I was cruising messages on PSUG and a user posted a link to a page on
CDW's web site that lists the academic price of that connector at $602. 
That's a lot less of an issue than $5311. I have a feeling the Dell/ASAP
rep quoted me the full retail price, but she hasn't returned my e-mail
inquiring about this yet.

Bob Wickberg
Technology Coordinator
Brattleboro Union High School District # 6
802-451-3418

School Information Technology Discussion <[log in to unmask]> writes:
>Hi Bob,
> 
>I just saw the specification you're referring to (pasted below for those
>anyone who is interested).  Unfortunately, everything I can find confirms
>what you were told.
> 
>There's a PowerSource thread that discusses the issue ([
>https://powersource.pearsonschoolsystems.com/document/article/62998
>]https://powersource.pearsonschoolsystems.com/document/article/62998). 
>One of the posters contacted Microsoft directly and got this response: 
>"An External Connector would be required as the User is individually
>identifiable. It doesn't matter if Windows Server authentication is used
>or not. If the Web Application individually identifies (rather than
>Windows Authentication) the User then an External Connector is required."
> 
>This does make it sound like, if you're not already using Active
>Directory anyway, your staff and students would be covered by the
>External Connector and wouldn't need individual CALs.  Thoughts?
> 
>Regarding the OS (which is brought up in the above thread as well),
>Oracle dropped support for OSX Server, which is why Pearson is also
>dropping support for that platform.  It would be nice if Pearson started
>a Linux port, but I'm not holding my breath.  
> 
>Tom
> 
>"Microsoft requires certain licensing when other users connect to a
>Windows 2008 server. A Client Access License (CAL) will be required by
>Microsoft for each internal district user that will access the
>PowerSchool server. An External Connector License (ECL) will be required
>by Microsoft for external users, such as guardians, who will be
>connecting to the PowerSchool server. Pearson recommends contacting
>Microsoft or your district’s software vendor for details regarding
>Microsoft software licensing."
> 
> 
>
> 
> 
> 
>--
>Thomas Hebert 
>Network Administrator
>Bellows Free Academy 
>(802)527-6432 
>[ mailto:[log in to unmask] ][log in to unmask] 
> 
>>>> Bob Wickberg <[log in to unmask]> 7/15/2011 5:56 PM >>>
>I just started looking at this upgrade.  We need Windows Server 2008 R2,
>SP1 to run it on, and nothing less will do, according to the
>documentation.  It further goes on to say we need windows server client
>access licenses for everyone inside the network who uses it, and an
>external connector license if we're going to let parents in to the parent
>portal.  I asked Dell/Asap for a quote on the latter alone, and the answer
>I got was $5311!   Is this for real?!?!?!  I called Pearson tech support,
>and they said yup, that's what you need.  If this is true, I don't think
>I'm gonna be upgrading this summer.  I think it's time for the whole PS
>user community to rise up and demand they port the server to another OS,
>if this is what it's gonna cost just to license the OS on the server.
>
>Thoughts?
>
>Bob Wickberg
>Technology Coordinator
>Brattleboro Union High School District # 6
>802-451-3418
>
>School Information Technology Discussion <[log in to unmask]> writes:
>>Hi all!
>>
>>?
>>
>>We were wondering what districts have and/or will be making the move from
>>PowerSchool 6.2 to PowerSchool 7 this summer. For those of you that have
>>already made the move, did you do the update and/or the new install
>>yourself or did you pay PowerSchool technicians to do it for you? Also,
>>if you did the move yourself, did you find it somewhat straight-forward?
>>
>>?
>>
>>We are trying to determine if we want to try doing a clean install on a
>>virtual server ourselves or if we should pay Pearson/PowerSchool to set
>>it up for us. 
>>
>>?
>>
>>Any insight would be appreciated.
>>
>>?
>>
>>Thank you!
>>
>>?
>>
>>Michelle M. Devino
>>