Roaming Computing System (Windows Edition) 3.0
Workstation Installation Instructions
Contents
- 1.0 Tools For The Job
- 2.0 Partitioning
- 3.0 Windows
- Installation
- Configuration
- 4.0 Software (Applications and Utilities, Drivers and Runtime Environments, Sundry)
- Installation
- Configuration
- Sundry
- 5.0 Windows (More)
1.0 Tools For The Job
TWEAK version 0.9.0 Beta 6 or later from thegoldenear.org/tweak/
2.0 Partitioning
| Partition | Role | Type | Size for general workstations (GB) | Size for workstations with Adobe CS (GB) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C: | Windows and programs | primary | 7 | 10 (3GB for CS2 Premium) |
| D: | Temp | primary | 5 | 10 |
| E: | Home / Data(?) | primary | 1 | All remaining (Adobe say you shouldn't work on files over the network) |
We were choosing 2.5GB for C: and 1.5GB for D:. We'd now update that to 4GB for C: (Windows XP is larger than 2000; patches accumulate; hibernation) and 3GB for D: (just to be on the safe side in case anyone wants to put in a single large app such as from Adobe). We'll need to individually increase sizes of C: and D: for something like Adobe CS (which wants 5GB D: and 1GB C: Common Files). We're combining Windows and Programs partitions because the degree of fragmentation of C: by D: is considered minimal. This leaves us with a 7GB C: for Windows and Programs. The Temp partition, now D:, we'll leave at 5GB. If people are using a DVD writer on a romaing system the amount of disk space required for Temp to anticipate this use becomes anormous; 5GB at least allows us to have single layer DVD written without the partition being resized, though it wouldn't work for roaming. We're sticking with 1GB for Home, now E:, if used in a roaming situation it only provides backup space to use in the event of server failure, but it would be set larger if used in a home situation. These are now all primary partitions. This leaves us 1 primary partition space in which a potential Linux partition and Linux swap partition can be created as extended partitions in a logical partition.
3.0 Windows
Installation
Choose a RCS3 Windows Installation CD
- For Windows 2000: choose a RCS3 Windows 2000 Installation CD respective to your type of Windows product key (either a volume, retail or upgrade licence).
- For Windows XP: get a RCS3 Windows XP Installation CD respective to your type of Windows product key (either a volume, retail, or upgrade(?) licence).
Boot with this CD to install Windows, a recent Service Pack and device drivers. You should only be prompted to enter the Windows Product Key, name and organisation name, computer name and domain name, after which you'll be prompted for username and password to join the domain [note: currently the winadmin account doesn't work for this authentication, you need to use the root account instead].
Install the last available Autopatcher Full for your version of Windows (2000 or XP) from CD/DVD using
the autopatcher-<date>.bat script.
Autopatcher runs very quietly for some time before it shows a progress screen.
Install any later monthly Autopatcher QMUP updates for your version of Windows (2000 or XP) from CD/DVD.
Configuration
Register the machine with the Primary Domain Controller.
Windows Configuration: TWEAK: A →
- A
- B
- Restart the workstation
- C
- D
- E
- F - manually configured settings
- 1. networking - disable file and print sharing for Microsoft networks
- 7. don't automatically restart on system failure
- O
- P →
- O
- O2
Driver Configuration: TWEAK: F → which ever is appropriate for this workstation.
Allow any authenticated users to change the time so that time can be set from the server when
Restricted Users logon:
Control Panel → Administrative Tools → Local Security Policy → Local Policies
→ User Rights Assignment → Change the system time (double-click) →
- Windows 2000: Add → choose Authenticated Users → Add → OK → OK
- Windows XP: Add User or Group... → in the 'Enter the object names to select' box type in Authenticated Users → (choose Check Names?) → OK → OK
If this is Windows XP, set the Windows Firewall to
- allow ping responses: Start → Control Panel → Windows Firewall → Advanced → ICMP → Settings → 'Allow incoming echo request'
- For other printing functionality, such as job accounting, for which you might need to open ports in the firewall see section 9 of http://www.digitalissues.co.uk/html/software/drivers/firewall-ports.html
4.0 Software (Applications and Utilities, Drivers and Runtime Environments, Sundry)
Installation
Software deployed automatically using WPKG
We intended to eventually use WPKG Installer. Currently we run WPKG manually like this:
- Login to the domain as
winadmin - run
\\server\windows-admin\wpkg\wpkg-start.bat
Software deployed manually
Major proprietary applications that are likely to only be required on particular workstations, and few at that, are best installed manually from CD/DVD. We have a separate guide to installation and configuration of various major proprietary applications. We leave their All Users shorcuts where they are rather than manage them per-user.
Configuration
Applications and Utilities
Core RCS Applications
7-Zip
to do: create TWEAK file type associations
Adobe Reader
TWEAK: B → A → L
Enigmail
TWEAK: B → T → E
F-Prot
Enter organisation-specific subscription key: Updates → Subscription → Status → Subscription information → New subscription key
Firefox
TWEAK: B → FF →
- A
- B
- F
Flash Player
TWEAK: B → FP → A
Irfanview
TWEAK: B → I → A
Notepad++
TODO: File type associations
Picasa
Disable media detector: TWEAK: B → 2 → G
Thunderbird
TWEAK: B → T →
- A
- B
Major Proprietary Applications
Microsoft Office 97
Elevate the user's privileges temporarily:
net rpc group addmem "Domain Admins"
Run the installer to configure it for both the user and for the workstation
- on the server P:\MSOffice\Setup.exe
- Enter the product key
- Choose 'Run from network server'
- The installer gives error messages about not all network resources being available
- Windows XP additionally has the error message: "HTMLMARQ.OCX was unable to register itself in the system registry" and then says the setup was not completed successfully. In this case you can only run Microsoft Office 97 direct from P:.
Slacken permissions for spell and grammer checker to work: TWEAK: B → Y
Remove temporary permissions elevation:
net rpc group delmem "Domain Admins"
Drivers and Runtime Environments
If You Print Through a Print Server - PostScript printer driver for Windows
See our list of recommended settings for the CUPS driver for Windows.
MyODBC connector
?
Sun Java JRE
TWEAK: B → J → B
Sundry
Fonts
You may have fonts particular to the organisation to install.
5.0 Windows (More)
Configuration
- Shortcuts: TWEAK: D → A
- Backup and Recovery: TWEAK: E →
- A (Windows 2000 only)
- C (Windows XP's version can download a newer version from microsoft.com)
- Create a shortcut suite for the administrator: TWEAK: D → E