Remote deployment of various software

[JTTCM]

Hi All,

 

I want to deploy several software packages as and when they need to be updated. Things like

 

Target Tracker

Adobe Reader

 

I have an OLD version of PDQ which I found on an old server and have managed to revive. I am also looking in to Impero (for another reason).

We have Windows 2016 Server

Windows 10 Clients (attached to domain) and some laptops not on domain (also Windows 10)

 

 

What are your thoughts? I really DO NOT fancy the idea of visiting every PC everytime an update is needed, it simply is NOT a good use of my time.

 

 

Many thanks all.

 

JT

[Steve21]

Well things like Adobe have MSI's so don't really need any additional software as can even use GPO if you really want Personally SCCM is the way to go though.

 

Steve

[sted]

adobe extract the msi from the exe using something like 7 zip download adobe customisation wizard and alter it to your hearts content deploy via gpo as normal

target tracker extract the msi from the exe using something like 7 zip deploy via gpo as normal but you will need a shortcut to the registration file as it adds its info to hkey current user because its dumb

[ADMaster]

PDQ all the way. Update they are on v14 now. Pay for the license and get auto deployments of flash Chrome etc.

Here is a related thread.

http://www.edugeek.net/forums/enterprise-software/188236-what-do-you-keep-up-date-pdq-deploy.html

 

EDIT: yes SCCM is great too but they work differently.

SCCM is great for OSD and pulling software to the machine.

PDQ is great at keeping things updated now / doing things on the fly. It pushes to the machines with instant feedback of success or failure.

I use both its a great combo.

Edited September 29, 2017 by ADMaster

[alfatec]

Thumbs up here for PDQ. In the Enterprise version you can now send out Cumulative updates for Windows 10. The best thing is that it has all the software already pre-configured for you. No more Java/Adobe update alerts. When a new Java update comes out just right click, deploy to whole network. Wouldn't be without it.

[JTTCM]

Thanks peeps.

 

Whats about impero? I ONLY ask as the school has bought this (before I started here) and Impero tell me they can help too. All we need to do is start the support agreement again. PDQ is very expensive too.

[synaesthesia]

PDQ Free is more than enough to push out basic software, in fact it's all I use for primaries...

[Steve21]

It depends what you want to do and how often you're going to update stuff. Take something like Java, unless there's some major issue that comes down we only do it once a term, so making an msi install for it (well for us via SCCM but could use GPO) once every 2 months isn't exactly an issue.

 

If you wanted something updated everytime there's a new release (flash I'm looking at you) it's gonna take longer, but once you've worked out the silent installs etc it doesn't take long to make a new deploy.

 

Personally I don't want software automatically updating and breaking programs/sites etc until I've had a chance to test it all And with the way things are going like Adobe killing flash off etc, and nothing really using java anymore. More and more OS/programs don't really require updating like that anymore

 

Steve

[arjanver]

We use pdq from the begining. And still in love with it. The best support ever experienced. And it is not expensive. Never came across anything like this.

[sparkeh]

Yeah sccm is awesome at software deployment but a bit much too much to licence and setup just for that one feature. But then I would advocate using for lots of its features anyway [emoji3] plus I think it is fairly quick to deploy software on the go, if machines have a sensible schedule to update their machine policy they will get the deployment fairly soon and the reporting is good too.

 

I agree that less and less software needs regularly updating. I don't deploy java anymore and haven't had a single complaint, flash is updated through WSUS which is awesome.

 

The only real issue is Adobe Reader but even that has become easier since they moved to CUs.

[FN-GM]

Target Tracker has an MSI. We just bang out the new updates as they are needed.

[jthompson]

It depends what you want to do and how often you're going to update stuff. Take something like Java, unless there's some major issue that comes down we only do it once a term, so making an msi install for it (well for us via SCCM but could use GPO) once every 2 months isn't exactly an issue.

 

If you wanted something updated everytime there's a new release (flash I'm looking at you) it's gonna take longer, but once you've worked out the silent installs etc it doesn't take long to make a new deploy.

 

Personally I don't want software automatically updating and breaking programs/sites etc until I've had a chance to test it all And with the way things are going like Adobe killing flash off etc, and nothing really using java anymore. More and more OS/programs don't really require updating like that anymore

 

Steve

 

This is what we've found. It's a bit of a pain to set up some initial deployment GPOs, but after that, they're pretty simply to maintain. I've never found that I need to deploy an update in so much of a rush that a GPO deployment isn't fine.

In fact, the only ones that I remember being too much of a pain are Adobe Reader and Flash Player (disabling auto-updates, EULA, etc.) but everything else has pretty much been a case of sticking an MSI in a GPO, or a silent install/uninstall script in a GPO.

 

Once you've got it in a GPO, you target it easily, and updates are just a case of adding it into the GPO, and GP will take care of what supersedes what. We also have a GPO with a bunch of apps that allows staff to voluntarily add software themselves via the add/remove programs Control Panel as and when they need it (e.g. Google Chrome, Java, BBC iPlayer Downloader). That allows you to make something available without having to have it deployed any further than you really need to (great for something like Java!). Updates to those are again just a case of adding the new version to the GPO, and it will automatically upgrade any installations.