 |
 |
Matt, In Ag Econ we run a lab for graduate student's use with 16 PCs. We use Ghost to update them periodically for either software updates or security patches. We also run Fortres Grand security software which stops the users from installing software, deleting icons from the desktop, viewing or changing certain files or folders, etc. Using this, we haven't had to re-image them daily, as you suggest. Ours typically go months before I need to update software licenses, or some other issue. This system has been in place for longer than the 6.5 years I've been working here, and we're happy with the system. To make updates faster, I've written a set of batch files that automate some changes to each PC after Ghosting (set IP address, default printer, etc.), so keep that in mind as a way to reduce the labor overhead involved in Ghosting. Brian At 11:53 AM 2/16/2005, you wrote: >I was wondering what the members of the list are using for managing teaching >labs. We have a 15-seat training lab that we use Ghost to periodically >return to a clean state. This system works fine, but requires a fair amount >of time to create the images and deploy them. What do you use? Are there >any open-source/free alternatives? Ideally, I'd like to be able to set >something up that would return the systems to a clean state at a preset >interval, or possibly at login. Deploying Microsoft patches, virus software >updates, etc would also be an issue. > >Another issue would be how to maintain some kind of static file space so >that users attending a multi-day course could save their files and still >have access to them after a system refresh. Would another partition on the >system be the best way to handle this? AFS space? > >Any thoughts on this topic would be very helpful and greatly appreciated. > >Thanks, > >Matt Farra >-- >/-------------------/-------------------/-------------------/--------------- >----/ >Matthew Farra >Microcomputer Hardware/Software Coordinator >Remote Sensing & GIS Research and Outreach Services, Michigan State >University >email: [log in to unmask] - phone: 517.432.3720 - fax: 517.353.1821 >