Faronics Launches Tracking Software for Computer Labs
Faronics has unveiled online software for school district computer labs that automatically tracks lab, computer, application and printer usage data. Faronics LabPro, available now, provides both real-time and historical data.
LabPro keeps a record of log-in activity, session length, printer ink, and paper and application usage. School districts can use this information to make decisions on moving machines to more in-demand locations, changing computer lab hours, and keeping or eliminating hardware and software licenses. The information can also be used when making budgetary decisions.
Additional features of LabPro include:
- Shareable detailed usage reports with information from LabPro;
- Ability to import external data;
- Online portal for teachers to reserve computer labs, with double-booking prevention;
- Trouble Tickets, allowing students to report technical difficulties, which are filtered by category and status; and
- Workstation alerts, which let IT administrators send messages to networks of computers or an individual one.
In addition, Workstation Maps shows students using a color code which computers are currently available from their mobile devices. This tool also shows which computer labs have what printing capabilities. Managers can decide which maps they want to make public or private. Maps can be customized with workstation descriptions and icons, displays options, and background colors.
The Faronics LabPro server component runs on Windows Vista (32 and 64 bit); Windows 7 (32 and 64 bit), Windows 2003 SP2/R2 SP2 and 2008 SP2/R2; Web Server IIS 6,7,7.5; Cassini Database Server SQL 2008/SQL 2008 R2 Express; and .NET 4.0 Framework.
The Faronics LabPro client works with Windows XP, Vista, 7, 2003, 2003 RS, 2008, 2008 R2; Mac OSX 10.4 or higher with Mono 2.10.2; Linux Ubuntu 9 or higher; Fedora 14; and Red Hat Enterprise 6.
For more information visit faronics.com.
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Tim Sohn is a 10-year veteran of the news business, having served in capacities from reporter to editor-in-chief of a variety of publications including Web sites, daily and weekly newspapers, consumer and trade magazines, and wire services. He can be reached at [email protected] and followed on Twitter @editortim.