Transcript Student Lab Management

Student Lab Management
IT Services
March 2012
Our Purpose this evening …
o Foster good communication
o Improve Relationships and Collaboration
o Prepare for upcoming projects
o Agenda:
 The
Lab Replacement Process
 Lab Replacements for Summer 2012
 Suggestions for Support
 Open Discussion
The Lab Replacement Process
o The Windows Image
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o The Mac Image
Win7 64x
Potentially more than 20 software titles
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Snow Leopard: OS X (10.6.8)
Potentially more than 30 software titles
Office 2010
Programming Software
Specialized Software
Printer Drivers
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Office 2011
Adobe suite
Final Cut
Printer Drivers
o Each and Every configuration needs to be tested
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Software setup with appropriate user privileges
Driver Conflicts
Interoperability
Hardware Compatibility
o The goal:
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Reduce the total number of unique configurations for efficient management
Not always possible (interoperability and/or licensing)
The Lab Replacement Process
o Order PCs when funds are released (July 1)
o Receive PCs over the next 2-3 weeks
o Remove old PCs
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Wipe the hard drives
Transport them to surplus
o Install new PCs
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Unbox, Image and Stage each PC
Secure storage
Transportation to the building
o This process is required for every lab replacement
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Must be scheduled around summer events, classes and maintenance
Completion is always targeted for the start of the Fall semester
Labs for Summer 2012
o Traditional Replacements
 Career Center (3 PCs)
 Snyder 312 (15 PCs)
 Snyder 229 (29 PCs)
 Academic Support Center (8 PCs)
 Four Locations, with 55 PCs
o Virtualized Replacements
 Knutti 102 (21 PCs)
 Scarborough Library (22 PCs)
 Butcher 205 (10 PCs)
Desktop Virtualization
o Consolidate the Processing Power
of many PC’s
o Access the Processing Power
from any desktop, anywhere
o Separates the computing
environment & tasks from the
physical machine
Desktop Virtualization
o Benefits
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Cost:
• Basic desktop computing power from modest devices
• Add desktop access without necessarily adding PC’s
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Manageability:
• Install once – available to all
• Secure – Users are prevented from adding malicious software
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Reliability:
• Redundant host machines
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Accessibility:
• On-campus or Off-campus
• Lab PCs or Student-owned PCs
• Macintosh, Windows or Linux
o Drawbacks
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Capital intensive:
• A portion of the expense is transferred to infrastructure
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Flexibility:
• Users are prevented from installing software
• Complex applications are more difficult to configure
Virtualization Pilot – starting this month
o Citrix Desktop Pilot
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Scope:
• Create a fully functional virtualized Citrix desktop environment for up to 40 concurrent users
• Standard Windows 7 desktop image
o Impact – If successful …
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Convert three student labs to Citrix-based virtual desktops
• Knutti 102 (21 PCs)
• Scarborough Library (22 PCs)
• Butcher 205 (10/13 PCs)
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Expand Citrix to accommodate up to 100 concurrent users
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Additional server host
Additional storage capacity
Software Licenses
Implementation services
Network equipment for KN 102
If not successful, refresh these labs with traditional desktops
Pilot Success Criteria
o Reliability
 Students
can access a virtual Windows PC reliably from
White Hall 203 (95% up-time)
o Usefulness
 Students
can utilize the software titles they require
 Documents can be created, saved, emailed and printed
as required
What to do when there’s a problem …
o Contact the User Support Desk
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Call us at 304-876-5457 - Preferred
Email us at [email protected]
o Please make sure tell us …
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Your name & phone number
Building name and room number
Physical location of system in the room
Machine name, Shepherd Tag Number and/or the Service tag number
The Nature of the problem:
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The more detail, the better!
Can’t launch an application … error messages
You can see network drive, but can’t browse the internet
You get error sounds, but no sound from a video
Any troubleshooting steps you tried and their results
• Network cables are plugged in, but there are no lights on the connection
• Rebooted or not
Open Discussion …