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Optiplex 580 Setup Procedure

Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 1:07 am
by louhong
Happy Holidays to all!

This is my first post...please excuse me if I'm not doing this correctly.

Our FM group recently refreshed our aging GX270's. The timing is great because it seems that the GX270's were getting slower by the day. All of the the clerks will be happy. Well, happier :)

I've been trying to locate the instructions to properly setup the 580. I've looked at the instructions for the Optiplex 740, but don't know if there is anything more recent that I can work from. Specifically, what I'm finding is that the 740 instructions tell us to:

1. Select Not Right Now for Automatic Updates.
2. On the Who Will Use This Computer? screen, the identity to use is Clerk.

When I walked through the 580 setup, I don't recall being given the opportunity to create a user account called Clerk. The machine defaults to using the Administrator account. While I know how to rename the Administrator account to Clerk, the correct method of doing so is not explained in the 740 instructions. You are not given the ability to do that through the Control Panel --> User Accounts category.

Also, must MLS be able to send/receive before the installation of the Computer Management and Local Unit Security Suite? It would sure be easier if I could preinstall the management and security software prior to delivering the new computer to the ward(s).

Finally, should Automatic Updates be turned on, or will the management software push patches to these new machines?

Are there any other issues that I should be concerned with?

Thanks in advance!

Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 5:50 am
by kd7mha
louhong wrote:Also, must MLS be able to send/receive before the installation of the Computer Management and Local Unit Security Suite? It would sure be easier if I could preinstall the management and security software prior to delivering the new computer to the ward(s).

I have done 8 machines and never had any problems with installing the Computer Management or Anti-Virus/Malware Software before performing a send/receive in MLS

Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 7:45 am
by aebrown
louhong wrote:This is my first post...please excuse me if I'm not doing this correctly.
Welcome to the forum -- your post is just fine.
louhong wrote:I've been trying to locate the instructions to properly setup the 580. I've looked at the instructions for the Optiplex 740, but don't know if there is anything more recent that I can work from.
That's the most recent document. Most of it still applies, but as you noticed, the steps are not exactly the same in all cases.
louhong wrote:When I walked through the 580 setup, I don't recall being given the opportunity to create a user account called Clerk. The machine defaults to using the Administrator account. While I know how to rename the Administrator account to Clerk, the correct method of doing so is not explained in the 740 instructions. You are not given the ability to do that through the Control Panel --> User Accounts category.
Although this is a case where the steps are different, the net effect of the 740 instructions was to create a user account called Clerk. Don't rename the Administrator account -- just add a new administrator-level account called Clerk.
louhong wrote:Also, must MLS be able to send/receive before the installation of the Computer Management and Local Unit Security Suite? It would sure be easier if I could preinstall the management and security software prior to delivering the new computer to the ward(s).
As kd7mha mentioned, these steps are independent. If you're like me, you'll want to do as much of the setup as possible before delivering the computers. So definitely install the management and security software, and also install MLS (and any additional software, such as CutePDF) before delivery.
louhong wrote:Finally, should Automatic Updates be turned on, or will the management software push patches to these new machines?
The theory is that the LANDesk management software will push patches to all machines. Once the management software is installed, the Automatic Updates option is disabled, anyway, if I recall correctly.
louhong wrote:Are there any other issues that I should be concerned with?
Make sure that when you are setting up MLS you don't just install a backup -- copy the data directory as well. Otherwise you'll lose saved forms and financial statements. That is mentioned in the Dell 740 installation instructions, but some people overlook that important step.

Posted: Sat Dec 25, 2010 11:29 pm
by louhong
aebrown wrote:Welcome to the forum -- your post is just fine.
Thanks to kd7mha and aebrown for responding to my post! I was just about resigned to the fact that I might have to wait until Monday morning to call SLC's Global Service Center (GSC). However, each of you have responded in a very quick and timely fashion with your knowledge. The forum to the rescue! Now I can move forward!
aebrown wrote:Although this is a case where the steps are different, the net effect of the 740 instructions was to create a user account called Clerk. Don't rename the Administrator account -- just add a new administrator-level account called Clerk.
Yes. Renaming an account just seems to make things more confusing when you look at the user profile and find that the profile name doesn't match the login name.
aebrown wrote:As kd7mha mentioned, these steps are independent. If you're like me, you'll want to do as much of the setup as possible before delivering the computers. So definitely install the management and security software, and also install MLS (and any additional software, such as CutePDF) before delivery.
Preloading as much as I can will make the time spent in each ward that much less. My concern was a sentence in the 740 setup instructions that states: "This step is vital; you must make sure that MLS can transmit data before installing the Local Unit Security Suite." There must be a reason for that instruction...although to me, it would also make sense that the management and security software would function even if installed prior to a MLS send/receive.
aebrown wrote:The theory is that the LANDesk management software will push patches to all machines. Once the management software is installed, the Automatic Updates option is disabled, anyway, if I recall correctly.
Whether it be through LANdesk or Microsoft Update, as long as patches are delivered, that is what is important.
aebrown wrote:Make sure that when you are setting up MLS you don't just install a backup -- copy the data directory as well. Otherwise you'll lose saved forms and financial statements. That is mentioned in the Dell 740 installation instructions, but some people overlook that important step.
Thank you for that last tidbit of advice! Even though it is in the first paragraph and I read it, it went right over my head. And I thought I read the instructions thoroughly....

Now all I need to do is to get the machines built and have the security reset performed just before I'm ready to do the MLS data transfer/restores. I'm assuming that the only way to instigate a MLS security reset is to call the Global Service Center during business hours.

Once again, I appreciate the help! Have a great new year!

Posted: Sun Dec 26, 2010 1:23 am
by russellhltn
louhong wrote:Now all I need to do is to get the machines built and have the security reset performed just before I'm ready to do the MLS data transfer/restores.

While it's preferable to do the reset before the transfer so you can verify send/receive while on-site, you could do it later. It just means that the unit can't do a send/receive until the reset is done. While you generally should do a send/receive after the Sunday donation processing, it's not the end of the world if you can't.

Posted: Sun Dec 26, 2010 5:52 am
by aebrown
louhong wrote:Preloading as much as I can will make the time spent in each ward that much less. My concern was a sentence in the 740 setup instructions that states: "This step is vital; you must make sure that MLS can transmit data before installing the Local Unit Security Suite." There must be a reason for that instruction...although to me, it would also make sense that the management and security software would function even if installed prior to a MLS send/receive.

You make a good point. I don't know why that statement is there, but someone bothered to put it in, even noting that "this step is vital."

All I can say is that I installed eight new Optiplex 580s earlier this year, and I installed the management and security software along with everything else before I took the computers to their actual destinations in the various clerk offices. Everything worked fine. I personally find it hard to imagine what MLS connectivity has to do with the security and management software, since they don't interact directly with MLS.
louhong wrote:Now all I need to do is to get the machines built and have the security reset performed just before I'm ready to do the MLS data transfer/restores. I'm assuming that the only way to instigate a MLS security reset is to call the Global Service Center during business hours.

Just to make sure you are calling the right number, to do an MLS security reset, you need to call Local Unit Support (which deals with clerk-related issues, including MLS), not the Global Service Desk (which deals with technology issues, such as networks, firewalls, satellite, webcasts, etc.).

Posted: Sun Dec 26, 2010 12:56 pm
by crislapi
aebrown wrote:The theory is that the LANDesk management software will push patches to all machines. Once the management software is installed, the Automatic Updates option is disabled, anyway, if I recall correctly.
Does LANDesk actually do this (or anything, for that matter)? It was supposed to be updating our old Symantec antivirus but never did that either. When Sophos came out I seem to remember having come across reports here that LANDesk never did anything at all (although I'm not sure how that was verified). I know on my computers I turned automatic updates back on and there was a lot of catching up to do as far as updates go.

Posted: Sun Dec 26, 2010 1:45 pm
by jdlessley
crislapi wrote:Does LANDesk actually do this (or anything, for that matter)? It was supposed to be updating our old Symantec antivirus but never did that either. When Sophos came out I seem to remember having come across reports here that LANDesk never did anything at all (although I'm not sure how that was verified). I know on my computers I turned automatic updates back on and there was a lot of catching up to do as far as updates go.
There was a time when LANDesk was not utilized even though it was installed. Symantec never was updated using LANDesk. I don't know if the transition to using Sophos and an update to LANDesk were planned together but once Sophos was deployed LANDesk was updated and the remote management was implemented. I believe there are still some issues for those units still using dialup in regards to LANDesk. We have not heard much so I do not know if there has been a resolution to getting updates for units using dialup. Broadband users should be getting updates through LANDesk.

Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2010 3:01 pm
by lajackson
jdlessley wrote:I believe there are still some issues for those units still using dialup in regards to LANDesk. We have not heard much so I do not know if there has been a resolution to getting updates for units using dialup.

I think the fix is that dialup units will be put on broadband connections.

Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2010 5:02 pm
by russellhltn
lajackson wrote:I think the fix is that dialup units will be put on broadband connections.

That will fix many of them, but I don't know as broadband will make it's way to every corner of the US, much less the entire world.