Over the next few weeks we can do some work using Norton Ghost to install software on machines. I would like you to perform the following exercise:

• Using your Boot disk created in the last week or two, start your machine (if you don’t have a boot disk try and copy the disk from somebody else in the class using diskcopy).
• I will then run a multicast session of Ghost to install Windows 98 on each machine.

• Once this is done reboot the machine and then go into network setup (see below) and change the identification of the machine (to YOUR NAME) to allow it to connect to the network, and then reboot the machine again.

• Connect to WS50 and map the shared folder Software as Drive Z.
• Connect to WS50 and map the shared folder Work as Drive E.
• Connect to WS50 and map the shared folder Image as Drive F.
• Install MS Office 97 Software from the folder Z:\Office97.
• Install NAV software from the folder Z:\NAV
• Install Adobe Acrobat 4.0 software from the setup file in the folder Z:\adobe.
• Install Winzip 8.0 software from the setup file in the folder Z:\winzip.
• Setup the MS Office software (Word, Powerpoint, Excel, and Access) so that the default folder for saving and retrieving work is the E:\document.
• Check all software is working as appropriate.
• One person in the will be nominated to create a ghost image of their machine on in the folder F:\. The file should be called "test1.gho".

After completing the above you can do the following:

• Wipe the hard disk on the machines using fdisk.
• I will then run a multicast session of Ghost to reinstall the software on all machines from the image "test1.gho". Once this is done you will need to reboot.
• Go into network setup and change the identification of the machine (to YOUR NAME) to allow it to connect to the network.
• Reboot the machine and make sure network connection has been established and all software works as expected.
• Go to the folder Z:\ nav and double click on the file 18-05.exe to install the latest virus definitions.

In Section 3 of the project - Install Software (Due 29^th May 2001) you need to prepare a detailed written plan for the installation of the software on around 20 machines (all exactly the same hardware), and the use of Ghost software (or similar) may be particularly relevant.

In summary to obtain the most effective use from this type of software careful planning is required. Consider a situation where a business has purchased new hardware and you have to load MS Office, NAV, Winzip & Acrobat 4.0 onto 10 machines. On 4 of those machines you also had to have Quicken accounting software and then they all had to be connected to an NT server. You also have to transfer data from a previous system. How would you achieve this in the most efficient way?

One way of achieving this would be as follows:

1. Write a written plan for the installation. Fully detail all requirements taking into account network drives (both common areas, and private areas) that need to be mapped, connection to printers, etc. What would the security requirements be (who needs to access what)? The purpose of this is so you are completely sure on what all the objectives are, and nothing is missed during the installation.
2. Setup one machine with the all relevant software (except quicken), and map any common network drives, etc.
3. Test the setup to ensure all objectives have been achieved, and everything works properly.
4. Create a Ghost image of the setup on a network drive.
5. "Burn" a CD with the ghost image, the Ghost program, and any other drivers that may be needed during the installation. Label the CD as CD1 and record on the label what software is included.
6. Create a "boot" floppy disk that will load drivers to run the CD drive when a clean machine is booted.
7. Test the CD you have created by loading the Ghost image onto a 2^nd clean machine. Make sure the machine performs as expected.
8. If all worked correctly load the accounting software onto the 1^st machine, and make sure all software is still working correctly.
9. Create another Ghost image of the setup, which includes the accounting software, on a network drive.
10. If all is correct "Burn" a CD with the 2^nd ghost image, the Ghost program, and any other drivers that may be needed during the installation. Label the CD as CD2 and record on the label what software is included.
11. Test the CD you have created by loading the Ghost image onto a clean machine. Make sure the machine performs as expected.
12. Make additional copies of CD1 & CD2, as required, to help speed up the installation process.

The above steps will take a considerable amount of time, possibly 5 to 7 hours, however, good planning and checking during this process will save a lot of time when loading the other machines.

13. Install ghost images as appropriate on the other machines, and check to ensure they all work correctly.
14. Setup NT security etc, connect to printers and make sure all is working as planned.
15. Ensure licenses, as appropriate, are held for all software you have installed (including the Ghost software).
16. Record details of the licenses held and store together with original software in an appropriate place.
17. Just prior to staff working with the new system, transfer any data from existing system and ensure all works as expected.

The above is an example to give you an idea of some of the issues that may need to be considered, when designing your installation plan for the project. You will need to take into account all issues you established from your interview with the client (Section 1), and the recommendations you made in (Section 2).