How to retain the Enterprise Console and Configuration Administrator settings and Data

Overview

This document details how to configure a machine running Deep Freeze Enterprise to retain the data generated by the admin tools used by Deep Freeze.

Backgrounds

In some cases the sysadmin might require to protect the Server computers by having Deep Freeze workstation installed on them. At the same time the Server computer may run Deep Freeze Enterprise Console. In Frozen state the Deep Freeze Console will not save any changes done to the User Defined Groups, Console-side Schedules, History, Port Connections and many other options. This document describes the way of making the Console retaining all those changes on Frozen computer.

Problem Description

The Deep Freeze Enterprise Console of version 7 always gets installed on the system drive into the following folders:

On 32 bit systems:

\Program Files\Faronics\Deep Freeze 7 Enterprise
\Program Files\Faronics\Deep Freeze Enterprise Server

On 64-bit systems:

\Program Files\Faronics\Deep Freeze 7 Enterprise
\Program Files\Faronics\Deep Freeze Enterprise Server

Also the Deep Freeze Enterprise Console uses following Registries for storing its data:

HKLM\Software\Faronics\Deep Freeze 7 Enterprise
HKLM\Software\Faronics\DeepFreezeRemoteAdministrator
HKLM\Software\Faronics\Deep Freeze Enterprise

Server Edition of Deep Freeze Enterprise Console uses following folders and registries:

On 32 bit systems:

\Program Files\Faronics\Deep Freeze Server 7 Enterprise
\Program Files\Faronics\Deep Freeze Enterprise Server

On 64-bit systems:

\Program Files\Faronics\Deep Freeze Server 7 Enterprise
\Program Files\Faronics\Deep Freeze Enterprise Server

Registries:

HKLM\Software\Faronics\Deep Freeze Server 7 Enterprise
HKLM\Software\Faronics\DeepFreezeRemoteAdministrator
HKLM\Software\Faronics\Deep Freeze Server Enterprise

The mentioned folders and registries keep all Console’s settings and their contents have to be retained on Frozen system across reboots. Deep Freeze Console installer does not provide a custom location for the deployment, therefore installing the Deep Freeze Console on Thawed drive is not an option. Also, manually moving the Console’s folders onto Thawed location or running standalone customized Console still will result in losing some of the Console’s changes in Frozen state, since the Console stores part of its configuration in the Program Files folder.

Solution

The best way of configuring Deep Freeze Console on Frozen system is using Faronics Data Igloo, which can redirect Console’s data folders and registries onto Thawed location, which would exempt those folders and registries from Deep Freeze protection.

Assuming, the Data Igloo is already installed on the system, and Deep Freeze workstation is configured to have at least one Thawed drive or ThawSpace, use following steps for redirecting Console’s folders and registries:

1. Reboot system into Thawed state. This will insure all provided below changes will be saved.

1. Quit Deep Freeze Console with “Close and Shutdown Network Connections” option. This will insure none of the Deep Freeze Console processes and services will run and lock files inside the Console’s program folders.

1. Using Data Igloo “Folder Redirection” feature, redirect following folders onto Thawed location:

 

On 32 bit systems:

\Program Files\Faronics\Deep Freeze 7 Enterprise
\Program Files\Faronics\Deep Freeze Enterprise Server

On 64-bit systems:

\Program Files\Faronics\Deep Freeze 7 Enterprise
\Program Files\Faronics\Deep Freeze Enterprise Server

 

For the Server Edition of Deep Freeze Enterprise Console redirect following folders:

On 32 bit systems:

\Program Files\Faronics\Deep Freeze Server 7 Enterprise
\Program Files\Faronics\Deep Freeze Enterprise Server

On 64-bit systems:

\Program Files\Faronics\Deep Freeze Server 7 Enterprise
\Program Files\Faronics\Deep Freeze Enterprise Server

1. Using Data Igloo “Registry Key Redirection” feature redirect following registry keys:

HKLM\Software\Faronics\Deep Freeze 7 Enterprise
HKLM\Software\Faronics\DeepFreezeRemoteAdministrator
HKLM\Software\Faronics\Deep Freeze Enterprise

For the Server Edition of Deep Freeze Enterprise Console redirect following registries:

HKLM\Software\Faronics\Deep Freeze Server 7 Enterprise
HKLM\Software\Faronics\DeepFreezeRemoteAdministrator
HKLM\Software\Faronics\Deep Freeze Server Enterprise

Note: for the Console with blank license key (30 day trial) the “Deep Freeze Enterprise” and “Deep Freeze Server Enterprise” keys may not exist. At this point it is recommended to create those keys manually and then redirect, so it will insure the newly applied license key will be retained in Frozen state.

1. Reboot system into Frozen state

Now the Console will be retaining all the changes done in Frozen state.

Note 1: Before uninstalling Deep Freeze Console, it is recommended to use  Data Igloo in order to revert back all the folder and registry redirections mentioned above. This will insure the correct functioning of Data Igloo after those folders and registries would be removed during Console uninstallation.

Note 2: It is not recommended to perform Console upgrades in Frozen state. This may result in partial upgrade and incorrect behavior of the product after reboot.

Note 3: The mentioned above folder and registry names are applicable for Deep Freeze Console versions 7.x.