2 classes on the same network segment - how to configure
Kevin Edwards
I purchased LANSchool 4.0 for my school. Run it on a novell 3.11 network. Problem is that we only
have one network segment. When I run it in one room I get it shouwing up in the other which I definately don't want.
The manual has nothing on how to get different machines assigned to a particular class group.
A harddrive setting file won't work as most of our PCs are diskless workstations. I'm sure there must be configuration info
on the intel website, but I can't seem to find it. Any help greatly appreciated.
Dana Doggett
I'm not really clear from your message if you are still using 4.0 or
have upgraded to the 5.0 version. The basic technology is the same,
so I'll answer as if you are using the v5.0 version.
Every LANSchool teacher data packet has a "channel number" in it's
header. This allows for multiple teachers to broadcast at the same
time on the same segment to a specific group of students. There is
an environment variable (WLS_CLASS) which tells the teacher and
student machine what channel to use. The workstation installation
utility (LS_SETUP) will ask for a channel number and set the
environment variable in the autoexec.bat file.
You mention that you are using diskless workstations, so I'm guessing
there is no local autoexec.bat file for each station. If this is the
case, you'll have to find some way to set this environment variable
before the LANSchool software loads.
Kevin Edwards
The diskless stations have bootroms on the NICs which hook into a boot
image on the server. I may be misunderstanding you, but the problem is that
the teacher may be teaching from any machine. Because the boot image is set by
network card there is no way of getting a particular machine to use a particular boot image.
I can simply place harddrives in two machines, but these will be used by students as
well.
The windows setup is 3.11 running as a thin client in the local homedrives on the
network referring to the main copy on the network. This setup is used by the teachers and
students. What I'm really looking for is a way to set the environment variable in windows,
so that I can just change the teachers client copy of windows on their homedrives.
Lee G
In a message received by Intel on 2/19/98 8:25:00 PM, Kevin Edwards
wrote:
:>The diskless stations have bootroms on the NICs which hook into a boot
:> .
The program does not lend itself to diskless workstations. We have not
tested with this layout. A Teacher station usually is a dedicate
workstation. A teacher or student workstation must be set on boot.
Lee G
ICS-ASC
Intel Internet Support