GrumbleDook Posted March 6, 2009 Posted March 6, 2009 Morning folks As part of a presentation I am doing next week I am generating as full a list as possible of the various deployment tools / methods used out in the wild. My presentation will be focussing on how 3 Northants schools do it but I would like to point people to a more complete list. I intend to dump this in the wiki as it progresses (or persuade one of the Wiki folks to do it ;-) !) So ... below are the categories, please give as much feedback as you can. Once I see the sort of format of replies I will also be rolling this out as a google form for completion by schools that are not EG members so if you do see it on a mailing list, usenet or via twitter please complete it *here* so that people can see and discuss things more readily. OS Deployment (windows tools) (eg WDS / Ghost / etc) Patch deployment tools / methods (windows tools) (eg WSUS, Microsoft updates, re-image machines, push out MSIs, etc) Application deployment (windows tools) (eg MSI via GPO [published/assigned], MSI via script, middleware tools such as CC3/4/classlink, part of original image, etc) Application maintenance (windows tools) (eg patching applications, upgrading applications, removing applications, changing application settings, etc) Many thanks to all who take part.
mb2k01 Posted March 6, 2009 Posted March 6, 2009 Hi Tony, I currently use the following: OS Deployment (windows tools) Altiris Deployment Solution Patch deployment tools / methods (windows tools) WSUS for Microsoft updates, but Altiris Deployment Solution for MSI and other patches etc. Application deployment (windows tools) Altris Deployment Solution, although have also done MSI delivery via GPO before. Application maintenance (windows tools) Altiris Deployment Solution Probably useful to mentioned that we are a non-RM school running a vanilla network, which is the reason we looked for a rugged solution! Cheers Mark 1
tmcd35 Posted March 6, 2009 Posted March 6, 2009 Morning folks Morning! OS Deployment (windows tools) (eg WDS / Ghost / etc) Have used Ghost, some RIS, now sticking with Clonzilla accessed via WDS/RIS Network Boot. We have a few other tools (PXE-Knife) available here as well. Servers are going virtual so we'll have two master sysprepped .vhd images (XP SP3 and W2K3R2) which can be copied and deployed whenever we want to provision a new server. Patch deployment tools / methods (windows tools) (eg WSUS, Microsoft updates, re-image machines, push out MSIs, etc) Clonezilla Images tend to include all the latest updates available when they were made. Beyond that we use WSUS. Our WSUS server points at our LEA's WSUS server for updates. Application deployment (windows tools) (eg MSI via GPO [published/assigned], MSI via script, middleware tools such as CC3/4/classlink, part of original image, etc) MSI via GPO assigned. We use EMCO MSI Package Builder to create the packages. We have been playing with WPKG and may move to using this more in the future. I'm looking at using thin clients more. So Terminal Services will have an impact on how we provision software for the Admin team and who knows how VDI using nComputing and blades will change things (very long term plans). Would love to use App-V for software deployment but can't justify the numbers Application maintenance (windows tools) (eg patching applications, upgrading applications, removing applications, changing application settings, etc) ATM, Remove from GPO. Add new app/updated app via GPO. 1
Michael Posted March 6, 2009 Posted March 6, 2009 OS Deployment (windows tools) Image for Windows/DOS/Linux with BartPE Patch deployment tools / methods (windows tools) WSUS 3.0 for Windows, Office, SQL and Logistix Packs Application Deployment Active Directory GPOs (MSIs), Logistix Packs, Logon/Startup scripts Application maintenance WSUS 3.0 for Windows, Active Directory GPOs (MSIs), Logistix Packs 1
powdarrmonkey Posted March 6, 2009 Posted March 6, 2009 OS deployment: I have a single WDS image that fits all machines, with drivers and lots of automation in it that just to be given a name at the appropriate point (or, sometimes, it already knows and is completely hands-off). Takes about 45 minutes, and reboots ready for first login without any further attention. Applications: a mixture of Prism Pack and MSIs. Patches: WSUS and some home-grown hotfixes. 1
jcs808 Posted March 6, 2009 Posted March 6, 2009 Here's what we use. OS Deployment Ghost Suite 2 Patch deployment tools / methods On site WSUS server Application deployment If the software doesn't come with a working .msi then InstallRite (Epsilon Squared) to repackage software into a .exe then Windows Installer Wrapper Wizard to deploy through AD. Have also used AppDeploy Repackager and WinINSTALL LE 2003. All freeware. Application maintenance Same tools as used for deployment. 1
dhicks Posted March 6, 2009 Posted March 6, 2009 OS Deployment (windows tools) SystemRescueCD installed on a partition on all computers, to reimage you boot in to that partition and a script runs that uses PartImage to reimage the Windows partition. Script has the ability to nuke the MBR should any of these dodgy new viruses turn up. Patch deployment tools / methods (windows tools) WSUS server, when I can get the darned thing configured and working. Application deployment (windows tools) Special "install" user with admin rights that runs a script that runs an application's installer whichever way is best - msiexec for MSIs, silent-install switches for those applications that support it, or AutoIt if the application is too crummy to want to be installed easily. Application maintenance (windows tools) Reimage the machine. -- David Hicks 1
jamin100 Posted March 6, 2009 Posted March 6, 2009 (edited) Primary School OS Deployment Ghost Solution suite 2 Patch deployment tools WSUS for all updates Application deployment Ghost solution suite 2.0 AI packages Application maintenance Again Ghost solution suite 2 AI packages - It just works Vanilla server 2k3 setup Edited March 6, 2009 by jamin100 1
CyberNerd Posted March 6, 2009 Posted March 6, 2009 OS Deployment (windows tools) IBM Tivoli, moving to FOG Vmware Patch deployment tools / methods (windows tools) Scripts, Wpkg Application deployment (windows tools) Moodle (SCORM) Citrix deployment tools. WPKG Scripts Citrix published applications Application maintenance (windows tools) Moodle (SCORM) reimage 1
webman Posted March 6, 2009 Posted March 6, 2009 OS Deployment (windows tools) RM CC3 build tools. (Boot workstation with USB flash drive, type in details, rest is automated) Patch deployment tools / methods (windows tools) Use CC3 tools to push out packaged MSIs based on OU location Application deployment (windows tools) Use CC3 to allocate MSI packages. WinInstall LE to create MSIs (with RM wrapper), and sometimes Inno Setup Compiler where MSIs are over-kill. Application maintenance (windows tools) Same as above 1
gshaw Posted March 6, 2009 Posted March 6, 2009 OS Deployment SMS 2003 with OSD Feature Pack Patch Management WSUS 3 for App and OS updates Application Deployment Majority of it is standard on the image but for any extras deploy via SMS or in some cases via NetSupport School on our Teaching machines (when we need to be 110% sure the software is installed OK) Application Maintenance SMS but reimage usually comes first 1
SYNACK Posted March 6, 2009 Posted March 6, 2009 Primary Schools OS Deployment WDS configured and maintained by MDT Patch deployment tools WSUS for all updates Application deployment GPO MSI + starting to use softgrid Application maintenance GPO redeploys or VBS scripting at machine start Vanilla server 2k3+2k8 setup with Vista and XP clients 1
AngryTechnician Posted March 6, 2009 Posted March 6, 2009 (edited) OS Deployment (windows tools) None, we just install Vista via USB and add the few drivers that aren't included. Patch deployment tools / methods (windows tools) WSUS Application deployment (windows tools) MSI via GPO for almost everything; the few things that don't package into MSIs are run via an automated script when we build. On very rare occasions (maybe once a year) we use a psexec script to launch scripts remotely. Application maintenance (windows tools) Settings controlled via ADM templates or Group Policy Preferences. Upgrades are normally managed by pushing out a new MSI via GPO, removals handled the same way as deployment. Edited March 6, 2009 by AngryTechnician Removed erroneous quote tag 1
GrumbleDook Posted March 6, 2009 Author Posted March 6, 2009 This may sound a tad strange but it is not. I had one person email me to ask if they could do it anonymously as they use particular stuff that they may not be fully licenced for but would like to be if they had the budget. If people do want to PM them to me instead (not going to get the google form up today) then please do so. I can understand the worry about sticking something on here when the restriction is the cost or available budget. If this is the case then I will treat all responses in strictest confidence but please explain that you operate in a certain way because of finances. It may be that the solutions mentioned so far might actually save you some money or help to give weight to your request for the right software.
Sylv3r Posted March 6, 2009 Posted March 6, 2009 We are similar to Webman with slight changes in red. OS Deployment (windows tools) RM CC3 build tools. (Boot workstation with USB flash drive, type in details, rest is automated) Ghost images to our staff / student laptops. NLite installs for our eeePC's Patch deployment tools / methods (windows tools) Use CC3 tools to push out packaged MSIs based on OU location WSUS to roll out MS updates to our Non CCC3 servers and Admin workstations on their own Windows 2003 domain. Considering rolling out WSUS to staff / student laptops also, but not sure how often they connect to the network and how successful it will be via wireless Application deployment (windows tools) Use CC3 to allocate MSI packages. WinInstall LE to create MSIs (with RM wrapper), Application maintenance (windows tools) Same as above 1
mattx Posted March 6, 2009 Posted March 6, 2009 OS Deployment - Ghost 8 - [ might upgrade soon !! ] Patch deployment - WSUS, scripts, Streamline, MSIs. Application deployment - Scripts [ AutoIT ], Prism - [ snapshot before & after software ], MSI & batch Application maintenance - Scripts [ AutoIT ], Prism, freeware & open source software, self made tools etc, Admin Bar !! 1
imiddleton25 Posted March 6, 2009 Posted March 6, 2009 OS Deployment Ghost solution Suite 2.1 (only untill sccm 2007 takes over) Patch Management sccm 2007 distributes wsus updates Application Deployment sccm2007 deploies MSI packages Application Maintenance Sccm 2007 1
Mr.Ben Posted March 13, 2009 Posted March 13, 2009 (edited) OS Deployment As i'm a fairly small network (120 machines) I use bartpe and DriveImage XML - if any one else has something cheap that I could multicast with it would be great! Patch Management WSUS 3 Application Deployment SpecOps Deploy 3.1 - MSI and legacy installer deployment tools Application Maintenance SpecOps Deploy can recall MSI packages or I build my own MSI updates. Unistall of legacy packages can be done using SpecOps, but sometimes I resort to Scripts. In my previous job: OS Deployment ZenWorks. And it was good! Patch Management WSUS 3 Application Deployment Zenworks (using SnAPPShots and MSI's) Application Maintenance Scripts and Zenworks if possible Edited March 13, 2009 by Mr. Ben additional info
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