Windows Embedded 8 Standard for HP Thin Clients Administrator Guide
© Copyright 2013–2014 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Microsoft and Windows are U.S. registered trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. Confidential computer software. Valid license from HP required for possession, use or copying. Consistent with FAR 12.211 and 12.212, Commercial Computer Software, Computer Software Documentation, and Technical Data for Commercial Items are licensed to the U.S. Government under vendor's standard commercial license.
About this guide This document uses the following styles to distinguish elements of command line text: Style Definition Variables or placeholders are enclosed in angle brackets and italicized. For example, replace with the appropriate path, such as C:\Windows\System. When typing the actual value for the variable, omit the brackets. [optional parameters] Optional parameters are enclosed in square brackets. When specifying the parameters, omit the brackets.
iv About this guide
Table of contents 1 Activation .......................................................................................................................................................... 1 2 Getting started .................................................................................................................................................. 2 Finding more resources ........................................................................................................................
Administration tools ......................................................................................................................................... 14 HP Cloud Connection Manager .......................................................................................................... 14 HP Device Manager ........................................................................................................................... 14 HP RAMDisk Manager ..............................................
1 Activation The operating system must be activated for full functionality. Activation can be done in three different ways: NOTE: There is no need to disable the write filter for the activation process. ● Internet: Connect the thin client to the Internet and turn it on. The thin client has been configured to automatically communicate with a Microsoft server, obtain the key, and activate the operating system.
2 Getting started This guide is intended for administrators of HP thin client models that are based on the Windows® Embedded 8 Standard (WES8) operating system. It is assumed that you are using the latest WES8 image provided by HP and that you will be logged on as an administrator when making configurations or accessing administration utilities. Finding more resources The information in this guide provides a basic overview of features specific to HP thin clients.
Logging on to the default user and administrator accounts By default, the thin client logs on as a user. An administrator must log on manually. Note the following information about logging on to Windows: ● The factory-default administrator account name and password are both Administrator ● The factory-default user account name and password are both User ● Passwords are case sensitive. ● For security purposes, HP recommends that you change the passwords from their default values.
3 Unified Write Filter Unified Write Filter (UWF) provides a secure environment and can extend the life of a thin client by protecting it from unauthorized and excessive writes to the flash drive. Write data is intercepted by UWF and cached in the RAM drive, and as a result, lost after the next thin client restart. UWF allows you to specify files, directories, and registry keys to be excluded from protection. Excluded items will always write to the underlying volume.
Write filter management overview There are three different ways of managing UWF: ● Status icon ● HP Write Filter Configuration utility ● Command line Status icon The UWF status icon is located in the Windows notification area. The following commands can be executed by right-clicking the status icon and selecting the desired action: ● Enable—Enables UWF on the next thin client restart. ● Disable—Disables UWF on the next thin client restart. ● Clear Command—Clears the current boot command.
HP Write Filter Configuration utility The HP Write Filter Configuration utility is a GUI that allows you to view information about and perform common functions of UWF. To open the HP Write Filter Configuration utility: ▲ In the Control Panel, click HP Write Filter Configuration. TIP: You can alternatively double-click the write filter status icon in the notification area.
Configuring UWF to allow permanent changes CAUTION: Ensure that the write filter is enabled after committing necessary configurations to the thin client flash drive. During normal operation of the thin client, the write filter must be enabled. Also ensure that Page File is not enabled on thin clients with flash memory storage. Failure to follow these required actions can void the warranty of the flash storage device.
Committing cached write data To commit cached write data: CAUTION: Be sure to know what changes have been made since the last restart so that unwanted changes are not committed. ▲ Use the command line to commit individual files or registry keys (see Command line on page 6).
4 Configuration ● Local drives ● Managing user accounts ● Configuring the system date and time settings ● Installing large applications Local drives The following local drives are configured on the thin client by default: ● C: (flash drive)—This is where the operating system and software are installed. Writes to this drive can be limited or restricted entirely by using UWF. CAUTION: HP recommends that you do not allow the available free space on the flash drive to drop below 10% of the flash size.
Managing user accounts Use the User Accounts utility to manage existing user accounts. To open the User Accounts utility: ▲ In the Control Panel, click User Accounts. Changing an account’s password To change an account’s password: ▲ Open the Charms bar and select Settings > Change PC settings > Users > Change your password. NOTE: Passwords cannot be changed by a user account.
Configuring the system date and time settings The time service is set to Manual (Trigger Start). By default, the time service attempts to synchronize its time with the Microsoft time server (time.windows.com) every seven days. If the thin client is joined to a domain, the service tries to sync its time with an available DC or an NTP server, if one is available. To open the Date and Time utility: ▲ In the Control Panel, click Date and Time.
5 Virtualization software ● Citrix Receiver ● Microsoft Remote Desktop Protocol ● VMware Horizon View ● HP Remote Graphics Software ● HP TeemTalk Citrix Receiver Citrix Receiver is used when Citrix Presentation Server, XenApp, or XenDesktop is deployed with Web Interface. Citrix Receiver enables icons to be placed on the Windows desktop for the seamless integration of published applications.
VMware Horizon View VMware Horizon View is an enterprise-class desktop management solution that streamlines the management, provisioning, and deployment of virtual desktops. Users securely and easily access virtual desktops hosted on VMware Infrastructure, terminal servers, blade PCs, or even remote physical PCs through the VMware View Manager. To open the VMware Horizon View client: ▲ At the Start screen, type VMware, and then click VMware Horizon View Client when it appears in the search results.
6 Administration tools ● HP Cloud Connection Manager ● HP Device Manager ● HP RAMDisk Manager ● HP ThinShell ● HP ThinState ● HP Velocity HP Cloud Connection Manager HP Cloud Connection Manager (HPCCM) is a client utility that allows administrators of HP thin clients to configure the automatic launch of virtual desktop clients and connections that initiate when standard users (non-administrators) log on to Windows.
HP ThinShell HP ThinShell is a client automation tool that enables Kiosk Mode (shell replacement) functionality for standard users (non-administrators). To open HP ThinShell: ▲ In the Control Panel, click HP ThinShell Configuration. TIP: For more information, see the HP ThinShell Administrator Guide. HP ThinState HP ThinState can be used to capture an HP thin client image that can then be deployed to another HP thin client of identical model and hardware. To perform an HP ThinState capture: 1.
Index A add-ons 2 administration tools 14 C Citrix Receiver 12 Control Panel, using 3 D Drive C: 9 Drive Z: 9 F finding more resources 2 H HP Cloud Connection Manager 14 HP Device Manager 14 HP RAMDisk Manager 14 HP Remote Graphics Software 13 HP TeemTalk 13 HP ThinShell 15 HP ThinState 15 HP Velocity 15 I image capture and deployment 15 image updates 2 L local drives 9 logon administrator 3 automatic 10 manual 3 user 3 M Microsoft RDP 12 S system date and time 16 Index 11 U Unified Write Filter boo
