Microsoft Windows Management
Overview
The Microsoft Windows Management system is a system that is used to remotely manage and service the collection of UAA owned Windows computers. This is done by remotely managing the software, updates, and operating system of UAA Windows devices. With this in place, IT will be able to provide better support and a more standardized work environment to make a more hassle free experience for customers. The system being implemented is called System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM), Microsoft's enterprise-ready software for allowing IT Pros to manage computers (known as "endpoints") running Microsoft Windows. SCCM works using an installed client running with administrative privilege on the endpoint, a central server, and a per-unit caching server called a "distribution point" where the client gets copies of managed content.
Benefits
- Reliability: Your device will quickly receive software updates and patches with little to no interaction on your part.
- Time Efficiency: You will stay more productive as deployment and updating processes run in the background, freeing up more time for teaching, research and management.
- Flexibility: You can choose when and where to install new software or run maintenance on your device through a Self-service portal.
- Security: IT Technicians will manage the security of your machine so you don't have to. You can rest assured that software patches, antivirus protection, and firewalls are well maintained.
- Confidentiality: Your data and files will remain confidential; no personal data is scanned, indexed, or transmitted off your device.
- Compliance: Your device will always be in compliance with federal laws governing requirements for research or student data on University computers.
Software Center
The Software Center allows UAA employees to access relevant software & updates on UAA owned devices. In most cases, all Windows 10 machines and most other machines that were configured to access UAA resouces will already have the software center installed. In the cases where it isn't, then please contact the Technical Support Center for asistance in accessing the Software Center.
The Software Center will be located in the Start Menu under Microsoft System Center, or you can just start typing Software Center once you press the Windows Start Menu button.
If a user requires software that doesn't appear in the Software Center, their supervisor can contact the IT Technical Support Center to request permissions. This is done either via email uaa.techsupport@alaska.edu or calling 907-786-4646 or toll-free at (877) 633-3888. Listed below are screen shots and instructions on how the Software Center works.
- Software Center Instructions and Screenshots
- The first tab is the Applications tab. The shows all the applications your account
has access to download onto your computer.
If you require software that isn't here, but is on the list of available software below, please have your supervisor contact IT to request additional software.
Note: There may be some additional requirements for some software (ex. purchasing of lisences, contacting department head, etc.). - The second tab is the Updates tab. This is where users will be able to update their
computers with the latest supported updates.
As you can see, the computer represented below is completely up to date.
- The third tab is Operating Systems. This is where IT will launch new operating systems
for windows, such as if you had a computer running windows 8. This tab is where an
option to update to Windows 10 would be located. As you can see, the computer displayed
here is updated to Windows 10 because there is no option to update.
- The fourth tab is the Installation Status tab. This tab shows the status of the currently
install applications through the software center.
It may also let you un-install the applications that you have previously installed
via the Software center. If you select one of the applications that is on the list,
it will open up the program details and an un-install option may be available.
- The Device compliance tab is the place to make sure that your computer has the right
policy settings. To check if you computer is up to date with the correct policies,
click the "Check compliance" button.
- The sixth tab is the Options tab. This tab lets you set some settings for the update
options, such as business hours. This informs the Software Center what time the computer
is expected to be in use. This lets SCCM know the best times to install the mandatory updates
that need to be installed on your machine, with the least amount of interference with
your scheduled work day.
- The first tab is the Applications tab. The shows all the applications your account
has access to download onto your computer.
Available Software
- Available to All
- 7-Zip
- Adobe Acrobat Pro XI
- Adobe Acrobat Reader DC
- Adobe AIR
- Adobe Camera Raw
- Adobe Digital Editions
- Adobe Dreamweaver CS6
- Adobe Fireworks CS6
- Adobe Flash Player
- Adobe Flash Pro CS6
- Adobe Illustrator CS6
- Adobe InDesign CS6
- Adobe Photoshop CS6
- Adobe Premiere Pro CS6
- Adobe Shockwave Player
- AkWarm
- Alertus Desktop
- ArcGIS Desktop
- Audacity
- AutoCAD 2019
- AutoCAD Architecture 2019
- AutoCAD Electrical 2019
- AutoCAD Map 3D 2019
- AutoCAD Mechanical 2019
- AutoCAD Plant 3D 2019
- Autodesk 3ds Max 2019
- Autodesk Civil 3D 2019
- Autodesk Design Review
- Autodesk Eagle
- Autodesk Inventor 2019
- Autodesk Robot Structural Analysis Professional 2019
- Autodesk SketchBook 2019
- Blackboard Collaborate Launcher
- CamStudio
- Camtasia 7.1.1
- Eclipse IDE
- FFMPEG Plugin for Audacity
- FileOpen Client (x64) B990
- FileZilla
- Free Stopwatch
- FreeCAD
- FreeOCR
- GIMP 2
- Google Apps Sync
- Google Chrome
- Google Earth Pro
- gPhotoShow
- Handbrake
- Hyland Unity Client
- ImageMagick
- Inkscape
- iTunes
- Java 8 (32-bit)
- Java 8 (64-bit)
- Java SE Development Kit 8 (64-bit)
- JMP Pro (64-bit)
- K2 Client
- KeePass
- Lab Stats
- Lame Plugin for Audacity
- Literacy Productivity Pack
- LT Spice
- Microsoft Office 2019
- Microsoft Teams
- Mozilla Firefox
- Mozilla Firefox ESR
- Mozilla Thunderbird
- Notepad++
- Opera Browser
- paint.net
- PaleMoon
- Power BI Desktop
- PuTTY
- R Statistics
- Real Player
- Revit 2019
- R-Studio
- SketchUp Make 2017
- Skype
- Toad Data Point
- Virtual Box
- Visual Studio Community 2017 Web
- VLC
- VUE
- Wireshark
- Licensed by Confrence Services
- Event Pro
- STG Conference Programmer 6
- Licensed by Community and Technical College
- Bluebeam Revu x64
- Heavy Bid
- Lumion
- Planswift
- Primivera P6
- Licensed by College of Arts and Sciences
- ChemSketch
- Chemstation
- Eclipse 2017
- Graphical Analysis
- Hampson-Russell
- HyperChem
- IHS Markit GeoSyn 2018
- Intersect
- Kinetix Shale 2017
- Kingdom Petraphysics
- LMKR Applications
- Logger Pro
- Maple 2017
- Mathtype
- Minitab 18 GP
- OpendTect
- Paradigm
- PerkinElmer ChemDraw Professional
- Petra
- Petrel
- Powerlog
- RokDoc 6
- Techlog 2017
- Tessaral
- The Kingdom Software 2018 (64-bit)
- Tracker
- Vista
- Licensed by College of Business and Public Policy
- Panopto Remote Recorder (64 bit)
- Licensed by College of Engineering
- Abaqus Simulia
- Adept
- Adjust
- Agisoft PhotoScan Professional
- Ansys
- Carlson Survey
- Cloud Compare
- Corpscon6
- Datem
- EES
- Emacs
- eQUEST
- ERDAS Imagine
- FEHT
- Fugro Viewer
- GPS Pathfinder Office
- Leica GeoOffice
- MARS Explorer
- Mars MIPS Simulator
- Mathcad 15 M020
- Matlab 2018b Academic
- Matlab 2018b Classroom
- Matrix
- Microsurvey CAD Premium 2014
- MicroSurvey MapScenes
- MicroSurvey StarNet
- ModelSmart 3D
- MODFLOW
- nanoCAD x64 Pro
- Overwatch LIDAR Analyst - ArcGIS
- Perform 3d
- Phreeqc Interactive
- PointScape
- PTC Mathcad Prime
- RISA 3D
- Solidworks
- Starry Night Pro Plus
- Stats
- Surfer
- VISSIM
- Wolfpack_Setup
- Wolfram Mathematica
- Working Model 2D
- Software that may have additional licensing & cost associated
- Evernote
- IBM SAS
- IBM SPSS Amos
- IBM SPSS Statistic
- Mendeley Desktop
- XYZMaker
- Used by College of Arts and Sciences
- ADInstruments LabChart
- ASCOM Platform
- Clarity LITE
- Counterpointer
- Crime Stat
- Digital Geiger Counter Lite
- DNR Garmin
- Find Orb
- FITS Liberator
- Garmin BaseCamp
- GeoGebra Classic
- nuPlot
- iClicker Cloud
- ImageJ
- Infinity Analyze and Capture
- Kml Builder
- MestReNova Lite SE
- MicroLab 528
- MicroLab
- NUTS
- Octave
- PASCO Capstone
- PAUP4
- Picoscope
- Polaris Plugin for ImageJ
- RemotePoll
- SciFinder
- SimUText 2018-2019
- SpectraSuite
- TurningPoint
- WinSCP
- Wolfram CDF Player
- Wolfvision
- Used by College of Health
- CFlow Plus
- Used by College of Engineering
- AeroSIMRC
- Android Studio
- ArcGIS Pro
- AirServer Universal (x64)
- Arduino
- Arduino IDE
- Cisco Packet Tracer
- Cuda Toolkit
- DJI ESC Assistant
- DNRGPS
- Dr. Java
- eCognition Developer Trial
- eCognition Essentials Trial
- Haskell Platform
- HEC-HMS
- HEC-RAS
- LAS Tools
- Lua
- MeshLab
- Meshmixer
- Miniconda 2
- Miniconda 3
- MobaXterm
- NAZAM Assistant
- Netbeans
- NetLogo
- OrCAD pSpice
- POV-Ray
- PyCharm
- PyScripter
- Python
- Python (64-bit)
- Python for Windows
- Pyzo
- Racket
- RASPlib
- SWI Prolog
- Unity 3D
- Voxler
- win32forth
- Xilinx
- ZF Laser Control
- Used by IT Labs
- Gephi
- Microsoft Works 4 Converter
- MyITLab 2013
- TestGen Plugin
- Visio Add-In for WBS Modeler
- Works 6-9 Converter
- Used by Prince William Sound College
- AutoIT
- Bluegriffon
- Dev C++
- Media Player Classic
- Scout-App
- Used in the Smart Classrooms
- HoverCam Flex11
- Image Mate
- KnoteSter Suite
Frequently Asked Questions
-
What is Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager?
System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM), the flagship systems management product from Microsoft, is a comprehensive management solution for computer systems utilizing Microsoft Windows operating systems. With Configuration Manager, IT technicians proactively manage the entire lifecycle of all Windows-powered devices. This includes deploying and maintaining systems and software, responding to security threats, distributing settings, and analyzing inventory data.
If you would like to learn more about Configuration Manager, please visit the Microsoft website.
-
What benefits does a client receive from Configuration Manager?
- Reliability: Your device will quickly receive software updates and patches with little to no interaction on your part.
- Time Efficiency: You will stay more productive as deployment and updating processes run in the background, freeing up more time for teaching, research and management.
- Flexibility: You can choose when and where to install new software or run maintenance on your device through a Self-service portal.
- Security: IT Technicians will manage the security of your machine so you don't have to. You can rest assured that software patches, antivirus protection, and firewalls are well maintained.
- Confidentiality: Your data and files will remain confidential; no personal data is scanned, indexed, or transmitted off your device.
- Compliance: Your device will always be in compliance with federal laws governing requirements for research or student data on University computers.
-
How does Configuration Manager work?
The Configuration Manager infrastructure consists of several high-performance, redundant servers which provide a database of computer information and data storage for programs, applications, and operating system images for deployment to end-user computers. Configuration Manager utilizes a small software utility known as a "client" to communicate with the servers. This client inventories hardware specifications, software installation information and provides for the automated installation of software updates and security patches. Included with the client is another application called "Software Center", which will be described below.
The client on a Windows OS endpoint checks in with a SCCM Management Point at computer startup and every hour thereafter, consuming 3.5 KB of network traffic. In addition, computer inventory is uploaded once a day, consuming 17 KB of network traffic for delta changes and 73 KB of network traffic for full changes. During the client's active and idle states, CPU usage is normally under 1% and memory usage is approximately 15 to 20 MB.
-
What kinds of tasks does Configuration Manager perform?
- Managing which software is installed on endpoints and the manner in which it installs (including specify optional and mandatory installs, and removing software)
- Allowing users to install and remove software using appstore interfaces called the Software Center
- Collecting statistics from endpoints (such as which programs were run)
- Using gathered information to compile reports summarizing endpoint activity
- Deploying and managing compliance policy for devices and users
- Imaging and migrating endpoints
- Deploying and managing endpoint protection, using Windows Defender
- Remotely controlling the endpoint for desktop support
-
What information does Configuration Manager collect?
The UAA implementation of Configuration Manager has been customized to collect only the data needed to support computers running a Microsoft Windows operating system. This information includes:
- Hardware Specifications
- Installed Applications & Usage
- Services Running
- Available Software Updates
- Local User Accounts and Login/Logout Timestamps
- Security Status (Firewall, SSH, etc)
- Connected Peripheral Devices
No personal information is collected, such as the contents or names of personal files (documents, email, etc) or any browsing history.
-
Is my device enrolled in Configuration Manager?
To find out if your UAA-issued device is enrolled, look for the Configuration Manager object found in the Windows Control Panel. Additionally, you may look for a Configuration Manager category in your Windows start menu or you can look to see if you have the Software Center application.
- What is Software Center?
The Software Center application is similar to a mobile device app store (such as Google Play or the Apple App Store), but it provides customized content for University Windows systems. This content includes access to university approved software, maintenance task scheduling, support options, and other documentation. The Software Center gives clients the flexibility of choosing what to install and when to install it.
The Software Center is managed and maintained by UAA ITS. If you would like to see something added, please submit a request through the UAA Technical Support Center.
-
Can I connect to Software Center when I am off-campus?
For Software Center to function, the device must be on the University of Alaska Anchorage network, or connected via Virtual Private Network (VPN)
-
What changes does the installation of Configuration Manager make to a PC?
Configuration Manager installs the client to your PC. The client runs in the background and will not interfere with the operation of your computer. Configuration Manager will also install the Software Center application and the Configuration Manager control panel object. These items consume approximately 100 MB to 500 MB of disk space. When applications or software updates are deployed to an endpoint, Configuration Manager will temporarily cache these items on the endpoint's local drive. These cached items may vary in size, depending on the size of the application or update being deployed and can be cleared automatically or on demand as needed.
-
How will software be installed on my computer?
Most software installations will be initiated by clients through the Software Center application. Your IT support group may also push software as needed/requested. UAA ITS will not distribute software unless requested to do so by the client or department IT staff.
-
Who has access to my computer?
Select members of your IT support group have the ability to manage your UAA-issued Windows device with the Configuration Manager. Configuration Manager Administrators also have campus-wide access.
-
Will I still have Administrative access to my PC?
There will be no automatic changes to the privileges of your user account by enrolling in Configuration Manager. Your IT support group will contact you if changes are to be made.
-
What policies are enforced?
At this time there are no policies that are automatically enforced system wide by UAA ITS. The distribution of policies is the responsibility of individual IT support groups. If you have any questions about what policies are enforced on your UAA-issued device, please contact your IT support group.
-
Can I add software that another department is using?
Yes... If the software that you desire is listed under a department and it is labeled with "Used by", then a call to the Technical Support Center with that request and it can be made available within your software center. If it is labeled with "Licensed by" then you will need to contact the department listed to request it from them first, before we can make it available to you.
-
Can I add other software NOT in any list?
Yes... Contact the Technical Support Center and they can give you the instructions on how to obtain it.
Need additional help or have issues
For additional assistance contact the IT Services Technical Support Center via phone at (907) 786-4646, toll-free at (877) 633-3888, or email at uaa.techsupport@alaska.edu.