Keeping Everyone Happy: Serving Windows Users in a Macintosh Environment Laurie Sutch, University of Michigan.

Keeping Everyone Happy: Serving Windows Users in a Macintosh Environment

Laurie Sutch, University of Michigan

Session Outline

• Background of the Faculty Exploratory

• Supporting PC Users in a Mac Lab– Various mechanisms– Pros and cons

• Future Directions

What is the Faculty Exploratory?

• Opened in 1997, the “inreach” of Outreach– Managed by a librarian– Now part of the University Library

• Specifically for faculty– Nice atmosphere, tiered seating– 17 workstations

• Novice and non-users of technology

What is the Faculty Exploratory?

• Workshops and one-on-one consulting– Variety of software and level of instruction

• Both Mac and PC platforms– DOS/PC Compatibility Cards– Virtual PC– Terminal Services

Our Requirements

The PC solution needed to…

• Function from the same machine (toggle between Mac and Windows)

• Access removable media

• Support the software applications we need

PC Compatibility Cards (1997-2001)

• Good news: It worked!– Seemed like a real PC– Managed with Assimilator

• Bad news: PC seen as one large file on Mac– Only 10 machines could autoload at time

Virtual PC (2001-2003)

• Advantages:– Cheaper, not a physical card, bit easier to set up

• Issues:– Still seen as one large file by Mac– Since it was software, crashed more– Towards the end started to seem slow

Terminal Services (2003-present)

• Windows Server 2003– 2x 2.2GHz Xeon Processors, 2 GB memory– RAID 5, with hot spare– Served via Apple’s Remote Desktop Connection

Remote Desktop Connection

Picture of Terminal Services

Terminal Services (2003-present)

• Pros:– Faster– Load/change software once– Security and virus settings controlled by server– Access from other training rooms (Mac or PC)

• Any version of Windows (98, NT, 2000, XP) or OS 9• Same number of total users, different facility• Ability to demonstrate Windows version of software

Terminal Services (2003-present)

• Cons:– Initial cost/shorter replacement cycle– Increased external support

• Setup/configuration of the operating system software (external)

• Installation of applications (local)

– Large multimedia/video programs not well served

Future Directions

• Continued support of both Mac and Windows• Stay with Terminal Services for the next few

years– Increase use from other facilities– Explore ways to better support graphic intensive

software

• Continue to consider other methods of support– Apple’s switch to Intel - what might this mean for us?

Summary

• Looked at all the options out there (we think!)

• Right now, stay with Terminal Services to support our mission

• Keeping eye on new developments

• More applications of thin client software

Questions?

[email protected]

[email protected]