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Human + Technology Managing the Largest Lab on Campus

Human + Technology Managing the Largest Lab on Campus. Stephen W. Bangs UW IT bangs@uw.edu. UW Learning Technology Spaces. Imaging & Maintenance. Stephen W. Bangs UW IT bangs@uw.edu. Technology Spaces. Media Studios ViDA - Virtual Desktop Access Videoconference Studios

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Human + Technology Managing the Largest Lab on Campus

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  1. Human + TechnologyManaging the Largest Lab on Campus Stephen W. Bangs UW IT bangs@uw.edu

  2. UW Learning Technology Spaces • Imaging & Maintenance Stephen W. Bangs UW IT bangs@uw.edu

  3. Technology Spaces • Media Studios • ViDA - Virtual Desktop Access • Videoconference Studios • Odegaard Learning Commons • Collaboration Studio & Pods • Digital Presentation Studio • Sound Studio

  4. Current Landscape • 238 Macs (iMacs and Mac Pros) • 150 Windows PCs (Dell) • 17 HP Video Editing Workstations

  5. Usage 6/2 - 6/9

  6. Tracking Software • Sassafras K2 Software Auditing & License Management • LabStats

  7. STFC Campus KeyServer Project • Partnership between UW-IT and UW STFC • Cost-efficient way to provide access • Meter limited number of licenses • Campus-wide pool of all software resources

  8. Challenges • Rapidly image or update hundreds of workstations (PC and Macintosh) • Distributed Learning Spaces • Limited number of imaging staff • Need to address the learning technology requirements of a large, diverse academic community

  9. More Challenges • Maintain a secure computing environment • Allow clients to install their own software • Allow clients to connect to local or cloud storage • Hardware and software usage tracking • Failure tracking

  10. 2002-2009: Imaging PCs • Create master Windows XP image for target workstations • Set up Ghost server for target network • Set up each client workstation for Ghost • Deep Freeze clients

  11. 2009-2012: Imaging PCs • Create Windows 7 image using ImageX and friends • Create Windows PE CDs for target hardware (drivers and uTorrent) • Set up torrent server • Image space very quickly

  12. 2006-2009: Imaging Macs • radmind: A suite of Unix command-line tools and a server designed to remotely administer the file systems of multiple Unix machines. • Similar in function to a tripwire • Layered overloads for different software packages

  13. Present and Future? • Previous methods resource intensive • High student staff turnover knowledge sharing hurdles • Intricate utility or glue software (scripts, etc.) resistant to change • Need to close spaces for imaging or updates

  14. Current Imaging • Centralized imaging service • Cross-network • Multicasting • Remote control

  15. Windows: FOG • Free computer cloning solution • Linux-based (primarily Fedora and Ubuntu) • Can be used to deploy Windows 8! • All communication via TFTP and PXE • Web interface • Well documented

  16. FOG Overview

  17. Mac: DeployStudio • Freeware • Image & Deploy • Client reconfiguration • Automation • Realtime monitoring

  18. Deploystudio

  19. Hardware Consolidation • Fewer images to maintain • Increased reliability • Modern machines support hardware virtualization • Flexible choice of operating environments on logon

  20. The Future • Transitioning from 5 year old Dells to the latest iMacs • Common base of imaging and deployment tools (DeployStudio) • Choice of VMs on logon to include Windows 7 and 8.1, Ubuntu, ...

  21. Parallels Desktop for Mac • Full support for Windows 8 UI • DirectX 10 • Fully configurable keyboard shortcuts • VM autolaunch • Apple scriptable

  22. Challenges • Scripts run slowly, causing long logon times • Insecure: Users can “break out” of VM sandbox • Performance “not quite there yet” for specialized software • RAM hungry

  23. Active Learning Spaces • Odegaard is currently completing Phase 1 renovation • Active Learning Classrooms: Collaborative Pods with central monitor. Tegrity, Canvas, generous whiteboard space.

  24. Questions? Stephen W. Bangs UW IT bangs@uw.edu

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