Faculty and Student Teams Program

Project Descriptions

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Information Technology Division

Requesting applications from Computing Science faculty members at institutions providing Windows Desktop hardware and software education to Community College students.

Project Description

The goal of this project is to pursue the development and deployment of Windows Desktop Management technologies in order to reduce the total cost of ownership (TCO) of workstations used in a variety of administrative, engineering, and scientific environments.  The scope of desktop support in this context includes the infrastructure used for network file storage, printing, software deployment and identity management through domain membership, as well as traditional break/fix for individual workstations.

The nature of desktop support is changing dramatically. In order to reduce costs, improve reliability, and reduce the time to deliver service, we are increasingly dependent on tools that push software and security policy to the desktop, collect inventory information from the computer itself, track software licenses, and  improve asset management (replenishment and repair decisions).

New products continually need to be evaluated for adoption as part of standard deployments.  These include new cyber security products, desktop search engine tools, office productivity tools, and tools which increase efficiency in upgrading from one computer to another.

The changing face of desktop support must be reflected in the curriculum being taught by Community Colleges as well as within industry.   Results from this team (methodologies and technical skills) can assist with local efforts to standardize and modernize the Windows Desktop Support curriculum within the Bay Region Community Colleges.

The goals outlined in this project will be accomplished engaging in activities such as:

• Investigating  methods to reduce the cost of a multi-platform/Operating System Help Desk operation through the use of Virtual machines (using VMware or Virtual PC)
• Research and evaluation of enabling tools (e.g. chat, web collaboration tools, remote viewing tools such as VNC) which improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Desktop Support Staff (including the help desk component)
• Investigating the use of vendor independent network storage to replace proprietary solutions (e.g. use of Network Appliances, Linux with Samba services, SANS with Network attached storage front ends).
• Evaluation of alternative methods for deploying software using Windows Active Directory technology
• Investigation of advanced troubleshooting tools that assist with software and hardware problem resolution in a cost effective manner.
• Investigation of alternative firewall strategies at the desktop
• Development of methodologies for repeatable investigation techniques to select the best performing anti-spyware and antivirus products.
• Research into Security policy for desktop platforms, using resources such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for recommendations.
• Evaluation of the next generation of Windows Operating System ( Vista ) and recommendations for early adoption by the Laboratory and our industry counterparts.

Applicants Responsibilities and Relationship to Project

Applicants and their students will receive support under the Department of Energy Faculty and Student Team (FaST) program to work collaboratively with a research group at Berkeley Lab for 10 weeks during the summer of 2006.  Faculty and students team members will be assigned to the same research group and typically faculty participants will provide mentorship and/or advising support to the undergraduate student team members while at the Lab.  Applicants are encouraged to contact Berkeley Lab investigators offering FaST opportunities during the application process.  Following the summer appointment, it is anticipated that the faculty participants will establish an ongoing collaborative relationship with Berkeley Lab investigators and assist in recruiting undergraduate students from their campus for DOE internship programs.

Qualifications of Ideal Candidate

Support and Financial Commitments

See Financial Information.

For More Information Contact:

http://csee.lbl.gov/