Q.1 I have a problem with Facebook, how can I contact them?
A. Issues with social networking sites, misuse with mobiles and other communications technology are dealt with here on the Teach Today website.
Q.2 Where do I find the request form for unblocking a website?
A. Information about our web filtering system is available here
The form is on our Documents and Downloads page
Q.3 Where can we dispose of old ICT equipment?
A. Follow this link for information about WEEE and the disposal of ICT equipment
Q.4 Our school needs to create/update our website. Where do I start?
A. Follow this link for information about designing a school website.
Q.5 Is there a Windows Server Update Service that I can use instead of using Windows Update?
A. Broadband Sandwell has a WSUS server on the internal network for this purpose. You will need to install WSUS on a 2003 server in your school (probably the Curriculum server). This software can be downloaded from here and is free to use (subject to the licensing information on the download page).
Once installed, follow these instructions:
- Click Start - All Programs – Administrative Tools – Microsoft Windows Server Update Services
- This will open up the Windows Server Update Services console
- Once the console has opened, located in the top right corner of the console
- select Synchronization Options
- select Proxy Server
- Tick the Use a Proxy Server when synchronizing
- Enter schools proxy server details (these should be the same proxy settings as used by Internet Explorer)
- Click Update Source
- Select Synchronize from an upstream Windows Server Update Services server
- enter the following server details:
- Server: 172.28.9.19
- Port: 80
- click Save settings
- Once the settings have been save select Synchronize now which is located directly above Save Settings
Q.6 How do I create an automatic redirector from one web site to another one?
A. Create a new index.html with the following content:
<html>
<meta http-equiv=”refresh” content=”1; url=http://www.emu.org.uk”>
Please wait while you are redirected to our website…
</html>
You should change the emu.org.uk to your own target website
The 1; is the time before redirecting in seconds. This can be as low as 0, but this will give you problems if there is a mistake: you won’t be able to even do a refresh before it moves on. Start with e.g. 5 seconds then reduce it when you are sure everything works ok.
Q.7 How can I synchronise the time of my Windows Servers and Workstations to the correct time?
A. (Thanks to Peter Hobbs for this tip). On the server, go to the command prompt and type
net time /setsntp:ntp0.ja.net
This will sync your server's time with the ja.net ntp server.
Q.8 How can I connect to SMBC's Intranet Systems (SBS, Atrium, Phonenet)?
A. There is a test that should be carried out to determine whether the configuration can be done by the school or will need my involvement, as follows:
At the computer to be used,
Click on start,
Click on Run
Type CMD into the text box and press enter.
In the Black box (DOS window) that opens, type
Ping sbs-apps1.sandwell.gov.uk (press enter)
This should return the following line straight away:
Pinging sbs-apps1.sandwell.gov.uk [172.24.84.11] with 32 bytes of data:
If so, the DNS in the school is configured correctly.
(If not, please contact Broadband Sandwell in order to adjust the DNS configuration in the school. This will be chargeable at our current hourly visit rate for schools that do not subscribe to our Technical Support SLA. Please note that the above test checks whether the DNS is likely to be correct, this is not the only requirement to allow the service to be accessed.)
If the above test was successful (i.e. once the DNS is suitably configured):
Open Internet Explorer
Click on Tools in the menus, and choose Internet Options
Click on the "Connections" tab, and locate and click the Lan Settings button
Ensure that the MIDDLE tick box is ticked, and that all others are NOT TICKED
In the Auto Configuration Script: text box, type
http://pac.clickinto.sandwell.gov.uk/generic.pac
Click OK, OK, OK.
Close, and restart Internet Explorer
Browse to http://macaw.clickinto.sandwell.gov.uk
This web page provides links to the SMBC intranet systems that you can bookmark.
NB: These are intranet-only web services, you have to be on the Sandwell Schools Broadband Network to access these systems.
Q.9 What bandwidth should I expect from the connection?
A. Please follow this link to our Comparing Broadband Services page.
Q.10 How do make Internet Explorer remember usernames and passwords?
A. NB: You should not set this on shared computers as other people will be able to access your password protected resources.
- Run Internet Explorer, then choose tools..Internet Options. On the Content tab, click the Autocomplete button, then tick the "Prompt me to save passwords"
Q.11 How do I clear out old passwords stored by my computer?
A. For passwords that are stored on web pages by Internet Explorer, use the following techniques:
- If you are using Internet Explorer Version 7 or later, run Internet Explorer, then choose tools..Internet Options. On the General tab, under Browsing History, click Delete, then choose Delete passwords.
- If you are using Internet Explorer Version 6 or earlier, run Internet Explorer, then choose tools..Internet Options. On the Content tab, click the Autocomplete button, then choose Clear Passwords.
Unfortunately this is an "all or nothing" solution, all passwords stored will be cleared
Q.12 Can I increase the IP range allocated to my school?
A. Please follow this link to our Changing IP Scope page.
Q.13 My Windows XP workstations keep trying to install the same software?
A. This is an old problem that should have been dealt with by windows updates. If you are still suffering from this problem, contact us to determine if extra work is needed to upgrade your computer. In the meantime, click here for the Windows Installer cleanup tool.
Q.14 How do I find and change MTU settings in Windows Vista?
A. In a command prompt, type
netsh interface ipv4 show interfaces
this will return a list of the network connections and their MTU values. Each connection is allocated an “Idx” value on this list. In order to change the MTU for one of the connections, type the following command, replacing 99 with the Idx value of the connection in question, and 1200 with the MTU required:
netsh interface ipv4 set subinterface “99” mtu=1200 store=persistent
Q.15 Will I be able to stream a sports event from an online website?
A. There are many types of video streaming. If you are trying to stream a school sports event, the Sandwell Schools Broadband Network has a video streaming server, contact us for details.
If it's a national or international event, such as the World Cup or the Olympics, no, we won't block access, but please consider that many other users may also wish to watch the same event, and this may affect bandwidth. (We note that the 2012 Olympics takes place during the summer holiday, so we don't anticipate that our bandwidth will be swamped).
When streaming live events, the activity is covered by the Broadcasting Acts, and so the viewing organisation must have a valid television license.
Alternatives to viewing on the internet are available. Modern multimedia projectors have audio and video-in sockets. These can be connected to a standard Freeview box, a DVD or VHS video recorder, and this can be used to display the broadcast footage from the TV aerial, without involving a computer. This is the best way to display multicast video, as the TV aerial is designed for mass reception, while the internet is better at individual activities.
Q16: Will the new UK law regarding Cookies affect me?
For information about the new UK cookie law, click here. For information about cookies, click here.
At the time of writing, Broadband Sandwell have yet to receive definitive information about this change, but we understand that the law now requires any website that intends to leave a cookie on a user's PC to give the user a choice before the cookie can be stored. The Broadband Sandwell websites do not use cookies, and so users can be assured that we will not be placing cookies on your PCs, but schools should be aware of this change and the implications for the school's own website.
To test whether your website contains cookies, first, browse the website and then open the Temporary Internet Files folder on your computer (from Internet Explorer, Tools menu.. Internet Options.. Browsing History..Settings... View files).
If the website has left a cookie, there will be a file in this folder named cookie:(username)@(website)
Refer to your website's author to update the website if necessary.
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