Centrally managed PCs
Centrally managed PCs for workplaces, lecture halls and seminar rooms are installed and managed fully automatically. Software and virus scanners are distributed centrally and are, therefore, always up to date.
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Anfrage zu Zentral verwaltete PCs (managed clients) stellen
About the centrally managed PCs
The necessary deployment system Matrix24 Empirum is available to all IT representatives of all organisational units.
Operating systems and software are distributed, installed and modified as follows:
- Empirum web console: for installing the operating system (Windows or Linux), virus scanner and software that does not require a license
- Selfservice portal: Provision of additional software that requires a license
Using the deployment system
To acquire centrally managed PCs for your organisational unit, your unit requires an IT representative. S/he is the first contact person at the unit and the interface to the ZID.
Use the Anmeldung PC-Deployment für Organisationseinheiten (PDF) (registration of PC deployment for organisational units, in German).
Hardware requirements
Generally, most of the laptops and PCs offered as hardware for employees by the ZID can be used as centrally managed PCs.
The following requirements apply to hardware:
- Integrated PXE enabled Ethernet network adapter
- At least 4 GB RAM (recommended are 8 GB or more)
- Hard disk of at least 250 GB (depending on user behaviour, significantly more storage space may also be required)
- 64-bit-capable multicore processor (Intel-64 or AMD64 architecture)
- TPM 2.0 support (for BitLocker)
- Drivers for Windows 10 must be available from the manufacturer.
Hint: Devices from the u:book service are not intended for installation as centrally managed notebooks.
Software requirements
Every centrally managed PC has to feature the following software packages for the deployment system to work:
Windows 10
- Matrix42 Agent: for the software roll-out
- Matrix42 Inventory: to inventory software and hardware
- Matrix42 Remotecontrol Host: for remote support and assistance in case of user questions
- Virus scanner: centrally managed by the ZID
If you have any questions about the software requirements, please contact the Application and System Provisioning team at asp.zid@univie.ac.at.
Versions of centrally managed PCs
Desktops
Your personal profile settings – the so-called user profile – are stored centrally on a server. They are loaded to your desktop when you log in and are copied back to the server when you log out. For further information, please see under user profiles.
The following network drives are automatically connected when you log in:
- Network drive Z: for storing personal data (please also see under Online storage space)
- Network drive Y: for storing internal organisational data (please also see under Share). All other shares are connected to the following drive letters (for example, X:).
Users should not store personal and shared data on their PC, but rather on the central file servers.
Note
Users do not have administrator rights. This reduces the risk of (accidentally) installing malware.
Laptops
Users store their data locally on their laptop. They are responsible for synchronising and backing up their data themselves.
Standard management PCs
Standard management PCs are standardised PCs with standardised hardware and software for workplaces at administrative units. They are managed exclusively by the ZID and are only available to university management, central support units and service units. Further information about standard management PCs.
Public PCs for lecture halls and seminar rooms
These computers automatically log in when you boot them. Data and configurations are not stored on the server and are reset during shutdown. Software updates are carried out when there are no classes.
Note
Software updates for public PCs require special adjustments that might slow down the distribution and installation of updates. Therefore, the software on public PCs might be less up to date than on centrally managed desktops.
Log-in via a u:account for guests
If you would like to log in to a centrally managed PC using a u:account for guests, please note that you can only do so from an extended u:account for guests. Please contact the IT representative at your organisational unit to obtain the necessary permission.
The quota for personal data stored on extended u:accounts for guests is 1 GB.
Available software
You can find a list of software that can be distributed automatically under ASP Deployment info.
- The IT representative can assign software that does not require a license via the deployment system.
- Software that requires a license has to be ordered via the self-service portal.
You can order any software you require in addition via the form Softwareanfragen (software requests).
Please note that software for centrally managed PCs has to fulfil three criteria:
- A valid license is available
- Installation via the deployment system possible
- High demand, justifying the technical implementation effort required
Software updates
- Operating system, Microsoft applications, virus scanner: Updates and configuration settings are automatically distributed to the computers.
Requirement: Users have to regularly reboot their devices in the data network of the University of Vienna. We recommend rebooting the devices at least once a week. - Core applications (for example, browser, e-mail programs, Java Runtime): Security-related updates are available via the deployment system.
Due to tests and dependencies on other software packages, there may be delays in software updates.
Laptops
Updates for the Windows operating system as well as software and its corresponding updates for centrally managed laptops are available without the presence at a university location or a VPN connection.
In order for pending software updates for your device to be installed, ZID recommends that you restart your device at least once a week.
Certain updates for basic configuration are still only available via the University of Vienna's data network. Make sure to keep connecting your laptop regularly with the data network at a university location or via VPN.
Note
If necessary, users can deactivate these automatic updates temporarily, e.g. in case they are currently abroad and have to use a roaming data connection via mobile network. Downloading data for updates can quickly lead to high costs. To set up the deactivation, see the user guide Deactivating automatic updates.
Support
- Users of centrally managed PCs may contact:
- The responsible IT representative, for example regarding manual software installations, printer and scanner installations and questions regarding applications. Search your organisational unit in u:find. You can find the name of the IT representative responsible for you there.
- The faculty representative at your Faculty.
- ZID Helpdesk
- IT representatives can contact the Service Delivery team using the Servicedesk.