Friday, March 7, 11-12 in N42-203

Agenda:

Introductions
In attendance, Deb, Patrick, Alex K, Alex P, Bill C, Bill B, Chris and
Heather Anne

Administrative tasks:

  • minute taking
    We will rotate taking minutes alphabetically by last name.
  • meeting time, place and frequency
    For now, the team will meet weekly in N42-203 at 11AM then decide if
    we want to meet bi-weekly and have email checkin.
  • mail list
    The mail list for the team is vmware-release@mit.edu
  • wiki
    The wiki to be used for team communication is: https://wikis.mit.edu/confluence/display/vmware/
    The wiki will be accessible to the public unless we determine any info
    will be of a sensitive nature.

Setting ground rules:
The team reviewed and set the following ground rules:

  • meetings will start and end on time and to call if a conflict arises
  • meeting dates and times will be maintained in TechTime
  • an agenda will be sent out prior to each meeting
  • team members will complete assigned tasks on time
  • team members will listen and respect the opinions of others
  • info from meetings will be shared via the wiki
  • will maintain a parking lot for items of discussion

Team Roles
Deb - Project Lead

  • will facilitate meetings and work with others to ensure process if
    followed
    Patrick - Macintosh Platform Coordinator (Fusion)
  • will test VMWare Fusion on the Mac side
    Alex - Windows Platform Coordinator (Workstation)
  • will test VMWare Workstation on the Windows side
    Bill Cattey- Linux Platform Coordinator (Workstation)
  • will test VMWare Workstation n the Linux side
    Alex Prengle - Athena Linux Coordinator
  • provide feedback on VMWare Player; VMWare workstation on Athena
    Linux
    Bill Brids - Windows HD Liaison
  • will test VMWare workstation and provide documentation feedback
    Chris Gresham - Macintosh HD Liaison
  • will test VMWare Fusion and provide documentation feedback
    Chris Murphy- network configuration (Phase I)
  • will provide network configurations
    Heather Ann Harrision Documentation writer
  • will work with team members to create and publish documentation
    Brian Bulmer - DITR liaison - TBD

Team naming conventions:
Since we have two Bill's and two Alex's, we will name Bill B, Bill C,
Alex P and Alex K (smile)

Other team members:
Atticus Gifford- (TBD)
Paul Heffernan - licensing
Andrew Yu - Mobile devices (Phase TBD)
Matt Sullivan - Mobile devices (Phase TBD)

  • test VMWare fusion
    Sloan - TBD - await team member designate from Wes Esser
    Dave K/Patrick W - TSM (as needed)

Project Goals and Scope
The scope of the VMWare Release Project is to provide support for
VMWare Workstation for Windows, Linux and VMWare Fusion for Mac OS X
by way of testing and documenting. Phase I will include installing
VMWare, VMWare tools, provide network configuration, installing and
configuring Operating Systems (Mac, Win and Linux), create a best
practices document and provide documentation for all Phase I work
listed above. We will also be clear in setting expectations on what
we will and will not support, including the vmware conversion tool
which is currently in beta. Until the tool is out of beta and the
team has had time to evaluate, this process is NOT supported.

Timeline: 12 weeks (mid-June)

Next steps/Action items:
Chris Murphy will work with the team to provide bridged network
configurations that encompass static ip and dhcp (wired and wireless).

Heather Anne will begin the creation of draft documentation on best
practices that will contain:

  • system requirements
  • networking
  • printing
  • backup
  • web browser
  • email
  • windows update service
  • why use VMWare (matrix or table)

Heather will create a "quick and dirty" pfd to link to the description
column on the software download page. Currently, this is the 2nd
paragraph users will see once they click on the link to download and
this should be used:

"At this time, IS&T is working to develop support for virtualization
with plans to have support available beginning in the first quarter of
FY 2009. Until such time as full support is available, we recommend
that only early adopters, who are able to support themselves or their
users, download and install VMware desktop products."

Heather requested in addition to providing screen shots if the team
could provide screen shots of error messages.
Deb will find out escalation path to report potential bugs
Deb will work to find a better time for everyone to meet (if it's
possible)
Deb will inquire with ist-vmware if our license for VMWare desktop
products and server applications is perpetual or annual.
Deb will find out if we can host VMWare documentation pages locally.
Patrick will test VMWare Fusion out of the box and report findings
Alex will test VMWare Desktop (Win) out of the box and report findings
Bill will test VMWare Desktop (Linux) out of the box and report findings
Matt stated to Deb that he was going to fully test out VMWare Fusion
by next week.
The team will review the release project underway announcement by
Monday, Mar 10 EOD and send edits so it can be sent out to the
community next week.

Testing:
In addition to vmware installation, installation of guest operating
systems needs to be conducted via CD, DVD and ISO images. The team
would like to understand how licensing is/can be affected with regard
to having multiple VM's/images.

The team will review additional phases after Phase I work gets close
to completion.

Parking lot items:

  • parallels to vmware converter
  • application testing
  • building iso's

Links: (Thanks to Bill Cattey)

The main VMware doc page: http://www.vmware.com/support/pubs/
points a the doc trees for VMware Workstation and VMware Fusion.

Next meeting: Friday, March 14 at 11AM in N42-203

  • I'll try to get N42-286 if I can.
    Minute taker: Bill Brids
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