WHAT?S HAPPENING?
TSO will perform patching of all managed Windows desktop computers.


WHEN IS IT HAPPENING?
? Tuesday, April 3, 2012, at 6:00 PM:
o Routine Windows and Office patches will be made available to all managed Windows desktop computers in the following areas: Communications, Development, IC Faculty, IC Staff, Student Services.


? Wednesday, April 4, 2012, at 6:00 PM:
o Routine Windows and Office patches will be made available to all managed Windows desktop computers in the following areas: CS Staff, Dean's Suite, Facilities, Finance, HR.

? Thursday, April 5, 2012, at 6:00 PM:
o Routine Windows and Office patches will be made available to all remaining managed Windows desktop computers and recently-serviced laptops*.


WHY IS IT HAPPENING?
To enhance the security and performance of managed Windows desktop computers.


WHO IS AFFECTED?
Users of the following:

? Faculty and staff desktop computers on the CC domain
? Research lab desktop computers on the CC domain
? Recently-serviced laptop computers*


WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO?
These patches will require a reboot following installation, so affected users should save their work, logout, and leave their desktop computers on before leaving for the day. After the patching is complete, an affected desktop computer will reboot even if a user is logged in. An onscreen notification countdown will be displayed on logged-in computers, allowing users 30 minutes to save their work before the reboot occurs.

Firefox 3 will reach end of life (EOL) in April. As a result, we will update to the latest Firefox Extended Service Release (ESR) version during this maintenance window, in addition to the patches listed above.

During testing, this patching took up to 2 consecutive nights to complete on some machines.


WHO SHOULD YOU CONTACT FOR QUESTIONS?
TSO Help Desk (CCB 148, 404.894.7065, helpdesk@cc.gatech.edu).


*In late 2011, TSO began rolling out a laptop LANDesk agent on new Windows laptop computers. Because laptops are unlikely to be left running after business hours, they are set to get their updates starting at noon when connected to the CoC network. Since this is during regular business hours, this agent has additional options to allow the user to defer reboots. The agent will not prevent those users from applying their own patches, but will enhance our security posture for laptops that connect to the CoC network but are not regularly updated by the user. As additional laptops come in for servicing or imaging, they will also receive the new agent.