This document describes version updates, system
requirements, installation instructions and known issues of IntelŪ Platform
Administrator.
l What's New in IntelŪ Platform Administrator V2.0.3.190
l What's New in IntelŪ Platform Administrator V2.0.2.180
l What's New in IntelŪ Platform Administrator V2.0.1.156
l
What's New in IntelŪ Platform Administrator V2.0.0.100
l
Server
l
Client
l
Quick Installation Instructions
l
Uninstalling IntelŪ Platform Administrator
l
Asset Management Related issues
New Features:
|
Support for ECSŪ Desktop Board 945PL-A |
l Supports ECSŪ Desktop Board 945PL-A, and all mainstream Intel CPUs (Please refer to mother board user manual for detail information). l Some remote control features have limitation on this board: Remote power off / reset features are available only when client machine is in OS state. l Since the integrated LAN silicon (RealTek 8110SC) does not support ASF, on the IPAT server UI, there is no ASF configuration UI for this board. For the same reason, some alerting features are not available for this board: chassis intrusion alert, USB anti-theft alert, CPU temperature alert, FAN speed alert, connection lost alert, etc. l Note: This release is different with previous ones in that it ONLY support ECS 945PL-A board. |
Improvements and Bugs Fixed:
|
Remote power on in power failure state |
l Solve the issue in ECS 865G-M8 board that when client machine is in abnormal power failure state, remote power on will not work. Now this issue does not exist in ECS 945PL-A board. |
New Features:
|
Support for ECSŪ Desktop Board 865G-M8 |
l Supports ECSŪ Desktop Board 865G-M8, and all mainstream Intel CPUs (Please refer to mother board user manual for detail information). l Some remote control features have limitation on this board: Remote power off / reset features are available only when client machine is in OS state; remote power on feature is available only when client machine is in normal shutdown state (for abnormal power failure, remote power on will not work). l Since the integrated LAN silicon (RealTek 8100C) does not support ASF, on the IPAT server UI, there is no ASF configuration UI for this board. For the same reason, some alerting features are not available for this board: chassis intrusion alert, USB anti-theft alert, CPU temperature alert, FAN speed alert, connection lost alert, etc. |
Improvements and Bugs Fixed:
|
Broadcast incremental package deployment support |
l Add support for broadcast incremental package deployment. Solved the problem that some network equipment can not handle multicast correctly. |
|
Better usability |
l More stable IMP service l Improved incremental package creation process l Improved installation process, especially for service dependency handling. |
New Features:
|
Better image/package creation/deployment
performance |
l Can display each clients transfer speed real-time. l More accurate percentage display at both server and client side. l At normal network environment, image/package creation speed improved to 8MB/s. l At normal network environment, image/package deployment speed improved to 10MB/s. |
|
Image/package deployment synchronization mechanism |
l Take advantage of multicast to the most extent by strict partition
synchronization. l From server UI user easily know which clients are ready and which are not, better control image/package deployment tasks. |
|
Image/package deployment highest
bandwidth usage setting |
l User can set image/package deployment highest speed, well control bandwidth usage of image/package deployment. |
Improvements and Bugs Fixed:
|
Better compatibility |
l Resolve some compatibility issues, work well with most kinds of network equipment combination at a reasonable performance. |
|
File transfer |
l Add broadcast, resolve some network equipment combination can not work well with multi-cast. |
|
Multi-language Windows support |
l English version can support multi-language Windows, including
Russian, Korean, Arabic and Turkish Windows. |
|
Windows Service |
l Windows service MTFTP is changed to IMP |
New Features:
|
Support for IntelŪ Desktop Board D945PLNM |
l Supports IntelŪ Desktop Board D945PLNM, and all mainstream Intel CPUs. |
|
USB Device Anti-Theft (Only support USB
devices that strictly comply with USB 1.1 or 2.0 standard) |
l Can detect disconnection of USB devices, such as USB keyboard, USB mouse and USB Camera. This feature is independent of OS state and CPU state. Alert functions even when PC is shut down. |
|
Simplified Server Setup |
l
Enhanced server setup process requires less user
input. l Installation of MSDE 2000 and Microsoft .Net Framework is automated. l User will be prompted to insert the Windows installation CD when required Windows components (SNMP, IIS, ASP.Net, and Internet Explorer) are not detected, and the installation will be completed automatically. |
|
BIOS/Agent Update |
l Only supports Agent-only updates on IntelŪ Desktop Board D915PDT and D945PLNM (BIOS update removed). Still supports BIOS/Agent updates on IntelŪ Desktop Board D865PCK. |
Improvements and Bugs Fixed:
|
Backwards Compatibility with V1.1 |
l V2.0 server can manage V1.1 clients |
|
Deployment |
l Improved deployment performance on NTFS format partitions due to smaller image size based on used space only |
|
User Interface |
l Redesigned UI appearance, and revised command names and descriptions that more clearly communicate functionality |
|
Hard Disk Protection |
l
Hard Disk Protection function fully supports NTFS
partitions l Requirement that at least one partition on client hard disks be FAT32 format has been removed l More efficient disk utilization after enabling Hard Disk Protection on NTFS partitions l Fixed a security bug related to hard disk protection. |
|
Computer Naming Policy |
l More user friendly computer naming policy. |
|
ASF |
l
ASF makes more efficient use of CPU. l ASF reliability has been improved by removing dependency on the WMI Windows component. |
Hardware:
|
Hardware |
Recommended Server Specifications |
Minimum Server Specifications |
|
CPU |
IntelŪ PentiumŪ 4 Processor, 2.8GHz |
IntelŪ PentiumŪ 4 Processor, 2.4GHz |
|
Memory |
1GB |
512MB |
|
Hard Disk |
160GB IDE |
120GB IDE |
|
CD-ROM |
CD-ROM 16x |
CD-ROM 16x |
|
NIC |
1000Mbps |
100Mbps |
|
Mother Board |
Any Intel certified server motherboard |
Any Intel certified server motherboard |
Software:
|
Operating System |
Windows Service and Components |
|
Windows 2000 Server* (SP4) [English or
Simplified Chinese] |
Windows Internet Information Service
(IIS) |
|
Windows 2000 Advanced Server* (SP4)
[English or Simplified Chinese] |
Windows Dynamic Host Configuration
Protocol (DHCP) Server (Optional) (Included in Windows 2000 Server and
Windows Server 2003) |
|
Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition*
[English or Simplified Chinese] |
Windows Simple Network Management
Protocol (SNMP) Service (Included in Windows setup CD) |
|
Windows Server 2003 |
Windows ASP.NET Component |
|
Windows XP Professional Edition* (SP2) [English or Simplified
Chinese] |
Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1.4322*
(default installed in Windows Server 2003*，need to install manually in Windows
2000 Advanced Server*) |
|
|
Microsoft SQL Server Desktop Engine
(MSDE2000)* (SP3a) ( Installation files are included in the
IntelŪ Platform Administrator setup CD) |
Notes: Make sure all of the latest Windows Service Packs and security patches are installed on the server.
Note: We strongly recommend that you use Windows 2003, which comes with .Net Framework and ASP.Net。
Notes: We strongly recommend that you
install Windows operating system and IntelŪ Platform Administrator Server on an
NTFS partition for server installation, because NTFS partitions provide
enhanced security and user access control.
Hardware:
|
Hardware |
Recommended Client Specifications |
|
|
CPU |
IntelŪ CeleronŪD
Processor, 2.4GHz |
IntelŪ PentiumŪ 4 Processor, 2.8GHz |
|
Mother Board |
ECSŪ
Desktop Board 945PL-A |
|
|
Memory |
512MB |
|
|
Hard Disk |
80GB IDE |
|
|
NIC |
Built-in 1000Mbps Network Interface Card |
|
Software:
|
Operating System |
Windows Service and Components |
|
Windows 2000 Professional Edition* (SP4)
[English or Simplified Chinese] |
DHCP Client(Optional) |
|
Windows XP Professional Edition* (SP1/2)
[English or Simplified Chinese] |
Network Connection |
|
|
Windows Management Instrumentation |
Notes: Make sure all of the latest Windows Service Packs and security patches are installed on the server.
* Third-party brands and names that are the property of their respective owners.
To use IntelŪ Platform Administrator in the typical scenario, set up the environment according to the following steps:
1. Set up your network environment
2. Install IntelŪ Platform Administrator Server
3. Configure IntelŪ Platform Administrator Server
4.
Install Operating System on client
5. Enable IntelŪ Platform Administrator Agent on client from BIOS management menu
6. Install IntelŪ Platform Administrator Client on client operating system
7. Select one Golden Machine from management console
8. Create image from Golden Machine
9. Manage other clients and set them as managed clients
10. Deploy the image to your client machines
Environment setup complete
Please refer to IntelŪ Platform Administrator User Help for step by step installation instructions.
Backup server data using
the IntelŪ Platform Administrator Utility Tool.
Click Start > Control Panel > Add/Remove Program > Remove IntelŪ Platform Administrator Server.
1) HD Protection must be disabled before removing IntelŪ Platform Administrator Client.
2) Right-click the IntelŪ Platform Administrator Client icon located in the system tray, and click Enable HD Protection to disable hard disk protection.
3) Enter the HD Protection password.
4)
The system will prompt whether to reboot. Click Yes. The client will reboot immediately, and the
HD Protection will be disabled. After the reboot, disk images will no longer be
protected.
2. Remove IntelŪ Platform Administrator Client
1) After HD Protection has been disabled, the user can remove IntelŪ Platform Administrator Client.
2) Select Control Panel > Add/Remove Program > Remove IntelŪ Platform Administrator Client.
3) The system will prompt the user to confirm the uninstallation
of IntelŪ Platform Administrator Client.
Click Yes to continue.
4) In the popup window, enter the HD Protection password and click OK.
5) The system will prompt whether to reboot immediately. Click Yes to continue.
6) The system will reboot immediately to remove IntelŪ Platform Administrator Client.
3. Disable Agent
1) Restart the client computer, and press F2 to enter BIOS.
2) In the Manageability tab of System Setup use the UP and DOWN arrow keys to select Agent, and then press ENTER to set it to Disable.
3) Press ENTER again for confirmation.
4) Press F10 to save and exit. The client will reboot automatically.
There are the following known issues and product limitations in IntelŪ Platform Administrator:
2. Since the current version of BIOS only supports English, restore points named using Chinese in Windows cannot be displayed properly in the BIOS. Please use English to name restore points.
3. In very rare case, when using some specific NTFS partition, HD protection feature might not be able to enabled, this will impact golden machine setup. In such case, please adjust the NTFS partition (either merge it with other partitions or re-partition the disk).
1. The server UI might respond slowly when you send some commands to clients, such as when the server sends commands to deploy images or incremental packages. Please be patient when this issue occurs. You may also enter the server UI from a client machine.
2. When creating software update packages for applications that require a restart during the installation process, please use the following method: After the application is installed, restart the Golden Machine and press F2 to enter BIOS. Then, on the server, execute the command to create an incremental package on the Golden Machine. Then go back to the Golden Machine and exit BIOS. The incremental package creation will begin.
3. The maximum size of IntelŪ Platform Administrator images and software update packages is 2TB (2048GB). The file system on the server should be NTFS.
4. If the partitions on the Golden Machine have been changed (due to repartitioning or resizing a partition), you must restart the Golden Machine to allow the change to take effect.
5. If the user needs to re-install the OS on a client, the hard disk protection must be disabled first.
6. Sometimes deployment will fail on a few clients. This could be caused by network errors or overheated machines. You will need to redeploy these clients to enable them to work properly.
7. We recommend that all of the client machines are of the same hardware configuration.
8. IntelŪ Platform Administrator Client only supports one physical hard disk installed on client machines.
9. Some client machines might lose their network adapter after large-scale deployment. Resetting these clients should remedy this problem.
10. Deployment speed may be affected by network performance. In different network environment, deployment may take different time.
11. During deployment, a few client machines may fail and receive a "fail to get system state" error. If this happens, please redeploy these machines.
1. Intrusion alert requires computer chassis designed specially for IntelŪ Platform Administrator (ECSŪ Desktop Board 865G-M8 and 945PL-A does not support intrusion alert feature).
2. USB anti-theft alert only works on IntelŪ Desktop Board D915PDT and IntelŪ Desktop Board D945PLNM motherboards. USB ports on front panel are not protected.
3. IntelŪ Platform Administration Technology includes asset monitoring capabilities for both software and hardware. Abnormal client computer behavior will be reported to the server console under certain conditions. The delay in reporting these asset alerts varies from 5~60s. Certain monitoring features may remain active regardless of the client computers power state. It is possible that some monitoring features may not work properly at times. If this happens, please disable the feature on affected clients temporarily.
4. When the server detects hardware changes since the last boot, it will generate an asset alert. Hardware information includes CPU, motherboard, memory, and hard disk.
5. Asset Alert does not report the removal of the following hardware:
|
Board name |
Hardware devices |
|
IntelŪ Desktop Board D865PCK |
Monitor, PS2 mouse & keyboard, CPU, and USB devices. |
|
IntelŪ Desktop Board D915PDT |
Monitor, PS2 mouse & keyboard, and CPU. |
|
IntelŪ Desktop Board D945PLNM |
Monitor, PS2 mouse & keyboard, and CPU. |
|
ECSŪ Desktop Board 945PL-A |
Monitor, PS2 mouse & keyboard, CPU, and USB devices. |
|
ECSŪ Desktop Board 865G-M8 |
Monitor, PS2 mouse & keyboard, CPU, and USB devices. |
Note: Asset alerts for the removal of RAM
will only be reported in cases where some, but not all, RAM is removed. In cases where all RAM is removed the PC will
fail to boot but no alert will be reported.
6. Please refer to user help Asset Change for more information about asset alerts.
7. Intrusion alerts will only be reported once from the time of the alert until the next time that the system is rebooted. So even if the box has been opened up several times while the machine is still on, only one alert message will be generated.
1. Network performance will be impacted while IntelŪ Platform Administrator server is deploying images to clients because the IntelŪ Platform Administrator server will utilize as much network bandwidth as possible. We recommend that you perform image deployment during non-peak hours in i-Cafes currently in business.
2. If software update package creation is abnormally interrupted, please use the following method: Select another client that has the same deployment history, set it as a golden machine, install/uninstall the new software on it, and create a new software update package.
3. If software update package deployment is interrupted on a client, the only way to get the client to work is to restart deployment to it. If image deployment is interrupted, deployment should resume automatically after restart. However, if deployment does not resume automatically, re-deploy the image.
4.
A hung or crashed client may cause network
saturation. This can cause
clients connected to the same switch to be unable to play online games. If you
perform the
5. Windows or other software firewalls may block IntelŪ Platform Administrator packets. This situation can be remedied by turning off the firewall and restarting the computer.
1. The client component of WanXiang 2000* billing software has the following compatibility issues with IntelŪ Platform Administrator V 2.0.3 client:
1) On clients that have WanXiang 2000* billing software installed, IntelŪ Platform Administrator Client will not be able to rename the computer during the post-configuration process because WanXiang 2000* billing software replaces the Windows logon UI with its own.
2) IntelŪ Platform Administrator Client cannot be uninstalled successfully when running the uninstallation in WanXiang 2000*. On clients that have WanXiang 2000* billing software installed, if you want to uninstall WanXiang 2000*, the program will invoke the uninstallation API of IntelŪ Platform Administrator Client. However, this function is designed for IntelŪ Platform Administrator Client V1.0.50 or below, and does not work properly for V2.0.3.
Note: These problems have been fixed in the latest WanXiang 2004* client.
2. The client component of Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition 10.0 (10.0.1.1000)* software has the following compatibility issues with IntelŪ Platform Administrator V 2.0.3 client:
On clients that have Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition 10.0 (10.0.1.1000)* software installed, IntelŪ Platform Administrator Client will show blue screen during the post-configuration process.
Note: These problems can be resolved by upgrading to the later version of Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition 10.0 (10.0.2.2000)*.
1. V2.0.3 only support new ECS 945PL-A board, no previous image/package is reusable.
2. V2.0.2 does not support image/package of version before 2.0.1, including V1.0, V1.1, V2.0, please recreate and redeploy image/package.
3. V2.0.2 is fully compatible with V2.0.1, it support image/package of version 2.0.1.
4. V2.0.2 does not support V1.0 client. To upgrade V1.0 systems (1.0/1.0.30/1.0.50) to V2.0.2, you must first uninstall V1.0 completely and then install V2.0.2. Please refer to the user help for detailed steps.
5. V2.0.2 server do support V1.1 client.
1) V2.0.2 client can be enabled on V1.1 agent, but not all of the new features of V2.0.2 will take effect in this condition.
2) V1.1 client can be enabled on V2.0.2 agent, but all the hard disk protection related commands will not be available in the Windows client UI. In this situation, you will need to execute the commands in the client BIOS.
We recommend that you refer
to the User Help and use the same version of agent and client. It is
recommended that you deploy an image with V2.0.2 client, and then use the
update firmware function on server management console to upgrade the agent to
V2.0.2.
This document as the software described in it is furnished under license and may only be used or copied in accordance with the terms of the license. The information in this manual is furnished for informational use only, is subject to change without notice, and should not be construed as a commitment by Intel Corporation. Intel Corporation assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or inaccuracies that may appear in this document or any software that may be provided in association with this document.
Except as permitted by such license, no part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the express written consent of Intel Corporation.
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