Hello BABAR Windows Users
Update on Windows XP migration:
As you’re aware, we are
slowly migrating all Windows NT4 and W2000 machines to Windows XP. The
migration project is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year 2003. We
(BABAR Desktop support) are being asked to migrate as many Windows machines to
XP before the end of MAY! We will be actively walking around and scheduling
upgrades to your machines. We ask that you review the minimum hardware
standards for XP machines and upgrade your PCs as necessary. We will first upgrade
machines to Windows XP that are in compliance with the hardware requirements.
Note: Machines that do not
make the minimum hardware requirements for Windows XP can still operate at SLAC
as long as these machines are not connected to the SLAC network!
See note below for minimum
hardware requirements.
Hardware Requirements for Windows XP
- Minimum hardware recommended for Windows XP:
PII 400MHz, 256MB RAM, and 5GB hard drive.
(performance will be slow if the hardware does not meet this minimum) - Recommended hardware for Windows XP: PIII
600MHz, 256MB RAM, and 9GB hard drive.
WINDOWS XP SOFTWARE UPDATES
Software
Update Rollout for Windows XP Workstations
This is the
normal schedule for software rollout for Windows XP workstations that are in
the SLAC Active Directory.
User instructions are also given below.
Background
Microsoft
sends out periodic updates to Windows operating systems and Internet Explorer
web browser for both
security and functional fixes. At SLAC, the SCS Windows Infrastructure
Group and department local administrators
try to test such updates on various hardware and software configurations before
rolling such updates to the user
community, but not all problems may be detected. Users should work with
the local
administrators for any
troubleshooting. Not all of the Microsoft updates may be relevant to
SLAC, so to reduce the risk of disruption to
the user community only the relevant ones are rolled out at SLAC. Most of
the updates will be required by SLAC
Computing Security. Some of these updates may be urgent and will need to
be applied within a day or two, due
to serious security vulnerabilities. Other updates will follow the
schedule below.
There are 2
types of updates for Windows software:
- Service Packs-which are large software
packages comprising of cumulative Hot Fixes and functional/security
enhancements. These may be released by Microsoft a few times a year. - Hot Fixes-which are patches for a particular
problem (often security related). These may be released by
Microsoft a few times a month.
Schedule
for Hot Fix Rollouts
- On the first day of the
month, the available Hot Fixes will be made available by the SCS Windows
Infrastructure Group. Users have 30 days to apply the Hot Fixes at a time of their own convenience,
at which time the computer will reboot.
On the first day of the month, users will see the 'Automatic Update' icon on the bottom right corner.
A dialog box will appear when you click on the icon.
Selecting 'Install' will install the Hot Fix immediately, and your machine will reboot in 5 minutes. You
should save all work before doing this. You do not need administrator privilege on your workstation
to perform this install.
Selecting 'Remind Me Later' will ask you to put in a future schedule.
Users should work with the local administrators for any troubleshooting. - On the night of the last day
of the month, the SCS Windows Infrastructure Group will apply the
Hot Fixes site-wide to all Windows XP computers where users have not installed the patches.
The computer will reboot after the installation. This will complete one Hot Fix Rollout cycle, and stabilize
the lab to a baseline. - On the following 1st day of the month, the new
Hot Fix rollout cycle will begin again.
Please refer to Step 1.
If you have any questions
please email BABAR Desktop Support
babar-desktop-l@slac.stanford.edu
Thanks for your
cooperation,
Michael Di Salvo
Babar Desktop Support
disalvo@slac.stanford.edu