Graduate Student Computing

Workflow

Initial Computing Selection

Supervisors are provided with a form to select which kind of equipment they wish to provide their new grad student.

The options are:

1. Thin Client
   • The infrastructure group will configure and install the thin client
2. School-provided Desktop PC
   • This option requires that the supervisor is subscribed to Research Support, who will do the installation
3. School-provided Laptop
   • This option requires that the supervisor is subscribed to Research Support and pays a one-time surcharge ($400 as of Jan 2007)
4. Advisor Provided Desktop (APD)
   • The supervisor or student will provide the machine and it may or may not be supported by the Research Support Group (RSG)
   • If supported, the supervisor can decide whether RSG will do the OS installation or whether the student will do it themself
   • If not supported, network installation will be done by the Infrastructure group
5. School-provided Mac
   • This option requires that the supervisor is subscribed to Research Support and pays a one-time surcharge ($200 as of May 2010)

Work order creation (RT)

• Debbie creates an RT and assigns it to Phil
• Phil reviews the RT - for items to be done by RSG:
  • he assigns it to Lawrence
  • he selects the appropriate equipment and notes it in RT
  • he removes his name from the RT
• Lawrence reviews RSG items and assigns it to the appropriate PoC

Initial paperwork deployment

As soon as the PoC knows where the machine will be going, they will put a document on that desk welcoming the student to the school and describing what equipment they can expect to be receiving. This is the PoC's opportunity to inspect the space and make sure it will be ready to receive the equipment.

You may edit these documents directly in the EDocs folder (which can be found here: \\smb-files.cs.uwaterloo.ca\edocs )

1. Thin Client
   • tc-notready-merge.doc : Thin-client not-ready sheet (merge)
2. School-provided PC
   • pc-notready-merge.doc: PC - Not Ready (merge)
3. School-provided laptop
   • lt-leave-merge.doc: Laptop leave behind sheet (merge)
4. Advisor Provided Desktop
   • apd-notready-merge.doc: APD Not Ready sheet (merge)

Equipment preparation

1. Thin clients
   • The CSI group will prepare and deploy the thin client
2. Grad PCs
   • See: GradStudentPCdeployment
3. Laptops
   • See: GradStudentLaptopDeployment
4. Advisor-provided desktops (APDs)
   • contact the supervisor and find out what they would like done by us to prepare the machine
5. Grad Macs
   • See: GradStudentMacDeployment

Equipment deployment

Once the equipment is ready, it is delivered along with the following paperwork:

1. Thin Client
   • (same as above - not needed if previous copy still there)
2. School-provided PC
   • pc-leave-trg.doc: School PC - Leave behind (Trevor)
3. School-provided laptop
   • none needed
4. Advisor Provided Desktop
   • apd-leave-trg.doc: APD leave behind sheet (Trevor)

PC Deployment Step-by-step

1. put sticker onto PC Deployment Sheet(s) from sheet of unused passwords (side of black check-out cabinet). Load up computer(s) for batch-deployment to the same area.
2. At the student's desk: Put machine, monitor, etc. on desk (or nearby, if occupied). identify wall jack number and wiring closet# from the jack.
3. ONA config. (laptop if possible, office if necessary). Can take anywhere from 10sec to 30 min if things are broken.
   • must have network set up, for the windows login to work.
4. system configuration at the desk
   1. Linux: add user: log in as cscf-adm; Gnome top-menu: System-> Administration -> Users and Groups -> Unlock keys icon -> Authenticate -> Add User Account
      • New User Profile: administrator
      • use password from sheet.
      • details of what Linux system looks like: UbuntuImageCreation (by Mike G; interim until Dave's group's docs are finished.)
   2. Windows: add user as admin: log onto local machine as cscf-adm; right-click on My Computer; select Manage; under Computer Management -> under System Tools -> Local Users & Groups -> Groups -> Administrators right-click -> select Properties -> "Object" text-field should contain: CS-GENERAL\username [save] -> asks for authentication; use youraccount-adm (eg., drallen-adm)
5. Add Display Barcode # and machine hostname to the RT
6. Add to inventory with room #
7. Add your time to RT & close.
8. Put PC Deployment Sheet in hardware lab in purple envelope over safe.
9. When student shows up, you, or anyone in RSG can hand him/her the PC Deployment sheet.

Mac Deployment Step-by-step

System Information Sheet

These sheets are printed and kept in a folder in DC2560G, so that they can be handed out by anyone in CSCF. They are currently stored with the folders of pending Purchase Orders.

1. Thin Client
   • not applicable
2. School-provided PC
   • pc-info-merge.doc: PC Deployment Information sheet (mail merge ready)
3. School-provided laptop
   • lt-info-merge.doc: Laptop Deployment Information sheet (mail merge ready)
4. Advisor Provided Desktop
   • apd-info-merge.doc: APD Deployment Information sheet (mail merge ready)
5. School-provided Mac
   • mac-info-merge.doc: Mac Deployment Information sheet (mail merge ready)

Optional/Other

1. GradCSPasswords