NAL and ZEN: Drew’s history NAL and ZEN: Drew’s history of application and computer of application and computer

managementmanagementMike Richichi, Director of Computing and Network ServicesMike Richichi, Director of Computing and Network Services

Paul Coen, Manager of Systems AdministrationPaul Coen, Manager of Systems AdministrationDrew University, Madison NJDrew University, Madison NJ

TTP 2003TTP 2003Salt Lake City, UTSalt Lake City, UT

One slide about DrewOne slide about Drew

Laptops for students (20Laptops for students (20thth year of student year of student computers)computers)

Campuswide network for all students, faculty, Campuswide network for all students, faculty, staff, using Client 32 for access to Netware staff, using Client 32 for access to Netware file/printfile/print

Centralized file servers, network administration, Centralized file servers, network administration, PC deployment, and network application PC deployment, and network application managementmanagement

Technology part of university mission, important Technology part of university mission, important part of reputationpart of reputation

TimelineTimeline

1995: We see NAL 1.0 for the first time1995: We see NAL 1.0 for the first time1996: NAL 1.0 rolled out as part of initial 1996: NAL 1.0 rolled out as part of initial

campus network (Win 3.1, 95)campus network (Win 3.1, 95)1997—2002: Upgrades through Zen 3.2, 1997—2002: Upgrades through Zen 3.2,

mainly using application launcher and mainly using application launcher and workstation managementworkstation management

2003: Upgrade to Zen 4.01, inventory 2003: Upgrade to Zen 4.01, inventory management, imagingmanagement, imaging

The real beginningThe real beginning

19951995

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

And the Snapshot toolAnd the Snapshot toolCool, indeedCool, indeed

19961996

Drew implements campus networkDrew implements campus networkNAL 1.0 used to deliver “menu” of NAL 1.0 used to deliver “menu” of

applications to usersapplications to usersUser support issuesUser support issues

can’t use things that aren’t on the menucan’t use things that aren’t on the menu

1997-20021997-2002

Upgrades to NAL Upgrades to NAL NAL becomes ZenNAL becomes ZenLotsa BrainShares and TTPsLotsa BrainShares and TTPsUse a little workstation management for Use a little workstation management for

lab computers, but not for fac/staff lab computers, but not for fac/staff desktops or student computersdesktops or student computers

TodayToday

Zen 3.2 SP2 in productionZen 3.2 SP2 in productionZen 4.01 installed on servers Zen 4.01 installed on servers

Zen 4 Agent MSI not distributed outside of IT Zen 4 Agent MSI not distributed outside of IT departments yetdepartments yet

Application launcher used extensively for app Application launcher used extensively for app installsinstalls

Office, Macromedia, Adobe, Mozilla, Office, Macromedia, Adobe, Mozilla, Keyserver client, various viewers and pluginsKeyserver client, various viewers and plugins

SPSS, Mathcad, other academic applicationsSPSS, Mathcad, other academic applications

Today continuedToday continued

With Windows 2000/XP, DLU With Windows 2000/XP, DLU unsupportable for large number of users unsupportable for large number of users due to password problemdue to password problem

Ended up using DirXML to synchronize Ended up using DirXML to synchronize Active Directory and eDirectory, got rid of Active Directory and eDirectory, got rid of DLU and stopped using Zen to distribute DLU and stopped using Zen to distribute group policiesgroup policies

We’re much happierWe’re much happier

ZfD 4.01 DeploymentZfD 4.01 Deployment

Installed on Netware 6 cluster - this may Installed on Netware 6 cluster - this may delay Netware 6.5 adoptiondelay Netware 6.5 adoption

New cluster node brought in recently - had New cluster node brought in recently - had to install ZfD 3.2 SP2 and 4.01to install ZfD 3.2 SP2 and 4.01

Plan on rolling out Agent MSI to all Plan on rolling out Agent MSI to all Windows 98 SE and Windows XP Windows 98 SE and Windows XP desktops in late July/August via NALdesktops in late July/August via NAL

ZfD 4.01 PlansZfD 4.01 Plans

Already using MSI installs for some products, Already using MSI installs for some products, including Wise Install Tailorincluding Wise Install Tailor May purchase a full MSI manipulation packageMay purchase a full MSI manipulation package

Plan on using Workstation Inventory and Plan on using Workstation Inventory and integrating data with our new Helpdesk integrating data with our new Helpdesk management software (Support-Works)management software (Support-Works)

May use imaging in specific environments after May use imaging in specific environments after testingtesting

No plans to use Middle Tier serverNo plans to use Middle Tier server

Other PlansOther Plans

Review all existing application installations Review all existing application installations - some can benefit from new/improved - some can benefit from new/improved application chaining, customized application chaining, customized Transforms or building MSI-based Transforms or building MSI-based distributionsdistributions

Use ZfD 4.01 requirements as an excuse Use ZfD 4.01 requirements as an excuse to eliminate Windows 95 and 98 (Office to eliminate Windows 95 and 98 (Office 2003 will take care of Windows 98 SE)2003 will take care of Windows 98 SE)

Student computersStudent computers

Currently do no workstation management, Currently do no workstation management, only provide applicationsonly provide applications

Fall 2003 computers will be in the domain, Fall 2003 computers will be in the domain, will be registered, inventoried, and will be registered, inventoried, and managedmanagedDoing this for 450 computers at once is being Doing this for 450 computers at once is being

called “Extreme Deployment” by our staffcalled “Extreme Deployment” by our staffDrew-supplied image, put on systems by IBMDrew-supplied image, put on systems by IBM

What aren’t we using?What aren’t we using? Middle Tier – doesn’t fit into a client-based, clustered Middle Tier – doesn’t fit into a client-based, clustered

environment wellenvironment well Remote Control – not used in the past for fear of making Remote Control – not used in the past for fear of making

users uncomfortable, now we have Windows XP Remote users uncomfortable, now we have Windows XP Remote DesktopDesktop

Imaging – our imaging built around student notebooks, Imaging – our imaging built around student notebooks, not network deploymentnot network deployment With only 100 or so lab PCs, large-scale networked imaging not With only 100 or so lab PCs, large-scale networked imaging not

a prioritya priority Software Usage Tracking – Keyserver insteadSoftware Usage Tracking – Keyserver instead Zen for Servers – ClusteringZen for Servers – Clustering Zen for Handhelds – No handheld support policyZen for Handhelds – No handheld support policy

The FutureThe Future

New ZENs as they happenNew ZENs as they happenHandhelds? Handhelds?

Policy? Policy? Strategy? Strategy? Support?Support?

ConcernsConcerns

ZEN stabilityZEN stabilitySPs help a lotSPs help a lot

Client migration? Client support? Client Client migration? Client support? Client existence? existence?

AD support AD support

Open discussionOpen discussion

Time for sharingTime for sharing