Windows computer and server management is done using the central EPM tool Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager (MECM or ConfigMgr). This page currently focuses on computers.

Compatibility with Endpoint Management

Software Center

Software Center is installed Installed on all computers fully managed by CNS IT. It will list some commonly available applications that can be installed without administrator credentials (i.e. Mozilla FireFox, Google Chrome, Microsoft Office) as well as Windows and some 3rd party software updates. Some examples can be found on the Endpoint Management page about Windows and Application PatchingOIT, Software Center lets you install common applications without administrator credentials and install updates to Windows and some third-party software. See this page for instructions on using Software Center and screenshots: Software Center

These are a few popular apps available:

• Google Chrome

• Mozilla Firefox

• Zoom Workplace

• PuTTY

• Box Drive

• CrashPlan (Code42)

• 7-Zip

• VLC Media Player

• Adobe Acrobat Reader DC

• Notepad++

For a complete list of the apps available to you, check Software Center.

Logging in with your EID

You can Windows EPM utilizes Active Directory for login allowing you to login to your computer using your EID and EID password. This creates a standard user profile (an account without admin permissions). Check under the username and password fields to confirm you’re logging into the AUSTIN domain.

Logging in for the first time

Your computer must be connected to the utexas WiFi or ethernet on campus in order to validate your EID credentials. If this is your first time logging into a device, you will need an on-campus internet connection to validate your EID credentials

If you’ve logged in before

The computer will store your EID credentials for 180 days allowing it to authenticate your login locally and without a connection to the UT network— so you’ll be able to login whether you’re on campus, off campus, or completely offline.

Logging in after changing your EID password

Your computer will sync your computer login password with your new EID password when connected to the UT network (UT VPN, utexas WiFi, or ethernet on campus). It could take up to an hour to sync the change, and you may need to log out or restart your computer.

If you’re having issues logging into your computer after changing your EID password, contact CNS OIT. In the meantime, your old EID password should continue to work to login to your computer.

Administrative Access

If you need to install software or make changes to your computer’s settings that require an admin username and password, administrative access can be used.

If you need an account that can perform administrative tasks (i.e. installing third party software and making system-wide configuration changes), you can request one during the deployment of your computer, or raise a help desk ticket by sending an email to help@cns.utexas.edu.

You should use your EID, not use your admin account to login to the computer. If you need administrative rights to perform actions, you can elevate your access using your admin-EID by right-clicking and pressing “Run as Administrator” to open the application, and filling out the prompt that opens.

When you have an account created, if you try to perform a task that prompts you for administrative rights, you can enter your local admin account in the User Name field with a period and backslash, like .\admin-apd623.

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. You’ll remained signed into your standard account (EID login) the whole time.

NOTE: The computer will automatically logout if an admin-eid account is logged into from the login screen.

Using an admin-eid account

A local admin-eid administrator account would’ve been created for you by CNS OIT, most likely during computer deployment.

• The username will be entered as: .\admin-YOUR_EID

• The password is one you created. If you don’t remember your admin password, check Stache or contact CNS OIT.

To run an application as an administrator or install software, right-click on the application or installer file and choose Run as Administrator. Then, enter your admin-eid username and password.

TIP: After entering your username, look below the password field and you should see the Domain has changed from AUSTIN to your computer’s name, which is most likely in the the format of DEPT-UT_Tag, where DEPT is NASC or your department code.

Installing and Updating Applications

By default, CNS IT will have installed:

• Cisco Secure Client (Cisco AnyConnect)

• CrashPlan (Code42)

• Microsoft Defender

• Microsoft Office M365

• Cisco AnyConnect VPN

• Tenable Nessus agent

• Code42 CrashPlan

The applications CNS IT has made available in Software Center by default:

• Notepad++

• Zoom Workplace

• Mozilla FireFox

• Google Chrome

• Box Drive

• 7-zip

• Adobe Acrobat Reader DC

Applications installed from Software Center will be automatically installed or be made available in Software Center based on your operating system and device. More information about available

updates can be found on the Endpoint Management Third Party Applicaion Updates page.Some updates will be installed silently in the background with no user interaction, while others may display a notification that the app needs to be quit for the update to be installed. If a notification is displayed, you’ll have four days to defer before the app is forcibly quit and updated.

For more information including an example of what an update notification looks like, see: Third Party Application Updates

Operating System and Application Security Updates

Using EPM, CNS OIT manages the installation of security updates for your computer’s operating system and certain applications.

By default, these updates will be installed through by Software Center overnight between 1am and 6am.automatically between 1:00 AM and 6:00 AM. If your computer needs to be restarted to finish applying updates, you’ll receive a notification as either a toast notification, or full notification.

To see what this looks like, refer to: MECM End User Experiences

For steps to check for updates and upgrades on your own, see: Windows Updates

Additional information about why keeping your computer up to date is important is provided here: Restart and Update Your Computer: FAQs