Deploying Firefox

[Michael]

Update - Unfortunately I still cannot prevent about:config from appearing with either of your methods Arthur!? Any ideas?

The Firefox Personas tweak only works when moving the cursor over a persona. If you click 'wear it' like on this page, then allow, the persona still works/appears.

[Arthur]

Thanks for letting me know. I'll investigate further when I get home tonight.

[Arthur]

Good news, Michael! Can you try the attached extension I have created using the beta version of the new CCK Wizard? I have tested it with a clean install of Firefox v3.6 and it works perfectly. Btw, since I can't attach .xpi files I have RAR'd it. The add-on is inside.

I'm still working on a way to disable Personas. In the interim I suppose people can block getpersonas.com on their proxy server?

[Arthur]

According to one of the Mozillazine forum moderators there is no official method of disabling the Personas feature in Firefox v3.6.

However, if you don't mind using yet another extension, you can prevent Personas from being installed using a combination of the userChromeJS add-on plus the code shown below (source) which should be added to the end of your userChrome.js file in your profile folder. The file attached to this post contains a modified version of the userChromeJS extension which does this for you automatically when it is installed.

N.B. This will only prevent new Personas from being installed. It won't stop existing Personas from being used.

LightWeightThemeWebInstaller = null;

[mdking]

Firefox actually has the ability to load its configuration from another location on your network such as an internal web server. This allows you to centrally manage the configuration for all of your Firefox installations. If you Google autoadmin.global_config_url you will be able to find out how to do this.

Rather than redeploying the Firefox package to update the mozilla.cfg you could use a startup/shutdown script or even Group Policy Preferences if you have it.

I have just been looking through this thread a lot of great information

However i am still trying to find away of having a configuration file in a main location. Once Firefox loads, it uses that config file.

I have "googled" autoadmin.global_config_url with no joy

Any help would be great

many thanks
Matt

[Michael]

However i am still trying to find away of having a configuration file in a main location

I presume you mean a central location, such as a file server? You could in theory do this but I wouldn't recommend it. You're still going to need to deploy FF.

The file you're looking for is:

C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\greprefs\local-settings.js

The mozilla.cfg file is 8KB in size, so you're better off pushing it out to each workstation. If you wanted to make changes (for whatever reason), you can customise your own mozilla.cfg file, overwrite the existing file (in your distribution share) then re-deploy FF using the MSI. Simples

[mdking]

Thanks Michael for the information.

I have now created a new ou for Firefox. And it has been deployed to a test PC with the help of Firefox ADM.

I have added the ADM template and edited the settings, however there is a few bits im looking at locking down. Is There away of attaching .cfg files?

many thanks

Matt

I presume you mean a central location, such as a file server? You could in theory do this but I wouldn't recommend it. You're still going to need to deploy FF.

The file you're looking for is:

C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\greprefs\local-settings.js

The mozilla.cfg file is 8KB in size, so you're better off pushing it out to each workstation. If you wanted to make changes (for whatever reason), you can customise your own mozilla.cfg file, overwrite the existing file (in your distribution share) then re-deploy FF using the MSI. Simples

[Arthur]

Is There away of attaching .cfg files?

You could attach it as a zip, rar or 7z.

[Arthur]

I have "googled" autoadmin.global_config_url with no joy

I think this was the website I used when I last looked into centrally managing Firefox's preferences/restrictions early last year. The "autoadmin.global_config_url" would look something like the one below, although the link above describes what else you need to do to get it working. I'll check to see if I can find the settings I used when I was testing this.

lockPref("autoadmin.global_config_url","http://internalwebserver/firefox.js");

In theory, this would allow you to have a centrally managed configuration file which Firefox loads when it is opened by the user. There is a setting that enables Firefox to locally cache the last used .cfg too, so that people can still use Firefox if the web server cannot be reached and any settings/restrictions you set are still applied.

[mdking]

Nearly there

Has anyone found a way to disable the default browser check for Firefox. I know i can disable it via ADM?

I have found the setting that allows me to disable it, however its still checking


matt

[Michael]

If you're using a config file the following entry works:

lockPref("browser.shell.checkDefaultBrowser", false);

If you want to do the same with IE, you should do that via GPO.

[mdking]

If you're using a config file the following entry works:

lockPref("browser.shell.checkDefaultBrowser", false);

If you want to do the same with IE, you should do that via GPO.

Thanks a lot, i have now got this to work.


Still trying to find away to taking off the Firefox icon on the desktop. Can it be done via ADM?

Matt

[Michael]

When I create Firefox packages I use WinInstall LE. There is an option in here to remove Start Menu/Desktop icons as appropriate. Alternatively (in a network environment) you're better off using controlled or redirected Start Menu/Desktops so you control what shortcuts users have when they logon.

[mdking]

I'm using the front motion 3.5.7 msi package.

Once installed via GPO it creates a desktop icon (Or what looks like it anyway) And i cant get rid of it.

[Michael]

I have created a custom MSI for you so it will no longer place a desktop shortcut when setup completes. I'd recommend you uninstall any version of FF before installing my version.

You just need to overwrite the mozilla.cfg accordingly. Full details can be found here