Replacing Dual Boots with Virtual Desktops in Managed Macs

Despite having a nice shiny library full of iMacs, users sometimes need to run Windows. Whether it’s for specific software they want to run, or just the fact that they’re more familiar with the Windows UI, IT professionals need to provide a solution.

Since the release of OS X Leopard, that solution has been Boot Camp. And Boot Camp is a perfectly servicable solution, but there are many downsides to deploying a dual-boot software image across a college campus, or any other managed environment.

Goucher College recently switched from a Boot Camp image to Virtual Desktops running Windows 7, with huge benefits for both the end users and the IT staff.

Andrew Uchenick and Ross Shaffer will walk you through what led them to this solution, how it was implemented, and how it has been working so far.

Key Concepts:

  • Building and Deploying Custom OS X Images
  • Working with Casper to manage large deployments of Macs
  • Building and Maintaining Virtual Desktops with Citrix XenDesktop and Hyper-V
  • How to create a single-sign on experience for seamless logins

Intermediate Lecture – 75 Minutes

Andrew Uchenick, Goucher College

Andrew UchenickFor the last seven years, Andrew has been supporting Mac users for personal machines, enterprise, media professionals, and even at the Apple Genius Bar. A former employee of Apple, Andrew is now the Mac Admin at Goucher College in Baltimore, MD.

 

Ross Shaffer, Goucher College

Ross ShafferRoss has been the Lab Systems Administrator at Goucher College since 2010, supporting both Windows and OS X. He helped implement Goucher’s new virtual desktop dual-boot lab on the campus’ Mac labs.

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