using linux in the FHC setting?

I help "manage" the local FHC and am getting frustrated doing the day-in-day-out anti-viral/anti-crudware rigamarole malarky "stuff". Most all of the problems are directly related to Intenet Explorer.

With the latest releases of the new.familysearch.org and fhc.familysearch.org sites - and wanting better control of the way machines are being used. - I would like to switch to a linux distro.....

However - the security certificate from the landesk package only works with MSIE, not even firefox (on the current windows platform).

So, my main questions are :
- Given that I'd like to squeeze a few more years out of this aging hardware.
- Given that I'd like an easier to maintain platform.
-- How do I get all of the current MS proprietary pieces freed up enough to work with FOSS environs?
-- At a Minimum - getting Firefox to be our main browser and not using MSIE.

Thoughts?
Richard Leonard
Upland Stake FHC
Upland, CA
rmleonard@csupomona.edu



as an alternative - Does the Church have any licenses for Faronics' Deep Freeze?
http://www.faronics.com/html/deepfreeze.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_Freeze_(software)

I use this extensively at work and it works amazingly well. I fix a configuration at the start of a quarter, and unless there is a hardware failure - the machine stays locked until the quarter break when we apply patches,updates, etc.

rmleonard wrote:I help "manage" the local FHC and am getting frustrated doing the day-in-day-out anti-viral/anti-crudware rigamarole malarky "stuff". Most all of the problems are directly related to Intenet Explorer.

Then you might want to install Deep Freeze. Anything that happens to the computer will be wiped out on a reboot. Deep Freeze is available for your center. I'm not sure of the safeguards against mis-use, so I don't want to post the URL in public, but if you call FHC Support, they'll tell you where to find it.

rmleonard wrote: So, my main questions are :
- Given that I'd like to squeeze a few more years out of this aging hardware.

Define "aging". I had P3 computers. LANDesk reported that to CHQ and now I suddenly have some used Dell Optiplex 270 and 280 machines.

If you're running a file server, that would be a practical application for Linux, but not for patron machines. You'll be spending too much time trying (and probably not successfully) trying to move things from MS to Linux.

As for using Firefox, make an inquiry with support. That may be doable, or you might need to retain IE for the portal site and use Firefox for general browsing.

rmleonard wrote:as an alternative - Does the Church have any licenses for Faronics' Deep Freeze?
http://www.faronics.com/html/deepfreeze.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_Freeze_(software)

I use this extensively at work and it works amazingly well. I fix a configuration at the start of a quarter, and unless there is a hardware failure - the machine stays locked until the quarter break when we apply patches,updates, etc.

Yes.

Part of a memo from FamilySearch Support sent out last May...
--------------

Memo

To: Family History Centers Directors
From: FamilySearch Support
Subject: Deep Freeze Availability
Date: May 17, 2007

Note: Please share this memo with the stake technology specialist or the computer technician that works with your family history center computers.

FamilySearch Support has purchased bulk licensing for Faronics Deep Freeze Enterprise software. Deep Freeze instantly protects and preserves original computer configurations including software, networking and peripherals settings. Installing Deep Freeze eliminates the need for routine IT maintenance while allowing unrestricted access to a workstation. Regardless of any changes made to a workstation, a simple restart will reset the computer to its original setup. The result is a protected computer, free of viruses and unwanted programs.

Deep Freeze licenses are available for your family history center computers as a new installation or as an upgrade to the latest version. The Deep Freeze software, policy guidelines, and a custom LANDesk configuration utility are available for download via the LANDesk Software Deployment Portal in the LANDesk Management folder in the Start Menu.

The use of the Deep Freeze product in your center is optional. If you choose to implement it in your center, please read the user manuals to learn how. The manuals are included in the software package. Family history center staff may take advantage of Faronics’ weekly webinars: Introduction to Deep Freeze and Deep Freeze Advanced Overview which are available on the Internet at http://www.faronics.com/html/webinar.asp. If you need troubleshooting assistance you may contact FamilySearch Support at 866-406-1830, ask to be transferred to Headquarters Support and ask for a Deep Freeze expert.

The Deep Freeze license count will be maintained using the LANDesk Support Agent’s Software License Monitoring feature, so there is no need to contact FamilySearch Support to obtain a license.

The Deep Freeze software is for use on family history center computers only. Any use of the software outside of a family history center is strictly prohibited by copyright laws and is a violation of licensing agreements. Family History Center directors must also agree to the following:
1. The LANDesk Support Agent must be installed on every computer at the center.

2. During the maintenance period of each computer system, there is a utility called DPCustomCfg.exe that must be run. This utility was specially built for systems with drive protection software (such as Deep Freeze) on them, and maintains the LANDesk connectivity and related updates. This utility is included with the Deep Freeze package.

3. System maintenance must be run on each computer every 30 to 60 days, or more often if necessary.

Before running the DPCustomCfg.exe utility for the first time, please ensure that the version of the LANDesk Support Agent is at least 8.7 SP2.1. To check the version, click the Start menu, select LANDesk Management, then Tools and click “Versions Currently Installed”.

If you have any questions please contact FamilySearch Support at 866-406-1830 or submit an email to support@familysearch.org with the words “Deep Freeze” in the subject line.

------------

The rest of the memo contains recommendations and some required settings and passwords and codes, so I haven't included it here. Contact FamilySearch support as described in the last paragraph to obtain this information.

I haven't used Deep Freeze, but understand what it is ... I am a ward computer specialist for our FHC and was recently called to be a stake technology specialist ... are there Deep Freeze licenses available for the MLS clerk computers at the stake/ward level or are there currently only Deep Freeze licenses for FHC computers?

Thanks!

Jimmy Devenport
Los Alamos, NM
Santa Fe NM Stake

jgdtech wrote:I haven't used Deep Freeze, but understand what it is ... I am a ward computer specialist for our FHC and was recently called to be a stake technology specialist ... are there Deep Freeze licenses available for the MLS clerk computers at the stake/ward level or are there currently only Deep Freeze licenses for FHC computers?

Deep Freeze is not part of the software available for ward/stake administrative computers. The Desktop 5.5 image is described in the documentation available at mls.lds.org (password is required, but as Stake Technology Specialist, you should have that password), and Deep Freeze is not included. As an earlier post in this thread mentioned, DF is indeed part of the FHC desktop, but those licenses may only be used for FHC computers.

In many cases, it's okay to use local budget funds to purchase software, but I would be wary of system level software such as Deep Freeze that may conflict with the LANDesk management portion of Desktop 5.5. I know DF can integrate with LANDesk, but I doubt that CHQ would like you installing it without their permission and instructions.

Desktop 5.5 does have a image backup/restore utility. Hopefully that along with being careful about who has access to the admin computer will prevent any problems. I wouldn't recommend putting Deep Freeze on the Admin computer unless CHQ is willing to support that. Too many things to go wrong.