Implementation from the IT manager's perspective

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Implementation from the IT manager's perspective

• Geoff Calvert
• IT Manager
• Oxford University Centre for the Environment

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• What do you do when you inherit a system that is
  designed to run 24 hours a day?

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Why keep the machines running?

• Security updates
• Long startup times
• Remote management
• Backups
• Reliability

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Why switch off?

• Saves electricity
• Green image
• Reliability

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Wake on LAN

• The ultimate panacea?
• Even centralised WoL doesnt address all the
  issues.

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How do we get over the problems?
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How do we get over the problems?

• Security updates
• Additional staff
• WSUS
• Altiris

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How do we get over the problems?

• Long startup times

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How do we get over the problems?

• Backups

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How do we get over the problems?

• Remote management

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How do we get shutdown working?
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How do we get shutdown working?

• Tell people
• I am pleased to announce that we are now in a
  position where users can, and indeed should,
  switch their PCs off when they are not in use.
  Apart from the obvious cost reductions due to
  reduced electricity usage, the Centre for the
  Environment can now begin to demonstrate its
  commitment to the environment.There have been a
  number of issues that have had to be overcome
  before this policy could be implemented1. We
  now have centralised management software that
  will install security updates on PCs and will, if
  necessary, wake them up to do so.2. Central
  computing services (OUCS) have developed a system
  whereby users can wake their PC up remotely by
  logging onto a web page. This means that those of
  you who use Remote Desktop to access their PC can
  now wake the PC up, wait for 5 minutes or so
  while it starts, and then log on using Remote
  Desktop.3. If you run the central backup
  service on your computer, you can register it to
  be woken up for the backup. This means that you
  no longer have to remember to leave the PC
  running on Tuesday /Wednesday evenings. If you do
  opt for this service, you would be well advised
  to check that the backup did indeed run.4. If
  your PC takes a long time to start up, you can
  register for it to be woken up at a specified
  time each morning so that it is ready for you
  when you get into work.5. If you want us to do
  so, we can configure your PC so that it will
  switch off automatically after a period of
  inactivity and if you are logged off. This means
  that you would not need to remember to switch it
  off at the end of the day.

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How do we get shutdown working?

• Group policy standby and hibernate
• Automated script

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How do we know it is working?
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How do we know it is working?

• Central monitor

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How do we know it is working?

• Departmental monitor

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How do we know it is working?

• Nagios

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How do we know it is working?

• pnp4nagios

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How do we know it is working?

• pnp4nagios

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What is the result?