HIT: TECH: AT EASE ON NETWORK-Pt. 2

["Jane Perry/ George O'Connor" <perocon@MINT.NET>]

I am at a school that uses MacControl to control who has what access to
the
computer.  Our computer tech person set it up, giving teachers a certain
set of access privileges, students another, support staff another.  As
the
librarian, I have been given administrator access, meaning I have access
to
everything.  It sounds to me like the tech person doesn't understand
what
you need to have access to.  At least, he/she needs to let you know how
to
circumvent the system so you can accomplish tasks as needed.  It's a
pain
to have to run to someone else everytime you have to perform a
particular
task!!!  Hope this helps.

We use at ease on all of our district computers. Only administrators
(because of the administrative software we use), the Library/Media
people and tech. people have access to "everything".  Staff is set up to
a restricted finder with access to everything pretty much except the
system folder.  This means that staff can't install software,etc.,
meaning we can keep better track of copyright issues, etc.
If you are involved with technology in your school, I would think that
you would have full access, as well as your tech. person.  He he/she
always in your building?  There are many times that I fix problems long
before our tech people make it around to our building.  Putting all your
"eggs in one basket" is risky- what if they are out sick for an extended
time?  Who fixes the problems?
Some of our staff don't like the limited access, but it saves us a lot
of headaches.  Hope this helps!

i administer AT EASE on  our network at cathedral.  i have deselected
the
option "show any CD-ROM' to increase security, b/c somebody could
potentially bypass AT Ease w/ a program on a disk or CD-ROM. that's all
i
know:  there may be some reason for it . . .

so if somebody wants to view a CD-ROM i have to install it on the
harddrive, have it display as an icon on the at ease panel, and then a
person can use that cd-rom.

it's limiting, but that's the price of security.

Concerning your question about access to your hard drive and network to
install
cd-roms.

would you please let me know what you find out?  I will be experiencing
something similiar soon and would like any information possible to arm
myself.


Our tech people and coordinator are assuring us that we will have access
in
order to install cd-roms and add users.  Since our population is very
fluid, it
just makes sense to have us do the useers rather than wait around for
the
technician to do it.

My school is also using AT EASE over the Network Also.
We are having problems of our own:

Our District TEch Person hasn't been able to connect the CD TOWER to the
system yet.  With out having each child sign on to the tower.  I don't
really want to put 600 students and 50 staff into another database.
Right now our staff has open access to their machines when their
passwords are in the system.  It has been this way for a while in our
district.  They have had security on them but teachers could remove it
to install materials.   We have had problems with people deleting files
they thought they didn't need. Often they deleted the wrong file.   and
caused problems.   We are thinking about limiting the access teachers
have through AT EASE.  The Building Computer Teacher and I will have
system Administrator access, so that we can add students and put
machines back on the system. When they get moved and unpluged from the
network.

Since our passwords haven't become part of the Administrative list yet
he has had to come over almost every day just to put some machine back
on the network.
I think he has decided to spend some time, getting it fixed so that he
won't have to come back over as often.   He was still working at 7:30 pm
last night when I finally left last night. He hadn't even started
Working on the Media Center computers.  trying to fix problems caused by
people having more access then they should have.
Our Network is becoming busier, as we have added the Internet, 2 other
buildings,
YOur Tech Person may be trying to save everyone late nights correcting
problems.  But prehaps you could have a password so you can install your
programs

The most common practice I have encountered in schools that are wired to
a central fileserverm is that no one except the lab manager has access
to the fileserver.  To lose control over your own computer harddrive is
an abuse of power.  Your lab manager needs a little self-control.

You should insist on having the option of signing on to the network or
staying local on your own hard drive, for each machine under your
control.  Since not every program or CD-ROM is networkable, you need to
be able to use your own single-user programs without interference or
"help" from anyone!

Our IBM/Windows 95 network is set up so ONLY the tech person has access
to the server......only the tech person can install software or
upgrades.
I'm STILL waiting to upgrade my Media Management software.....

I understand the need to protect the system from happy fingers but it is
frustrating......


No, that is not normal.  You are the specialist in the library and need
to beable to access the information as your clients need it.  I have
full access to the passwords and can be called upon to install programs
when our tech people are busy.
--
   I have the same job part-time and the same software at our Middle
School.  You may ask why he feels that no one should have access to
their
hard drive.  In our case I have given teachers rights to drives but
definitely not students, except for floppies.  I beleive he is being
over-protective about equipment that he is asked to care for.  When you
are asked to "fix" problems resulting from installations, misinstalled.
I know I have had these frustrations.  If asked I know he can allow you
special privileges.

Our SysOp is more than happy to give me rights to any part of Novell I
can master.  Given that he has spent thousands of dollars and hours
learning Novell, he is realistic about how much I "need to know" and is
willing to help as long as I am willing to learn.  I can understand not
wanting the whole staff to have rights to network files -- VERY scary.
However, I'm sure that you are in the "need" category and surely have
proven your competencies.  Can you compromise on some degree of rights?

--I don't know if you read my post yesterday about Warning?? where I
explained how my computer teacher left with out telling me or anyone
else
the passcodes for the MenuMaster software he had installed,

but your problem is one we had all over the building.  I hae 20 CD-ROMs
but
anyone who wanted to use one had to wait for him to install it for
them!!
What a huge pain in the _ss!!  Consequently, no one wanted the hassle so
they wouldn't bother with the CD-ROMs.

When he tried to put MenuMaster Mac on my workstation computer and my
Winnebago file server I told him DON"T YOU DARE!! And that was the end
of
that!

I think you need to nicely explain, in writing, the reasons why this is
educationally unsound and foolish, and copy it to the principal and
whoever
else you feel would help you with this.

And make sure the person writes down every password he installs and
gives
you or the principal a copy!!


Hi, this was interesting - I'm in a similar situation with my technician
trying to hold power! Please let me know if you get any responses!
regards

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