NAL and ZEN: Drew’s history of application and computer management Mike Richichi, Director of Computing and Network Services Paul Coen, Manager of Systems Administration Drew University, Madison NJ TTP 2003 Salt Lake City, UT

One slide about Drew Laptops for students (20 th year of student computers) Laptops for students (20 th year of student computers) Campuswide network for all students, faculty, staff, using Client 32 for access to Netware file/print Campuswide network for all students, faculty, staff, using Client 32 for access to Netware file/print Centralized file servers, network administration, PC deployment, and network application management Centralized file servers, network administration, PC deployment, and network application management Technology part of university mission, important part of reputation Technology part of university mission, important part of reputation

Timeline 1995: We see NAL 1.0 for the first time 1995: We see NAL 1.0 for the first time 1996: NAL 1.0 rolled out as part of initial campus network (Win 3.1, 95) 1996: NAL 1.0 rolled out as part of initial campus network (Win 3.1, 95) 1997—2002: Upgrades through Zen 3.2, mainly using application launcher and workstation management 1997—2002: Upgrades through Zen 3.2, mainly using application launcher and workstation management 2003: Upgrade to Zen 4.01, inventory management, imaging 2003: Upgrade to Zen 4.01, inventory management, imaging

The real beginning

1995 We attend a Novell event to see WordPerfect for Windows 95, and they say, “Hey, look at this! It’s a folder, but it’s not a folder. These applications are in NDS and stuff. Cool!” We attend a Novell event to see WordPerfect for Windows 95, and they say, “Hey, look at this! It’s a folder, but it’s not a folder. These applications are in NDS and stuff. Cool!” And the Snapshot tool And the Snapshot tool Cool, indeed Cool, indeed

1996 Drew implements campus network Drew implements campus network NAL 1.0 used to deliver “menu” of applications to users NAL 1.0 used to deliver “menu” of applications to users User support issues User support issues can’t use things that aren’t on the menu can’t use things that aren’t on the menu

Upgrades to NAL Upgrades to NAL NAL becomes Zen NAL becomes Zen Lotsa BrainShares and TTPs Lotsa BrainShares and TTPs Use a little workstation management for lab computers, but not for fac/staff desktops or student computers Use a little workstation management for lab computers, but not for fac/staff desktops or student computers

Today Zen 3.2 SP2 in production Zen 3.2 SP2 in production Zen 4.01 installed on servers Zen 4.01 installed on servers Zen 4 Agent MSI not distributed outside of IT departments yet Zen 4 Agent MSI not distributed outside of IT departments yet Application launcher used extensively for app installs Application launcher used extensively for app installs Office, Macromedia, Adobe, Mozilla, Keyserver client, various viewers and plugins Office, Macromedia, Adobe, Mozilla, Keyserver client, various viewers and plugins SPSS, Mathcad, other academic applications SPSS, Mathcad, other academic applications

Today continued With Windows 2000/XP, DLU unsupportable for large number of users due to password problem With Windows 2000/XP, DLU unsupportable for large number of users due to password problem Ended up using DirXML to synchronize Active Directory and eDirectory, got rid of DLU and stopped using Zen to distribute group policies Ended up using DirXML to synchronize Active Directory and eDirectory, got rid of DLU and stopped using Zen to distribute group policies We’re much happier We’re much happier

ZfD 4.01 Deployment Installed on Netware 6 cluster - this may delay Netware 6.5 adoption Installed on Netware 6 cluster - this may delay Netware 6.5 adoption New cluster node brought in recently - had to install ZfD 3.2 SP2 and 4.01 New cluster node brought in recently - had to install ZfD 3.2 SP2 and 4.01 Plan on rolling out Agent MSI to all Windows 98 SE and Windows XP desktops in late July/August via NAL Plan on rolling out Agent MSI to all Windows 98 SE and Windows XP desktops in late July/August via NAL

ZfD 4.01 Plans Already using MSI installs for some products, including Wise Install Tailor Already using MSI installs for some products, including Wise Install Tailor May purchase a full MSI manipulation package May purchase a full MSI manipulation package Plan on using Workstation Inventory and integrating data with our new Helpdesk management software (Support-Works) Plan on using Workstation Inventory and integrating data with our new Helpdesk management software (Support-Works) May use imaging in specific environments after testing May use imaging in specific environments after testing No plans to use Middle Tier server No plans to use Middle Tier server

Other Plans Review all existing application installations - some can benefit from new/improved application chaining, customized Transforms or building MSI-based distributions Review all existing application installations - some can benefit from new/improved application chaining, customized Transforms or building MSI-based distributions Use ZfD 4.01 requirements as an excuse to eliminate Windows 95 and 98 (Office 2003 will take care of Windows 98 SE) Use ZfD 4.01 requirements as an excuse to eliminate Windows 95 and 98 (Office 2003 will take care of Windows 98 SE)

Student computers Currently do no workstation management, only provide applications Currently do no workstation management, only provide applications Fall 2003 computers will be in the domain, will be registered, inventoried, and managed Fall 2003 computers will be in the domain, will be registered, inventoried, and managed Doing this for 450 computers at once is being called “Extreme Deployment” by our staff Doing this for 450 computers at once is being called “Extreme Deployment” by our staff Drew-supplied image, put on systems by IBM Drew-supplied image, put on systems by IBM

What aren’t we using? Middle Tier – doesn’t fit into a client-based, clustered environment well Middle Tier – doesn’t fit into a client-based, clustered environment well Remote Control – not used in the past for fear of making users uncomfortable, now we have Windows XP Remote Desktop Remote Control – not used in the past for fear of making users uncomfortable, now we have Windows XP Remote Desktop Imaging – our imaging built around student notebooks, not network deployment Imaging – our imaging built around student notebooks, not network deployment With only 100 or so lab PCs, large-scale networked imaging not a priority With only 100 or so lab PCs, large-scale networked imaging not a priority Software Usage Tracking – Keyserver instead Software Usage Tracking – Keyserver instead Zen for Servers – Clustering Zen for Servers – Clustering Zen for Handhelds – No handheld support policy Zen for Handhelds – No handheld support policy

The Future New ZENs as they happen New ZENs as they happen Handhelds? Handhelds? Policy? Policy? Strategy? Strategy? Support? Support?

Concerns ZEN stability ZEN stability SPs help a lot SPs help a lot Client migration? Client support? Client existence? Client migration? Client support? Client existence? AD support AD support

Open discussion Time for sharing