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Exorcising Ghost: Windows Imaging at Stanford

Dustin King Windows Image Developer Student Computing Stanford University daking@rescomp.stanford.edu. Exorcising Ghost: Windows Imaging at Stanford. Student Computing. Formerly Residential Computing Not central IT Manage machines in residences, libraries, other public areas

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Exorcising Ghost: Windows Imaging at Stanford

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  1. Dustin King Windows Image Developer Student Computing Stanford University daking@rescomp.stanford.edu Exorcising Ghost:Windows Imaging at Stanford

  2. Student Computing • Formerly Residential Computing • Not central IT • Manage machines in residences, libraries, other public areas • Minimal Windows server infrastructure

  3. Types of Images • Cluster • Standard • Conference • TeamSpot • Kiosk • Public • Stanford • Multimedia Studio • Language Lab • Floor • Classroom

  4. Imaging Goals • Flexibility • Differentiated services • Simple hardware redeployment • Reliabilty • Low downtime • Quickly distribute revisions • Security • Ease of maintenance • Few images • Remote maintenance

  5. Strategies • Efficient image distribution • Hardware independence • Network-based configuration • Patching • Remote access

  6. Efficient Image Distribution • Ghost • Partitioning scheme • FreeDOS, image file storage • Windows installation • User file storage • Local ghosting • BITS • PXE booting

  7. Hardware Independence • Sysprep

  8. Network-based configuration • Hostname convention • m200-cl-03-g280 • mll-ll-17-g620 • cubb-ki-02-s280 • cubb-cl-02-s280 • Departmental web space • Flat text files (csv)‏

  9. # PrinterGroups.csv # ================= # Format: # Group Name,Hostname Prefix,Printer 1,Printer 2,Printer 3,... # # A default printer will be chosen from those printers marked with leading *. # At least one printer MUST be marked as default. # Meyer and Tresidder Meyer First Floor,m100,*Rosanne,Leela Meyer 24-hour Study Room,m160,*Rosanne,Leela Meyer First MMS,mms-25-d270t-cl,*Rosanne,Leela Meyer Second Floor,m200,*Kenny,*Kramer,Color-LaserJet-Fry,HI_SPEED_COLOR Multimedia Studio,mms,*Kenny,*Kramer,Color-LaserJet-Fry,HI_SPEED_COLOR Tresidder,tres,*Rhino,Hippo Example Configuration File

  10. Network-based configuration • Hostname convention • m200-cl-03-g280 • mll-ll-17-g620 • cubb-ki-02-s280 • cubb-cl-02-s280 • Departmental web space • Flat text files (csv)‏ • Python startup scripts • Examples • Printing • Conference machines

  11. Patching • Python startup scripts • Versioning • Examples • Nero upgrade • Updating labstats.conf, bits.pl • SPSS activation • Eclipse installation • VMware Player installation

  12. Remote Access • Remote desktop • Cygwin • OpenSSH • Replace Windows file sharing with scp • Uses • Troubleshooting and repair • Initiating local ghosting

  13. Machine Life Cycle • PXE boot • Download and install image • Sysprep • Hostname-based customization • Homepage • Printers • Patching • Bug fixes • Management tools updates • Software installations/activations/updates

  14. Machine Life Cycle (cont.)‏ • New quarterly image • BITS • Local ghosting • Machine-specific problems • Example: corrupt Firefox profileFix using ssh, scp • Example: corrupted Windows installFix using local ghosting • Redeployment for summer conference • Local ghosting • Hostname-based configuration

  15. Future Plans • Modular images • Better monitoring • Dual-boot labs

  16. Questions?

  17. daking@rescomp.stanford.edu Thanks

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