Making Client Systems Manageable

Administering and supporting client computers can be a simple activity, or it can be extremely complex. Users in large organizations typically have a wide variety of skill levels. They use a variety of applications and hardware, and often work in widely distributed locations. A growing percentage of users work off-site and connect to the network intermittently across slow links. Numerous studies have identified these diverse usage patterns and a lack of client configuration standards as among the most significant factors behind rising IT support costs.

This chapter will help you define basic client configuration standards that serves the needs of your users — no matter where they work or what their jobs require. In addition, you will learn how you can use Group Policy to better manage Windows 2000–based client computers.

Planning client computer standards requires both technical and organizational knowledge. You must understand your current computing environment and identify the needs of both your users and your organization. You must also decide which Windows 2000 capabilities you want to enable and then document the changes needed to meet your goals. Your client computer standards plan must account for the following:

• Users and their computing requirements.

• Applications and application requirements.

• Hardware and hardware requirements.

• Your current and wanted administrative model.

• Significant support issues and solutions to those problems.

Based on your research and an understanding of the new client support features in Windows 2000 Server and Windows 2000 Professional, you can plan your client administration and configuration standards. Figure 23.1 illustrates the planning process for creating client administration and configuration standards.

Figure 23.1 Overview of Client Administration and Configuration Planning

The creation of client standards involves more issues than can be covered in one chapter. This chapter describes the following Windows 2000 client administration and configuration options:

• Hardware configuration options. The standard portable computer and desktop computer hardware configuration options needed to run Windows 2000.

• Administration options. Group Policy, the primary means in Windows 2000 for implementing your client administration and configuration options.

• Operating system and application options. The operating system and applications that users need to perform their jobs. Also, key Start menu and desktop configuration options available in Windows 2000, including:

  • Multilingual options. Selecting between the multilingual computing support that comes with Windows 2000 or with the new Windows 2000 MultiLanguage Version

  • Accessibility options . Windows 2000 features that make computing easier for users with accessibility needs.

The following Windows 2000 client administration and configuration options are discussed in other chapters of this book:

• Client security options are addressed in "Planning Distributed Security."

• Active Directory#8482; directory service–enabled client management features, user data management, software installation and maintenance, and user settings management, which are known by the term IntelliMirror, as well as Remote OS Installation, are addressed in "Applying Change and Configuration Management."

• Network access is discussed in "Defining a Client Connectivity Strategy."

After you have completed the planning tasks described in this chapter, read and perform the planning tasks in the chapters listed previously to complete your client administration and configuration standards planning.