Microsoft have released an update to their iPad Remote Desktop App which has fixed the issue which stopped it working.  Version 8.1.5, released on 29th October, can be downloaded from the Apple App Store.  If you’ve previously had an older version on your iPad I suggest you update it.  Don’t have it?  Click HERE on your iPad to get it.

In addition recent updates to the App have changed the look and feel of the way it works, making my previous help guide on setting it up out of date.  Below is an updated version of the my set up guide.  Again, this assumes you’re using at least version 8.1.5 and is already successfully installed to your iPad.

Step 1
Open the Microsoft Remote Desktop App.  If this is the first time you’ve run it, you’ll see the below. If you’ve used it before, I suggest you delete any previous entries.  You might find it easier to simply delete and re-install the app.

Step 2
Click on the PLUS button in the top right and select ADD REMOTE RESOURSE FEED.

Step 3
In the Feed URL field type https://ts.nortoncollege.n-yorks.sch.uk/rdweb/feed/webfeed.aspx
In the User Name field choose to add a new user account and type
Norton\username (where username is your network username)
Tap SAVE.

Step 4
Once done, a familiar looking screen will display.  Click Remote Access.  The first time you run this, you may be prompted to login twice, the first time will create a new Gateway connection, which will then be remember for the next time you use it,

Step 5 (TIP)
Double tap on the black REMOTE DESKTOP banner at the top of the screen to activate side menus and change to TOUCH mode (lower right).  I find this much easier to use.  Doing other wise is like using a badly calibrated Interactive whiteboard.  You’ll see what I mean if you try it.

Final Thoughts
My suggestion is to use Remote Access on the iPad to simply read information from the network, for instance browsing SIMS or reading a document.  I find that the touch interface of an iPad doesn’t’ lend itself very well to creating content, but your own experience and tolerance to it may vary.

Enjoy.

The October network downtime was required to address two specific issues.

SIMS
SIMS is basically a database of information and that database is in a format called SQL.  The college is currently using SQL 2008, but from Easter 2015 SIMS will need to run on SQL 2012.  In addition, the method that we used to push out updates to SIMS uses something called SOLUS.  We are using SOLUS2 and from Easter 2015 we need to be using SOLUS3.  It was decided to update both of these things during the October 2014 half term as staff will probably require SIMS during the February half term and Easter holiday revision sessions which are likely to occur.
Both SIMS updates have been completed.

Storage space
As a couple of members had already identified, the college was running out of storage space on both the Media drive (M) and the Student Shared Drives (W).  In addition the network was also low on available space in ‘behind the scenes’ areas.  While we had the spare capacity, that unused storage space was not in the right locations for us to simply add additional space to the locations that needed it.  Instead we had to shuffle multiple smaller blocks of data around the network, to free up larger blocks, which could then be allocated to more appropriate locations…very much like a logic puzzle game.  This movement of data could only be done when the corresponding server was offline, hence the intermittent outage of the various servers on the network.  This movement of data has now been completed and we should be fine for storage space in the medium term.
Additional Storage space allocated to required areas

Welcome to the IT Support Blog.  This blog is designed to become an archive of useful information for staff and is intended to replace the detailed emails that IT Support often need to send out.

Any feedback staff have on this blog is welcome.