Management Tools for Computer Labs?

dorko72 asks: "I have been put in charge of setting up a small computer lab (30 workstations) for a local community. The benefactor is providing the hardware (dell workstations and one server) as well as the operating system for these systems (Windows XP Professional and Windows 2000 Advanced Server) All the equipment is used, but not too old. I would like to find out what some of you guys use to monitor and manage the lab usage (ie provide realtime stats of which station is in use, etc). I would plan to set these machines in a Windows domain using Win2k Advanced Server as the controller via Active Directory. There must be some way to access AD and find out who is logged in to what machine in the domain. Any suggestions or ideas would be much appreciated."

Comments

Short list

[Anonymous Coward]

This is the short list of the few tools that you will find necessary while managing a public computing lab.

1. Strong locks for the outer doors of the lab.
2. Clippers capable of severing all keyboard and mouse cables.
3. A sturdy, 36" Crowbar.
4. Cheap bourbon.

Long and painful experience has shown that management software and administrative tools are interchangeable luxuries at best (and are more often nothing more than time-consuming placebos). While you are certain to receive many suggestions for that type of product, I am certain that the list above represents the absolutely indispensible core of any competent adminstrator's toolkit.

Learn from the master

[ebbe11]

Assuming that you will be in charge, here are some pointers on how it can be done

Sometimes the oldest managment tools are the best

[sharkey]

Never underestimate the power of a pointy stick.