If you've ever dealt with the issues mentioned above, you may have tried the Microsoft Shared Computer toolkit, which is a pretty good set of tools. Windows SteadyState is an enhanced version of this toolkit - it allows for easier installation, configuration, and administration.
Figure 1
Some new features are added to the toolkit
With such great enhancements, let's put together a solid foundation and the most important technology with Windows SteadyState for Windows XP: Windows Disk Protection!
Windows Disk Protection (WDP)
WDP may be the main reason why Windows SteadyState is such an essential tool. This feature is designed to protect system and data settings on the Windows partition. During the login process, there may be many changes made to the system by the user and the system itself. On a shared computer, the goal is to create a tight environment, this boot needs to be completely identical to another boot - no difference for the user.
When Windows Disk Protection is enabled, it deletes all changes to the operating system partition. The most common scenario is to remove all changes when rebooting. With this setting, Helpdesk only requires the user to restart the computer, and as such these computers will be restarted with the previous state unless a hardware error occurs.
WDP is not a default feature because you as well as an administrator may want to adjust the system, install applications, create users . before activating this important feature - unless you want to repeat those jobs forever. When you are ready to use it and the system is also 100% ready to perform production tasks (eg, defragmenting and deleting temporary files has been completed .), turn on this feature and track changes. that you do not want from other users. They all can't do anything with those adjustments!
Behind the script, WDP creates and stores a large archive file (at least 2GB) to save changes to the operating system and program files. It requires at least 4GB of disk space that is not used on the Windows partition to create an archive file, but the default size is approximately 50% of the available disk space.
During the restart process - WDP deletes the contents of the cache and restores the system correctly with the enabled state. If you want to allow users to save information to Desktop folders, Documents . you can do so by defining the user profile as a profile that is not locked on another partition (because WDP only protects operating system partition file).
The same functionality is available with many solutions for hardware controllers - so why is WDP better? The reason to answer this question is that you can schedule and apply them permanently even when WDP is turned on.
With Windows SteadyState, if you appropriately configure important Microsoft updates and antivirus software upgrades are not removed when the computer is restarted. The system will execute the logout of any user during the schedule upgrade, restart, and perform necessary updates. We will return to this issue in the next article.
System requirements
Systems running Windows SteadyState must have the minimum configuration required as shown in Table 1 below:
Ingredient
Request
CPU 300MHz or higher
Minimum 233MHz (one CPU or dual system); Intel Core / Pentium / Celeron or AMD K6 / Athlon / Duron series or compatible processor. 128MB RAM or higher memory
Minimum 64 MB is supported but may limit performance and other features. 1.5GB hard disk space is available without Windows Disk Protection (WDP), 4.0 GB of disk space is available when WDP is available. Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Home Edition, or Windows XP Tablet PC Edition operating system with Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2)
Note :
Windows SteadyState does not work with Windows Vista. This is a limitation but hopefully the next version will overcome this phenomenon. NTFS file system (Windows system will be nearly insecure when not in this mode) Windows Scripting and Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) tools. Access Permissions as Administrator
Table 1
Other requirements are to pass the Windows Genuine Advantage test.
Conclude
We introduced you to the best features that Windows SteadyState can provide administrators with shared computers. We also introduced the new version and its improvements, introduced the system requirements. Consider the extensive link section - what you need when you start .
Try using this great set of tools, maybe on a virtual computer to start the test. Once you have seen the effects it brings, then deploy with the real system.
Part 2: Protect computers with Windows SteadyState