Overview
Flex is a HITS Windows PC product built on the foundations of the Classic-CoreImage, but it is configured specifically for researchers, providing essential software, security, service desk support, and interoperability across Michigan networks. Like other HITS devices, Flex PCs have ready access to Michigan Medicine's extensive software applications and data storage options available on request.
Guidelines
- Flex is only available for standard Windows PCs (desktops and laptops).
- Flex shares most features and settings with Classic-CoreImage's Standard mode, such as the capability to connect to mapped drives, with the exception of the following:
- No GreenIT is set.
- These devices may be configured to run Maintenance manually (default) or on a schedule--in either case, they will not automatically reboot when Maintenance completes.
- Software deployments will not cause reboots.
- It has Fast User Switching, which allows concurrent logins and the ability to see the last username to have logged in -- even after a reboot.
- It has a blank screensaver. It can be changed to the standard screensaver via FCS.
- Medical School homepage is the default. It can be changed manually per user login.
- No folder redirection to H:\ drive but can be redirected through Windows Explorer options per user login.
- A subset of enterprise applications meant to strip out clinically-focused apps.
- Reboots are important to maintain the proper functionality of a computer. Though Flex computers won't reboot automatically, reboots are still needed to finish the installation of patches. If some patches haven't completed their installation by rebooting, the user is at risk of encountering instability in the operating system and their applications. Before troubleshooting an issue, perform a reboot to see if the issue comes back.
- If an automatic reboot is necessary due to a threat deemed critical by Information Assurance, any Flex will reboot at the institution's discretion with little to no warning.
- Unfortunately, any interruption due to an automatic reboot may cause a loss of data without being able to fully recover it. Users should be aware that this is a real risk and they must assume responsibility for any lost data/information.
- Maintenance is only needed if something has changed in the Fleet Configuration System (FCS) that needs synchronization with the Flex computer (e.g., add/remove printers, administrators, software, etc.). Maintenance is not needed to maintain the "health" of an Flex; reboots are.
- Flex will use a blank screensaver, default to a 30 minute screenlock, and default to the University of Michigan Medical School homepage.
Flex Mode is available on most Michigan Medicine standard supported Windows desktop and laptop models.