The rollout of the NT schools network
was completed with the cutover of Darwin High School on 16
December so schools will be starting 2007 with the very latest
in IT hardware and software. We would like to express our
thanks to school staff for their patience and assistance during
the rollout. A number of refinements are planned over the
next few weeks as part of a second phase of the project to
provide more flexibility and better control of resources.
These enhancements are detailed in the Phase 2 initiatives.
NT Schools Phase 2 Initiatives
A number
of refinements are planned over the next few weeks as
part of a second phase of the project to provide more
flexibility and better control of resources. The following
is a summary of these initiatives. We are keen to get
feedback on these changes and suggestions for other
enhancements to the service.
(double click to activate)
Integration of DEET Corporate and NT Schools
Domains
The email address books for the NT Schools and DEET
users will be links so users can have direct access
between the schools and corporate email environments
and will not need to add the suffix, @ntschools.net
or @nt.gov.au when sending messages between the two
environments.
Secure Remote Access to School Networks
At the moment access to school resources from the Internet
is limited to email, portal services and online resources.
A secure access service is being developed that will
allow staff to connect into school networks and services
from the internet. This will be similar to the FoB key
system that is currently used by DEET corporate users
to access their systems over the Internet.
Foreign Computers on School Networks
A services is being developed that will allow foreign
computers to connect to wireless services in schools.
This feature would allow schools to permit students
and other visitors to connect their personal computers
to school wireless networks and access to the Internet
and online services from the school without compromising
the security of the school ICT environment.
Local “Imaging”
The new software management systems provide automated
updates to the standard software suite on school computers
however we currently do not have the ability to customise
this service for individual computers. A number of options
are being explored to allow school ICT coordinators
to customise and tailor software management for computers
in their schools. There are a number of established
solutions to provide this service but they are relatively
expensive.
Service Selection and Suspension
The ability to selectively suspend disable email and
internet access for student accounts will be developed
in the second release of ePass. In the meantime the
global account suspension feature in ePass can be used
to temporarily disable all IT services.
Web Red and Green Lists
The red and green list features provided in the LATIS
network are not supported in the new environment. We
are currently working on a interim solution to allow
schools to block specific websites at a schools level.
The Green List features will be introduced when the
content filter services are upgraded later this year.
Centralised web filtering services are still available.
This service allows/disallows website content at a global
level, i.e. for all NT Schools. Click
here for details on blocking or unblocking websites.
Local email and File quotas
Tools are being developed to allow school ICTC’s
to modify the default mail and disc quota’s for
their users using a new admin interface.
ePass is coming to all school users shortly.
ePass or the electronic Passport provides each user with an
electronic passport to record personal and contact information
and request new or modify existing ICT accounts such as moving
between schools and changing roles. The user ids and passwords
stored in ePass will be used to access all ICT systems except
SAMS.
New User Please complete Request
New User form for creating new accounts in NT Schools
Directory.
User School Move
Please complete Request
School Move form for any user moving to your school.
School Codes are listed in the School Code list attached.
If there is also a role change for the user then it is expected
the school move will occur first then the role change.
User Role Change
Please complete the Request
Role Change form for any user whose school primary role
or additional responsibility has
changed. Refer to NT Schools User Roles list attached
to ensure correct role is selected.
The School
Code spreadsheet lists the school codes. Your will need
to use the one assigned to your school for all requests.
The roles and responsibilities for each user
group are defined in the attached
sheet.
We are aiming to implement ePass in the next
two weeks and will be able to dispense with these interim
measures.
All user accounts in ntschools must be assigned
a unique role, (student, teachers etc). There are also three
additional responsibilities that users may be assigned (ICTC,
Librarian and SAMS Admin) that provide additional system access
rights. Users must be assigned only one role but may have
any number of additional responsibilities. The services and
drives available to each of these roles and responsibilities
are detailed in the attached
spreadsheet.
Schools can purchase additional Dell computers
under the supply contract with DEET. Two desktop and two notebook
models are available under this arrangement and come with
the same software configuration and 3 year onsite warranty
provided with the centrally supplied computers. The specifications
of the standard models will be updated every 6 months to match
advances in technology. Other Dell equipment in the standard
catalogue may also be purchased through this service.
Any computers ordered through this service
must be paid for by the school and approval of an online order
will commit the school to payment on delivery of the equipment.
Registrars and principals should contact IT Services to set
up your school Dell purchase administration accounts.
DEET and school employees are able to purchase
the notebook computers provided by Dell under an employee
purchase program. These devices have the same hardware specifications
and warranty conditions as the school notebooks however they
have Windows Home Edition as the operating system and do not
have Microsoft Office installed. Microsoft Office Professional
can be provided to staff at no cost by schools under a home
use agreement. The DEET employee purchase service can be found
at www.dell.com.au/epp2.
The DEET account number is 3012159 and the
password is dellepp. Any purchases through this service are
private transactions between the employee and Dell and must
be paid for using a personal credit card.
Staff may be able to use salary sacrifice arrangements to purchase
notebook computers. Details of the salary packaging options
for NT Government employees can be found on the DCIS
website.
The fees for the Microsoft Schools
agreement will be collected from schools in the next few weeks.
Schools will need to contribute $30 for each computer that
has the new Office Suite installed. A fee of $10 is also applicable
for any other computers connected to the ntschools domain
to cover the cost of server and email licences.
Schools will also need to consider licensing
for virus protection software for any additional computers
they purchase.
A new system was implemented in December
to provide more effective blocking of SPAM emails and hopefully
you will be free of the deluge of unwanted emails that impacted
on the service last year.
We are please to introduce Peter McGill
who has replaced Troy Jackson as the IT Operations Manager.
Peter has a wealth of experience in ICT in both the NT Government
and Private Sectors and has hit the ground running with the
management of our IT procurement projects.
As previously advised printers were not
replaced under the NTSCHOOLS technology upgrade project. Schools
wishing to purchase replacement or additional printers can
buy from any printer hardware retailer. If you wish to take
advantage of the contracted price and full warranty repair
arrangement, Corporate Express who supplied the Server and
UPS equipment to the upgrade project have offered the Brother
HL-5270DN Workgroup Network Monochrome Laser Printer at $501.15
exclusive of GST. (Please note that this printer supplied
under the Department's contract arrangements will change as
newer models are released).
For further printer specifications
and model details please click
here.
