Using the SOS Client with Two Servers

One of the things I like about Switched on Schoolhouse is that the good folks at AOP were wise enough to create a client based system. This is great for allowing the kids to work on one computer while Mom grades work on another. Ideally Mom’s computer is set up as the server, and each child’s computer is set up as a client.

If you are like me, the problem with this is your kids are not always at home, and not always together when doing their schoolwork. This means that each child must have Switched on Schoolhouse independently installed on their own laptop computer. AOP apparently did not foresee this issue, because they did not create any option for switching between two different servers.

This is the work around that allows me to connect to both of my children’s computers. It is not difficult for those that are technically savvy. If you have manged to a client and a server together already, you can probably handle switching back and forth between two connections.

I only have 2010 installed, so I only know for sure this will work with 2010. However, it is very likely that it will also work with earlier versions.

1. Create a folder in your AOP folder for each child.

2. From the “Switched-On Schoolhouse 2010 Home” folder, make a copy of each of these files in each child’s folder: SOSHApp.exe.config and SOSHStudentApp.exe.config.
Make a new folder, and copy two new files for every computer you are trying to connect to, as well as a backup copy of the two files, in case you mess up.

3. Go to the first child's folder and open the SOSHApp.exe.config with Notepad.

4. Towards the bottom of the file you will find the line that looks like the line below. (With your server computer name in place of “COMPUTERNAME”.) If you have trouble finding the line just search for your server computer name.

5. Replace the computer name of the original server computer with the computer name of the computer you want to connect to, and save the file.

6. Now open SOSHStudentApp.exe.config with Notepad.

7. Towards the bottom you will find the line that looks like the line below. Again, if you can’t find it search for your server computer name.


8. Again, replace the computer name, and save the file.

9. To change the computer you are connecting to, copy and paste the two edited files into the original Switched on Schoolhouse folder. To change back to the original file, just copy and paste the backup files into the folder.

This works great for me. Just be sure to save your backups for each child into a separate folder, so that you don't accidentally override some one's work.