Windows Client Management Basic Def

Windows Client Management

managing and maintaining Windows operating systems on client devices within an organization's network

System Imaging

an image of a completed installation are made and copied to each machine

Image creation steps

1. Installing windows and all applications on a machine with similar hardware

2. use sysprep to remove all identifying information from the machine, could lead to duplicate SIDs

3. Restart system to pre-installation environment

4. Create the image using the image software

5. Distribute

Image Distribution

• Copied using direct hard drive copying

  or

• Copied over a network

  • Computers are configured to “network boot” to start image installation

Pros of Standardized Hardware

maintaining consistent computing hardware will decrease expenses and troubleshooting, making it easier to use imaging and automated software distribution

Ways to Achieve Hardware Consistency

• upgrading entire departments at once

• buying “business class” computer hardware

• running occasional hardware audits

Business Class Hardware

• designed for business use

• longer lifespans

• easier to expand

• more consistent

• higher cost

• Examples

  • Dell Optiplex

  • HP Prodesk

Client Software Installation Methods

• Manual

• From a server

• To a server and run remotely

• Using Group Policy

• Automatic Installation & Distribution

• Software Images

• Application/Desktop Virtualization

Manual Installation

• Easy

• Labor-intensive and time-consuming

• Only solution if machine base is inconsistent

• Best for few clients (<20)

Install From a Server

• Installation files are copied to a distribution point

• Clients install software locally from the distribution point.

Install to Server & Run Remotely

• Install the software on a server and have clients run application from server

Installing Using Group Policy

• used to assign/publish software to a user or a computer

• user can install software when they login

• requires .msi package file to be in distribution point location and a GPO to tell users/computers to execute the file

Automatic Installation & Disrtibution

• agent is placed on each machine

• agent install packages on machine automatically without user intervention

• requires standardized hardware and software

• Examples

  • Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager

  • IBM Cloud

Automated OS Updates

• OS patches fix bugs/security issues

• Testing patches before deployment is important for security

Windows Server Update Services

• WSUS is a microsoft provided tool to automate server updates

• acts as a managed, local update solution

• download patches → test → approve → auto-install on clients

Software/Hardware Audits

• can assist in building and maintaining hardware database