Sonoma Technology Partner Tasks

Contacts

General: Tracy Lubas tracy (at) sonomatechpartners.com

Servers: Matthew

PCs: Tejon

Email Sent June 11: Server Work at Grant Elementary Petaluma.pdf

Tasks for June 2011

1.  Windows Updates on two DCs and two Terminal Servers (TS) - DCs have been updated recently. Terminal servers don't show need for updates, but I haven't checked if Automatic Update downloads are triggered for these machines. DC0 won't update the internal database, so that will need to be resolved.
2. Identify whether SQL Server needs to continue to run - (I think it runs on DC0 which may be why the internal database update won't occur). It was used for WSUS, but Grant no longer uses that method for updates across the domain (didn't complete by the time classes needed to use the system causing timing issues as well as additional load on network and server which remain a concern).   I know of no application requirement for it, but there may be more than WSUS on the operating system/server needs to run the database.  One possible solution for next year is to re-implement WSUS as part of a more "hands-off" approach to Lab and Classroom pc updates, but the workload on the server and timing would have to be considered. We still have a few Win2K - used as heavy clients to TS; mostly Win XP and 1 Windows 7 machine. All are part of the domain. Those pcs not on the domain, have automatic updates running. (Most of these PCS have been supported by the district in the past or the user has specifically asked to be removed from the domain.)
3. Put the two TS back on the rack mounted UPS. - We were given two older APC UPS' that we connected one TS to each. They are both dead. In power failure, 5 minutes delay to down TS is all that is needed. DCs could take the remainder of the time to stay up and then down both.
4. System state backup of all machines. - I don't think the system states have been backed up for over a year.  The age of the machines somewhat requires that this be done.  Weekly backup tapes are located in the server room.  System state backup tapes are located either in the server room or the switch closet (on shelf under switches) next to the server room.  There are empty tapes in the switch closet as well.  There are tapes in the switch closet next to the server room marked for servers in addition to empty tapes.  
5. Correct the time/date function - For as long as I can remember, the time/date function of the servers is off.  I've tried to sync with various services, but haven't really tracked it down (perhaps the primary is the one not syncing and the rest just follow suit.  Causes all PCs in lab and potentially on campus to be off by 10-15 minutes.. 
6. Turn off Backup - Backup was turned off at the end of the school year after the last backup of the drives.  Please ensure it is turned off for the summer.   Whether it gets turned on in August depends on your discussions with Catina on how best to support the site long term based on all the district initiatives and the $ allocated.
7. Assess health of DC drives - We receive Write Delays (WebDAV issue potentially because it happens frequently when downloading large files from website, i.e., printer driver packages) or other issues which may mean the drives on the the older DC (DC1?) may be failing.  Difficult to track down.  Please allocate at most 2 hours to track down and recommend solution.  We know that faster/larger drives might make the drives on DC0 (newer DC) more usable since the older DC has always been the slower and smaller Raid definition.  Solution must account for all longer term strategy.
8. Microsoft Word Error - We tracked this error down to the faculty user accounts.  It never occurs in the lab on lab pcs/user accounts and does not occur on faculty pcs with student accounts.  It generally occurs after longer periods of writing and appears to be related to autosave, but our efforts have been only diagnostic to this point.  Error message differ slightly with "Out of Memory", "Can't save file" and other not very useful message; the file will corrupt and can only be "repaired" before editing again.  I'll look for some screenshots of the error messages.  It is difficult to track and we've been unsuccessful in solving it with changes in Autosave (although where the temp files are stored may be the culprit if the file server drives are used and are potentially failing). Please spend at most 2 hours troubleshooting/solving this issue -- I've started to look at the differences in group policies, but never tracked down with a profile comparison tool.  If we can't track down, then perhaps the best solution is to convert all faculty user accounts to new faculty user ou copied from classroom user ou.  Fixe folders with permissions for use by new ou users and read only by student ids.  Teacher write areas/student read only areas not really used much.  The Shared drive is really for students and examples.  Teachers are now encouraged to use local My Documents with backup to USB drive (or vice versa) for files they don't want students to see/edit.
9. Shutdown Terminal Servers for Summer - Some risk involved in downing these older servers, but since hopefully their system states have been backed up this month, it mitigates some risk.  DCs are not shutdown in case teachers boot their pcs over the summer (DHCP). 
10. Resolve Office Profressional Software Install on Lab Computers.  Uninstalled Office Pro when I joined Lab 31 and Lab 32 to network; reinstalled by hand on these machines.  6.-16/11: Removed Office Pro Installation from the Lab Computer Policy because it was uninstalling Pro from Lab 31 and 32.  It was installing from a machine (Lab_Admin) which no longer is on the domain.
11. General Health Check of all four servers. 

Tasks for August

1. Windows updates for all four servers. - As needed
2. Disk Cleanup activities (defragment, temp files/log file clean up, etc.) 
3. Account Management - delete personnel accounts no longer at school per Catina Haugen, create accounts for new personnel
4. Configure DCP-8080 Network Printer - replace Laserjet4 as staff room networked printer with the Edusoft printer (use same IP address 10.130.32.30 as existing staff print server as IP address already defined on teacher systems should offloading server become required.) 
5. Confirm Power failure recovery on single APC per June tasks for all four servers. 
6. File Server Backup Strategy - Because no one will be available to change the tape weekly, a better backup strategy needs to be discussed.  We've discussed an online backup subscription service which would allow for "hands-off" backup on weekly basis as well as allow easier recovery of files by teachers (tape-based is a two hour min). Because of cost, the file server backup may be the only subscription needed (as opposed adding teacher pcs, etc.)
7. WSUS  for automatic updates for all PCs on campus (Win XP and Windows 7)? - Discuss with Catina merits (allowing lab tech to focus on tech issues, installations, etc rather than just updates which take time; keeping classroom pcs fresh) - all moot if moving to Deep Freeze.
8. Automatic Shutdown of lab PCs nightly (maybe all campus) - Discuss with Catina merits - would catch any systems that were left on - moot if moving to Energy saving tool with Deep Freeze
9. Deferred Projects Discussion and Implementation -  2011 Deferred Tech Projects Details - some projects are more immediate while others are longer term or deferred until District has more information.
10. Lab Startup Activities - Previously done by Lab coordinator, these activities are done after Server updates usually.  The list involves PC updates, account management, software setup and configuration for new year. To be defined and arranged by Catina.