Silently Deploying SIMS

[cjohnsonuk]

Has anyone managed to get an unattended / silent install of the workstation component of SIMS to work? We're reinstalling every PC in school this summer and I want to minimise the manual installs of software that we currently have to do manually.

 

Chris

[Divaldo]

I have a batch file that I currently use to install it, you could probably launch that via a logon script providing your users had the correct permissions to install software upon logon. It takes around 10 minutes per installation.

 

We currently launch the batch file ourselves when required and lock the PC, it then logs us off when installation is complete.

 

Let me know if this sounds useful.

[creese]

Is imaging not an option?

[apoth0r]

http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/116936/2/istockphoto_116936_sneaky_business.jpg

 

(sorry couldn't resist)

[cjohnsonuk]

Is imaging not an option?

 

Imaging is not good practice! It works in most cases but we just didn't get on with WDS. We use unattended (Unattended, A Windows deployment system: Welcome) followed by WPKG to put the apps on and update them. It works for us.

[TheScarfedOne]

Im sure we have some scripts here which do that (except for infrastructure which still insists on throwing the full screen dialog!!). I think they were probably adapted from here as I remember researching this. I will track them down and post them on my blog later today :-D

[cjohnsonuk]

I have a batch file that I currently use to install it, you could probably launch that via a logon script providing your users had the correct permissions to install software upon logon. It takes around 10 minutes per installation.

 

We currently launch the batch file ourselves when required and lock the PC, it then logs us off when installation is complete.

 

Let me know if this sounds useful.

 

Our WPKG system runs at computer start up as an install user with local rights so there should be no issues there. The batch file would be appreciated. I've PMed you my email.

[rh91uk]

I have created an MSI custom to our needs here - using WinInstall LE. Works a treat.

[dhicks]

Has anyone managed to get an unattended / silent install of the workstation component of SIMS to work?

 

Cheat, run it over Terminal Services instead.

 

--

David Hicks

[garethEds]

We downloaded an MSI from: Home - Schooltechnician.co.uk

 

Here is the link: SIMS Workstation MSI for network deployment - Schooltechnician.co.uk

 

It installs a Mini Solus package which updates the first time somebody runs it. Staff have the necessary permissions to update things. We edited the file to point out where the .ini files were located and various other stuff.

 

This gets allocated to all machines that are in our SIMS security group and it works a dream. LEA updates simply write over the top of it.

 

GJE

[bossman]

Just copy over the executables I need to packages I have already created from Sims server and update the ini file to suit works perfectly.

 

But then we are a CC3 network. :)