CN1176 Computer Support

Kemtis Kunanuraksapong MSIS with Distinction MCT, MCTS, MCDST, MCP, A+

Agenda

• • • Chapter 8: Managing and Monitoring Windows 7 Performance Exercise / Lab Quiz

Updating Windows 7

• • One of the primary tasks of a desktop technician Should be familiar with: ▫ Types of update releases ▫ Methods for deploying updates

Understanding Update Types

• • • • Hotfixes ▫ An update to address a specific problem or issue Security updates ▫ To patch vulnerability in Windows 7 security ▫ Include a security bulletin and a Knowledge Base article Cumulative updates (rollups) Service packs

Update Categories

• • • • Important updates Recommended updates Optional updates ▫ Updates that contain enhancements or new features that are not essential for the proper functioning of the operating system Device drivers

Applying Updates

• • • Windows Update ▫ Detect, Download, Installation Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM)

Configuring the Windows Update

• • Windows Update control panel Group Policy settings

Important Updates Options

• • • • Install updates automatically (recommended) Download updates but let me choose whether to install them Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them Never check for updates (not recommended)

Configuring Windows Update Using Group Policy

• • • • • Local Group Policy settings to configure the client OR Distribute the settings using AD Domain Services (AD DS) Group Policy is THE ONLY WAY WSUS The recommended practice ▫ Create a new Group Policy object (GPO) ▫ Configure the required settings ▫ Link the GPO to an appropriate AD DS object  For multiple WSUS servers, you can distribute the client load among them by creating a separate GPO Comp Configuration -> Admin Templates -> Windows Components -> Windows Update

Triggering an Update

• • Windows download automatically OR Click Check for updates ▫ Select the updates you want to install ▫ Select each update to display information  You can hide the update  You can review the update history ▫ Select the checkboxes on the updates that you want to install ▫ Click OK ▫ The client installs the selected updates

Using Windows Server Update Services

• • • • Downloads updates from the Microsoft Update Web site Stores them for administrator evaluation Administrators select the updates to deploy Computers on the network download updates from WSUS server using a reconfigured Windows Update Client

Deploying WSUS

• • • • Must be installed on Windows Server 2008 R2 WSUS software is a free download from Microsoft Web-based product ▫ The Web Server (IIS) role must be added Requires a database ▫ Windows Internal Database, or SQL Server for larger networks

Managing WSUS

• • Update Services console, shown in Figure 8-14 WSUS management consists of two main tasks: ▫ Synchronization    a WSUS server obtains the updates To synchronize with the Microsoft Update servers on the Internet, or with another WSUS server Configure synchronizations to occur automatically, at scheduled intervals. ▫ Approval of updates

Configuring WSUS Clients

• Configured through Group Policy ▫ Cannot be done in Windows Update program

Monitoring Performance

• Tools to enable you to locate poorly performing components (Since Vista): ▫ Event Viewer ▫ Performance Information and Tools ▫ Performance and Reliability Monitor

Using Event Viewer

• • To record information about system activities Events are stored in log files: ▫ System Log, Security Log, and Application Log ▫ Setup Log and Forwarded Events

Viewing Windows Logs

• • Custom view ▫ A filtered version of a particular log, configured to display only certain events Regular view (Grouped events)

Viewing Windows Logs

• • • • • Application ▫ Contains information about specific programs running on the computer Security ▫ Contains information about security-related events, such as failed logons, attempts to access protected resources, and success or failure of audited events Setup ▫ Contains information about the OS installation and setup history System ▫ Contains information about events generated by the OS, such as services and device drivers Forwarded Events ▫ Contains events received from other computers on the network via subscriptions

Performance Information and Tools

• Windows Experience Index ▫ Rates computer’s components and assigns a base score reflecting the score of the lowest rated component on your system ▫ Hardware upgrades improve performance ▫ Conserve system resources to enhance performance

Performance Monitor Console

• • • Show real-time information in graph or report You have a collections of performance counters Launch via control panel, MMC console, Perfmon.msc, or Computer management console

Adding Counters

• • • • • Computer ▫ The name of the computer you want to monitor with the selected counter Performance object ▫ A category representing a specific hardware or software component in the computer Performance counter ▫ A statistic representing a specific aspect of the selected performance object’s activities. Instance ▫ An element representing a specific occurrence of the selected performance counter. Such as Total or Average Click Add to add the counter to the Added Counters list

Creating an Effective Display

• • • Limit the number of counters Modify the counter display properties Choose counters with comparable values

Creating Data Collector Sets

• • Data collector set ▫ To capture counter statistics in the Performance Monitor console for later review Baseline ▫ A set of readings, captured under normal operating conditions

Using Reliability Monitor

• • Collects and tracks information about system stability to calculate a stability index Based on the number and type of negative events occurring in the preceding 28 days

Managing Performance

• Windows 7 includes a variety of controls and technologies that enable technical specialists to enhance and fine-tune the performance of their workstation: ▫ Task Manager ▫ Resource Monitor ▫ Process Manager ▫ System Configuration tool (msconfig)

Managing Services

• • • A program that the computer launches and leaves running continuously in the background ▫ Automatically loaded when the system boots Services.msc

You can specify how service load ▫ Automatic ▫ Automatic (Delayed start) ▫ Manual ▫ Disabled

Configuring Performance Option Settings

• Adjust visual effects ▫ Choose the cosmetic visual elements you want the computer to use • • On the Advanced tab ▫ Configure the system processor to allocate more resources to running programs or background activities The Virtual Memory dialog box ▫ A paging file  An area of disk space that Windows uses to store data that overflows from system memory

Configuring Power Settings

• • Enable you to throttle various system components to optimize their power utilization Power Plan

Configuring Hard Disk Caching

• Write caching is when the device stores data in temporary memory until the slower devices can catch up ▫ Disk writing can happen in the background while a user continues to work

Using ReadyBoost

• • Enables you to use the storage space on a USB flash drive to free up system memory for other uses SuperFetch is a caching routine that enables Windows 7 to restore user access to applications much faster than previous OS ▫ It stores the frequently used data in a Cache memory rather than page file

Assignment

• • • Matching Multiple Choice Case Scenario 8-1