Nichole Kosier
Computer Lab Manager
University of California, Merced
Environment
Veralab Software
Future Improvements
Open Discussion
3 Instructional Computer Labs/Open Access
3 Open Access /Residential Housing Labs
1 Open Access Lab at Den
2 Off-campus Labs at Fresno & Bakersfield
HP computers
Windows XP SP3
52 Instructional Software programs installed
Pharos printing
Active Directory
All domain users granted administrator rights
Software Tools
Symantec Ghost Solution Suite 2.5
Faronics Deep Freeze 6.5
Faronics Insight 7.5
Veralab 5.0
A web-based
application for
managing
computer labs,
designed to
provide the
staff with the
tools needed to
perform most
major tasks.
Features we use
Student Portal-Schedule view
only
Self-service sign-in
Access Control
Surveillance
Employee attendance tracking
Reporting
Software Metering
License management
Transactional data analyzed for
planning
Other features not in use
User sign-in and waitlisting
Maintenance
Technician Role
Student Portal page-real time
lab usage and open hours
Demo-All fields
Read-only
Public webpage
Our Customized Portal
Lab assistants can view room occupancy
Redirect incoming users to less-occupied labs
See computer state in all labs
On
Off
Username logged in
Processes running
Screenshots (we do not use)
Restart & shutdown computers
Send messages-lab closing soon
Self-Service Stats
Lab Status
Lab Login Stats
Users online-IP
Employees
on shift
Semester or dates
Rooms
Output type
Chart
Table
Excel
Hourly stats per day
Reject a user login or
Alerts lab assistants
when a user logs in
Get Computer Info
Red=not connected
Green=Connected
Start & End shifts
Summary payroll
Detailed payroll
Limits number of licenses
License cost information
Log or close last instance
Reports can be
exported to excel
If no stations available
Assign to waitlist
Lab Assistants notified when a computer
becomes available
Wait-listing criteria
wait for any machine in the room
wait for a machine of a particular type
wait for a particular machine
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New Campus
Student Employees usage
Customizations cost money
Ghost reinstall
http://www.veralab.com
Very responsive
They implement your suggestions quickly
Adapt to your needs
Excellent customer service
Employee Schedules
Mac clients
Daily room schedules in booking app
Annual and semester based usage reports
Total utilization for room or group of rooms
Inventory Control
Student Employee Performance Tracking
Student Portal Improvements
Class Schedules intergrated into Portal
Gadgets dashboard with IM
GhostSupport@groups.facebook.com
I have been a Computer Lab Manager at UC Merced for 6 years. I have been using Symantec
Ghost for over 8 years. I have 2 certifications in Symantec Ghost Solution Suite software.
This group is for Computer Support Specialists, Lab Managers, & other I.T. people whose lives
have ever been altered by this haunting software: *Symantec Ghost (or Solution Suite) This
group will serve as a discussion forum to support Ghost users; to provide assistance in their
endeavors to ghost computers/labs with minimal failures, in a reasonable amount of time. This
is a place to vent your IT frustrations, rants, raves, stories, solutions, tips, etc. without fear of
being tormented by others, who don't understand the complicated process of imaging
computers.
Ghost can be your best friend or your worst enemy, especially when there are extenuating
circumstances (i.e. multicasting not set up properly on network, Incompatibility with Win 7 SP1,
etc.) This group is for you if you have ever agreed with any of these statements:
"Not IF it fails...but WHEN it fails"," I hate my job" or "Whyyyy meeee?"
*The Symantec Ghost package is comprised of several utilities and can be broken down into four
basic groups: Drive Imaging, Ghost Utilities, the Ghost Console and Auto Install. These tools can
deploy operating systems, change network settings, migrate users, deploy software & more.