KBOX

29 April 2010

As noted in a recent email message, “New ITS projects on the horizon”, we’re preparing for the next generation of computer desktop management.  The tools that ITS has chosen to replace Novell ZENworks and JAMF Casper are the KBOXes (K1000 and K2000) from Dell KACE.  Here’s an overview of what the K1000 can do: http://www.kace.com/products/systems-management-appliance/features.php .

The KBOX server interfaces with client computers through the installation of a KBOX Agent on each college-owned Windows or Mac OS X computer.  We can’t begin to work effectively in the new KBOX environment until we get the KBOX Agent installed, so we need to roll it out on college-owned machines in May, to prepare for the summer work.

Like the recent April Desktop Security Updates, the automated installations will happen a few departments at a time (actually, building by building).  The schedule is posted at the bottom of this note.

In order to minimize disruptions to your work, we are configuring the Windows and Mac OS X installers of the KBOX Agents to run in the background, without requiring any action on your part.  On the designated day in your department, on the Mac, the KBOX Agent installer will run when you shutdown your computer.  That same day, on Windows, the KBOX Agent will run shortly after you login to your computer, as the ZENworks Application Explorer loads.  In addition on Windows, a script will run in the background for a few seconds to note the size (only) of your user profile directory, because that information is needed for the transition to Active Directory logins.  In all cases, you can continue to work as usual, you won’t be interrupted, and you will not be asked to restart your machine. 

As always, look on the ITS Web site at for more information.  If you see an error message, or have other concerns, contact RapidResponse at x5999.

Frequently Asked Questions –

Q.           How will I know if the installation worked, or if the KBOX Agent is installed?

A.            If you saw nothing, it probably worked!  But, if you’re curious…  On a Windows computer, there will be a KACEKBOX directory structure under “C:Program Files” in Windows Explorer.  There will also be a new service running called KBOXSMMP.  There will be no KBOX shortcuts on any of the Start menus, or in the Control Panel.

 

Q.           What if the KBOX Agent installation fails?

A.            If you see an error message, we’d appreciate if you’d report it to RapidResponse at x5999 or rapidresponse@carleton.edu .  If you report a problem, we may be able to find a fix for many other people as well.  However, if you’re busy, you can just ignore it.  At some point in the future, when someone from ITS is servicing your computer, they will install the KBOX Agent.

 

Q.           Will this have to be done again when there’s a new version of the KBOX Agent?

A.            No.  When there’s a new version available, after we have tested it, we can mark it as available from the server.  Then your existing KBOX Agent will check-in as usual and update itself, silently and only if necessary.

 

Q.           When will Casper or ZENworks go away?

A.            It will take us some months to reproduce all the capabilities of Casper and ZENworks in the KBOX environment.  When that work is done, we can use the KBOX to automatically remove Casper or ZENworks from each computer.

 

Q.           What information does the KBOX store about this computer?

A.            After the KBOX Agent is installed, you can start a Web browser and open the page: http://kbox-1x.its.carleton.edu .  Login with your Carleton NetID and password, then click on the tab titled, “My Computer”.  You will see, under various collapsed headings, all the information the KBOX stores about the computer you’re currently using.  Later, when we have application software available for you to install when you need it, the Software Library tab will list what’s available for this computer.

 

Q.           Why does a computer need both the Dell KACE KBOX Agent and Sassafras K2 Client?

A.            K2 manages licenses for software—it checks licenses in and out, and keep tracks of how many people are running some applications.  It has no ability to deliver software, only licenses.  The KBOX can deliver applications, patches, and settings to be installed on computers, and make some applications available for users to choose to install for themselves.  Though it has an awkward interface for trying to track software licenses, it cannot handle anything but the simplest scenarios.  And software licenses are no longer simple, especially for academic software!

 

Q.           This other thing that’s running on Windows computers, to get the size of a user profile: exactly what information does that collect?  And why does ITS need this?

A.            It adds one line to a text file on COLLAB that contains these fields:

ComputerName    UserDomain          UserName             Date/Time                             UserProfile                            UPSizeMB              DriveFreeMB

SNISSEN47306      ADS                         snissen                   4/12/2010 12:51:30 PM    C:Userssnissen.ADS          11172                    88693

 

In the process of changing a Windows computer from using the Novell ZENworks “Dynamic Local User” login, to a login into our Active Directory domain instead, each user profile must be migrated so documents and settings remain available.  One process involves copying the user profile, so we need to know there’s sufficient space on the hard drive for this to work, for all users of each Windows computer.

Here’s the schedule for deployment:

Date and Department

Building

   
Monday May  3rd  
Alumni Affairs Bird
Chaplain Chapel
Alumni Annual Fund Hendrickson
Student Financial Services Henry House
Summer Academic Programs Hoppin House
Institutional Research Hoppin House
Admissions Johnson House
Human Resources Strong Houe
   
Tuesday May 4th  
President’s Office Laird
Registrar Laird
Telecommunications Laird
Vice President & Treasurer/Investment Office Laird/Twin Cities
Dean of the College Laird
Dining Services Sayles/LDC
   
Wednesday May 5th  
Business Office Leighton
College Relations Leighton
Corporate & Foundation Relations Leighton
Development Services & Prospect Research Leighton
External Relations /Development Leighton
Media Relations/Web Services/Publication & Voice Leighton/Library
Post Office/ Campus Services/Mailing services Leighton/Sayles
Off-Campus Studies Leighton
Printing Cory and Loretta Leighton
   
Thursday May 6th  
Dean of Students Sevy
Residential Life Sevy
Campus Activities/ ACT Office Sayles
Bookstore Sayles
Career Center Sayles
Security Sayles
Facilities Management and Planning Shop Building
   
Friday May 7th  
Wellness Center Davis
Academic Support Center/ Trio Scoville/second st
Cross Cultural Studies/GSC/Intercultural Life Scoville
   
Monday May 10th  
Art and Art History Bouliou
Mathematics and Computer Science CMC
The College Writing Program CMC
   
Tuesday May 11th  
Linguistics Goodsell
Environmental and Technology Studies Goodsell
American Studies Goodsell
Biology Hulings
   
Wednesday May 12th  
Women’s and Gender Studies LDC
Asian Languages and Literature/Asian Studies LDC /Leighton
The Language Center LDC
Classics LDC
Archaeology LDC
German and Russian LDC
French and Francophone Studies/Spanish LDC
   
Thursday May 13th  
English Laird
History Leighton
Sociology and Anthropology/ South Asian Studies Leighton
Writing Program Leighton
Religion Leighton
Philosophy Leighton
   
Friday May 14th  
Library Library
   
Monday May 17th  
Science Education Resource Center Medical Arts Bldg
Psychology Olin
Cognitive Studies Olin
Physics Olin
Geology Mudd
Chemistry Mudd
   
Tuesday May 18th  
Theater and Dance Music and Drama
Music Music Hall
Physical Education, Athletics, and Recreation Rec Center
   
Wednesday May 19th  
Cinema and Media Studies Scoville
Media Services Scoville
Educational Studies Willis
Perlman Center for Learning and Teaching Willis
Economics Willis
Political Science Willis

 

 

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