These tools help provide for image deployment, software installations, remote management, patch management, reporting and other administrative tasks.  System Center is covered under the Campus Agreement and therefore comes at a reduced cost. JAMF is funded by the IT Division and TFAC.

Client Experience Solutions (CXS) will assist you in keeping your computer patched by deploying updates through the management tools.  

The IT Division is utilizing a third party patch management solution. This product installs Windows, Mac, and individual application (e.g. Adobe Reader, browsers) updates. It also allows computers taken off campus to be automatically updated remotely. Commercial vendors and the open source community routinely publish security patches and this system allows us to protect lab and office computers more effectively from vulnerabilities.  

Things you will notice on your machine:  

Windows computers – a circle consisting of three colors will be present in the lower task tray  

Macs - the top ribbon bar will have the circle consisting of three colors located by the time  

Computers will automatically power-on most nights for updates      

How often will your machine be updated?  

• It depends on how frequently updates are available from manufactures and open source communities 
• Maintenance period is from Midnight to 6 AM
• Most patches will be deployed automatically over three nights after a day of testing.  This approach allows us to monitor patch roll-outs to help ensure the whole campus is not impacted by a poorly engineered update 
• Here is an example of the sequencing based on Microsoft’s typical Patch Tuesday cycle:  
  • First phase of patches goes to machines that end with the number 9 (e.g. Sxxxxxxxxx9) on Thursday night (technically early Friday morning) 
  • Second phase would be installed on the Sunday night (technically early Monday morning) to computers that end in 2 and 3 (e.g. Sxxxxxxxxx2, Sxxxxxxxxxx3) 
  • Final phase will be on Monday night (technically early Tuesday morning) for the rest of campus
  • These updates will force a reboot during the nightly maintenance cycle
• If a computer does not receive its update at night due to not being on a network or powered on and has reached over 14 days of not receiving a patch.  It will go during normal business hours with the no reboot policy applied but with a message to the end user to restart their computer. 

For any questions or concerns please feel free to contact the IT Service Center. 

Management tools will be used by ITS groups to remote control customers computers. This allows both the technician and the customer to see the screen, enabling better and quicker customer service. Permission from the customer will be obtained before a remote control session is started.  

While a remote control session is in progress on Windows, an information-bar is displayed letting the customer know that a session is underway and who is controlling their computer.  

While a remote control session is in progress on a Mac, a small 'Sharing' icon will be displayed on the menu bar.

System Center has a "Software Center" program that will allow customers to install certain applications and patches. To access: Start - All Programs - Software Center  

Jamf Pro has a "Self Service" program that will allow customers to install certain applications. To access: Go - Applications - Self Service