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Excerpt

Articulating expectations and understanding to reduce surprises.

Table of Contents

Top-level info

Glossary

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  • Self-supported computer: A computer not set-up by Chemistry IT. It

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  • cannot be on AD so it cannot be managed

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  • using Cornell's tools.

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  • IT-supported computer: A computer set-up and configured by Chemistry IT. It's on AD. May or may not be IT-managed.
  • IT-patched-forced-reboot computer: An IT-supported computer also managed using Cornell's management tools, including Cornell-managed OS patching.
    • System may be forced rebooted.
  • IT-patched-not-forced-reboot computer: An IT-supported computer also managed using Cornell's management tools, including Cornell-managed OS patching.
    • For systems which cannot be forced rebooted.
    • No forced rebooting, so Group member must invoke patching.
  • Group-patched computer: A

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  • IT-supported computer the group pledges to patch on a regular schedule, including required restarts.
    • For systems which cannot be forced rebooted.
    • No forced rebooting, so Group member must invoke patching.

Patching behavior

Service nameWindows OS patchedForced reboot?When?Common MS apps patchedCommon non-MS apps patched
A&S Central PatchingYesYes

Thursday, 4pm, once per month.

This Thursday is following Tuesday patch deployment by A&S IT, which is the Tuesday a week after "MS Patch Tuesday", which itself is once per month (2nd Tuesday of the month?). Except when MS skips or retracts patches in time.

Yes. List?Some. List?
Researchers' needs:YesNoWhen research group can, hopefully sooner than later.Yes. List?(Same as above)

What Oliver thinks he wants:

  • OS patching and application patching, but no forced reboot.
    • Need for systems which can't tolerate a forced reboot. Which also will likely be in 10-space so we'd want to use CU's WUS service.
  • Application patching, but no OS patching. Possible? (Assumes applications will NEVER force-reboot a computer. True, though?)

Notes

  • Auto-installation of application software does not imply that it will be subsequently patched.
  • Patched application software may not have an installation option.

Q: What software is forced on

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an IT-supported computer?

A: Only one enabling application: CM Client.

Q: What software is forced on

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an IT-patched computer?

A: Only one more enabling application: Flexera CSI (Secunia)

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Software forced-installedCircumstanceNotes
CM ClientAdded when system added to CU ADNon-issue, right?
Flexera CSI (Secunia)Added when system added to (CIT?) Central PatchingIf only gets installed if a system is added to CIT Central Patching, non-issue, right?
No other software is forced-installed! Forced-installed software should not to be confused with patching, action taken on pre-installed software.

Q: What OS or application software on

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an IT-supported computer gets patched by Cornell?

A: None, by default.

Windows by default is set to be patched by Microsoft directly. Some third-party software may similarly be auto-patched.

Q: What OS or application software on a IT-patched computer can get patched

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?

A:

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The OS gets patched, and may force-reboot after days of warnings. And also either a group of

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, or individual, application software gets patched, depending on configurations to enable specific needs

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(is that true? Or always just a group of application software?)

Q: What software on

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an IT-managed computer can be installed auto-magically?

A: Only application software for which a Cornell IT group has created a "package".

Q: If software is installed

Either software for which either a Cornell IT groups can "package" application software installs using either Group Policy (GP) or Managed Desktop Configuration Manager (MD)CM) technology.

Whether the application gets patched after installation is a different question.

Q: If I can't afford a computer to reboot unexpectedly, what are my options?

A: Ensure system is not being IT-patched. And instead regularly patch the computer by hand, including all required reboots, at acceptable times.

Patching schedule

CU's default

A&S IT's default

Chemestry research Option 1:

Chemestry research Option 1:

Why use CM patching for non-forced reboot?

NOT pre-download.

Yes: Points to CIT's patching. WUS server: MS and non-MS patching. Ex: Flash. 10-space for non-Proxied apps.

 

 (1A) CU AD(1B) CM clientCIT Central PatchingA&S Central PatchingChemistry Central PatchingA la carte patching (CM)A la carte patching: (GP)A la carte installs (CM)A la carte installs (GP)
What service gets you or does:Gets you CM client automatically (forced install)Enables all other CM services, and depends on CU AD.

Patching ONLY if application already on system.

A bundle.

On CIT's schedule.

Patching ONLY if application already on system.

A bundle.

On A&S IT's schedule.

Patching ONLY if application already on system.Patching ONLY if application already on system.   
STATUS    Need?Not exist: Need? Possible?   
Pros of service:

Usernames are NetID and NetID passwords.

Enables all other Chemistry IT management tools, including CM-related ones.

Enables other things, by default is passive.       
Cons of service:Enforced password strength.Reports some hardware (applications?) data to CIT's servers (viewable by?) Forced rebootsOur schedule    
How used in Chemistry It uses in supporting Research:All supported Windows able to get on AD get this.Thus, supported Windows able to get on AD get this.    Java patching Java intalls.

Patching schedule

CU's default

A&S IT's default

Chemestry research Option 1:

Chemestry research Option 1:

Why use CM patching for non-forced reboot?

NOT pre-download.

...

.

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Snap-shot of a la carte patching targets

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(applications to be patched)

ApplicationOwnerNotes
   

 

Snap-shot of a la carte installable applications

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ApplicationOwnerNotes
SCEPChemistry IT

If SEP or other anti-virus software already installed, uninstalls that software first.

Created by Michael Hint, and shared with the AS IT Science cluster.

  • Why not made available to anyone at A&S?
  • Why not made available to anyone at Cornell?
Others?