setting up a windows network

[cooper]

Hi guys,

After some advice on the best way to have our workstations set up.

We are running windows XP and will be getting new workstations soon and want to make sure im setting these up the best way.

Install XP pro
Office 2003
Smart Board
McAffee
Adobe Reader

plus other Software that cant run from an application server.

Then take an image

Image the others

Put these on the domain

Windows updates via WSUS

I always get in a mess with with

Java
Flash Player
Shockwave

When should these be installed is it best to do this via msi or when im setting up the inital workstation.

Also does anyone have a list of essential apps like this that i need to install and is there a place that i can download all these from one place.

Thanks

Cooper

[simongrahamuk]

Personaly I do them prior to imaging.

[alan-d]

ditto - make your image as complete as possible.

[sidewinder]

Yeah, I put all 'browser addins' on base images and work from there
Java works ok as an MSI but the other require tinkering and Ive had fully working MSI's suddenly stop working for Flash

Got no problem deploying software via MSI but I like to have 'essential' stuff on all images

[Geoff]

These days Java/Flash/Shockwave updates to often to be managed via images IMHO. I really think they need to be deployed via MSI/GPO/whatever.

[nicholab]

You may not what the Smartboard software in you image as it changes every five minutes. But I suppose that is going to happen anyway with your image as MS updates do the same. How often will you update the image?

[cooper]

Thanks for the replys

Im looking at an annual re-image every summer term.

After having a think about this the less msi's the better.

Has anyone got a list off essential apps they put on there images.

Wanting to organise myself with a check list.

Cooper

[sidewinder]

These days Java/Flash/Shockwave updates to often to be managed via images IMHO. I really think they need to be deployed via MSI/GPO/whatever.

I agree, but because of the fact there are so many updates, getting an MSI working each time there is an update just seems like a nightmare to me, especially when companies seem to want to make it continually more difficult to make the software deployable

Maybe its easier if you have some packaging software or something, but we dont

In the few hours it would take me to get some MSI's working, I could reimage a whole room with an image with just that update on it. Obviously that isnt realistically what I do, but we do image rooms quite often

[sidewinder]

Thanks for the replys

Im looking at an annual re-image every summer term.

After having a think about this the less msi's the better.

Has anyone got a list off essential apps they put on there images.

Wanting to organise myself with a check list.

Cooper

Essentials I put on my images:

Office 2003 Sp2
Net Framework 1+2
Latest Flash
Latest Shockwave
Quicktime 7.1
Realplayer alternative
WMP 11
Latest Java
Adobe Reader 8

[cooper]

Net Framework good shout

I also put VLC on.

[Geoff]

I don't install Acrobat. I use Foxit. We don't bother with patches (Just put SP2 on) + NET Framework either. Leave that to WSUS to sort out.

[tosca925]

make your image as complete as possible.

Could not agree more.