D I V I S I O N
O F
T E C H N O L O G Y ,
I N F O R M A T I O N
A N D
L E A R N I N G
S U P P O R T
www.tils.qut.edu.au
www.tils.qut.edu.au
Windows 7
A mechanism for change to improve efficiency
QUT case study
Matthew Clayton
CRICOS No. 00213J
www.tils.qut.edu.au
History
2009
various shortcomings and/or inefficiencies in process,
policy, configuration and functionality of various systems
throughout the university.
Our attitude towards this
“If you don’t like it....change it”
www.tils.qut.edu.au
What is your Utopia?
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Automation
Ease of use
Ease of support
Single Click
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Projects
• Windows Development
• Windows Support
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Improving client experience through roll out of major
updates e.g. Windows 7
Increased use of self service functionality for increase
access to support
• Policies / Standards:
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Printers
Client data
Security
Scripts and profiles
Testing
Software Packaging
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Windows Development
•Microsoft Deployment Toolkit
•Systems Centre Configuration Management
•Application Virtualisation
•Group Policy Preferences
•VPro.
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Windows Support
•Lite or Zero Touch Software Deployment
•User State Migration
•Desktop Configuration Standards
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Windows 7 Upgrade Project June 2010
• Preparation
• Implementation
• Transition to IT operations &support
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• Manage a fleet of 10,000 machines
– 6000 Staff PCs
– 4000 Student labs/MELT PCs
• Locations:
– Gardens Point, Kevin Grove, Caboolture, Canberra,
RBWH , MERF
www.tils.qut.edu.au
Previous lab technology
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PXE (pre boot technology). Works before windows has loaded
File based only. No interaction with operating system.
Large scale changes mean re-imaging is easiest option.
Images are hardware dependent
Supports older Windows, Linux. Did not support Windows 7
Not used in staff space
www.tils.qut.edu.au
• Client Systems Infrastructure (SOE team)
– Ghost & SMS 2003
– Base apps installed automatically
• Learning Environments (Lab team)
– Rembo & Deepfreeze
– Monolithic image – updated manually, customised
configurations • Technology Support (Staff Desktop support)
– manual intensive upgrades and support
www.tils.qut.edu.au
Existing Deployment & Imaging Techniques
DEPLOYMENT/IMAGE
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Staff Environment
– 27+ Individual Images (Image per model per faculty)(SOE)
– Deployed via Ghost
– Very manual intensive (machines touched multiple times)
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Lab environment
– 56+ images Model / Faculty.
– Deployed via Rembo and Ghost
– Deepfreeze
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What we are moving to
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Technologies to use..
 SCCM
• Automatic OS installation
• Package installation
• Windows configuration
• Repeatable configurations
• Automated configurations
• Hardware independent
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Technologies to use..
 Virtual Applications
• Vmware ThinApp
• Microsoft App-V
 Automated Installs
• ‘Hands off’ installation
• Silent
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Technologies to use..
VPro
Every machine connected to power & a
network port is manageable, whether
switched on or not.
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Technologies to use.. (student labs only)
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‘Reboot to restore’
Allows users to be administrators. Changes are removed at next boot.
Reduces support calls/costs to fix incorrect configuration changes
Prevents dynamic updating (unless thawed)
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Deployment Phases and Timelines
• Testing – Currently underway
• Pilot - nominated Faculties/Divisions
• Full deployment - progressively from late
September to eligible staff machines
www.tils.qut.edu.au
www.tils.qut.edu.au
Migration Process - Upgrade
1.
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Run Pre-flight checks
Determine SW upgrade requirements
Perform migration if eligible
Post migration support
Training
www.tils.qut.edu.au
Rollout schedule
• Determined by:
– Priority: New machines
– Focus: Faculties of Health, Law
– Guided by: Faculty priorities as they arise
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Eligibility Criteria
1. Hardware and environment
2. Apps
3. Something else…
www.tils.qut.edu.au
Training
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Roadshows
Face to face classroom-based
User guides
Videos
• http://www.itservices.qut.edu.au/soe/windows7/w7training.jsp
www.tils.qut.edu.au
The Bigger Picture
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XP Support
Windows 8 release
Office 2010 and beyond
Market pressures
Java updates
Browser standards
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MOE
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Why you should use the MOE
How – Tools & Technologies
What – Experience and 3 ways to get the MOE
Tips and Tricks
Thanks
www.tils.qut.edu.au
MOE - Why
• For you – We have automated the mundane tasks so
that you can get to work on more interesting tasks that
the university needs you to do
• For your clients – So that it “Just works” and you have
the time to help them quickly when it doesn’t
• For the University – able to meet the strategic needs
<insert insightful blueprint objective here>
www.tils.qut.edu.au
MOE
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Why you should use the MOE
How – Tools & Technologies
What – Experience and 3 ways to get the MOE
Tips and Tricks
Thanks
www.tils.qut.edu.au
MOE – How – Tools & Technologies
• Windows 7 Enterprise 64-bit with Service Pack 1
• Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007
R3 (SCCM)
• Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010 update 1
• USMT 4
• Active Directory Group Policy Objects & Group Policy
Preferences
www.tils.qut.edu.au
MOE – How – Tools & Technologies
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AutoIT
VBscript
VMware Workstation, Microsoft Hyper-V
Disk2vhd
Sustenance
– Coffee
– Coke
www.tils.qut.edu.au
MOE – How – Tools & Technologies
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AutoIT
VBscript
VMware Workstation, Microsoft Hyper-V
Disk2vhd
Sustenance
– Coffee
– Coke
www.tils.qut.edu.au
MOE – How – Tools & Technologies
Note: Microsoft provides toolsets (and problems/challenges) not
solutions!
Process for Adding Driver support for new Hardware models
• Dell are the easiest – download driver pack for corporate
models – takes about 4 Hours to add support per model
• Toshiba now provide driver packs – not quite as good as Dell
– takes about 8 hours to add support for corporate models,
or add several days when they provide incorrect switches for
driver apps
• HP – used to provide driver packs for desktop models – which
meant about 4 - 6 hours to develop driver support. Now it
takes about 20 hours to add support for HP laptops and
desktops.
www.tils.qut.edu.au
Staff MOE
• Staff MOE
www.tils.qut.edu.au
Challenges for the new direction
• Approx 650 applications
• Printer drivers and Windows 7 64-bit
• New Director
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Challenges – The Melbourne Cup Day Incident
Note to self: SCCM OSD is very very very very very very
efficient.
Be very very very very very very very very very careful!
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Expect the unexpected
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Semester 1 2011 success !!
SCCM much more robust than previous solution
Greater cooperation from ITS departments in
troubleshooting
By week 1,all labs deployed less BEE Faculty labs
by request
www.tils.qut.edu.au
Post-install challenges
IE default security settings higher than expected on internal sites
Thinapp Firefox unstable with some filetypes
Slow logins
Printer mapping inconsistent
www.tils.qut.edu.au
Successes
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Upgrade of fleet management tool
– Existing fleet now managed via SCCM
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Fleet management tool :
– Ability to configure new machines onsite direct from the factory both existing XP and Windows 7
– delivery technology works extremely effectively
– highly automated reducing technical support work load
– Developed standards
– Developed Internal documents & training
– V-Pro configured
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Over 500 applications in development for distribution to be made available for self service.
– New self service model developed
aims to reduce time to install applications and reduce technical support requests (40%)
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Creation of standards, procedures & processes ensuring quality and efficient services
Review of all supporting services associated to MOE
– Active directory clean up
– Group Policy clean up
www.tils.qut.edu.au
Current status
 Well managed environment
• Security updates / non-critical applications applied during regular maintenance
• Urgent applications can be installed immediately (30 minute max contact time)
 Teaching staff
• Call for software no longer required
• Existing packages deployed within 24 hours
• Applications requiring packaging 1-2 weeks lead time
 LE staff
• No start of semester panic – planned rollout of applications, not images
• Able to be responsive to changes
• Work/life balance
www.tils.qut.edu.au
Current issues
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Data stored locally on PC
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Applications - Management
– Volume
– Versions
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Proposed MOE standards to be introduced required to be endorsed:
– Inc: Printers, Data Storage, Security, Application, MOE, Group Policies
– Data Storage to assist with data backup of local data
• proposed model may have implications on current infrastructure. Testing proposed within ITS
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Fleet Management tool
– High Risks of reconfiguring entire fleet
– Risk mitigation strategies are being implemented
– Setting up of appropriate security
– Development work on key areas still taking place (V-pro – multicasting)
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Application management
– Corporate applications
– version control of current applications
– Application mapping to upgrade existing clients
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Project Funding
– Operationally funded 2010
– Project funded proposal 2011
www.tils.qut.edu.au
QUT Windows 7 Deployment
• MATTHEW CLAYTON
– matthew.clayton@qut.edu.au
– 0401 678 714