Thank you everyone who replied to this post. It has REALLY helped. We've decided to purchase DF and see how it works in our (Windows) environment.
I am not immediately concerned about SteadyState's non-compatibility with Windows 7 because we are slow to adopt new OS's--too many other hardware/software compatibility issues on both our staff and public networks. Also, to answer Andrew Mutch, my network admin is not willing to implement a domain controller on our public network right now because of the cost (and he's getting ready to retire). Maybe on the next grant.
My main concern--since I am successfully doing automatic, scheduled antivirus & Windows updates with SteadyState, and I'm doing wake & shutdown with BIOS settings or scheduled tasks--was whether it will help with other routine tasks. I'm talking about "little" (time-consuming) things like updating other software (Adobe, Flash, QuickTime, PaintShop etc), changing my proxy restrictions, add/remove printers, plus other desktop customizations and SteadyState Windows and User Restrictions. As far as locking (freezing) the integrity of the hard disk, I've been pretty happy with SS's Windows Disk Protection so it's a toss-up except for the central management issue. I hope this makes sense.
We will see how it goes...
Chris Cooper | Library PC Technician
Everett Public Library
425.257.8039 | [log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: Library NT [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Judy Wilkin
Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 2010 1:41 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [LIBNT-L] Deep Freeze vs. SteadyState
We now have Groovix on Ubantu Linux installed on pcs we already owned.
5 branches, 115 public pcs. basically solved every issue with public
pcs, including central control and nightly updates.
http://groovix.com/
On 5/6/2010 3:37 PM, Rick Widmer wrote:
> I'll have more to say on this later, but for now I've got to add a
> couple of comments...
>
> On 5/6/2010 2:05 PM, Chad Neeper (list) wrote:
>> It takes just one trip to the computer to repair something a patron
>> did to pay for the DF license for that computer. It's all "profit"
>> after that.
>
> You need the enterprise version of Deep Freeze! No trip to the
> computer, you can shutdown and restart from any machine with the
> enterprise console installed. There is no limit on the number of
> consoles you can install at your site, once you have rights to use it.
> With only 10 computers in my lab, I would not want to live without the
> enterprise version!
>
> I was very happy with Deep Freeze before I switched to SteadyState.
>
>
>> Also worthwhile knowing: Microsoft apparently has no plans to
>> continue development of Steady State. There is no SS intended for
>> Windows 7.
>
> Yes, this has been announced, but I still have a little bit of hope
> that M$ may see reason. If you have any interest in SteadyState at
> all, please stop by TechNet and add your vote for SteadyState on
> Windows 7. I am currently dragging my feet on updating our public
> computers to Win 7 in hope that they will relent before I have to move.
>
> http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/windowssteadystate/thread/8ddff48e-aa90-4bf3-9b5a-4b11b02906bb
>
>
> There are quite a few people unhappy with this decision.
>
> http://www.windowssecrets.com/2010/04/08/01-Microsoft-decision-puts-public-libraries-at-risk
>
>
>
> At least there are still a couple of years left before XP becomes
> unsupported, and you can still get XP for public computers from Tech
> Soup. (It was still listed Tuesday when I looked...)
>
>
> Rick
>
--
Judy Wilkin, Systems Administrator
Porter County Public Library System
103 Jefferson St, Valparaiso IN 46383-4820
(219) 462-0524 ext. 120
[log in to unmask]
-----------------------------------------
Chris,
Any particular reason not to be on a domain? It seems that it would be a ridiculously easy investment to justify the cost of a box running Windows server to allow you to use Active Directory and Group Policy to do all of the things you listed below. I manage around 90 public and staff computers at two locations on two networks and I can't imagine doing that without the tools available through a Windows domain controller.
Andrew Mutch
Libra
________________________________________
From: Library NT [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Chris Cooper
Sent: Thursday, May 06, 2010 3:25 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Deep Freeze vs. SteadyState
We are preparing to purchase DF Enterprise on a grant for the main reason stated in this discussion: “centrally managing” our PCs. I have been using the Gates PAC tool / Shared Computer Toolkit / SteadyState since 2002, when we received our first Gates grant. We are currently running Windows XP, CA eTrust anti-virus* and PC Reservation by Envisionware (plus LPT.One print management). I have all computers configured to run Windows and eTrust updates daily through SteadyState’s Disk Protection tool, and it is working very well.
The only reason I am tempted to even consider DF is because of the central management feature (92 public PCs and growing, and only one desktop support person). However, now I am having reservations about it because it won’t help me to control the following:
Locking down – Add printers, control panel, task manager, change password, network places, viewing and changing C: drive, run command, management console, autoplay CDs, locking the workstation, keyboard shortcuts, access to certain programs, etc, etc. I will still have to use SteadyState and touch each and every computer to make changes. I still cannot control these computers remotely, like I could if I were on a domain (which I am not, on this network) with SMS or Remote Desktop. I’ve tried TightVNC but it’s a bit hoaky and unreliable.
I also cannot centrally customize desktop icons or IE toolbars, menu items and favorites with DF; I still can’t centrally update certain applications (like Adobe) without a script (I really don’t do scripting), and I can’t add/remove printers from the console. Am I right? So aside from doing what SteadyState Disk Protection does from one location, can someone tell me…why do I want DF?
Chris Cooper | Library PC Technician
Everett Public Library
425.257.8039 | [log in to unmask]
*BTW, just between the two of us – we went without virus protection for years because of disk protection. But we are now using it simply to protect our patrons, not necessarily our hard drives. We don’t want them bringing in or taking malware elsewhere.
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