Installing the RISC System to a Server

Installing the RISC System to a Server

The installation of the RISC software to a standalone PC is quite straightforward. The step-by-step instructions for doing this can be found in the RISC Installation Guide supplied with all new RISC packages. The Installation Guide also has instructions for setting up RISC to run from a fileserver in a network situation. This webpage provides some additional advice and hints for an effective network installation, covering different network options.

Some Considerations Before Installing RISC onto a Fileserver:

These instructions are intended to be read and followed by the school's Network Administrator.

RISC can and should run entirely from a fileserver with both the programs and data stored on the server’s hard disk. All that is required on each workstation to run RISC are shortcuts to the server path and adequate privileges (user rights) assigned to your network logon account. Whenever installing any software or applications onto a fileserver for use by multiple workstations, consideration needs to be given to the security aspects of the installation. RISC resides in two main folders - a user-specified path for the programs, a path for RISC data that resides directly below the program path and paths for RISC Form Letters, Indexes, Photos, Saved Letters and Reports that are below the data path.

NOTE! RISC v8 supports UNC Paths like: \\SERVER1\STAFF PROGRAMS\RISC for the Program and Data paths.

For example, if the system administrator specifies F:\STAFFAPPS\RISC as the path for the RISC programs on the server (as viewed from a workstation), the RISC installation routine will automatically place RISC data into F:\STAFFAPPS\RISC\DATA, RISC Form Letters into F:\STAFFAPPS\RISC\DATA\FORMLTRS, RISC Data Indexes into F:\STAFFAPPS\RISC\DATA\INDEX and RISC Contact Reports into F:\STAFFAPPS\RISC\DATA\REPORTS.

When allocating access to RISC for users, the following recommendations should be taken into consideration:

LAN System Administrator -

The person who installs RISC onto the fileserver is the LAN System Administrator. This person normally has full access to all volumes (disks) and folders (paths) on a fileserver and should also be responsible for setting Preferences for RISC (see 'Configuring' in the RISC Help System).

RISC System Administrator -

This person is not necessarily the LAN System Administrator. It should be someone who will be responsible for configuring RISC - i.e. defining the various Lookup Tables - Contact Categories, Types, Statuses and Shortcuts, specifying Teachers' (RISC user) names and refreshing the Student Database. Typically this person will be a senior user of RISC.

The RISC System Administrator requires full access (Read, Write, Create, Erase, Modify and Filescan, or RWCEMF for short) to the RISC Data Path, but only Read and Filescan access (RF) to the RISC program path. The RISC System Administrator should also take charge of the password used for the RISC Admin module, set in the Preferences screen (Configure menu).

RISC Users Needing Data Entry Access -

Any RISC users that will be entering or modifying individual student contacts will require full access (RWCEMF) to the RISC Data Path, but only Read access (RF) to the RISC program path. These users will typically be executive staff such as Principal, Deputy, Counsellor, Leading Teacher, Head Teachers, Year Advisers and other Teachers or Admin staff.

RISC Users Needing Read-Only Access -

Other users can be granted Read-Only access to RISC by having Read rights only to the RISC Program and Data Paths. RISC will then not allow changes nor new entries made by these users. It is important to remember that the nature of many individual student contacts will be confidential so access to the system should be provided to staff on a need-to-know basis to allow privacy to be maintained at all times. Using Novell Netware or Windows 2003 for example, these different levels of access can be achieved by specifying 'Groups' with the appropriate 'Trustee Directory Assignments' or ‘Rights to Files’. Specific staff members can then be added as members of the appropriate group.

Mapping a Drive Letter for RISC -

As mentioned, RISC can run totally from the fileserver - all that is required on the workstation is a shortcut (icon) that points to the program on the server. To achieve this, however, the server volume where RISC is installed must be accessible via a naming convention which is visible to all users. It can be either:

A common mapped drive letter and path (eg. F:\STAFFAPPS\RISC) or
A UNC network path such as: \\SERVERNAME\VOLUME\STAFFAPPS\RISC

Mapping drive letters for server paths can be achieved very easily. With Novell Netware, the process of logging in usually maps the SYS: volume to F:\. Other volumes can be MAPped using commands in the System Login Script. UNC Paths require no additional drive mapping as they are consistent paths across your entire network.

With Windows NT or 2000 Server or Peer-to-Peer networking, you can either use the NET USE command, or the Map Network Drive option in the Tools menu in Windows Explorer.

In all cases with mapping a drive letter, you MUST ensure that the SAME drive letter is mapped on ALL workstations for the server volume where RISC is installed. IMPORTANT NOTE: DO NOT MAP ROOT a drive letter to the path where you will be installing RISC. The RISC software will not run from the root of a drive. In other words, run RISC from inside a folder, not at the root level of a drive.

Installing RISC onto a Fileserver:

From a Workstation (NOT at the Server), logon to the desired fileserver as SUPERVISOR/ADMINISTRATOR/MANAGER or equivalent. The logon name you use should also be a local workstation administrator in the case of Windows 2000/XP/Vista.
Place the RISC CD in the CD drive OR use My Computer to find the RISCINSTALL.EXE file you downloaded from the Marillion Designs Website and double click it (skip to step 4 if you are not using the CD)
The CD should autostart. If it doesn't, open My Computer, the CD and double-click RISCSetup (looks like a CD). When the CD program has started, click the Install RISC button.
Read the Licence Agreement then click Yes to continue.
Click the 'Install on Fileserver' button (the form shown above will be displayed)
Select New Installation at the top
Enter your school's name in the Registered User box
Click Browse and navigate to the preferred path for the RISC program files on your server hard disk (if for example all of your server applications reside under the \STAFFAPPS directory on F: drive, then choose F:\STAFFAPPS\ and a RISC folder will be created in there). NOTE: If you are upgrading RISC, you MUST browse to the exact path where RISC is currently installed.
Click the Start Installation button.

The installation procedure creates a folder structure for RISC in the selected fileserver path with folders for LIBRARIES, HELPDESK, DATA, REPORTS, INDEXES, FORM LETTERS, SAVED LETTERS, and PHOTOS created.

New Shortcuts will be added to the Windows Desktop on the installer’s workstation only with three icons shown: RISC, RISC Admin and RISC.PDF (RISC User Manual). You are now ready to run the RISC Admin program to configure RISC to your requirements.

Providing Access to RISC on Other Workstations:

Once the System Administrator has installed RISC onto the fileserver and the system has been configured, access should be given to the proposed RISC users. Typically the first person to be provided access to the system should be the RISC System Administrator (see definition above). The LAN System Administrator should first provide appropriate security access to the RISC folders. The following instructions detail how to add shortcuts for RISC to a user's Windows Desktop for Windows 98/NT/2000/XP and later.

Creating Shortcuts on the Desktop for Windows 98/NT/2000/XP –

Logon as an Administrator
Start My Computer
Navigate to the RISC Program Path as set during the installation
Find the program called SETUP (or Setup.exe - icon looks like a computer) and double-click it. The screen shown below will be displayed
If this PC needs access to the RISC Admin program, check the option, otherwise leave it blank. Click the Setup RISC button and the shortcuts will be created for you.
Repeat steps 1 through 5 for all other workstations to run RISC.

NOTE: It is possible to run SETUP.EXE silently using a /Q parameter on the command line. Using this method, RISC can be setup on all staff workstations using a logon script, providing the user is logging on as an Administrator.

Preparing a Peer-to-Peer Network Setup of RISC -

Some schools do not have the luxury of a dedicated fileserver running a commercial network operating system such as Windows Server 2003 or Novell Netware. However, RISC can still be networked in these schools using the standard Peer-to-Peer networking options built into the Windows operating system. In a peer-to-peer network, one (or more) computers can be setup for the purpose of sharing their disk space and/or printers with other computers in the network. While not as secure/efficient/powerful/reliable as a server-based network, peer-to-peer networks are useful where only a few workstations need to be linked together.

To setup RISC in a peer-to-peer network, firstly install RISC to the Host PC as a standalone installation. When specifying the path for RISC, type in C:\SHARED\RISC. From this PC, configure RISC as desired and import your student information from your school administration system. Make sure RISC is up and running before going any further.

Setup the File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks service in the Networks Control Panel. With Windows Explorer, setup Read/Write (Full) Sharing on the C:\SHARED folder and put password access on it if needed. From a workstation, choose My Network Places and navigate to the Host PC on the host PC. Click with the right-mouse button on the Shared folder and Map the Shared folder as say R: (for RISC). Make the mapping permanent. Run Windows Explorer or My Computer and choose R: drive. Inside should be a folder called RISC. Select it and run the SETUP.exe to make a shortcut on the desktop for the RISC.EXE program. Repeat this for all workstations that need to access RISC. This means that the RISC Program Path will now need to be set to R:\RISC\ and the RISC Data Path will be R:\RISC\DATA\ in RISC Preferences.

On the Host PC, it may not be possible to Map a Network drive on the same PC, therefore, the mapping for R: drive must be done in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Edit this file which is in the root folder of C: drive. At the top of the file, insert the following command:

C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND\SUBST R: C:\SHARED

Save the file and reboot the Host PC. You will now find there is also an R: drive on the host PC. Run the SETUP.EXE in the RISC Folder to create new shortcuts for RISC and RISC Admin from R:\RISC. Run RISC Admin and choose Configure...Preferences. Change the RISC Program Path and Data Path to R:\RISC\ and R:\RISC\DATA\ respectively. Set the Temp Files Path to C:\TEMP\ or C:\ - this should be a folder that exists on all PCs that will run RISC. Save the Preferences and run RISC. It should now work from all PCs as long as the host PC is turned on.

The Register of Individual Student Contact (RISC) is developed & distributed
by Marillion Designs.

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