Really Dumb Question Time

[richard]

Right this might sound really dumb but as I have never really done this before I've got to start somewhere.

I've got a couple of pieces of software I want to deploy over 30 machines and do not want to do this manually. I would like to do this via group policy but I need a real idiots guide onhow to set this up as I cannot get it to work. The software titles are Clicker 5 and Microsoft PhotoStory 3 for those who are interested.

[CM786]

Hi Richard,

The software you deploy via Group Policy needs to be a .msi file. I have just deployed Clicker 5 and it is really easy. You install it onto your server and the network install creates an .msi for you which can be deployed via group policy. Once this msi is created you put it in a shared folder (usually called managed apps or whatever) and then you can create a new group policy for clicker 5. In the Computer Configuration options, choose software installations and right click to install a package. Browse to your .msi file on your network share and set it to be assigned.

Set your group policy to apply to your computers group and then next time you reboot your PCs they should automatically install the software. If it doesn't work first time a gpupdate /force usually does the trick. This is off memory so hope it makes sense!

I have found this website useful too:
http://grouppolicy.editme.com/

Good Luck

[BKGarry]

No here is the question how do you do it with non MSI Files, i.e. DivX?

Anyone have a tried and tested method maybe with a dummy script guide if it is involved lol

Gaz

[richard]

I've got a group policy setup to install clicker 5 but when I try it nothing happens. I have tried rebooting the machine as well using gpupdate /force but it does not install the software.

[BKGarry]

You don;t have sis900 LAN chips do u?

[richard]

No Intel Pro 100 VE's

[NetworkGeezer]

Have a look at the EduGeek Wiki and get yourself a good Windows Server 2003 book such as the one by Mark Minasi.

With deploying non MSI apps you have four options.
1) You can create an MSI using a snapshot program
2) Use Windows Installer Wrapper Wizard to run the exe from the MSI
3) Run installer exe using start up scripts
4) Run installer remotely using WMI or WInternals psexec

[richard]

This is driving me nuts! I can publish an application to a user fine no problems but if I try and assign it to a pc or user then I get nothing

[ChrisH]

Nothing in the logs of the workstations?

[eejit]

Yeah, the event logs in the workstations will usually throw up an error. I find that Everyone Full control to the share and security permissions is a good way to test your deployment - you can tweak it afterwards.

[petectid]

Have you checked the path for the location of the .msi file it should be a UNC path ie \\server\share\clicker5.msi. If you browse to the file as in the above instructions the path will be local, your msi files are stored on a server share not the loacal C: drive. Could this be the problem?

[richard]

Well theres nothing in the event logs indicating a problem. What I have just done is set the "install with elevated privledges" options within both the user and computer configurations to se if that helps.

[altecsole]

Try logging on to a workstation and then browse to the share where the msi is and double click it to see if it installs. If it fails it should give you some clue about the problem.

By the way. Give serious consideration to setting up a virtual machine for software deployment testing. The ability to revert to a snapshot of a clean machine is definitely worth it.

[richard]

Well I it looks like I've got it going with a combination of changing permissions and modifying the group policy. I knopw I need to organise some sort of test rig but as this is only a junior school with limited resources its going to be a bit tricky.

[GrumbleDook]

Virtual PC 2004 is free ... download and set it up on a reasonable workstation.

You can apply to M$ for 'evaluation kits' which will have Server 2003, XP Pro and whatever the latest hot sell is (ISA, Sharepoint Portal, MSSQL, Exchange) and definitely worth having for 180 days of free software (evaluation purposes only)