What’s new in MD2012

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Managed Desktop 2012 is built upon the MD2011 desktop, so based on the Windows 7 Enterprise Operating System.

There have been a number of updates to software and settings for Managed Desktop 2012.
These updates include:

Software updates

  • CD Burner XP Pro installed to help create CDs and DVDs
  • IE9
  • QuickTime Player 7.7.2
  • SilverLight x64 version 5.1.10411.0
  • Java 1.6 JRE version 1.6.0 Update 32
  • Java 1.6 JDK version 1.6.0 Update 32
  • Adobe Reader 10.1.3
  • Simplified Chinese Fonts Support for Adobe Reader 10
  • Sophos 10
  • Microsoft Mathematics Add-in for Word and Onenote
  • FS Clerkenwell fonts
  • Google Chrome 20

 
Configuration updates

  • Associated .tab files with Excel so SI extracts open automatically
  • Altered associations so when a movie DVD is inserted Windows Media Player is launched automatically
  • Languages altered in ‘Language Bar’ so more appropriate (more languages will be available from the Start Menu this year as well)
  • Disabled Quick Keys to toggle foreign languages and keyboards
  • Altered Explorer so Drives shown in ‘Tiles’ view (will show free space correctly when using Windows file store)
  • Altered Excel to set macros to ‘Disable all macros with notification’

Improvements for laptops

  • Hibernation mode enabled for Office laptops
  • Cached Exchange Mode enabled for staff using Office laptops
  • IPSec VPN client, including routines to map drives during the connection process for Office laptops

 
At present MD2012 is only available by re-imaging an existing workstation, but we will be producing a series of patches in order to automatically update MD2011 workstations to MD2012.

MD2012 updates for staff laptop users

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In order to try and improve the usability and experience for staff laptop users, the MD2012 desktop has had a number of updates and improvements in order to improve the user experience, especially when working away from the University.

These improvements include:

  • Cached Exchange Mode
  • Hibernation mode for power saving settings
  • IPSec VPN client, that will map user drive mappings when connected
  • Skype and Video camera software for laptops that are part of SLS Loan Laptop service
  • Privilege Guard so that users have elevated rights to install and configure applications, printers and networks
Some of these updates will apply to MD2011 laptops as well, but not all.

 

Cached Exchange Mode
Cached Exchange Mode will cache the user’s mailbox to the workstation so that emails and calendar appointments will be visible whilst away from the University. Users can read, create and send new emails whilst offline, then when connected to the internet the mailbox will sync new and existing emails with the SHU Exchange Server, whilst sending any emails in the Outbox.
Note: Users of the new Exchange 2010 service will currently need to use the VPN for the sync’ing to occur whilst away from the University

 

Hibernation Mode
In order to conserve energy whilst improving the usability of laptops, MD2012 laptops can enter hibernation mode, which effectively saves the contents of memory to a file and then switches the workstation off. This will save battery power and allows users to restore the laptop to the previous state quickly.

 

The IPSec client will allow more concurrent connections to the SHU VPN service.
As part of the connection process, users will have the same drive mappings as when in the University, so will have access to Homespace, Shared drives etc.

 

Privilege Guard
Privilege Guard is a service to allow users to have elevated rights to install applications, install printers and configure wireless networks as required.

 

Future Enhancements
Networks and Infrastructure intend to implement Window file store shortly and then move users existing Homespace and Shared folders to this file store.
When this occurs laptop users will have Offline files enabled, which will automatically sync certain directories within Homespace with their laptop, allowing access to the files stored in these directories whilst not connected to a network.
The directories that will be sync’d include ‘My Documents’ and ‘IE Favorites’.
Any updates to files within these directories will be sync’d on re-connection to the SHU network.

Software List

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IS&T have produced an updated software list that currently lists the availability of software for the University’s Managed Desktop within the student IT laboratories.

The list will display a list of currently available software and where it is deployed within the University, as well as a list of software deployed to each room.

The list is a quite comprehensive list with a large amount of the software, but it is not yet complete as software is still being deployed and some software that is deployed manually is not currently included in the list.

The list does not currently include the location of software within the Learning Centres but we hope to include this very soon.

The list can be found here:
Software List

Exchange 2010 – move of IST

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The migration of IST to Exchange 2010 mailboxes  was completed  on  Tuesday 11/09/2012. No issues have come to light (but it has only been two days).  A paper on the migration timetable for the rest of the university has been submitted to the Exchange Project board.

MD Info application available on the MD7 menus

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In order to help users and IT Help staff diagnose issues with a workstation or user code, IS&T have made available an application that will analyse the workstation and user code in order to provide important information for support staff, as well as providing users with some self service tasks to resolve common problems.

The information can be emailed directly to IT Help if requested, where it will be entered as a new Unidesk call.

Menu Shortcut

The ‘MD Info’ menu shortcut is available at the root of the workstation menus on all MD7 workstations.

Future Development

We expect the application to have quite a lot of development of the next few months as new features are added and any issues are rectified. Suggestions for new features would be welcomed. Please let IT Help know of any ideas.

At some point the application files will be installed on the workstation so that they will be available for laptop users whilst away from the University.

 

Google Chrome browser updated to version 20.0.1132.57

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Google Chrome is currently being updated for the Windows 7 Managed Desktop to version 20.0.1132.57.

The update will apply when the machine is not logged in as Chrome can not be updated whilst it is in use.

Updates and New Functionality

This version fixes a number of known security issues and updates Adobe Flash to the latest version.

Chrome to Mobile

Version 20 now automatically supports the ‘Chrome to Mobile’ extension which allows users who have signed in to the Chrome browser to send web pages from their computer direct to their Android device if they are using Android 4 and have the Google Chrome browser installed. The option to allow this to occur needs enabling within the settings of the Chrome Browser on the Android device.

For more information about this feature and the latest Chrome update please see:
Chrome to mobile extenstion
Chrome Stable Update Release

Exchange 2010 new features for users

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Web Access (OWA)

  • Favorites in the navigation pane
  • Search folders
  • Message filtering
  • Ability to set categories in the message list
  • Options in the Web management interface for Outlook Web App
  • Side-by-side view for calendars
  • Multiple client language support
  • Ability to attach messages to messages
  • Expanded right-click capabilities
  • Conversation view
  • Ability to send and receive text messages from Outlook Web App
  • Outlook Web App mailbox policies

Outlook 2010 functionality

  • MailTips can help users make the correct choices when they send sensitive communications.
  • Message tracking lets you confirm that an e-mail message was delivered.

Activesync Features

  • Conversation grouping of e-mail messages
  • Ability to synchronize or not synchronize an entire conversation
  • Synchronization of SMS messages with a user’s Exchange mailbox
  • Support for viewing of message reply status
  • Support for availability information for contacts

 

Exchange upgrade

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During the Autumn of 2012 the University’s staff email system Exchange, will be upgraded from Exchange 2007 to Exchange  2010.

There are a significant number of improvement and changes which can be seen here.  users of Macs should particularly  note that the Safari Web access has been enhanced.

One facility that will no longer be available is Mac Entourage connection using a technology called WebDav. We have have identified and contacted users of this about getting their software updated already, but if this is a urgent issue for you please contact ITHelp.

Timetable of the changes

On the 1st of August there will be a change which will be transparent to the vast majority of users but will have an impact on the Mac users who use Entourage.

The major change that most users will see is when their mailboxes are moved to the new system. The process of moving the mailboxes  will take a couple of months to complete for the whole university. The impact for users is that will be a brief period (no more than 5 minutes) when  the mailbox is unavailble. Where possible we will arrange for this period to be out of normal UK working hours. We will email you a few days before the migration of your mailbox take places.

 

Issues and comments

Issue with this can be emailled to  exchange2010issues@shu.ac.uk or reported to ITHelp.  Comments about  the new service can be posted in the comments box below.

Updated VPN client and settings for MD7 laptops

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From the week beginning 6th August 2012, Networks and Infrastructure will be releasing an updated VPN client to all MD7 Office laptops in order to improve the user experience for MD7 laptop users.

The updated client will allow more concurrent connections to the VPN service and provide enhanced security.

Installation Process

The VPN client update will install during the workstation startup process and once available there will be two icons on the desktop to allow connection to the SHU VPN and to disconnect when finished.

Connecting to the SHU VPN

In order to connect to the VPN the user should double click on the ‘Connect to SHU VPN’ desktop shortcut. This will launch the the application and display the login screen where the user will be required to enter their SHU usercode and password.

The client does have a slightly different login screen to the previous client as this is an updated version of the client software.

Drives Mapped

As part of the updated settings, once the connection has been successful the user should receive a message informing them that the network drives have been mapped successfully and the user will then have same drive letters mapped as they get whilst working within the University.

Access to the University Resources

Once connected to the VPN the user will be using  the SHU network and so will have access to SHU resources that are not normally available from outside the University, such as Homespace, shared drives and University services.

Using the Internet

Whilst the user is connected to the VPN all internet traffic will be directed through the SHU VPN network until the VPN is disconnected, when traffic will revert to using the ISP network.

Disconnecting from the SHU VPN Network

In order to disconnect from the SHU VPN network users should double click on the Disconnect desktop shortcut. As part of the disconnect process this will remove the drive mappings to the SHU network file store.

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