Software Center is an endpoint management tool that IST leverages to deploy applications, updates, and OS upgrades to managed workstations.

To access Software Center, either type in the search box in the Taskbar or click on the start menu and search for Software Center. We also recommend pinning the app to the Taskbar and/or Start Menu to access the app easier.

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Software Center is an on-premises application, so it requires staff to be connected to the UW Network/Eduroam or on VPN for it to function properly.

Once launched, you can select tabs along the left side to navigate to different sub menus. When viewing the Applications tab, you can see the list of apps that have been advertised and/or installed on your system.

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Selecting an application from the list, will allow you to view more information about the app as well as perform various applicable actions (Install, Uninstall, Repair), depending on the deployment.

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Navigating to the Installation Status tab, will also provide more information about the application and other applicable deployments.

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Depending on your role or department at the University, your device may be targeted with various Required Applications, which can range from browsers to job specific, to general, to IST Security required. Required Applications are automatically installed on managed workstations once they receive the application deployment from our management console. These apps are deployed, maintained, and updated, by IST on a regular basis (or when determined by the vendor/system owners).

Removing Required Applications will cause them to re-install on next sync with the management console. If you would like a Required Application removed from your system, please submit a ticket with the Service Desk.

When an update for a Required Application is determined, IST will schedule a new deployment for all applicable workstations. The new version is advertised to workstations until the Deadline is reached. Once the Deadline is reached or any time after the deadline, the application will install. This may include uninstalling/re-installing the app or performing an in-place app update. In most cases, the application will forcefully close as part of the update and may re-open once complete.

IST communicates application deployments and their timing windows with the Academic Support Computer Reps. If you have not been notified about a deployment that has impacted your work, please contact your representative(s).

Google Chrome is deployed on Jan 1^st at 4:30 PM and the Deadline is Jan 1^st at 11:00 PM. Between 4:30 PM and 11:00 PM, staff can open Software Center and manually kick off the installation/update of the app. Once the time exceeds 11 PM, if not already installed, the app will automatically install/update. If the workstation is not accessible at the 11PM Deadline, i.e. was shutdown/put to sleep at say 4:00 PM that day, the device will initiate the application install/update the next time it connects with the management console. In this scenario we will say Jan 2^nd at ~8:00 AM. As the deployment requires the app to be closed to install/update, there may be some interruptions if the app is opened before the upgrade completes. In some cases, related apps may also close if they share components or have hooks with the app being updated. For example, an update to MS Teams may also require MS Outlook to close as Outlook has a Teams meeting plug-in.

Once the deployment has been deployed to workstations, staff will be notified that “Software Changes are required”.

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Clicking on these notifications will bring up a window to install the update now, or snooze and remind you later.

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Opening Software Center will also provide options to install the app ahead of the deadline to minimize any disruptions.

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In addition to application deployments, Software Center can also update the OS of workstations. A standard release schedule will see updates released by the vendor on Patch Tuesday and catalogued within our management console. Throughout the month, the OS update will be packaged and deployed to managed workstations with the updates installing and then finalizing upon reboot. Information about existing deployments targeting workstations can be found in the Operating System and Installation Status tabs of Software Center.

When a Windows devices changes OS from Windows 10 to Windows 11 or goes from one major version to another (23H2 to 25H2), this is called an in-place upgrade. Software Center can deliver these in-place upgrades to managed workstations when approved for use.

For more information please see: Windows 11 in-place upgrade instructions

IST utilizes a weekly Reboot Tool on managed workstations for two main purposes; the first is to ensure device stability and improve performance, the second is to finalize any pending updates on the workstation. The tool runs every Thursday at 6 AM with a deadline of 6 PM, allowing staff to postpone the reminder or perform the reboot to limit disruptions. Devices that are online at 6 AM with no active users logged in will automatically restart.

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Note: Staff that have restarted/shutdown prior to the Thursday Reboot Tool initiating may still be prompted to perform a reboot. Timing of the Reboot Tool window may also be affected if devices are not on campus or VPN.

Software Center requires access to on-premises resources to function. Ensuring you are physically connected to the network through ethernet is ideal or alternatively connected to Eduroam. If you are off campus, you’ll need to be connected to VPN.

To ensure the device is receiving the latest content for Software Center, you can manually perform a sync. Open Control Panel > Configuration Manager (may need to select to view icons) > click on the Actions tab > select the Application Deployment Evaluation Cycle > click the Run Now button > then select the Machine Policy Retrieval & Evaluation Cycle > click the Run Now button > Ok.

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After a short delay, you can then press F5 to refresh Software Center or close and reopen it.

Some issues with the Software Center app can be resolved by restarting the SMS Agent Host service. May require Admin permissions to perform.

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Persistent issues with Software Center may be resolved by uninstalling and reinstalling the client. This can be completed by IST by submitting a Jira ticket.

Any other issues should be raised through a Jira ticket or by contacting your Academic Support Computer Rep.

• Information Systems and Technology - Raise a request - Jira Service Management

• Academic Support Computing Representatives | Academic Support Computing Representatives Group | University of Waterloo