Greg ReganPrincipal Computing OfficerDesktop Applications Team
5th largest university in the UK Recently ranked 1st in the UK of 119 international universities when
dealing with green issues Multiple campus’ across Somerset, Devon & Cornwall ~ 30,000 FTE students ~ 3,500 staff 1,800 student PCs (approx 60 dual boot to Linux) 3,000 staff PCs 500 laptops 300 Macs Condor Grid Computing pool of 1,000 student Windows PCs More than 200 Windows Servers + few Linux, Solaris & Unix Predominantly a Microsoft site
Project Objective % complete
PlymNet 5 Upgrade network to 10 gigabit backbone 80%
PlymStore Consolidate & increase storage whilst reducing overheads
80%
PlymServe Virtualize & rationalize the server infrastructure to reduce the total no. of CPU cycles used, increase flexibility and reduce total overhead
80%
PlymTel Deploy IP telephony university wide to create a more flexible working environment, particularly for remote & peripatetic workers
90%
PlymPrint Deploy free standing multi-function devices to replace inefficient and costly personal devices
100%
PlymMac5 Replace legacy Apple Macs – leased on 3 year cycle 100%
PlymLap5 Replace legacy laptops – leased on 4 year cycle 100%
PlymDesk5 Replace legacy desktops – leased on 4 year cycle 100%
NB – Responsible disposal of legacy hardware is built into all contracts
show how the University of Plymouth will:
1. Reduce its PlymDesk 5 carbon footprint; and
2. Reduce its PlymDesk 5 power bills by more than £276k over the next 3 years
Date Results
Pre 2002 PCs were purchased & maintained by individual Schools/Faculties
Dozens of different specification PCs, a second rate, inconsistent & costly service
2003(PlymDesk 4)
Introduced leased fleet of 5,000 PCs (Windows XP Pro), managed and maintained by central ICT using SMS 2.0 (upgraded to SMS 2003 in 2004) and Faronics DeepFreeze (student PCs only)
First class consistent user experience using only 3 different PC specifications
The downside is the PCs need to be powered up 24/7 to allow DeepFreeze and SMS to interact effectively
2007(PlymDesk 5)
Deployed 2nd generation leased fleet of 4,800 PCs introducing Dual Core processors & Intel vPro technology – specifically Active Management Technology, to assist with PC maintenance
Immediately reduced power consumption by 40% (estimated)
Effective PC power management using Group Policy Preferences and AMT further reduces power consumption
Technology Purpose
Intel Active Management Technology
Allows low level remote-control of a PC – built into the motherboard. PCs should be pre-provisioned by OEM prior to delivery – cost = free (some OEMs may charge)
Intel SCS server Allows secure provisioning of AMT PCs once deployed – cost = free
SMS 2003 Manages OS patching, application deployment and PC re-imaging via SMS OSD add-on – cost = free
SMS 2003 Intel SMS add-on Allows management of AMT devices via SMS for instance power cycling etc. – cost = free
Microsoft Group Policy Preferences
Allows enterprise control of XP power policies applied by Group Policy Object – cost = free
Faronics DeepFreeze Maintains the state of a PC - installed on all student PCs – cost ~ £3 / PC /p.a.
Condor windows client Allows PC to be used on PlymGrid – installed on the PC & activated by Group Policy – cost = free
NB – whilst all the power saving solutions are effectively free there is a server and system admin overhead
All PCs are AMT provisioned All PCs are a member of an Active Directory security
group Each of the above security groups has a different
Windows power policy defined by a Group Policy preference moving the PC into standby after a period of inactivity
Intel SMS add-on wakes up or turns on PCs to perform OS updates or application deployments
The defined power policy returns the PC to a standby state
WoL technology didn’t work on our network
Extant enterprise products were either not robust or too expensive
The timing of the renewal of our leased fleet coincided with the maturity of Enterprise AMT
Dealing with new technologies – OEM was learning on the fly causing issues
Blending the technologies into UoP infrastructure Issues with Intel SMS add-on Lack of real accessible information BIOS and BIOS upgrade issues Changing user & support staff misconceptions,
i.e. vPro power managed PCs UoP under-resourcing the project
UoP senior management buy-in – all PCs ‘have’ to be power-managed, opt-out may only be achieved by completing a registration form
Working with new technologies
Working in partnership with Intel
Achieving solutions and successes
Our Apple Mac fleet wherever possible emulates the behaviour of the PCs
Prove that we are making real savings – aiming to look at this later this year, the findings will be published
Microsoft have embraced the AMT technology
Upgrading from SMS 2003 & SCS to SCCM 2007 SP1 – effectively unifying SMS & AMT