ESPA Developers Meeting - 3rd August 1999 Application Software and RM Connect

RM Learning EnvironmentAssessment Internet Resources Learning Systems School Intranet Conferencing HOME Applications Multimedia Resources Subject Specific Resources My Work Topic Areas

ESPA Developers Meeting - 3rd August 1999 RM Connect Used by 40% of secondary schools and growing number of primary schools Over 100,000 stations and around 1,500,000 daily users Designed to meet the specific needs of schools Driven by education community demands Extensive consultation with teachers and IT co-ordinators In-school trials and feedback to refine IT delivery Meeting the challenges for ICT in Improving Standards

ESPA Developers Meeting - 3rd August 1999 RM Connect Integrated network solution based on delivery of software and services Software to help with IT management Installation service Network manager training service Support service Maximum value from the first day Integration of applications, multimedia, internet and intranet Designed and tested for high usage peaks and aggressive users Many RM Connect networks are managed by a part-time teacher

ESPA Developers Meeting - 3rd August 1999 Why RM Connect? Educational networks - why are they different? User mobility Network Manager User accounts Simultaneous Logon Repeated Logon Managing user accounts User Attitude Application installation Application numbers

ESPA Developers Meeting - 3rd August 1999 What is RM Connect? A Client - Server network Windows NT Server Windows 95 & 98 clients RM Management Tools

ESPA Developers Meeting - 3rd August 1999 What are RM Management Tools? A set of tools to make it easier to manage and use networks – particularly in an educational environment User, station, desktop, printer and topic management Application distribution and installation Application usage auditing Unattended workstation build Workstation security

ESPA Developers Meeting - 3rd August 1999 Flavours of RM Connect RM Connect RM Primary Network RM Window Box Connect RM Connect Foundation

ESPA Developers Meeting - 3rd August 1999 RM Connect - A Demonstration RM Connect Users Desktops Topics Workstation security Network Administration RM Connect Customer Training

ESPA Developers Meeting - 3rd August 1999 Networked Application Environment What is the environment in which an application will be run? Drive mappings Local drive Remote drives

ESPA Developers Meeting - 3rd August 1999 RM Application Wizard What can RM Application Wizard do? Facilitates application installation Can be used to change workstation system settings and to customize installed applications RM Application Wizard provides a set of tools It does the following: Scans the workstation hard drive Makes copies of key files Scans the workstation registry Creates a package

ESPA Developers Meeting - 3rd August 1999 Lets Look at a Package

ESPA Developers Meeting - 3rd August 1999 Package Build Procedure Pre Installation Preparation Select a workstation Pre-installation system scans Install and configure the application Post-installation system scans Allocate the package

ESPA Developers Meeting - 3rd August 1999 How to Prepare What do we need to do first? (Backup your server(s)) (Create a Windows startup disk) Choose an appropriate workstation Re build the workstation Choose a user Allocate sufficient time Understand the application to be installed

ESPA Developers Meeting - 3rd August 1999 Building a Package Provide package details Scan the workstation Install the application Configure the application Scan the workstation Test the package Allocate to workstations

ESPA Developers Meeting - 3rd August 1999 Application Configuration Create appropriate shortcuts Set application preferences Set default file locations Remove dangerous files

ESPA Developers Meeting - 3rd August 1999 How are Packages Allocated? Select the package to allocate Select the destination workstations Look at the PkgCtrl folder PkgCtrl\Installed PkgCtrl\Required

ESPA Developers Meeting - 3rd August 1999 User Files for Applications The user registry User files Copydsk2.exe and appdata The \appdata folder structure

ESPA Developers Meeting - 3rd August 1999 Workstation Configuration How to handle autoexec.bat

ESPA Developers Meeting - 3rd August 1999 Workstation File Handling Wininit.ini Fileops.lst

ESPA Developers Meeting - 3rd August 1999 Installing Microsoft Excel 2000 Scan the workstation Install the application Run and configure Microsoft Excel 2000 Scan the workstation Test the package Allocate the package

ESPA Developers Meeting - 3rd August 1999 What to look for Local registration Full / Customize install Browse capability Folder creation / Win 9x naming conventions Optionally install additional components Identify other programs that are running Provide a progress bar and cancel capability Look at the package

ESPA Developers Meeting - 3rd August 1999 Generic Installation Problems - I Location of executables - P: Location of data files - virtual CD-ROM Multiple users User writeable files - custom.dic User settings -.ini files hold history or scores Security considerations - RM File Protector Security - Restriction Policies - user cant see drives.INI Files - may need manual update

ESPA Developers Meeting - 3rd August 1999 Generic Installation Problems - II Display resolution - errors at different resolutions Display resolution - windows do not resize Application configuration - cannot make changes Application configuration - app needs to be run Permissions - PUBLIC share is Read Only Dependencies / conflict with other apps NTFS compression CD-ROM mastering

ESPA Developers Meeting - 3rd August 1999 Generic Installation Problems - III Engine for setup - VB6 Key files - Autoexec.bat, Config.sys Registry incorrectly used - HKCU vs HKLM Registry holds OS dependencies - Win95 950, Win Application updates - to server only Internet access - modem / ISDN / Leased Line.INI files that arent - system.ini / text files