Keeping Everyone Happy: Serving Windows Users in a Macintosh Environment Laurie Sutch, University of Michigan

Session Outline Background of the Faculty Exploratory Supporting PC Users in a Mac Lab –Various mechanisms –Pros and cons Future Directions

What is the Faculty Exploratory? Opened in 1997, the “inreach” of Outreach –Managed by a librarian –Now part of the University Library Specifically for faculty –Nice atmosphere, tiered seating –17 workstations Novice and non-users of technology

What is the Faculty Exploratory? Workshops and one-on-one consulting –Variety of software and level of instruction Both Mac and PC platforms –DOS/PC Compatibility Cards – Virtual PC –Terminal Services

Our Requirements The PC solution needed to… Function from the same machine (toggle between Mac and Windows) Access removable media Support the software applications we need

PC Compatibility Cards ( ) Good news: It worked! –Seemed like a real PC –Managed with Assimilator Bad news: PC seen as one large file on Mac –Only 10 machines could autoload at time

Virtual PC ( ) Advantages: –Cheaper, not a physical card, bit easier to set up Issues: –Still seen as one large file by Mac –Since it was software, crashed more –Towards the end started to seem slow

Terminal Services (2003-present) Windows Server 2003 –2x 2.2GHz Xeon Processors, 2 GB memory –RAID 5, with hot spare –Served via Apple’s Remote Desktop Connection

Remote Desktop Connection

Picture of Terminal Services

Terminal Services (2003-present) Pros: –Faster –Load/change software once –Security and virus settings controlled by server –Access from other training rooms (Mac or PC) Any version of Windows (98, NT, 2000, XP) or OS 9 Same number of total users, different facility Ability to demonstrate Windows version of software

Terminal Services (2003-present) Cons: –Initial cost/shorter replacement cycle –Increased external support Setup/configuration of the operating system software (external) Installation of applications (local) –Large multimedia/video programs not well served

Future Directions Continued support of both Mac and Windows Stay with Terminal Services for the next few years –Increase use from other facilities –Explore ways to better support graphic intensive software Continue to consider other methods of support –Apple’s switch to Intel - what might this mean for us?

Summary Looked at all the options out there (we think!) Right now, stay with Terminal Services to support our mission Keeping eye on new developments More applications of thin client software

Questions?