[OPLINTECH] Deepfreeze help/advice

[Chad Neeper]

As a rule, I use Deep Freeze on all patron computers. I haven't yet used
the new cloud-based setup, but I think it's probably the better alternative
over the local-only Deep Freeze Enterprise Management Console. As my
libraries need to renew/change their DFE licenses, I'll probably start
switching them to the cloud managed version.

Typically, I'll install the Deep Freeze Management Console on the Windows
Server so the DFE service runs 24x7 (as just another Windows service). I
usually just launch the Management Console application as needed, though,
and close it when done. (It doesn't need to stay up and running...that's
what the service is for.) I'll usually then install the Deep Freeze stub on
the workstations, which ties them to the Management Console. From there, I
can push out the install and configuration from the Management Console on
the server.

When you need to thaw a computer for management, you have a choice of using
the Management Console on the server to thaw/freeze a (set of) computer(s),
or you can use the local DF interface on each individual computer itself if
you just need to thaw/freeze one or two computers. I DON'T install the full
DF Management Console on each individual workstation. If that's really what
your previous IT person did...not sure the reasoning for that.

With the DF Management Console, you can schedule automatic (or manual)
events. For instance, in the middle of the night, you can schedule your
computers to wake up, thaw them, install Windows Updates, freeze them, and
turn them off again. You should also be able to schedule other custom tasks
to run on the computers during these thawed maintenance windows. (For
instance, my current project is to leverage Chocolatey
<https://chocolatey.org/> to automatically install/update all applications
on the workstations. I should be able to schedule this to occur during the
maintenance window too. This should give me nearly 100% hands-off routine
maintenance over the computers since Chocolatey will handle all of the java
runtime, adobe reader, flash player, browser updates, etc, even for apps
like LibreOffice, gimp or 7zip that don't have auto-update mechanisms built
in.)

In my own typical setup, through Group Policies, I also have the patron
computers configured to auto-reboot when left alone for ~10 minutes. When
rebooted, DF resets them back to a known state and ensures that the
computer is completely clean and ready for the next patron. (While patrons
are encouraged to reboot when done with their session, most simply get up
and walk away sometimes not even closing their browser. Auto rebooting is
just an attempt at protecting patrons from themselves!)

HTH,
Chad


______________________________
*Chad Neeper*
Senior Systems Engineer

*Level 9 Networks*
740-548-8070 (voice)
866-214-6607 (fax)

*Full IT/Computer consulting services -- Specialized in libraries and
schools*

On Tue, Aug 25, 2015 at 10:28 AM, Tyson Horton <tyson at mywcpl.org> wrote:

> We had Deep-freeze on all of our public computers, but have recently
> upgraded to new ones. When I took over as Systems Administrator, my
> predecessor had left abruptly, leaving me to figure everything out. My
> first job was to get our computer upgrade rolling. I was not familiar with
> Deep-freeze coming into the job, so I'm not sure the ins and outs of it and
> how to go about setting it up on our new computers. I have been looking
> online and am wondering if their cloud based system is the way to go. I'm
> also looking for any advise any of you out there might have, especially any
> of you techies out there close to us that wouldn't mind maybe visiting
> Bryan for some in house help. Any tips or advise would be greatly
> appreciated. Our previous set up was he had a management console set up on
> every computer locking it down, which was a pain for me to figure out what
> he had set up, and then also had Deep-freeze set up on each computer. I
> tried doing the same thing on these new computers(setting up a MMC
> console), but I'm not real fond of it and it takes forever to set up. I
> have yet to do anything with the deep-freeze though and would really like
> to get that going. I'm pretty sure the version of Deep-freeze he was
> running is pretty old, that's why I was looking at the Cloud based system.
> --
>
> Tyson Horton
>
> Systems Administrator
>
> Williams County Public Library
>
> 107 East High Street
>
> Bryan, OH 43506
>
> 419-636-6734 (voice)
>
> 419-630-0408 (fax)
>
> <http://www.mywcpl.org/>www.mywcpl.org
>
> _______________________________________________
> OPLINTECH mailing list
> OPLINTECH at lists.oplin.org
> http://lists.oplin.org/mailman/listinfo/oplintech
>
>
>
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