Skip Navigation
W
University of Washington
IT Connect
Connecting You to Information Technology at the UW

Nebula Users Home

Information for Nebula Clients

Ordering Computers in Nebula

IT Connect > Software and Hardware > Nebula > Ordering Computers

Ordering New Windows Computers

In the Nebula Managed Desktop Service, ordering new Windows computers is not covered under the Basic Desktop Service. We are happy to help you order and configure new equipment, subject to the On-Demand User Support fee of $113.80/hour. To enable you to control your costs, we have developed ordering procedures, described below, that range from a full-service model (where services are subject to the On-Demand fee) to a no-cost self-service model.

New bundles for Spring 2011

The campus-wide UW computer hardware committee has negotiated new and improved bundles for Spring 2011.


Using dual DVI monitors
You will need to add the dual DVI cable; it is not included in any of the hardware bundles. The video card comes with a VGA splitter only.

Computers for personal use
Both Dell and HP offer discounted computers for employees of higher education institutions:

Nebula Images

As stated above, the UW has partnered with CDW-G and HP to offer pre-configured bundles at reduced rates. Nebula maintains current electronic images of its software suite that are compatible with the HP computers and which allow us to quickly re-install, or rebuild, the computer. You may include this image at time of purchase by following the instructions below.

Rebuilds or initial set-ups of non-standard equipment are available but may require more time.

Placing the Order

Full-Service

Contact us to discuss your requirements; we will order, track, install and configure your equipment.
NOTE: This is the only method to order XP on your Windows computer.

Self-Service

Order your equipment from CDW-G using our instructions to negotiate the eProcurement process and have the equipment delivered to your office.
PLEASE NOTE:

  • When ordering systems with the Nebula image (a separate add-on), the only operating system available with this option is Windows 7 (64-bit).
  • Desktop and laptop orders for UW-IT employees are subject to a different process. You can work with Nebula, or see the current procedures.

Setting Up and Configuring the Equipment

Once you receive your equipment, you can choose:

Full-Service
Contact us to handle the setup and configuration of your new computer equipment. This can include transferring data from your old computer, setting up, configuring and adding printers, installing software, etc.
Self-Service
Set it up and configure it yourself and email us with the computer name so we can assign Nebula Managed Desktop services to it. Please see these instructions to add a computer to the Nebula2 domain.

Full-Service Ordering

Email nebula@uw.edu to request an order consultation. We can help you figure out what equipment is right for you, and place the order and manage its delivery and setup. You will need to provide a budget for this service.

For XP systems, you can order the equipment yourself following the procedures given below and then have it delivered to us in the UW Tower for imaging. You will need to contact us to let us know to expect this shipment; make note of the RT number and the name of the support person who confirms your request. When you return to e-Procurement to complete the order, fill in this information in the Delivery section: (this will appear on the outside label)

  • Ship to:: UW TOWER-3RD FLOOR
  • Deliver to: your RT number and the Nebula Support person: RTxxxxxx/(support person's name)

Self-Service Ordering Procedures

Creating the Order

If you choose to order your own equipment, please follow the directions below carefully to ensure that your computer is prepared correctly. You will order the default image, the Sophos install, and a power-management-friendly BIOS configuration process along with your computer. If you do not select these components, your system will be subject to the On-Demand User Support fee if it has to be rebuilt or reconfigured.

Desktop and laptop orders for UW-IT employees are subject to a different process. You can work with Nebula, or see the current procedures.

On the CDW-Government (CDW-G) site:

  1. StepsActions
  2. Open eProcurement, click Click to Access to UW eProcurement.
  3. Click CDW-Government and then Buy from Supplier.
  4. Click through to find the desired bundle or item. If desired, adjust the quantity and add the extended warranty, and click Add to Cart.
    Notes:
    • Any warranty options displayed will be added to the default warranty, which is 3 years on all desktops and laptops. Adding the 1-year warranty option will increase the warranty to 4 years.
    • The availability of an item will be either In stock or Call. Call means that the specific, UW-configured package is out of stock, but there may be similar HP units available; contact CDW-G for help.
  5. If you have more items to add, click Continue Shopping.
    Notes:
    • If you need to change components on a bundled system or add a local peripheral like a printer or scanner, please see the Components and Peripherals section. Not all systems can accommodate a parallel printer port.
    • All desktops and workstations include a dual-monitor capable card but the Y-cable required to run dual monitors is not included. If you need this cable, it's available as CDW #519405 (HP DVI cable kit).
  6. When you have added all your items, to add the Nebula image and the appropriate add-ons (Sophos, BIOS settings), please add the appropriate part number, below. These contain the necessary elements of the imaging process.
    • 2235587: UW Nebula Desktop Service
    • 2235602: UW Nebula Notebook Service
  7. From your Shopping Cart page (under the Continue Shopping button) use the Quick Cart to enter the correct number from the list above. Click the "+" sign to add to the cart. Adjust the quantities to match the number of computers you bought.
  8. Continue until all items are in the cart, then click Use Standard Checkout.
  9. Click Transfer Shopping Cart.

Back on the eProcurement site:

  1. StepsActions
  2. On the Summary pages, please follow your department's procedures for eProcurement orders.
  3. NOTE: The Equipment Inventory Office requests that you use the correct account code, based on the cost for the total unit:
    • 054000 if less than $2,000.00
    • 061000 if between $2,000.00 and $4,999.99
    • 061100 if greater than $5,000.00

    'Total unit' is defined as everything required to put the item into use, e.g. laptop plus docking station; computer plus monitor plus keyboard. More information can be found on the Acquisition of Equipment -- eProcurement page.

  4. Review and submit your order.

Ordering Warranty Extensions

Extensions for HP equipment

We are happy to assist you with ordering extensions for your HP equipment, or you may contact Jason or Paul at CDW-G.

  • One- or two-year warranty extensions can be purchased on any computer before the warranty expires.
  • Warranties can be purchased after the warranty expires but they are purchased from a third-party vendor and are quite a bit more expensive.
  • When ordering the warranty quote, CDW-G will need your computer's model, serial number and product number. This information is on the computer itself.

Extensions for Dell Equipment

You can often purchase warranty extensions for your Dell equipment, usually for between five and seven years from the original date of purchase, depending on the model. Dell also may decline to extend a warranty based on their parts availability; for example, they may decline to extend a laptop warranty beyond the three years bought at time of purchase. Dell will allow you to purchase a warranty extension for equipment that is currently out of warranty; they may charge you an additional fee for this type of coverage.

You have options when extending the warranty on your Dell equipment:

  1. Full Service: Nebula handles the entire warranty extension process. Please send us the computer name(s), a budget number, and the the desired time period: one year, two or more years, end-of-life.
  2. Self Service: You will manage the warranty extension through Dell. This option is only available to those who use a departmental Pro-Card. To purchase on a budget, you will need to use the Full Service option.

To request a quote from Dell

  1. Contact Rachel Contreras by email: Rachael_Contreras@Dell.com.
  2. Include the Dell service tag and the length of the warranty desired (one year, two or more years, end-of-life).
  3. Dell will send you an e-quote to extend the warranty.
  4. You will purchase the e-quote using your ProCard. We recommend you contact your Dell representative to complete the transaction, and that you request an email confirmation.

Once the warranty renewal has been processed, your new warranty end date should show up in the Nebula database and be available via our reporting system.

Hardware Pricing and Specifications

Significantly reduced UW computer hardware pricing is available as the result of the UW's strategic partnership with CDW-G and HP using eProcurement.

A UW committee that included the Medical Centers, Arts and Sciences, Atmospheric Sciences, Bothell and UW Information Technology developed a set of desktop hardware packages suitable for faculty, staff, researchers, and administrators throughout the UW community. Because these preconfigured HP desktops and laptops can be used by departments all across campus in large numbers, the UW is getting excellent systems at reduced prices. The negotiated hardware packages are available through the CDW-G catalog in eProcurement.

Computer System Specifications

New bundles for Spring 2011

The campus-wide UW computer hardware committee has negotiated new and improved bundles for Spring 2011.

Current bundles have been provisioned with an eye towards good, better, and best configurations. They are all good choices for Nebula clients. All systems:

  • Have 4GB RAM, upgradeable
  • Include mouse and keyboard
  • Run fast (gigabit) ethernet
  • Will run two digital monitors
  • Will run any Nebula operating system including Windows 7
  • Have integrated Soundblaster-compatible sound and internal business audio speaker
  • Include a three-year warranty

Components and Peripherals

The computer bundles will typically have tabs for Accessories and Warranties, which contain additional options for configuring your system. Many components can be added easily:

  • Cables
  • RAM
  • Webcams
  • Optical drives (DVDs, floppy disk)

Only the options appropriate to that bundle will be displayed, so you can be sure you are ordering components that are compatible with your equipment.

If you use an older local printer or scanner, please be aware that these computers may not have serial or LPT1/parallel ports. Please review the technical specifications for the model you are considering. On some computers, you can add a port in the Accessories area. If not, you will need to purchase the correct converter cable.

The Imaging Process

Nebula has worked out a process with CDW-G that accomplishes the following with the three items you ordered (in Step 5, above) in addition to your computer:

Image
Restores the appropriate image: Win7 (64-bit) with the full suite of Nebula-supplied software.
Name
Names the computer, using the HP or Compaq serial number as the computer name.
Admin password
Changes the built-in Administrator account password to be the serial number of the computer.
Anti-virus
Installs the Nebula-configured version of the campus-licensed Sophos Anti-virus software.
BIOS
Sets Nebula specific BIOS settings:
    • Storage: Boot order set as: CD/HD/USB
    • Advanced:
      • Power-On Options – After Power loss – set to ‘Previous State’
      • Device Options – S5 Wake on LAN – set to Enable
    • NUMLOCK: Set to ON by default

Getting Help From eProcurement, CDW-G or HP

eProcurement

eProcurement support is fast, helpful, and free! They are available at eprocure@u.washington.edu or (206) 685-3558. Please contact eProcurement for any questions regarding:

  • Using eProcurement
  • Tracking an order
  • Whether your staff is authorized to make purchases using eProcurement

CDW-G

CDW help is also free! If you have any questions about the equipment or your order, you can contact these folks (they are in the Central Time Zone):

  • Jason Schwartz, jschwar@cdwg.com, (866) 339-7098
  • Paul Sommers, paulsom@cdwg.com, (877) 466-0006

HP

Technical questions about HP equipment can be directed either to the CDW folks or to our HP Account Manager:

  • John Pexton, john.pexton@hp.com, (425)418-7311

Adding a Computer to the Nebula Domain

After you have received your computers from CDW, you will need to follow these instructions to add them to the Nebula2 domain:

  1. StepsActions
  2. Set up the computer, making sure that it is connected to a live Ethernet port.
  3. Power on the computer.
  4. At the login screen, log in with the Administrator account. The Administrator password is the serial number of the computer, which can be found on the bottom of the computer. The password is in UPPER CASE.
    • You may be told windows license has expired. Choose activate on line and activate now
    • You may be asked to choose type of network (home, work, public). Choose work. You will see a screen indicating the network has been named; you can Accept and Close this window.
  5. Once logged in, go to Start -> Control Panel -> System and Security -> System
  6. Click on Advanced System Settings -> Computer Name tab -> Change.
  7. The computer name should be the serial number of the computer. You can change it to another name of your choosing; there is a 14-character limit on the name.
  8. Computer Name/Domain change button: click on Domain ratio button and type in nebula2.washington.edu.
  9. You will get prompted for a user name and password. Enter nebula2\your netid (enter your own UW NetID in place of the words your netid) and your Nebula password.
  10. Click OK and close out of the System settings windows.
  11. If you need to add any Nebula accounts or groups to the local administrator group, you can do it now or you can send an email request to nebula@u when you're done setting up the computer. Once you restart the computer, the password for the built-in administrative account will be changed via Nebula group policy and you will no longer be able to log into it. When you add the accounts, use your Nebula2 credentials when asked for authentication.
  12. Restart the computer.
  13. Log in using your Nebula credentials. Nebula policy will change the Administrator password within 2-24 hours.
  14. Send an email to nebula@uw.edu asking us to Claim your new computer. Please include the following:
    • the operating system and model of the target computer
    • the computer name
    • any UW NetID's to be added to the Local Admin Group
    • a budget number for the Nebula support
    This is a good time to let us know what computer(s) you would like removed from the domain.
  15. Allow a few hours or overnight for the claiming process to complete and then restart the computer to ensure that the group policies are applied correctly. Or, after about an hour, you can use this command to force the policy update and reboot:
    gpupdate /force /boot
About IT Connect | News Feed | News Archive | Contact ITC
UW Information Technology