MLS on a laptop

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jamesporteous
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MLS on a laptop

#1

Post by jamesporteous »

My stake president has asked if it was possible to install MLS on a laptop- our stake presidency have employment that take them from home regulary and makes it difficult processing payments at stake centre also we now have a month of regular ward conferences weher we will be away from stake centre and it may be useful to have a laptop that would enable payments etc to be dealt with in the various wards that we would be in, would this cause a problem with the main stake computer or would it even be possible.

Jim Porteous
Edinburgh Stake Clerk
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Biggles
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Re: MLS on a laptop

#2

Post by Biggles »

jamesporteous wrote:My stake president has asked if it was possible to install MLS on a laptop- our stake presidency have employment that take them from home regulary and makes it difficult processing payments at stake centre also we now have a month of regular ward conferences weher we will be away from stake centre and it may be useful to have a laptop that would enable payments etc to be dealt with in the various wards that we would be in, would this cause a problem with the main stake computer or would it even be possible.

Jim Porteous
Edinburgh Stake Clerk
There is a European Area Authority directive (Unfortunately can't find a copy) stating that MLS (Even for test purposes) is not to be installed on any computers other than the authorised Clerk computers. So basically this idea isn't permitted. Also from an operational/security point of view, the system can only recognise one computer, using the same credentials. This is why when a computer is replaced, the security token is reset to allow authorised communication with the Church servers.

I hope my explanation makes some sort of sense. I'm sure someone else will come along, if necessary, to add additional clarification!
jamesporteous
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Re: MLS on a laptop

#3

Post by jamesporteous »

Many thanks I appreciate your comments
russellhltn
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Re: MLS on a laptop

#4

Post by russellhltn »

This isn't just a European Area Authority directive. From the Meetinghouse Technology Policy:

4.2.3 Local Unit Provided Equipment: Local unit budgets cannot be used to purchase computers

4.6.2 MLS may not be installed on donated computers.

4.10 Remote access of Church computers (prohibits use of MLS remotely).

And you have the technical limitation that CHQ will only recognize one computer as belonging to a particular unit. It's not practical to have two computers with MLS for a single unit.
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Biggles
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Re: MLS on a laptop

#5

Post by Biggles »

russellhltn wrote:This isn't just a European Area Authority directive. From the Meetinghouse Technology Policy:

4.2.3 Local Unit Provided Equipment: Local unit budgets cannot be used to purchase computers

4.6.2 MLS may not be installed on donated computers.

4.10 Remote access of Church computers (prohibits use of MLS remotely).

And you have the technical limitation that CHQ will only recognize one computer as belonging to a particular unit. It's not practical to have two computers with MLS for a single unit.
Correct me if I'm wrong on this, but aren't you in the US allowed to install MLS on another computer as long as only the Test (Even if it's years out of date) database is used?

We in Europe are not even allowed to do this!
lajackson
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Re: MLS on a laptop

#6

Post by lajackson »

Biggles wrote:Correct me if I'm wrong on this, but aren't you in the US allowed to install MLS on another computer as long as only the Test (Even if it's years out of date) database is used?

We in Europe are not even allowed to do this!
It is not a wise thing to do. We have nothing that says we cannot, but it is hardly worth the effort. The membership test database is barely helpful at all because almost everything is online at LCR. You cannot even get the financial side up to practice because of the way MLS works now.

If you do manage to get another computer up and working, you probably managed to make the clerk's office admin computer so that it will not work, and then the STS will not be pleased.

And everyone knows you would never want the STC not to be pleased. [grin]
russellhltn
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Re: MLS on a laptop

#7

Post by russellhltn »

Biggles wrote:Correct me if I'm wrong on this, but aren't you in the US allowed to install MLS on another computer as long as only the Test (Even if it's years out of date) database is used?
That's been a thing in the past, and I personally don't see a problem in doing that, but I think the verbiage that allowed that disappeared quite some time ago. I think the document that gave permission could be found on the Version 1 of the local unit websites (LUWS). (To give you an idea of how long ago that was.)
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mtylerjr
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Re: MLS on a laptop

#8

Post by mtylerjr »

russellhltn wrote: 4.10 Remote access of Church computers (prohibits use of MLS remotely).
This is just a clarification of that last bit.

There are cases where you can remotely use MLS, using teamviewer and such, if you get permission from the stake clerk or president. There are limitations to what you can do, and realistically, more and more things are available in LCR, so legitimate uses for remote-MLS are getting fewer and fewer. The limitations are listed in the mentioned section. Essentially, you can only read info from MLS, and only if it isnt 'sensitive' information, and only if you use proper encryption.

4.10 Remote access of Church computers is expressly prohibited except in cases where all of the following are true:

4.10.1 When done by official Church support personnel or under the direction of a stake president by a stake technology specialist, stake clerk, or member of a stake presidency.
4.10.2 When used to ensure a Church computer is functioning properly or to help someone use the system.
4.10.3 When not used to enter data into MLS and not used to access sensitive information.
4.10.4 When the software used is properly licensed.
4.10.5 When the software is set up to utilize standards-based encryption (AES-128 or better).

If you need to access old MLS messages, or non sensitive files saved in MLS saved documents/forms, it is technically okay, if you have permission from your stake clerk (or president or technology specialist). Entering donations or expenses are obviously prohibited, however, transferring between ward budget accounts (generic record keeping/consolidating) seems like it could be in the allowable set of tasks.

I (a ward clerk) haven't needed to do this yet, although teamviewer is set up for this purpose (by our stake clerk) and he has given me permission to use it. There just hasn't been any need for me to do any of the narrow range of allowable things that can't be done in LCR.
russellhltn
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Re: MLS on a laptop

#9

Post by russellhltn »

mtylerjr wrote:If you need to access old MLS messages, or non sensitive files saved in MLS saved documents/forms, it is technically okay, if you have permission from your stake clerk (or president or technology specialist). Entering donations or expenses are obviously prohibited, however, transferring between ward budget accounts (generic record keeping/consolidating) seems like it could be in the allowable set of tasks.
I fail to see how those example satisfy this requirement:
4.10.2 When used to ensure a Church computer is functioning properly or to help someone use the system.
Unless that's satisfied, you've failed to satisfy ALL the requirements that makes it allowable.
Have you searched the Help Center? Try doing a Google search and adding "site:churchofjesuschrist.org/help" to the search criteria.

So we can better help you, please edit your Profile to include your general location.
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