via TD Synnex, so Google's account assist channel is telling me to contact TD Synnex.
I've reached out to our reseller in hopes they can assist, but does anyone here have a way to get Google on the line when you're unable to log in to your account?
** For those who are wondering, I enforced 2FV for the Teachers OU and for the OU containing all of our admins, and I set the enforcement time to 0 so it went into effect immediately and all teacher and admin accounts are locked out. Big mistake on my part.
https://redd.it/1jqzpbi
@r_k12sysadmin
Georgia Network Administrator Position-Jefferson
Teachgeorgia.org
It is under "other"
Please don't shoot the messenger here....
https://redd.it/1jqx5r1
@r_k12sysadmin
Google Additional Services and Parental Consent
How are your districts handling this? My understanding was that COPPA allowed districts to consent to 3rd party services on behalf of a parent in many cases. However recent conversations in a MN state email list have made me question whether we are compliant or not, specifically with youtube. Currently we have it enabled for all students as our teachers heavily use it.
https://redd.it/1jqr0ua
@r_k12sysadmin
New Bark Filter Issue!!! No in-line images in Google Forms! Attached are the with and without. Only the Banner will display.
https://redd.it/1jqo5gv
@r_k12sysadmin
Google Chrome bugs
https://redd.it/1jqk33f
@r_k12sysadmin
Document Camera Freezing on Win 11
We will be upgrading our campuses to Win 11 this summer, and for now have been installing Win 11 on a select group of teachers as a trial run. (currently using 11 Pro) A few are reporting back that their document cameras keep freezing. We are using Hovercam Solo8 Plus doc cameras, and the Flex 11 Software. Has anyone else been experiencing this, and if so- besides going back to Win 11, do you know of a fix?
Edit- steps we have tried- swapped the cameras, the cable, uninstalled and reinstalled flex 11, same with drivers, and checked the power manager settings in device manager.
https://redd.it/1jpqmvm
@r_k12sysadmin
Hide Brother Printer from Macs/Chromebooks
I am trying to hide my brother printer from being visible to end users via bonjour and I've disabled IPP and air print and MDNS but the printer is still visible. What else should I be disabling in order to hide the printer?
I want to force the users to have to either come to me to have a printer manually added via IP or only use the printers that are pushed out via PrinterLogic.
https://redd.it/1jq2xrj
@r_k12sysadmin
Locking Down Windows 10/11 Student Computer with GPO
We have a computer lab that we thought we had locked down fairly well, but we just discovered that are able to install games through XBox Gamepass and maybe the Microsoft Store.
Anyone know if there is a GPO to block Xbox and MS Store?
Any other GPO recommendations should be enabled?
https://redd.it/1jpwbef
@r_k12sysadmin
Found students using this site to run exploits to kill or hang extensions and get around filters
We found that students have been using this exploit to bypass goguardian and filters on their chromebooks. Has anyone else come across this? The file is linked here in my google drive. What they are doing is copying the contents into a browser. I can't seem to block it.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XgFdBH-BzPh02sefzLhlYeu\_v6IGw7Y5/view?usp=sharing
https://redd.it/1jpwxvx
@r_k12sysadmin
Google Slide Kiosk for Signage Not Auto Updating Changes Made to Slide Without a Reboot
We used Google Signbuilder previously and the slides would auto update after changes were made. Since moving to the Google Slide kiosk setup, everything is working the same EXCEPT that the Chromebox has to be rebooted for changes to appear on the slide. I've currently got an 8:30am scheduled reboot in place to address this, but now am being told that changes are made to the slide throughout the day and it needs to update more frequently. Are there any automated ways make the Google Slide kiosk show the most recent changes?
https://redd.it/1jptz9q
@r_k12sysadmin
SchoolCare/CareDox Issues?
Are there other districts out there that use SchoolCare (formerly CareDox) that are having trouble with records being inaccurate/missing submitted information or login/access permission issues? The examples our school nurses have given seems mostly to involve diabetic treatment records.
The only communication we've received so far from SchoolCare on 5/28 was:
"We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this has caused. Last night, our team performed a vital system upgrade, and unfortunately, this has led to the issues you're currently experiencing. Please rest assured, our team is actively working on a fix and is prioritizing getting everything back on track as quickly as possible. We truly appreciate your patience and understanding during this time."
https://redd.it/1jprecn
@r_k12sysadmin
u6 pro vs u7 pro unifi
is there any reason I should consider the U6 pro anymore or should I only be looking at the U7 pro in a K 12 environment
https://redd.it/1jpnd0y
@r_k12sysadmin
Savvas SuccessMaker
Other orgs that use Savvas SuccessMaker - do you constantly have issues with the platform? Like blank screens, content not loading, progress not saving, students getting booted..etc?
Support has been less than helpful and only provides the troubleshooting guides which have already been viewed 100 times.
Issues are not easy to reproduce and come in waves in random cycles. A few weeks will go by, no issues. Then issues for several days.
We are all on Chromebooks.
https://redd.it/1jp8hik
@r_k12sysadmin
Mimio Pad replacements
Has anyone found a good replacement for the mimio pads? I buy the ones I can find as they pop up on ebay but I'd like to find something I can get reliably that is good.
https://redd.it/1jp5ol9
@r_k12sysadmin