Practicing good image management is important in any customer's OS environment, but it comes even more into focus as companies prepare for a migration to Windows Vista.
Tech Brief
Simplifying Image
Management
ust as companies no longer In certain situations, a single image ally, when you update the parent image, build their own PCs by assem- for an entire organization, while desir- you want those same updates to trickle Jbling motherboards, disk drives, able, is not possible. In some cases, de- down to be absorbed by the child im-adapter cards and memory, many organi- partment politics might come into play, ages, as well. zations have moved away from installing or more likely is that the departmental Whatever the situation, the fewer numerous, individual, tailored software needs of the users are not consistent. For images the better. For instance, when packages on every new PC. Instead, most example, one group may want to use an deploying a new application, the normal organizations today create, or strive to analysis package from one vendor while procedure is to test the software to en-create, a system "corporate image" that another department may prefer another sure there are no conflicts or compatibil-includes the operating system, applica- vendor's product. Logically, we would ity problems. If there is one image, an IT tion software, drivers, system settings not expect the accounting applications, department only has to perform one test; (network and security) and utilities. the sales applications and the engineer- if there are 20 images, then 20 tests are One benefit of using a system cor- ing applications to be consistent across required and the costs are 20 times more. porate image approach is that it is faster these user types; they all have their The same holds true for OS patches, the and easier to deploy new desktops and unique departmental needs. fewer images the better, as costs are com-laptops. Rather than building a software It simply makes sense to use differ- mensurate with the number of images suite from the ground up, for each indi- ent images based on job descriptions. within a company's environment.vidual user, a single image can be burned For instance, office workers might Practicing good image management on a new PC at the time of manufacture get a standard set of office productiv- is important in any customer's OS envi-that includes all the applications an em- ity applications, sales reps might have ronment, but it comes even more into ployee needs to be productive. additional software for managing their focus as companies prepare for a migra-An additional benefit is that desktop accounts and business managers might tion to Windows Vista®. The enhanced management and troubleshooting are require analysis suites. Frequently, security features in Windows Vista--such simplified. If all employees have a stan- companies use a single image called a as the segmentation of certain services dard image, an IT staffer can more easily "parent image" as the de facto baseline and the reduction of user privileges identify problems or eliminate the source image and then add components for brought about through User Account of a problem. PCs are easier to support departments or individuals creating Control--might prevent a program that when there is a consistent image. new entities called "child images." Ide- runs on a Windows XP PC from working
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on a Windows Vista PC. This means all include on-site work where Dell image companies have deployed in their applications must be tested to ensure consultants talk to business unit manag- environments desktops and notebooks, compatibility before they are installed on ers and collect data about application historically, these images have had to be Windows Vista machines. usage. Dell then uses its expertise in this platform-specific. ImageDirect enables As such, a properly constructed im- area and combines its best practices to customers to transition to new platforms age that includes Windows Vista and a make image suggestions. Once an image with ease - new platform drivers are company's tested applications helps ensure is developed and optimized using these embedded within ImageDirect, custom-trouble-free installation and can reduce services, an IT department can upload ers do a quick refresh of their image and application compatibility problems. the image to ImageDirect. evaluation un... [download for more]
