Windows Vista is the latest operating system from Microsoft intended to run on a destkop or laptop computer.  Released in January 2007, this new operating system has implemented many changes over it predecessor, Windows XP, and as a result will require extensive testing by El Paso Community College before it is deployed system wide.  The EPCC Information Technology Department has begun testing Windows Vista in a lab environment.  EPCC will be installing the Enterprise Version of Windows Vista as it has been determined that this version will be best suited for the college's network environment.

EPCC will test all of the applications in use by the college before deployment.  The IT Department will attempt to get vendor certification for the application, however, EPCC will not necessarily wait for vendor certification if the college is able to independently verify that the application works properly since vendors often lag behind.  EPCC will actively work with our vendor partners to accelerate the resolution of Vista issues.

The EPCC IT Department has already begun testing the Windows Vista operating system and several applications running under Vista (see below).
 

Application	Findings
Banner	EPCC has tested Vista with the new Java-based Administrative Banner Client. The application does not run due to a compatibility problem with the Oracle Plug-In.
CA AntiVirus	Update will be released on Wednesday 3/7/07 by CA.  EPCC will test update throughly in a test lab environment.
Imaging Xtender	EPCC has tested Imaging Xtender application with Vista and was unable to register application DLL.
Cisco VPN Client	Does not work.  Cisco is working on a beta version that will be designed to work with Vista.
Remote Assistance	Ongoing, testing is not yet complete
Plato	Ongoing, testing is not yet complete
WebCT / Blackboard	Ongoing, testing is not yet complete
HyperTerm	No longer installed with Vista
Telnet	Disabled by default
Windows Volume Licensing	EPCC has identified an issue with volume licensing activation key registration.  A solution will be tested in a test lab environment.

Because of these ongoing issues, IT will be delaying the release of Windows Vista. Once IT is confident in Windows Vista compatibility with the most commonly used applications and college services, it will be made available.

EPCC will not be installing Windows Vista on new computers until AFTER testing is complete and it has been shown to work with the most commonly used applications.  The IT Department has already upgraded its minimum computer purchasing standards/specifications based on Windows Vista requirements.  After testing, new computers that are installed as part of the normal replacement cycle will be installed with Windows Vista.
 
EPCC will install Windows Vista on some existing client computers beginning this summer, but only under certain conditions. For example, if the client requests it, and only if the computer meets certain minimum requirements.
 
EPCC will NOT, as a rule, upgrade the hardware on old computers (buy more RAM, etc.) to support Windows Vista as there is little reason to do so. Those computers will continue to run their current operating, and will be upgraded only as part of the college’s normal computer replacement cycle.