Netboot Problems :(

So in my mad netboot/deploy craze, I find that there are a few machines in the Mollye Lichter Block 24-hour computer lab that won't netboot proper...

This has halted the imaging process and has thrown me into RAGE@#!&...
So we are circumventing this issue with other methods.




I would like to take this time to say "kudos" to Bombich's Carbon Copy Cloner...
It's a godsend.

Mollye Lichter Block 24-hour Lab Closed for Maintenance (Jun 3-4)

Sorry, boys and girls.
The Mollye Lichter Block 24-hour Computer Lab is closed for maintenance today (June 3, 2010) and tomorrow (June 4, 2010) for re-imaging.... this will include software updates, enhanced everything... and more reliable configurations.

Will post updates as they come.

Software Updates for Wolfard Fall 2010 Image!

Rigorously running through software updates for the Wolfard workstation image.
It's interesting because this area contains what I consider our "2nd Gen" iMacs*...
These are characterized primarily by the thin base-stands, the Mini-DisplayPort connector, and the nVidia integrated graphics cards.


*2nd Generation only in the series of Aluminum iMacs that we have on this campus.

=============
MacOSX
--> Software Update included various security & application updates.

• EFI Firmware 1.4
• Bluetooth Firmware 2.01
• SuperDrive Firmware 3.0

Applications:

Updated Office 2008 -- 12.x
Flip4Mac WMV Components -- 2.3.2.6
Adobe Reader -- 9.3.2
Firefox -- 3.6.3
Google Earth 5.1.3535.3218

----------------------
WinXPSP3 
--> Windows Update included various security & application updates.

Applications:

Installed Filezilla FTP Client 3.3.2.1
Microsoft Office 2007

UPDATE: DeploySrv-Doble is running v1.0rc19 (stable)!!!

So I just did a major upgrade to my deploy server in Doble.

FYI: "DeploySrv-x" is the general nomenclature that I have given to machines that are used to copy/clone workstations in various computer areas.

DeploySrv-Doble will serve the entire doble campus by allowing dual-boot imac machines to boot remotely via NetBoot services (a built-in feature of MacOSX-Server) and then invoke Apple System Restore (ASR) processes to copy the hard-drives from lab workstations to a network storage unit (as 'images')....
Then, the same ASR processes can be used to restore the hard-drive images back onto workstations else-where.... it's all quite simple.
And it saves TONS on leg-work.
The traditional methods would have included taking an external hard-drive to each computer and copying the workstation one at a time... with ASR & NetBoot, I can do 20+ at a time (in the same amount of time).... And I can do them remotely (from another office or computer elsewhere) making it much more convenient for me.

When I worked at the Art Institute of Boston, I had set-up DeployStudio, but back in the day, we used a tool called NetRestore... similar ideas.

At any rate..
I'm celebrating because I restored the NetBoot services and rebuilt a NetInstall Set using DeployStudio v1.0rc19.... and I'm creating the Doble Image as we speak.

More development notes to come!

Realtek vs. BootCamp via 1st Generation 21" iMacs

So many of you all have reported that the sound quality from the 21" iMacs either sucks (strange swooshing or crackling sounds) or doesn't work at all under Windows XP/Windows 7.
Well, not to worry;  you aren't alone.

This is a known issue through Apple and BootCamp, and we here at the Labs & Classrooms office feels your pain.  We have updated Boot Camp drivers (now running 3.1),... and we have installed May 2010 drivers (WDM_R248) from the Realtek website...

Perhaps this will help!

Relevant links:
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=389026
http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsView.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=24&PFid=24&Level=4&Conn=3&DownTypeID=3

Areas this affects:
All dual-boot 21" iMacs (1st, 2nd, & 3rd Gen).

We'll post a couple of comments to follow-up.
Thanks for reporting your concerns!!!

--- Richard

Sassafras K2 KeyServer on it's way!

Well..
it's always been here (*I guess since before I started).....apparently.
We had run this at the Art Institute of Boston when I was there..

But I will be employing Sassafras K2 KeyServer to track the software installations across the labs.
It's a very simple component that basically monitors the workstations in the labs and classrooms and watches to see how many times a particular software package is run...
if there are 15 licenses for Adobe Photoshop on campus, and 15 people are using it, when the 16th person tries to run it, a message will display saying... "sorry, but we are running out of licenses".. or something to that effect.

This software serves several purposes that are NOT intended to cause grief for students trying to use the software... rather, it lets me install the software on a LOT of machines across a whole area.. (e.g. every computer in the Doble Building)... and it will let students use the software wherever it's installed rather than just in one area (so long as the # of licenses hasn't been met).....  ALSO, it lets me track a large # of licenses and usage.  So more software on each station WITH version tracking.  So I can make sure that all areas are up-to-date.

It's a small, un-noticeable thing... but I LOVE it.

http://www.sassafras.com/

Fall 2010: Boot Picker Updated

I recently updated boot picker on all of our dual-boot iMacs and MacBook Pros to 2.1.2.

I was also sure to brandish the bootpicker with our most recent Desktop Wallpaper (I jokingly call OS-Slate)...

OS-Slate - Fall 2010 Desktop Background

The boot-picker will have new titles (to fit the more modernized look & feel of the machine) despite the older operating systems. (10.5.8 & XPSP3).... some will have 10.6.3 & XPSP3 while our experimental machines will have 10.6.3 & Win7.... I haven't determined where these will sit yet... but I will let you know.