OUTLINE FOR OS-SPECIFIC PAGE
This page is intended to cover things about EPM that are specific to MECM / Windows
How to fill in the page (notes for sys admins):
Italicized parentheticals describe what info is anticipated under that heading.
Add headings or subheadings as needed
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Any pages linked throughout are just for convenience
Below this line is where the public-facing content begins
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
Supported Operating Systems
Windows 11 Enterprise is the default operating system for all new computers and during imaging. Computers currently running a supported version of Windows 10 can be enrolled in EPM. Windows 10 can also be installed if required and the appropriate security exceptions are filed; these details can be discussed with CNS OIT.
The pages below provide more information about the lifecycle of Windows operating systems that are permitted on the campus network:
NOTE: Windows 10 reaches End of Life in October 2025. At that time, Windows 10 will stop being permitted on the UT network without an approved security exception.
Hardware
Main computer hardware requirements for compatibility with Windows 11 are:
Processor: 1GHz or faster with 2 or more cores on a compatible 64-bit processor
RAM: 4GB or more
Storage: 64GB or larger
System firmware: UEFI with Secure Boot
TPM
Note: These requirements may change.
For full details about computer requirements for compatibility with Windows 11, see: Windows 11 Specs and System Requirements
Software Center
Installed on all computers fully managed by CNS OIT, 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
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 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. 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.
IMPORTANT: enter the username as: .\admin-YOUR_EID
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
Tenable Nessus
Applications installed from Software Center will be automatically installed or be made available based on your operating system and device.
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 by Software Center 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