Information for Nebula Clients
Nebula Software Package Policy
IT Connect > Software and Hardware > Nebula > Software Package Policy
- On This Page
- Delivering Software to Nebula Desktops
- Software Packages for Departments
- Managing Upgrades
Delivering Software via the Nebula Basic Desktop Service
Nebula manages software packages via centralized distribution. After login, each computer is checked, and any needed software or updates are installed automatically. Software in the Nebula suite, such as Microsoft Office and Sophos Anti-virus, is delivered in this way.
Software Packages for Departments
You are free to install any additional software that you need, providing it complies with certain security requirements. (We monitor Nebula computers for these security problems and notify the owners if they occur.) We are happy to try to package any software that your department uses, subject to the On-Demand User Support fee of $113.80. If successful, these software packages can be assigned on a by-department basis, or to specific computers only.
Centrally distributed packages must meet some specific criteria. Please contact your Nebula support person for help with software selection and analysis.
Once a software package is made available for assignment, it may be installed as an optional package on any computer subscribing to the Nebula Basic Desktop Service. Some software packages may require additional licensing beyond what is provided with the standard Nebula suite. Departments are responsible for purchasing such licenses and tracking how they are used.
Managing Upgrades
To ensure support for packaged software, only the most recent version of software will be packaged and supported. For software provided in the Nebula suite, new versions will be evaluated by Nebula support staff and engineers for suitability. If an upgrade is recommended, it will be done within an announced, reasonable period of time. For packages that have been requested by departments that are not distributed across all of Nebula, a reasonable period of time, usually several months, is allowed for those using the package to become ready to use the new version. This may include purchasing new licenses, upgrading templates, etc. The new version is then packaged, distributed and supported. The earlier version may still be used, but it is no longer installed via the centralized distribution service.
If there are any questions about this policy, please contact Nebula Support, at 206-221-5000, or nebula@uw.edu.
