Managed Windows

What is NexGEN?

NexGEN is a complete management framework for Windows systems (7 and beyond), developed specifically for the SFU environment.

It is easy-to-use, yet powerful and offers a reasonable working configuration 'out-of-the-box', while also offering the potential for advanced configuration for complex environments.

NexGEN supports a federated approach. Defaults are set at the highest level, but they can be overridden when required at any lower level. NexGEN is designed for use in all departments, not just IT Services.

Highlights

Full support for Windows 7 (official support for windows 8 in mid-2013)
Cradle-to-grave management of PCs, including:
- initial deployment and imaging
- OS updates
- software installation and patching
- maintenance (operational rules)
- policy management, including a good default set of policies
- decommissioning
Asset management and health monitoring for greater uptimes and proactive maintenance
Remote assistance technology to allow for faster response to urgent problems
Automation where possible to save administration time and promote consistency
Utilization of existing technologies common to multiple IT departments at SFU to reduce the amount of retraining and redundant effort

NexGEN Technologies

Windows group policy and group policy preferences
WPKG for software deployment
Windows Deployment Services (WDS) for imaging
PHP scripts to pull it all together!

More Information

Review the presentation: SFU NexGEN Windows 7 Overview (presented at July 2012 Lan-Admins meeting)
Email its-nexgen-help@sfu.ca to request access to the official documentation on Confluence
Sign up for a training session. Check out this page or email its-nexgen-help@sfu.ca to find out when the next training is scheduled.

Upcoming Training

Implementing NexGEN - Nov 7, 2012 (2pm)

Who is using NexGEN?

The following departments are actively using NexGEN (as of October, 2012):

Library
Facilities Management
Faculty of Health Sciences
Mathematics & Statistics