[K12OSN] Any one used SYMBIO?

[Huck]

Are you using the The Symbiont Boot Appliance (SBA)?
Or just the management suite on top of K12LTSP ?

--Huck

Steve Hargadon wrote:
> I use Symbio Technologies products all the time.  I know there's a bit
> of a commercial / free software conflict, but there are some things
> that their software does that I really appreciate.
> 
> First, I should say that I am doing commercial installations for
> schools.  Meaning, I help a school purchase a server and set it up,
> and then convert their existing machines to thin clients.  My school
> customers tend to be schools that are struggling with technology
> issues, and without LTSP would not have adequate computing resources
> (thanks again to all involved in LTSP).  However, they also don't have
> the time or resources or knowledge to start LTSP from scratch, but
> once implemented are eager to learn and be self-sufficient.
> 
> Here's what I like about the Symbiont Management Suite, which I now am
> trying to use every time I set up LTSP.
> 
> 1.  All of the configuration settings that the school would have to do
> by hand for individual workstations can be done from a gui interface.
> 
> 2.  Specific hardware configurations for workstations can be saved and
> applied as a template to other workstations with the same hardware
> configuration.
> 
> 3.  Workstations can be grouped (say by classroom), and from that
> grouping you can apply certain default settings or see the status of
> the workstations at any point in time.
> 
> 4.  User and workstation status indicators are readily available, so
> you can see who is logged on, what workstations are running, and who
> is actually on a given workstation.
> 
> 5.  Because the program is based on webmin, I can remotely view the
> same screens that my user is looking at, and I can talk them (easily)
> through adding a workstation, or changing a display resolution, or
> setting up a printer.  This is way easier than trying to show them the
> coding of a configuration file.
> 
> 6.  The program has a setting that doesn't allow anonymous
> logins--this is super helpful on the initial setup.  When a
> workstation boots up for the first time and is trying to get an IP
> address from dhcp, the program tells you what the mac address of that
> machine is, and lets you give it a name and apply a hardware
> configuration template to it.  It may not seem like much, but when you
> are trying to help someone get 60 computers up, being able to quickly
> name each computer (example, FirstA--meaning first grade, computer A)
> and then apply the CompaqDeskpro 2000 hardware settings, and then
> group it in the first grade room makes keeping track of everything
> really easy.  It also makes it very easy for the principal or tech
> coordinator to see and understand what is going on.
> 
> 7.  You can send a message to an individual user.
> 
> 8.  I find that sound is well supported when Symbiont Mangement Suite
> is installed.
> 
> 9.  Technical support.  You buy Symbionts products through a VAR, but
> as the VAR I am able to get training and help, which is really nice to
> have as a backup--since as much as I love and appreciate this list, it
> really helps to have someone with direct responsibility to help you
> solve a problem.
> 
> There are other features that I haven't learned to use, but these are
> the practical ones that have made it worthwhile to me to encourage my
> customers to purchase the Symbiont program when I am doing an
> installation.
> 
> Steve
> 
> On 5/8/05, Richard Johnson <richard at richardljohnson.com> wrote:
> 
>>I just read an article in the May issues of Liux Magazine on SYMBIO. Has
>>anyone used it and if so what is your thought on it?
>>
>>Thanks,
>>Richard-
>>
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> 
>