Remotely Configuring Mac Teacher Console after Installation

Update March 26, 2024: Release of macOS 14.4 has broken the ability to use SSID Whitelisting. Anyone currently using SSID Whitelisting, it is recommended to delay updating to macOS 14.4 until this issue has been fixed. 

Overview

If changes need to be made to the LanSchool Teacher Console settings after installation is complete, the lstconfig utility is a tool that can be used to aid in the remote configuration. The lstconfig utility is provided in the LanSchool product download under Mac>> Utilities folder.

Using the lstconfig Utility

This utility can be used in conjunction with ARD. 

Run this tool using sudo in order to change global settings for this device. Otherwise, run lstconfig as user to change Teacher-specific settings.

Usage: lstconfig <key> <newvalue> 

The following is an example to allow the Teacher to change channels: 

sudo ./lstconfig EnableChannelSelect true 

Value names are case-sensitive.

Global Teacher Settings

The following are a list of global settings that can be changed:

Setting	Description	Options	Type	Default
AlertOnUpdate	Controls whether the teacher is alerted when there is an update to LanSchool.	false=don’t alert  true=alert	Boolean	True
AllowAudio	Controls whether the teacher can listen and talk to students via the console.	0=don’t allow  1=allow	Integer	1
AllowDumpUploads	Controls whether or not crash log files are uploaded to our servers. Crash logs allow us to fix crashes in our software, and no private information is conveyed.	0=do not allow  1=allow	Integer	0
AllowInternetMonitoring	Controls whether the LanSchool Student software to record website visits.	0=do not allow  1=allow	Integer	1
AllowKeyboardMonitoring	Allows the LanSchool Student software to record keystrokes.	0=do not allow  1=allow	Integer	1
AllowTaskmanLimiting	Controls whether the teacher can prevent Task Manager/Activity Monitor from running  on student computers. Note that this does not activate the feature but merely enables it.	0=don’t allow  1=allow	Integer	1
Authorization	Contains a one-way secure hash of the password for use in verification. Passwords are never stored.  This value can be copied from  /Library/Preferences/com.lanschool.student.settings.plist for a student that has already been properly configured in Secure Mode.	N/A	Integer	0
ClassroomServerAddress	Contains the name or IP address of your LanSchool Connection Service (LCS).  Examples of this value would be “192.168.2.200” or “LANSCHOOL-LCS”.  A static IP address for the LCS is preferred above a hostname or dynamic IP address.	N/A	String	“” (empty string)
DisableDataTransmission	Controls whether the teacher can change the network transport settings.	true=cannot change  false=can change	Boolean	false
EnableChannelSelect	Controls whether or not the teacher can change her channel.	false=cannot change channel  true=can change channel	Boolean	false
NoRegistration	Controls whether or not the LanSchool Teacher Console prompts to register the product.	false=prompts  true=does not prompt	Boolean	false
SecureMode	Controls whether the LanSchool Student software communicates with teachers who have entered the correct password in the LanSchool Teacher Console. See also Authorization.	0=off  1=on	number	0
StealthMode	Controls whether the Student software hides the system menu bar item.	0=off  1=on	Integer	0
UseLegacyScreenGrabber	Reverts to our "old" method of retrieving the screen for Remote Control. If there are issues grabbing the student screen in the Teacher Console, change this setting to see if the old RC method will be more reliable.	false=off true=on	Boolean	false

Teacher Settings

The following are a list of teacher-specific settings that can be changed:

Setting	Description	Options	Type	Default
Channels	The Teacher Console can view more than one Channel. The channel number must be a number between 1 and 16,000. Can view a maximum of 64 channels.	N/A	Number	1
limitTaskManager	Teacher can prevent Task Manager/Activity Monitor from running  on student computers.	false=off true=on	Boolean	true
LogLevel	Controls whether or not logs are created by the LanSchool Teacher software. These logs are helpful if you are having issues and seeking              help from our Support team.	0=logging disabled  1=logging enabled	Integer	0
Subnets	List of IP addresses under IP-Directed Broadcast / Connection Server. Minimum 1, maximum 3.	N/A	String	“” (empty string)
Transport	Sets which Data Transmission option to use; IP-Broadcast, IP-Multicast or IP-Directed Broadcast / Connection Server	0= IP- Broadcast 1= IP- Multicast 2=IP=Directed Broadcast/ Connection Server	Integer	0
useSingleChannel	Allows only one channel to be used.	false=off true=on	Boolean	true

The Teacher Console should not be running when configuring settings.

Teacher Settings for "Become a Student"

The following are a list of Teacher settings are only used when the teacher "Becomes a Student" or updates a computer running the LanSchool Student:

Setting	Description	Options	Type	Default
AllowInternetMonitoring	Controls whether the LanSchool Student software records website visits.	0=do not allow  1=allow	Integer	0
AllowKeyboard Monitoring	Allows the LanSchool Student software to record website visits.	0=do not allow  1=allow	Integer	1
Authorization	Contains a one-way secure hash of the password for use in verification. Passwords are never stored. This value can be copied from  /Library/Preferences/com.lanschool.student.settings.plist for a student that has already been properly configured in Secure Mode.	N/A	Integer	0
ClassroomServerAddress	Contains the name or IP address of your LanSchool Connection Service (LCS).  Examples of this value would be “192.168.2.200” or “LANSCHOOL-LCS”.  A static IP address for the LCS is preferred above a hostname or dynamic IP address.	N/A	String	“” (empty string)
SecureMode	Controls whether the LanSchool Student software communicates with teachers who have entered the correct password in the LanSchool Teacher Console. See also Authorization.	0=off  1=on	Number	0
StealthMode	Controls whether the Student software hides the system menu bar item.	0=off  1=on	Integer	0

After the change in settings are made, you will need to clear the preferences cache for the user.  This can be done either by rebooting/logout, or by running: killall -u <user> cfprefsd

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