Boosting Start-up & Shut-down Speeds

well, folks..
we are currently working on building a new computer image for the various computing areas across campus..
one of the key features that we are investigating is the Start-Up and Shut-Down times, particularly when using WindowsXP.





Our preliminary research finds:

Start-Up time(s) for the various computer sets (using Windows XP):

• 1st Gen iMac - (Doble 413, 415, 309, Reading Room, Kiosks, 24-hour Lab) -- 
• 2nd Gen iMac - (Wolfard 203, 204) -- ~03:00:00 - 03:30:00+
• 3rd Gen iMac - (University Hall training Room, Reading Room) -- ~01:30:00 - 01:50:00
• MacBookPro (for CheckOut) -- ~01:30:00 - 02:00:00

Shut-Down time(s) for the various computer sets (using Windows XP):

• 1st Gen iMac - (Doble 413, 415, 309, Reading Room, Kiosks, 24-hour Lab) -- 
• 2nd Gen iMac - (Wolfard 203, 204) -- ~00:45:00 - 00:50:00
• 3rd Gen iMac - (University Hall training Room, Reading Room) -- ~00:45:00 - 00:55:00
• MacBookPro (for CheckOut) -- ~00:50:00 - 01:05:00

I hope to tweak with the configuration of these machines to squeeze-out a significant change.

We'll let you know how it goes!

See below:

After our enhanced configuration:

COMING SOON!

Start-Up time(s) for the various computer sets (using Windows XP):

• 1st Gen iMac - (Doble 413, 415, 309, Reading Room, Kiosks, 24-hour Lab) -- 
• 2nd Gen iMac - (Wolfard 203, 204) -- 
• 3rd Gen iMac - (University Hall training Room, Reading Room) -- 
• MacBookPro (for CheckOut) -- 

Shut-Down time(s) for the various computer sets (using Windows XP):

• 1st Gen iMac - (Doble 413, 415, 309, Reading Room, Kiosks, 24-hour Lab) -- 
• 2nd Gen iMac - (Wolfard 203, 204) -- ~00:45:00 - 00:50:00
• 3rd Gen iMac - (University Hall training Room, Reading Room) -- 
• MacBookPro (for CheckOut) --

Winter Maintenance - 2010-2011

We have just posted our Winter Maintenance in the maintenance calendar (see here).
It will basically involve re-imaging every computer that is overseen by the Labs & Classrooms group.

Please stay tuned to the Twitter feed or our blog-roll for photos, commentary, and notes on the updates.
Software Lists will be provided soon.

JUST SO YA KNOW!

Network 'acting up'??

We have tried to apply some fixes with our Symantec Antivirus causing machines to lose their network connection.

This affects computers on the entire campus.  If you are using Symantec EndPoint Protection, make sure that your machine isn't losing its connection due to False-Positive Denial of Service attacks caused by Network Threat Protection being too hardcore.  When a DoS attack is detected, the NTP shuts off access to that IP address for 10 minutes thus causing the page to time-out when loading websites

The issue may appear to be the "network being slow..." but in reality, it's just a bunch of crap running in the background making it to where you're not getting all of your packets.

We are applying this fix to the Loaner Laptops for checkout, the Sherrill Laptop Cart,... and any other office machines just sitting around on wireless and obviously any future installations.  Fun times.

Please be mindful of this fix.

This applies to any computers running Symantec EndPoint Protection v11-12.x and with Network Threat Protection installed (by default it is).

Mid-Terms...

Howdy, folks..
I didn't want you to think that I never update this blog.
I do, it's just very interesting when things get busy.

To let you know what's been going on:

1. There have been lots of outages lately.  I don't know if you have noticed.  The Science Lab (UNIV-2-142) is burning a hole in my resources.  The UPX-2 (Crestron A/V controller), an essential component to the operation of that space, has gone out...  The UPX-2 is essentially a computer capable of switching and mediating the signal to and from the various components such as the DVD/VHS player, the Document Camera, and the Laptop inputs all over the room.  Well, obvi, with it not working, those components don't function properly.  To make matters worse, Crestron doesn't make a comparable product anymore, so we're going to try and find another solution to replicate the same functionality.  Talk about time and money!
2. Other areas have been soaking up our limited resources... A/V support and setup tickets have flooded our inbox.  Teachers requiring assistance setting up their classroom technology, etc.  I have been offering trainings, but no one has showed up... :(  it's unfortunate, but it would help to have some peoples at least be mindful of how to operate the equipment.  It's just a matter of increasing peoples' confidence when using those kinds of tools, and a side effect of all of it would be less reports of "broken" things when 90% of the time it's just unplugged or turned off.

I know, right?

At any rate...
what else?
That's about it for maintenance stuff..