Unity Computing

Announcements & Updates :: Microsys has been reorganized under OIT

Author: jaklein
Subject: Microsys has been reorganized under OIT
Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 11:58 am (GMT -5)
Topic Replies: 0

The ITD Microsystems group has been reorganized and team members reassigned.

From the http://oit.ncsu.edu web site:

Quote:

On November 1, 2007, the Office of Information Technology (OIT) brought together into one organization the staff, operations, and responsibilities of Resource Management and Information Systems (RMIS) and the Information Technology Division (ITD). While much has changed, OIT staff remain committed to providing the best possible IT systems and services for the students, faculty and staff of NC State. (Go Pack!)

As a consequence, the http://microsys.unity.ncsu.edu web site is not being maintained. The information here will be absorbed under http://oit.ncsu.edu at some point in the future.

If you need assistance with campus IT services, please contact the NC State Help Desk, which will continue to serve as your gateway for campus technology information and support.

Migration Suggestions :: "People" or "Users" as container names?

Author: jaklein
Subject: "People" or "Users" as container names?
Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 3:35 pm (GMT -5)
Topic Replies: 0

Hi Folks,

One of the things we're planning to do is have some pre-created subcontainers and security groups in active directory for groups that have their own OU in our domain.

The plan is to "encourage" some good structures with these pre-created structures, but the admin will be able to create their own layout however they desire, and igore or destroy the stuff initially provided.

The subcontainer names only appear in MMC and changing them at any time shouldn't disrupt anything. The GPO's link by GUID, not name, so you can change things while people are using them if you get your kicks that way.

I tend to prefer "People" (only one other industry refers to their clients as "Users") but "Users" has been in use by a lot of people for a long time. Any opinions?

WolfPrep :: RE: WolfPrep Futures meeting postponed.

Author: jaklein
Subject: WolfPrep "Futures" meeting postponed
Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 7:35 am (GMT -5)
Topic Replies: 1

Folks,

We need to reschedule the WolfPrep "futures" meeting. Time and place are still to be determined, but will be announced on the wolfprep@lists.ncsu.edu mailing list. I

Best regards,

John

WolfPrep :: New WolfPrep CD-ROM 2007-09-18

Author: jaklein
Subject: New WolfPrep CD-ROM 2007-09-18
Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2007 8:55 am (GMT -5)
Topic Replies: 0

We have a new version of the WolfPrep CD-ROM, release 2007-09-18.

Further problems with the restore from backup menu are (hopefully) resolved in this version. As with the earlier releases, you do not need to reinstall with this release, as we will attempt to deliver the changes from the Zen imaging server.

-- From the 2007-09-10 --

We have released a new version of the WolfPrep CD-ROM, release 2007-09-10.

The folks in CVM discovered that the "Restore from backup" menu wasn't properly displaying on machines imaged with the 2007-08-17 CD-ROM. This release is a patched version that fixes this specific defect.

It is not necessary to re-install machines with this CD in order to receive the patch. We can distribute small fixes like this from the Zen server automatically.

The CD is available on the campus network via ITD's Site License Novell Volume.

-- From the 2007-08-17 release --

This CD has the latest SuSE linux kernel. It is based off Novell's Zen SP1 Hot Patch 6, and identifies itself as "v7.0.1.5 - 7/11/2007" It has a completely different look and feel (thanks, Novell).

This CD can boot this semester's Dell 745 workstations with it's SATA drive in "native" mode. You no longer need to set the BIOS to legacy or compatibility.

This CD should resolve the file name mangling that broke multicasting on the last CD. It is recorded with both the "Joliet" extensions and the "Rock Ridge" extensions to ISO9660.

This CD *might* be able to install without a Zen partition given the command line arguement PARTITIONSIZE=0 . This feature has not been completely tested and should be considered experimental.

See the release notes on the CD for a complete revision history.

This CD-ROM uses the new "WOLFPREP" volume on the Zenworks Imaging Server. Previously, all images were on a "DATA" volume, which is full and cannot be expanded.

In order to download the Fall 2007 images (scheduled for 8/8 or 8/9) you will need to use this CD-ROM.

WolfPrep :: WolfPrep Futures meeting postponed.

Author: jaklein
Subject: WolfPrep Futures meeting postponed.
Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2007 9:47 am (GMT -5)
Topic Replies: 1

All interested parties are invited to a "WolfPrep Futures" meeting on [rescheduled] at [rescheduled] in [rescheduled].

We'll start with an open forum/post-mortem on how the Fall installations went for people, and try to identify any changes or new features that would make things work better for next year.

With any luck, these suggestions will mesh with planned changes for WolfPrep, which will be presented and discussed after the post-mortem. If not, we'll adjust plans accordingly.

WolfPrep :: RE: Hardware that DOESN'T work, Fall 2007

Author: jrwells
Subject: Hardware that DOESN'T work, Fall 2007
Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 8:38 am (GMT -5)
Topic Replies: 2

The special order ATI FireGL V3100 video cards that COD have been using in some of their labs appear to receive video drivers dated 09/29/2004. These video drivers have a conflict with Symantec 9.0.x, as during the initial SAV quick scan, the PCs will reboot spontaneously.

Current FireGL V3100 drivers are dated 05/2007 and are available from:
http://ati.amd.com/support/drivers/xp/fireglv-xp.html
_________________
Joe Wells / ITD Systems

WolfPrep :: ITD PXE server now delivering WolfPrep20070917

Author: jaklein
Subject: ITD PXE server now delivering WolfPrep20070917
Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 1:47 pm (GMT -5)
Topic Replies: 0

For machines using WolfPrep via PXE, the default versions of everything delivered via PXE is now the same as for the WolfPrep20070817 CD-ROM.

WolfPrep :: Historic: WolfPrep Imaging CD-ROM, release 2007-08-17

Author: jaklein
Subject: Historic: WolfPrep Imaging CD-ROM, release 2007-08-17
Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 1:43 pm (GMT -5)
Topic Replies: 0

We have released a new version of the WolfPrep CD-ROM, release 2007-08-17.

It is available on the campus network via ITD's Site License Volume.

This CD has the latest SuSE linux kernel. It is based off Novell's Zen SP1 Hot Patch 6, and identifies itself as "v7.0.1.5 - 7/11/2007" It has a completely different look and feel (thanks, Novell).

This CD can boot this semester's Dell 745 workstations with it's SATA drive in "native" mode. You no longer need to set the BIOS to legacy or compatibility.

This CD should resolve the file name mangling that broke multicasting on the last CD. It is recorded with both the "Joliet" extensions and the "Rock Ridge" extensions to ISO9660.

This CD *might* be able to install without a Zen partition given the command line arguement PARTITIONSIZE=0 . This feature has not been completely tested and should be considered experimental.

See the release notes on the CD for a complete revision history.

This CD-ROM uses the new "WOLFPREP" volume on the Zenworks Imaging Server. Previously, all images were on a "DATA" volume, which is full and cannot be expanded.

In order to download the Fall 2007 images (scheduled for 8/8 or 8/9) you will need to use this CD-ROM.

Lab Apps for Fall 2007 :: RE: K2 Client 7.x (Keyclient)

Author: srleap
Subject: key client pegging CPU
Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 10:31 am (GMT -5)
Topic Replies: 8

I sent this email to Tom - just thought I should probably post it here too:

Hey Tom,

I've deployed the 6.1.2 keyclient to the Textiles AD environment. On several machines the key access executable has been pegging the CPU and has to be killed manually. Have you seen this? Any tips in troubleshooting? I have a feeling that this will be happening to more of our machines as professors return and reboot their systems so I was hoping to head off the problem if possible.

Thanks,

Ryan

WolfPrep :: RE: Historic: WolfPrep CD-ROM 2007-08-15 released

Author: jaklein
Subject: Don't use PARTITIONSIZE=0 just yet
Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 8:11 am (GMT -5)
Topic Replies: 1

Well, PARTITIONSIZE=0 is *almost* viable, but that don't really cut the mustard, does it?

If you specify PARTITIONSIZE=0, a Zen partition is not created, and a single NTFS partition is created using the entire primary hard drive, just as expected/desired.

Unfortunately, the Zen "lilo" program still overwrites the disk's Master Boot Record, and the result is an "L 999 ..." error. The MBR is only 512 *bytes* in size, so we're close, so very close...

Future CD's will support PARTITIONSIZE=0, but for now, it's best to avoid it.

WolfPrep :: Historic: WolfPrep CD-ROM 2007-08-15 released

Author: jaklein
Subject: Historic: WolfPrep CD-ROM 2007-08-15 released
Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 7:42 am (GMT -5)
Topic Replies: 1

We have released a new version of the WolfPrep CD-ROM, release 2007-08-15.

This is a re-release of th 2007-08-14 CD, which had a bug that prevented the Zen partition from being successfully created on a machine with no existing partitions.

It is available on the campus network via ITD's Site License Volume.

This CD has the latest SuSE linux kernel. It is based off Novell's Zen SP1 Hot Patch 6, and identifies itself as "v7.0.1.5 - 7/11/2007" It has a completely different look and feel (thanks, Novell).

This CD can boot this semester's Dell 745 workstations with it's SATA drive in "native" mode. You no longer need to set the BIOS to legacy or compatibility.

This CD should resolve the file name mangling that broke multicasting on the last CD.

This CD *might* be able to install without a Zen partition given the command line arguement PARTITIONSIZE=0 . This feature has not been completely tested and should be considered experimental.

See the release notes on the CD for a complete revision history.

This CD-ROM uses the new "WOLFPREP" volume on the Zenworks Imaging Server. Previously, all images were on a "DATA" volume, which is full and cannot be expanded.

In order to download the Fall 2007 images (scheduled for 8/8 or 8/9) you will need to use this CD-ROM.

Announcements & Updates :: New WolfPrep Image: Minimum Apps

Author: Debbie Carraway
Subject: New WolfPrep Image: Minimum Apps
Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 1:24 pm (GMT -5)
Topic Replies: 0

In order to provide an image with a smaller footprint, we've put together an image with productivity applications such as Microsoft Office 2007 and utilities such as Acrobat Reader.

Large suites such as Adobe CS3 and academic applications such as Maple and ArcGIS are not included.

To use this image, specify IMAGE=minapps on the wolfprep command line.

Included applications are:
---------------
Acrobat Reader 8.1
Chinese, Japanese, Korean Viewer
CourseGenie 2.x
Firefox 2.x
GhostView 4.8
Internet Explorer 7
IZArc 3.7
K2 Client 7.x (Keyclient)
Microsoft Remote Desktop
MixTEX 2.4.1.7 LATEX
Office Professional 2007
Oracle Calendar 10.1.2
Pidgin (Latest Version)
PuTTy (Latest Version)
Quicktime Player 7.2
RagTime Solo 5.6.5
Read and Write Gold
RealPlayer Enterprise
RefWorks
Remedy 7
SciTE Editor
Shockwave 10 and Flash 9 players/plugins
SmartFTP
Star Office 7
Thunderbird 2.x
TightVNC 1.2.9
TrueCrypt
Winamp 5.0.9
Windows Media Player 11
WinSCP 4.0.3
XWin32 v8

WolfPrep :: RE: Hardware that DOESN'T work, Fall 2007

Author: jaklein
Subject: VMWare workstation 6 does NOT work with WolfPrep
Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 3:32 pm (GMT -5)
Topic Replies: 2

Strangely enough, VMWare workstation 6 does NOT work with WolfPrep.
This is in fact the environment under which the Fall 2007 images were made.

Some patch or other is causing Sysprep to die with a STOP 7B (inaccessible boot device) under VMWare, while it works fine on "real" hardware.

I'll pursue this once the rush for Fall is abated a bit.

WolfPrep :: Historic: WolfPrep CD-ROM 2007-08-07 released

Author: jaklein
Subject: Historic: WolfPrep CD-ROM 2007-08-07 released
Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 8:38 am (GMT -5)
Topic Replies: 0

We have released a new version of the WolfPrep CD-ROM, release 2007-08-07.

It is available on the campus network via ITD's Site License Volume.

See the release notes on the CD for a complete revision history.

This is the 2006-12-14 CD-ROM, adjusted to use the new "WOLFPREP" volume on the Zenworks Imaging Server. Previously, all images were on a "DATA" volume, which is full and cannot be expanded.

In order to download the Fall 2007 images (scheduled for 8/8 or 8/9) you will need to use this CD-ROM.

Another CD-ROM is in the works which incorporates Novell's latest round of patches and some new features.

WolfPrep :: RE: PXE booting specific equipment

Author: jaklein
Subject: Several Dell models, including the GX400
Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 11:59 am (GMT -5)
Topic Replies: 2

For several Dell models, including the GX400, it is necessary to configure the on-board network device under "Integrated Peripherial" to "Enabled w/PXE" and not just "Enabled"

It is not clear from the BIOS menu that this is a changeable option, but it is.

Several BIOSes also support "Enabled w/RPL" This is "remote program load" an older boot from the network protocol, and will not help you PXE boot.