Danny Wong
ABSTRACT
One of the biggest challenges facing computing lab administrators satisfying course software requirements while ensuring that the application runs properly does not conflict with other installed programs and runs effectively under one restricted user permission level.
When new operating systems are introduced, we start from scratch, installing and testing existing applications. Larger vendors typically offer updates to their applications so they execute properly with the new operating system, but this is not always the case. The end result often a tenuous mix of new and legacy applications. Managing this environment is no easy feat.
With the introduction of Windows Vista, the cycle has begun. This time the challenge has increased due to added security features; specifically, the limitation of direct access to core system areas by applications. This is a difficult obstacle to overcome as many programs were written to take advantage of this direct system access and therefore cannot function as they have on past operation systems, if they function at all.
Further complicating the issue is the desire of some instructors to use course-specific programs only available for Linux, in a predominately Windows lab environment.
Education Technology Solutions (ETS) of University of Calgary Information Technologies, recognizing this as an ongoing concern, has taken the initiative to find a cost-effective solution. Using VMware, we have contained these legacy applications in their own operating system environments. Our experience began with the deployment of VMware Player, running Linux, as part of our Windows lab image. This has proven effective since its introduction into the lab environment over two years ago. In an effort to increase flexibility, we are currently designing phase two of a VMware VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure product) project that will potentially allow access to legacy applications campus wide.
- Sin, C., and Wong, D. 2007. Image Baby Image!: Making PC Cloning More Efficient. In Proceedings of the 35th annual ACM SIGUCCS conference on User services (Orlando, Florida, USA, October 7-10, 2007). SIGUCCS '07. ACM Press, New York, NY, 314--317. DOI= http://doi.acm.org/10.1145/1294046.1294120 Google Scholar
Digital Library
- Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 Release Notes - http://download.microsoft.com/download/4/4/c/44ccd131-67fb-4224-a96e-193be1765b43/relnotes.htm Features of Free VMware Player for Desktop Virtualization - http://www.vmware.com/products/player/features.htmlGoogle Scholar
- ThoughtPolice pre-built VMware Images - http://www.thoughtpolice.co.ukGoogle Scholar
- Microsoft Virtual PC Product Specifications -- http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/virtualpc/overview.mspxGoogle Scholar
Index Terms
- Kickin' it old school!: dealing with legacy applications
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