These advantages come at a price, placing further demands on overstretched network technicians to manage the expanded system. Thankfully intelligent ways exist to recover time and resources, such as adding InterJigsaw to the network.

Network management can be complex and time-consuming in schools and colleges; due to large numbers of PCs, individuals belonging to several groups, and regular movement between locations. The ongoing task of creation, maintenance and removal of user accounts on the network domain controllers can frustrate skilled technicians and divert them from key tasks such as developing the Virtual Learning Environment.

Tools that empower

To simplify and streamline the administration of a school’s network, an Essex based company, Akhter Computers, has developed InterJigsaw, a powerful set of tools that provides a much needed front-end user-friendly interface to the Windows Server 2003 network environment. Designed to help Network Technicians, InterJigsaw’s quick to use tools employ simple drag and drop procedures and cut the time to completion of the more arduous day-to-day tasks. IT staff running InterJigsaw have more time to concentrate on the important issues that demand their specific skill sets.

As InterJigsaw is fully Microsoft compatible, without proprietary development routes, skilled administrators are still able to adjust the network settings using the native Windows environment without breaking the functionality of InterJigsaw.

“We were looking for tools which would work alongside Windows, complementing it rather than taking it over, in turn allowing us the autonomy of our own procedures when required.”

Steve Bacon, Head of IT, Bishop’s Stortford College

Simple efficient administrative facilities

During the development of InterJigsaw, Akhter engineers researched the requirements of System Administrators and developed a front-end that is both easy to use and efficient in managing day-to-day tasks. Skilled technicians can be frustrated with repetitive administration when using the native Windows environment. InterJigsaw cuts the time spent on such tasks, and enables them to be delegated to non-technical users. The InterJigsaw importer system allows a large number of user accounts to be imported in seconds from an existing CSV (Comma Separated Values) data file. A CSV file can often be created from accounting systems, Microsoft Excel or even Notepad. The importer performs a wide range of checks to ensure that the CSV file is valid, before the accounts are created. A logon can be generated from any characters in the user’s full name. Random numbers or letters in these calculated fields can be used to generate passwords.

Simplified account creation

Creating a User Group through the native Windows environment is time consuming. Using InterJigsaw makes this process as simple as entering a Group name and pressing the return key. InterJigsaw creates everything necessary including a default policy for the Group, data areas for the user home folders and logon scripts. User groups can be created on any domain controller or member server in the domain and InterJigsaw provides a single consistent view of the data.

Creating a new user account is just as easy and takes seconds to do. By indicating to InterJigsaw which group the user belongs to, it will automatically create the necessary system objects, home folder, profile folder and set the appropriate permissions. The account is immediately ready for the user to log-on. InterJigsaw can also create Microsoft Exchange mailboxes automatically, when user accounts are created.

Desktop and start menu management

InterJigsaw creates a desktop and start menu for each group of users as simply as using drag and drop. This is stored on a central server, so that the user will obtain the correct group menu, wherever they log on. A system administrator can select, which application shortcuts are available for each user group, ensuring that users within specific groups only run permitted applications. Where required, this feature can be switched off for a group, allowing the user to access the local workstation desktop and start menu.

Policy management made simpler

Windows uses policies to control many aspects of the workstation configuration. This allows an administrator to centrally manage a large number of workstations and users without having to visit each individual workstation. Although the policy system is very powerful it requires a high level of skill to implement correctly. InterJigsaw manages many common policies through a simple to use front end. When a new user group is created, a policy is automatically generated with certain operating system features locked down by default. The InterJigsaw console can modify these policy settings through its user-friendly interface.

Secure data management and rebuild

When creating user accounts, InterJigsaw creates home directories on a specified domain controller or member server. The User’s ‘my documents’ folder is redirected to this server based folder so that data is stored on the server rather than on individual workstations. InterJigsaw automatically sets permissions on home folders to prevent unauthorised access to user data. Storing data on a central file server rather than on a workstation makes it much easier to rebuild or replace the workstation in the event of a system corruption or hardware problem. InterJigsaw also creates a shared folder that allows group users to exchange and share common files.

“Akhter’s InterJigsaw frees me to perform more developmental work as it empowers teachers to take ownership of the day to day administration of their class groups. Teachers love it too, because they can see their profile and use the Akhter tools from any workstation. It’s easy to use too, especially compared to Active Directory.”

Simon Harvey, System Manager, Manchester High School for Girls

Managing printers, disk quotas and files

In a large network where users log on to any workstation, managing printers can be difficult. InterJigsaw can automatically connect users to the correct shared network printers when they logon to a workstation. It is not necessary for the user to run the printer connection wizard or for an administrator to install the printer locally on the workstation. InterJigsaw fully integrates with the Windows Disk Quota System to provide a much easier to use system with additional functionality. Disk quotas are automatically updated when a user is moved between groups and disk quota entries are automatically deleted when the user account is deleted. Using InterJigsaw you can deploy one or more files directly into the home folders of selected users. This is useful for distributing subject project files, homework or other resources.

The InterJigsaw advantage

Adding InterJigsaw brings a friendlier Windows 2003 network that can be managed with less effort using powerful automated procedures. InterJigsaw ensures that network expansion brings fewer headaches, and that the ongoing administration can be handled efficiently, consuming less time and with less reliance on the busy ICT people.

In addition to InterJigsaw, Akhter offers an extensive range of network support software and migration services to schools. For more information on InterJigsaw, and the AkhterSuite of products, contact Akhter Computers plc

Akhter Computers plc
Tel: 01279 821200
Fax: 01279 821300
More information can be found on Akhter’s network software website www.akhtersuite.co.uk

Printer friendly version

Email this article to a friend