Windows Vista Migration Plan

Due to compatibility issues with central campus resources, TSTC will follow a plan migration to the Microsoft^® Windows Vista_TM operating system. The tentative migration date is November 30, 2007. This date will be updated as TSTC applications become compatible with the new operating system.

• Statement from the CIO
• Windows Vista Controlled Migration Plan
• Checklist for TSTC Resources
• Release Versions of Windows Vista
• Minimum Hardware Requirements

 

Statement from the CIO

TO: TSTC Employees
SUBJECT: TSTC MS Windows Vista Interim Migration Plan
DATE: January 31, 2006, 7:45 AM

Dear Colleagues:

I know many of you are excited, as we are, about the recent release of Microsoft’s new operating system, Windows Vista. Likewise, I'm sure you are anxious to install and begin using it on your computers at work. However, as with any new major software release, it may not be wise to adopt it into a large enterprise like TSTC too soon. Therefore, TSTC will not begin to support or migrate to Windows Vista until after it has been on the consumer market for several months. The purpose for this is to ensure that the product is mature and stable enough to successfully migrate into our enterprise environment.

To ensure a successful future migration, TSTC NTS departmental staff will start to train, test and explore the product, as well as track and monitor the release to the consumer market for the next several months.

In the next few weeks, Dell Computers and other computer manufactures will start shipping new computer systems with Windows Vista installed. To avoid receiving the new operating system by default, be sure to specify Windows XP or Windows 2003 when you order new computer systems for TSTC in the coming months.

TSTC employees who may or will have Vista installed on their personal home computer that plan to access TSTC networks remotely need to be aware that they may experience software compatibility issues. This is not to say that they shouldn't plan to purchase this product for personal use, rather it simply says that TSTC remote access may be impacted.

So, if you are planning to purchase a new computer with Vista installed or install the software on an existing computer, you may want to keep your old computer and software around (…just a thought) for remote access purposes until the NTS departments have had a chance to test and certify your remote access software for use with Windows Vista.

Also, employees, students and surfers accessing web service (e.g., MyTstc, MyLearning, tstc.edu, tstc.net, WebAdvisor, etc) with Internet Explorer 7.0 running on Windows Vista should not experience any problems; however, nothing is for certain at this point.

Finally, it is my speculation that Windows Vista will prove to be stable enough by September to begin a Fall 2007 migration, however I will also say that it's probably too early to speculate with any degree of accuracy at this point. It will depend largely on Microsoft's initial success in the coming months and the speed at which 3rd party software vendor's upgrade and certify their software products to run on the new operating system.

If you have questions or comments please contact your local NTS department.

 

Regards,

Sammy L. Rhodes,
Associate Vice Chancellor/CIO
Information Technology Services
Educational Effectiveness
Texas State Technical College System

 

Windows Vista Controlled Migration Plan

Last Modified: January 31, 2007

1. Obtain concurrence that Vista migration should be controlled
2. Curtail TSTC purchase opportunities
1. Purchasing Office inform computer supplier contract holders not to configure Vista as an option
2. Purchasing Office return requisitions for Vista to the requestor until further notice
3. Communicate to campus users
1. Send out message to campuses indicating that TSTC will not migrate to Vista until fully tested in the TSTC environment and IT providers are ready to support
2. Advise users not to make request for TSTC purchases until the TSTC Vista migration date has been established
3. Communicate to employees recommendations on personal purchases
4. Communicate to students recommendations on date to purchase
4. Develop Vista testing and certification plan
1. Call together IT Directors/Providers together for planning
2. Develop list of applications to test
3. Complete testing
4. Call together IT Directors/Providers together to review the TSTC migration date
5. Projected Vista release date – November 30, 200t

 

Checklist for TSTC Resources

This checklist is not comprehensive. If you notice an application missing from this list that is necessary for the TSTC System or your specific campus, please contact terry.bredemeyer@system.tstc.edu.

Last Modified: Wednesday, May 02, 2007

Resource/Application	Status
3cDaemon FTP Server	Testing
ActiveSync	Testing
Adobe (Macromedia) Dreamweaver	Supported
Adobe (Macromedia) Flash	Supported
Adobe (Macromedia) Flash Player	Supported
Adobe (Macromedia) Shockwave Player	Supported
Adobe (Macromedia) Studio 8	Supported
Adobe Acrobat Professional 7.0	Supported
Adobe Acrobat Reader	Supported
Adobe Designer	Testing
Adobe GoLive	Supported
Adobe Illustrator CS2	Supported
Adobe InDesign CS2	Supported
Adobe Photoshop CS2	Supported
Anystream Apreso Classroom (possible future use with WebCT)	Testing
BackupExec Administrator Console	Testing
Blue Zone Telnet & FTP	Not Currently Supported
CardScan	Testing
Cisco VPN Client 4.6.02	Not Currently Supported
CleanAccess Client	Testing
Command AntiVirus	Testing
CorelDRAW	Testing
Crimestar	Testing
CSGold/CSPrint clients	Testing
Datatel UI 1.5	Supported
Dymo Label Writer	Testing
eTrust	Testing
EZClient	Supported
Firefox	Supported
FormPort	Supported
FreeBase	Testing
FreeCon	Testing
Gadwin	Testing
Goldwave	Testing
GroupWise 6.5	Not Currently Supported
GroupWise 7	Not Currently Supported
GWArchive	Testing
GWAVA Configuration Tool	Testing
GWGuardian (web interface)	Testing
HP Scanners/Printers/Faxes	Testing
ImageNow	Not Currently Supported
Intellisync	Not Currently Supported
iPOD	Testing
iTunes	Testing
Java	Supported
Kiwi Syslog Daemon	Testing
Logitech QuickCam Pro 5000	Testing
Macromedia Captivate	Testing
McAfee Virus Scan	Requires Version 8.5i
MCG Manager	Supported
Microsoft NetMeeting	Testing
MyLearning	Supported
MyTSTC	Supported
Novell Client	Not Currently Supported
Novell Console One	Not Currently Supported
Novell iManager	Testing
Novell NWAdmin	Testing
Novell Remote Console	Testing
Olympus Dictation Module	Testing
Olympus DS-2200 Digital Voice Recorder	Testing
Opera	Supported
Polycom VIA Video	Testing
Polycom Visual Concert PC	Testing
Print Driver (Konica/Minolta C450)	Testing
PrintKey 2000	Supported
Quicktime	Testing
Real Player	Testing
Respondus Products (possible future use with WebCT)	Testing
Self-service Password Utility	Partially Supported (Firefox - OK, Internet Explorer - NO)
Serious Magic - Visual Communicator Pro	Testing
Skype	Testing
Soft Chalk Lesson Builder 3	Testing
Softerra LDAP Administrator	Testing
SSH Secure File Transfer	Supported
Symantec Ghost	Testing
System HelpDesk	Supported
TeamMate	Not Currently Supported
Tegrity Software 5.1 and Tegrity Campus 2.0	Testing
Tegrity Notes w/pen	Testing
TFTP	Testing
Ticket Track	Testing
Travel99/00	Supported
UPS Worldwide	Testing
USAS client	Testing
Various CD/DVD Creators (Roxio - Nero - Sonic)	Testing
WASP Configuration Tool	Testing
WebAdvisor	Supported
WebSurveyor	Supported
Wimba Products (possible future use with WebCT)	Testing
WinFTP	Testing
WinQVT 514	Supported
WinZip	Embedded
WsFTP	Supported
Zen Works	Testing

 

Release Versions of Windows Vista

 

Minimum Hardware Requirements

A TSTC Recommended Windows Vista PC includes at least:

• Dual-Core processor.
• 2 GB of Dual Channel system memory.
• Support for DirectX 9 graphics with a WDDM driver, 256 MB of graphics memory (minimum), Pixel Shader 2.0 and 32 bits per pixel.
• 80 GB of hard drive capacity with 20 GB free space @ 7200 rpm (minimum).
• DVD-ROM Drive.
• Audio output capability.
• Internet access capability.