Windows Service Packs and Security Updates

Service Packs

For security reasons, it is usually advisable to install the latest service packs available for the operating system. Nevertheless, conflicts between Chromeleon and operating system service packs can arise.

 Caution: 

Before installing any  Operating System service packs not recommended here, always contact Thermo Fisher Scientific or check the website (www.thermofisher.com).

 Tip

Thermo Fisher Scientific will test Chromeleon with new service packs for all supported operating systems and provide information and/or Chromeleon updates as required.

Security Updates

 Caution: 

Many Windows security updates require that certain services are restarted or that the PC is rebooted. On Chromeleon instrument servers, this may interfere with any ongoing data acquisition (Chromeleon remote and data processing clients are usually not affected). Therefore, Thermo Fisher Scientific recommends disabling automatic installation of Windows updates on all Chromeleon instrument servers or scheduling the updates to a time when no Chromeleon data acquisition is running.

For optimum security, Thermo Fisher Scientific recommends keeping your systems current with the latest security updates. Most security updates affect only the handling of invalid input to operating system routines (e.g., buffer overflows). There is very little risk that a security update could affect the correct operation of Chromeleon.

Security updates should be installed promptly, to limit the "window of vulnerability." Thus, users should not wait until Thermo Fisher Scientific has performed an exhaustive formal validation, which involves testing various combinations of systems and procedures. Instead, we recommend that users test the security updates briefly in the context of their own installation and operating procedures.

Thermo Fisher Scientific recommends the following test procedure at minimum:

  1. Install the security update and Chromeleon on a test PC. (You can install and run Chromeleon in "Evaluation Mode" without extra licenses.)

  2. Run Chromeleon IQ and Chromeleon OQ (see Validation and Qualification  Chromeleon Installation Qualification and How to: Working with Files, Databases, and Networks  Performing Chromeleon OQ).

  3. In a networked environment, you may also want to run the Datasource PQ (see How to: Working with Files, Databases, and Networks  Checking the Datasource Performance).

  4. Perform any other PQ tests suitable for your needs.

 Tips:

Thermo Fisher Scientific does not formally validate Windows security updates. Installation and testing of security updates is the user’s responsibility.

If you encounter any compatibility problems while testing a Windows security update, please contact Thermo Fisher Scientific for assistance. Although we will make every reasonable effort to solve such problems, we cannot guarantee compatibility with every security update.