IIPS Fall Conference Session III Network Administrators Network Management (:30)

Overview What is managed Software used to Manage the network Using Logon Scripts to manage workstations Software/Hardware used to troubleshoot network problems Tips and Suggestions to make managing your network easier

What is Managed What it is that we manage –Approximately 1200 Workstations –25 Windows NT/2000 Servers –2 Unix Servers –1 Novell Server –Approximately 40 Student Computer Labs –Approximately 300 Staff/Faculty Workstations –Approximately 100 Networked Printers Mostly HP JetDirects managed with HP WebAdmin

What is Managed (cont.) IT Department Staff –Director –Associate Director Unix Admin Telephone Support –Network Administrator Web Administrator –2 Tech Support Specialist Network/PC Support –Computer Center Specialist Unix Support User Account Management –Software Support Specialist Help Desk Web Development Trainer

Software Used to Manage ABTECH’s network BlueOcean’s TrackIt Enterprise – –Helpdesk and work order management Wiredred’s E/Pop – –Workstation Remote Control and Instant Messaging Hyper Technologies’ Deepfreeze Pro – –Lab computer lockdown Symantec’s Ghost – –Imaging and Image Distribution Symantec’s PCAnywhere – –Remote Control of Servers

Using Login Scripts Batch Files –Very limited for login scripts –Lots of additional stand alone programs needed to enable basic login script capabilities VBScript –Useful but not designed for use in login Scripts –Must create routines, or find them on the net, that enable basic login script capabilities

Using Login Scripts (cont.) Kixtart –Login Script Processor designed from the ground up for use in login scripts –It will work on any version of Windows (9x, ME, 2000, and XP) –It was originally designed by a Microsoft engineer and included in the Windows NT Resource Kit

Using Login Scripts (cont.) –Kixtart is available for free on the web at Latest Official Release Kixtart is v3.63 Kixtart 2001 RC3 is available

Using Login Scripts (cont.) What we do with logon scripts –Display Acceptable Use Policy –Set various registry settings –Configure Termite (Terminal Emulation Software) –Install or Configure Groupwise

What we do with logon scripts (cont.) –Copy Files –Map Drives –If necessary install Command Antivirus Do not use Window 2000 Group Policies to distribute Command Antivirus –Determine if Deepfreeze is installed and take appropriate action

Hardware/Software used to diagnose problems with ABTECH’s network Fluke’s One Touch Network Instruments’ Expert Observer Basic Tools –PING –TRACERT (traceroute) –NET VIEW –NBTSTAT –WINIPCFG / IPCONFIG Suggestions –Fluke’s OptiView –Network Associates Sniffer

Tips and Suggestions Setup a Server either per a lab or for a group of labs –Why Storage of Ghost image(s) for lab(s) Application and User file storage off of primary servers User accounts and groups for lab stations kept off of Administrative Servers, is the logon server for the lab(s) Network traffic (ghost, applications) associated with the lab is kept off of primary network –Must have either the workstations or the lab switch connected to a multicast enabled switch –How Does not need to be a real server, a workstation class machine can be used with server software loaded on it

Tips and Suggestions (cont.) Isolating labs where Windows NT/2000 Server is taught –Why Certain services running on server can disrupt the campus network, the primary example is DHCP. –How Must use a router, either hardware or software, to block broadcast traffic. –Do not use NAT if the workstations use files from a server on the other side of the router.

Tips and Suggestions (cont.) Lab Assistants for Student Computer Labs –Why They can be trained to support the hardware and software in a lab. They can be responsible for re-imaging the workstations in a lab. –How Lab Assistants can be pulled for the student population in a part-time manner. Full-time Lab Assistants (Lab Managers) could be placed under the IT department and used for other IT task when free.

Tips and Suggestions (cont.) Use only a few types of PC Configurations –Why Makes troubleshooting problems easier Allows for an easier setup using a pre-configured ghost image –How Have one or more pc configurations from a single PC vendor that your staff or faculty can select Pre-test the most common applications and your network setup with these configurations

Conclusion Any Questions?