SCCM 2012 - Software deployment

[pettit87]

How are you all deploying software with SCCM 2012?

Do you package software using a MSI builder or can .exe be used?

Do you deploy software via different collections for different departments?

[Gatt]

I use a combination of EXE's and MSIs - though I try to use MSI's where possible since that's how SCCM 2012 prefers it
I really should try and do a series of HOWTOs on it when I get the time

[pettit87]

And how do you deploy the .exe via SCCM. I only see an option for MSI.

How to's would be very helpful, but I'm sure your busy...as we all are.

[Gatt]

There are 2 options

Applications - the "New" way - follow the wizad for MSIs but where it asks for the MSI file - enter your exe file and any command switches
or
Packages - The "old" way from SCCM 2007 - really meant for if you are migrating from 2007

I'll take a few screenshots of the wizards as soona s poss

A good place to look is Portal - www.windows-noob.com

[free780]

I think applications download the source files to each client. Packages can install from the source files.

[TheScarfedOne]

At install time, as part of the deployment, you can specify to download the source files to local before install, download when needed, or run from remote source

[deano]

Try to stick with MSI files if you can as the EXEs can be a pain. Just setup a new thread and ask if anyone has created the MSI for the program you need.

Chances are, one of us has probably got one somewhere!

[pettit87]

I'm sure there are plenty of threads already but can any one advise on a cheap or free MSI creator?

[Jamo]

I use a combination of both, EXEs work pretty well if you are confident with looking through the Windows uninstall registry. They often leave similar signatures to MSI's so you can easily detect if they are correctly installed.

I have used INNOsetup to create EXEs for deployment or for MSIs I have used Advanced Installer which will do simple packages really quickly and easily.

Hope that helps

[deano]

Scalable Wininstall LE is OK but something like Advanced Installer will give you more options