ZENworks Imaging and Policy Management

Ali BaharEric Hetrick

IntroductionCAS Uptown uses ZENworks 10.0 for their

current imaging needs.CAS Uptown manages about 300 machines in

Sander and French hallThese machines are a mix of student lab

computers as well as faculty and staff.Currently the image uses Windows XP as the

base operating system.

Problem StatementMany of the current imaging features did not

function as they should for an effective imaging process.

These included:Adding printers and print policiesFile permissions for students and facultyDrive mappingAddition to the domainFile backup and redirection

Our SolutionWe created a new imaging server using

Windows Server 2003 and ZENworks 10.0We created two host image machines using

Windows XP, one for students and one for faculty and staff.A Windows Vista host was also created for

testing and future implementations.Automate most of the image process to save

time and money.

Solution ContinuedScripts – Logon and logoff scripts to map drives and

backup local files to the server

Printers – Created policy to auto add a printer based on a machine’s location and need

File Permissions – Created policy to block student access to certain files and folders

Domain – Created a script to automatically add a machine to Active Directory

**Since Tech Expo file backup has been improved!

Old Imaging ProcessAdministrative Duties Time to Complete

Pre-image - Backup files and favorites

5 minutes to 1+ hour

Setup - Image preparation

3-5 minutes

Imaging 45-60 minutes

Post image - Restoring backup files and favorites - Adding network and local printers - Mapping network drives - Adding machine to the domain - Registering machine with ZENWorks

30-45 minutes

Total process time Approximately 3 hours per machine 4 weeks for faculty machines 1 week for labs

New Imaging ProcessAdministrative Duties Time to Complete

Pre-image - Backup files and favorites

0 minutes with backup script

Setup - Image preparation

3-5 minutes

Imaging 45-60 minutes

Post image - Login as Administrator and make sure machine is added to domain - LanSchool for lab machines

10 minutes

Total process time Approximately 1 hour per machine~ 8 days for faculty machines~ 3 days for labs

DeliverablesThe following is a list of accomplished deliverables

over the life of the project:

Setup test servers and workstations 

Create imagesDetermine which image receives which softwareCreate a separate image for labs and staffCreate image for XP and Vista   

Test images

Deliverables Cont.Create policies

Write scripts

Create desktop management backup/transfer

Create manual and written report

Demo

ConclusionWe plan to implement this project during

summer quarter for the re-imaging of lab and faculty machines.

With this project in place time and money will be saved by the CAS Uptown group and it’s staff.

CAS technicians no longer have to manually run the image process and are available to do other projects necessary to run the group.

When CAS Uptown switches over to the Windows Vista OS this image will be in place as well.