SMART Install Manager (Installing Notebook 10 and Essentials)

[McDonnJD]

In the past we have simply used the exe to install Notebook 9 and the first versions of 10, making use of a caching proxy server to cache the gallery updates. However when updating to 10.6, it isn't caching the gallery for some reason, making for very long install times.

 

So we're trying to use Install Manager to do the updates. However, for the life of me, I can't get it to install the Essentials for Educators or Lesson Activity Toolkit.

 

First I tried downloading the versions of Essentials and LAT that were ZIP files and extracted them to the server (though probably in an incorrect way) but had no luck with installing. Then I used the download function built into Install Manager to download Essentials and LAT to a new folder on the server. I have made sure this folder is readable (and have since granted full access to ensure it wasn't a permissions issue) and I still am unable to get this to work. I am getting an error stating unable to located the sources for this gallery for both Essentials and LAT, though I specified in Install Manager the location where it downloaded the files to.

 

My install method consists of a batch file calling the MSI files. As far as I can tell, everything installs correctly, except for the galleries.

 

Batch File:

@ECHO OFF

net use Q: \\ADMIN\DATA /PERSISTENT:NO > nul

echo Installing SMART Product Drivers
msiexec /i "Q:\utils\SMART\Install_Manager\SMART Product Drivers.msi" /q transforms="Q:\utils\SMART\Install_Manager\drivers.mst"

echo.
echo Installing SMART Notebook
msiexec /i "Q:\utils\SMART\Install_Manager\SMART Notebook.msi" /qb+ transforms="Q:\utils\SMART\Install_Manager\notebook.mst"

net use Q: /DELETE > nul

 

(The /qb+ on the Notebook install is only temporary until we get it working so we can see the error message, then it will switch to either a silent /q or a /qb- so I can see the progress but not have to worry about clicking OK and can do multiple installs at once without babysitting.)

 

Installing via AD (which seems to work for others) is not an option, we're a Novell shop.

[ricki]

Hi

 

These are the instructions I followed to install notebook on windows using gpo

 

SMART - Admin tools,SMART Notebook (Windows)

 

Richard

[McDonnJD]

Hi

 

These are the instructions I followed to install notebook on windows using gpo

 

SMART - Admin tools,SMART Notebook (Windows)

 

Richard

 

I'm not sure what you were referring to with that link, but I'm assuming you meant the PDF files available from Smart for working with the admin tools. I have already read over them and only saw using Active Directory to push the updates. Between the PDFs and some posts on this site, I have gotten as far as I have.

 

As I mentioned, we're a Novell shop, so Active Directory is not an option. We also don't use ZenWorks (boss's choice) so that's also not an option. The last time I ever did anything with policies involved a floppy disk with PolEdit on it at an old job, so I'm not sure how group policies could help me.

 

I'll take another look at it and see if I can't figure something out with a login script to push the updates, but I'd like to figure out what is wrong with my current attempts as it would be simpler with how we're currently set up. (Each computer is locked with DeepFreeze to prevent persistent changes to the C: drive. Have to manually go to each machine to unlock them before installing software.)

[sted]

not managed to get lat to deploy (i think if i was bothered ive a batch file that would do it but nobody has asked yet and ive not had chance to test for no reason). as for the main bit

 

extract smart notebook/drivers/clipart to your deploy location (as im on home pc any paths will be local)

 

load smart install manager

 

select specify a package to modify

 

http://www.stedscarpics.net/edugeek/smman1.jpg

 

point it at your msi (in example its notebook itself)

 

http://www.stedscarpics.net/edugeek/smman2.jpg

 

it will then take you to the installation options page change path if you need to and fill in your key

 

http://www.stedscarpics.net/edugeek/smman3.jpg

 

set smart maths tools/update as you require for me off

 

go to gallery content select install the gallery on each computer (well i do as i dont want 16 laptops hitting the server for clipart all day long)

 

fill in the path to the extracted gallery files i find it work best if you drill right doen to the folder with the .gallery files in which in my example is D:\Steds-pen\SmartBoard\Essential11CDImage\SMART Essentials For Educators\Gallery Data Files

 

edit

just downloaded clipart via the manager (cant do it in schools its useful sea lea isp blocks it) and tested on my test server/vm with the lat and essentials folder in the root of a folder i called gallery and pointing the manager at that folder it deployed all to a workstation

 

http://www.stedscarpics.net/edugeek/smman4.jpg

 

i tend not to bother with the other tabs but all are self explanatory

 

then just file save as and save an xml file then file publish and create the mst

Edited March 19, 2010 by sted

[Hammerzeit]

If you figure this out, please let me know. I'm in the exact same boat, and just can't get it to work. We are a Novell shop as well. Luckily we are running ZEN 7, I'm now moving on to using AdminStudio to build an .MSI. Tried everything from changing where the .MST points to hand editing and importing the .xml.

I tried it with mounted volumes and unc paths, no luck. One thing that is really weird is configuring an install to run off a thumbdrive works fine..? SMART tech support is earnest, but unhelpful. I really wanted to install from a network share, just using a batch file. we are using locked roaming profiles, all of which are currently set to point to this particular share for the office add-ins.....

It's been a trying few days at this, hope this gets resolved soon..

[McDonnJD]

not managed to get lat to deploy (i think if i was bothered ive a batch file that would do it but nobody has asked yet and ive not had chance to test for no reason).

 

edit

just downloaded clipart via the manager (cant do it in schools its useful sea lea isp blocks it) and tested on my test server/vm with the lat and essentials folder in the root of a folder i called gallery and pointing the manager at that folder it deployed all to a workstation

 

All of your pictures appear to be blocked images, not sure if that's a hosting issue (hot-linking disabled) or if that's something that's going on with our filter. I'll take another look at it again when I get back to the office.

 

I think I'm correct in reading your edit as you got it working with essentials and LAT with the download from within the install manager. How did you run your install? Push it out with Active Directory or a batch file? If you did it via batch file, I'd really appreciate a look at the file.

[powdarrmonkey]

All of your pictures appear to be blocked images, not sure if that's a hosting issue (hot-linking disabled) or if that's something that's going on with our filter. I'll take another look at it again when I get back to the office.

 

It's your filter.

[McDonnJD]

It's your filter.

 

I had a feeling it was our filter. Just updated the software and its operation is a bit different. First I've ever noticed images being replaced with a "blocked image" image.

 

< ... Regarding your procedure ...>

 

I like the product key you have...

 

The steps you listed are pretty much exactly what I've done. However, where you differed from what I did is the path you gave for where the Essentials are located. I left it at the default of where I told it to download to instead of navigating inside the folders it created.

 

However, this is still not working for me. I'm still getting the source files not found error. I'm going to try re-extracting the Essentials and LAT admin downloads again and see if I can get it working with those.

[McDonnJD]

However, this is still not working for me. I'm still getting the source files not found error. I'm going to try re-extracting the Essentials and LAT admin downloads again and see if I can get it working with those.

 

Well, I re-extracted the ZIP files to the server in what was more likely a correct manner (separate folders for Essentials and LAT, combined them last time I tried this method) but still didn't get it to work.

 

I did however come up with a solution. Included in the ZIP files for Essentials and LAT, but not (that I saw) in the copies downloaded through the Admin Tools, are .gallerycollection files. These are of course associated with the Gallery Setup program once Notebook is installed. However, if just double click launching the files (not sure exactly what command is passed to Gallery Setup as I didn't look, but assuming it just passes the path/filename with no options) you have to select which items you want to install and then click OK and wait for the install. So I did a bit of digging and found command line options for Gallery Setup. I've amended my MST file to not install Essentials or LAT and added the commands for installing them to my batch file.

 

Here's my current batch file, though I plan to make some additions to it later.

 

@ECHO OFF

net use Q: \\ADMIN\DATA /PERSISTENT:NO > nul

echo.
echo Installing SMART Product Drivers
msiexec /i "Q:\utils\SMART\Install_Manager\SMART Product Drivers.msi" /q transforms="Q:\utils\SMART\Install_Manager\drivers.mst"
echo.
Echo Done.

echo.
echo Installing SMART Notebook
msiexec /i "Q:\utils\SMART\Install_Manager\SMART Notebook.msi" /q transforms="Q:\utils\SMART\Install_Manager\notebook.mst"
echo.
echo Done.

echo.
echo Installing Flash 10 components for SMART Notebook
msiexec /i "Q:\utils\SMART\Install_Manager\install_flash_player_10_active_x.msi" /q
echo.
echo Done.

echo.
echo Installing Essentials for Educators Gallery
"C:\Program Files\Common Files\SMART Technologies\SMART Product Update\Gallery Setup.exe" --installall /source "Q:\Apps\SMART\Essentials for Educators 10.0\Gallery Data Files" /configuration "Q:\Apps\SMART2\Essentials for Educators 10.0\SMARTEssentials.gallerycollection"

echo.
echo Installing Lesson Activity Toolkit
"C:\Program Files\Common Files\SMART Technologies\SMART Product Update\Gallery Setup.exe" --installall /source "Q:\Apps\SMART\Lesson Activity Toolkit 2.0\Gallery Data Files" /configuration "Q:\Apps\SMART2\Lesson Activity Toolkit 2.0\Lesson Activity Toolkit.gallerycollection"

echo.
echo Launching SMART Notebook
"C:\Program Files\SMART Technologies\SMART Notebook\Notebook.exe"

net use Q: /DELETE > nul

 

I have tested and verified that this does indeed work. Installing via the EXE wrapper took roughly around an hour to install since Essentials and LAT refused to be cached by my Squid server that I have set up especially for these sorts of purposes. Now with this method it takes about 15 minutes.

 

Now I just need to find what registry settings get changed with various options we use that I can't set in the Admin Tools and add them to the end of the batch file.

 

I hope that this will help out some other people.

[sted]

All of your pictures appear to be blocked images, not sure if that's a hosting issue (hot-linking disabled) or if that's something that's going on with our filter. I'll take another look at it again when I get back to the office.

 

I think I'm correct in reading your edit as you got it working with essentials and LAT with the download from within the install manager. How did you run your install? Push it out with Active Directory or a batch file? If you did it via batch file, I'd really appreciate a look at the file.

 

im pushing it out via ad and occasional just a running msi exec /i locally (and usually i just type it in)on non domained pc but i always use unc paths rather than mapped drives. Cant see why they are blocked its just my own website on host4web

 

I had a feeling it was our filter. Just updated the software and its operation is a bit different. First I've ever noticed images being replaced with a "blocked image" image.

 

 

 

I like the product key you have...

 

The steps you listed are pretty much exactly what I've done. However, where you differed from what I did is the path you gave for where the Essentials are located. I left it at the default of where I told it to download to instead of navigating inside the folders it created.

 

since i downloaded it via the install manager i do point it at that folder (well a copy as i cant download it in any of my schools i get about 75% of it then it boots me off so it was on my desktop at home) previous versions i found drilling right down helped now i dont

[McDonnJD]

im pushing it out via ad and occasional just a running msi exec /i locally (and usually i just type it in)on non domained pc but i always use unc paths rather than mapped drives.

I've seen from others posting here (and from the instructions provided by SMART) that running via AD works, though you not having any issues with msiexec /i working makes me wonder what's different with your machines compared to mine. I tried both with UNC paths as well as mapped drives. I'll probably end up editing my batch file to use UNC paths instead of mapped drives as it's more simplistic.

 

Cant see why they are blocked its just my own website on host4web

It was our filter. stedscarpics.net - Home is apparently blocked as pornography by our filter...

 

since i downloaded it via the install manager i do point it at that folder (well a copy as i cant download it in any of my schools i get about 75% of it then it boots me off so it was on my desktop at home) previous versions i found drilling right down helped now i dont

For whatever reason, I just could not get it to work no matter which folder I pointed it at. Kept getting a source not found error. Both with UNC paths and mapped drives. However I did find a solution at least.

 

Thanks for the attempts at helping, even though for some reason the way you have it working isn't working for me.

[_Adam_]

This program is painful to silently install. Like you I spent ages working on getting the Gallery installed which it now does. The only things I think changed between it working and not working was removing the "\" at the end of the UNC path and downloading and using the files from the website and not the CD/DVD.

 

The same cannot be said for the LAT, this still errors. I may give up and modify the batch file.

[enjay]

I've never had an issue with a silent install, using MSI and AD deployment. I wonder if the difference here is that I've already installed the Gallery and LAT to the network share, so the MSI isn't trying to put it there, merely reference its presence.

 

So, install it manually on one PC, including putting the Gallery and LAT in place, then use Install Manager to create the appropriate MST file directing the install to this folder.

[McDonnJD]

I've never had an issue with a silent install, using MSI and AD deployment. I wonder if the difference here is that I've already installed the Gallery and LAT to the network share, so the MSI isn't trying to put it there, merely reference its presence.

 

So, install it manually on one PC, including putting the Gallery and LAT in place, then use Install Manager to create the appropriate MST file directing the install to this folder.

 

From what I've read, installing via AD seems to generally work no matter which way you choose to install the Essentials and LAT. You can use a shared gallery or install locally from a shared location. For whatever reason though, getting this to work without using AD seems impossible no matter what you do.

 

Notebook and drivers will install perfectly fine, but Essentials and LAT just won't install, though it might work if you're using them from a network share, I've not tried. Since most of our teachers have laptops that they take home to do lesson planning, a network share won't work for them. The Essentials and LAT need installed locally, and I'd prefer to not have them hitting the server for all the galleries as well, hence my workaround with my batch file. It works where everything else I've tried doesn't.

 

Well, technically installing with the wrapper, causing the install to take about an hour per install due to downloading the Essentials and LAT every single time, does work, but it is a major waste of bandwidth since for some reason, the proxy doesn't cache these files for 10.6, though I've never had issue with previous versions.

[sted]

From what I've read, installing via AD seems to generally work no matter which way you choose to install the Essentials and LAT. You can use a shared gallery or install locally from a shared location. For whatever reason though, getting this to work without using AD seems impossible no matter what you do.

 

Notebook and drivers will install perfectly fine, but Essentials and LAT just won't install, though it might work if you're using them from a network share, I've not tried. Since most of our teachers have laptops that they take home to do lesson planning, a network share won't work for them. The Essentials and LAT need installed locally, and I'd prefer to not have them hitting the server for all the galleries as well, hence my workaround with my batch file. It works where everything else I've tried doesn't.

 

Well, technically installing with the wrapper, causing the install to take about an hour per install due to downloading the Essentials and LAT every single time, does work, but it is a major waste of bandwidth since for some reason, the proxy doesn't cache these files for 10.6, though I've never had issue with previous versions.

 

might be worth installing manually on a pc then ripping reg settings out for gallery and just xcopying the gallery files across yes its a dirty way to install but should work thats how i had been doing lat

[_Adam_]

In my case I am trying to place the LAT and Gallery on a network share to be installed locally to the staff members notebook, not simply telling Notebook that the files are still on the share.

 

In a way I am experiencing the same problem as McDonnJD except Gallery now works, despite me using AD and him Novell.

 

What does your CONTENT_SOURCE_PATH look like in the MST?

[McDonnJD]

might be worth installing manually on a pc then ripping reg settings out for gallery and just xcopying the gallery files across yes its a dirty way to install but should work thats how i had been doing lat

 

That does sound like a messy way and I doubt there would be a noticeable difference in speed compared to using the Gallery Setup program like I am doing. The most time consuming part is while the files copy over from the server, but using the tools seems the better and cleaner option to me.

[McDonnJD]

In my case I am trying to place the LAT and Gallery on a network share to be installed locally to the staff members notebook, not simply telling Notebook that the files are still on the share.

 

In a way I am experiencing the same problem as McDonnJD except Gallery now works, despite me using AD and him Novell.

 

What does your CONTENT_SOURCE_PATH look like in the MST?

 

I tell the admin tools to not install them. I extracted the LAT and Essentials ZIPs that Smart provides to a network share. I then point the Gallery Setup program at the two .gallerycollection files to install the galleries to the local hard drive. You can see the basics in the last batch file I posted, something like post 10 or something. On my phone, so canMt find out for sure while typing this.

 

*Gallery Setup is installed in the Common Programs directory when you install Notepad.

[sted]

That does sound like a messy way and I doubt there would be a noticeable difference in speed compared to using the Gallery Setup program like I am doing. The most time consuming part is while the files copy over from the server, but using the tools seems the better and cleaner option to me.

 

i agree it is messy but it does work and sometimes thats enough

 

if you are just pointing the gallery to a shared location then you just just again set it up on one right and mjust export the reg settings from that pc then import to the rest if you are just having issues with the gallery

[McDonnJD]

i agree it is messy but it does work and sometimes thats enough

 

if you are just pointing the gallery to a shared location then you just just again set it up on one right and mjust export the reg settings from that pc then import to the rest if you are just having issues with the gallery

 

Or just change the command line options you pass to Gallery Setup, I think you just add the -remote option, but I kind of skipped over the options that didn't involve installing locally, so it might be more complex than that. Both methods work, but this is the method I found first and it just works.

 

If anyone was wondering, I found this PDF. It's for version 9.7, but the Gallery Setup command line options are still the same for 10.6, didn't check how relevant the rest of the content is. It has all the command line options for installing locally, using a share, downloading the galleries instead of pulling them from a share to install locally, etc.

 

As long as Smart doesn't change how this works, I like using the Gallery Setup install. It provides a single command (granted it's somewhat long with the options I pass to it) to copy the files to the local drive and register it within Notebook and takes less than 15 minutes to install. I don't know the exact time as I've only run it in the batch file along with the Notepad 10.6 install and my whole batch file takes ~15 minutes to install the drivers, Notebook, ensure the Flash components are at least the minimum required for the Flash based stuff in Notebook, install the Essentials for Educators gallery and the Lesson Activity Toolkit. The only way I'd see switching to xcopying all the files over and then importing the registry settings would be if it was significantly faster, but the part that seems to take the longest is copying the files over, the "installation" (registering them with Notebook via either the Gallery Setup or registry settings) takes almost no time at all. Six in one hand, half dozen in the other really.

[sted]

Or just change the command line options you pass to Gallery Setup, I think you just add the -remote option, but I kind of skipped over the options that didn't involve installing locally, so it might be more complex than that. Both methods work, but this is the method I found first and it just works.

 

If anyone was wondering, I found this PDF. It's for version 9.7, but the Gallery Setup command line options are still the same for 10.6, didn't check how relevant the rest of the content is. It has all the command line options for installing locally, using a share, downloading the galleries instead of pulling them from a share to install locally, etc.

 

As long as Smart doesn't change how this works, I like using the Gallery Setup install. It provides a single command (granted it's somewhat long with the options I pass to it) to copy the files to the local drive and register it within Notebook and takes less than 15 minutes to install. I don't know the exact time as I've only run it in the batch file along with the Notepad 10.6 install and my whole batch file takes ~15 minutes to install the drivers, Notebook, ensure the Flash components are at least the minimum required for the Flash based stuff in Notebook, install the Essentials for Educators gallery and the Lesson Activity Toolkit. The only way I'd see switching to xcopying all the files over and then importing the registry settings would be if it was significantly faster, but the part that seems to take the longest is copying the files over, the "installation" (registering them with Notebook via either the Gallery Setup or registry settings) takes almost no time at all. Six in one hand, half dozen in the other really.

 

like i said its a messy solution but if all else fails then it does work. Ive never tried remote clipart settings as a fairly high percentage of the pcs i shovel smart onto are laptops that go home at night so need it locally so to keep my life simple i just have 1 set of settings so even machines that stay put get local cliapart granted it can take time to install but saves on network traffic later and lets face it im seldom going to fill even an 80gb drive on a school pc so may as well use the space

[McDonnJD]

like i said its a messy solution but if all else fails then it does work. Ive never tried remote clipart settings as a fairly high percentage of the pcs i shovel smart onto are laptops that go home at night so need it locally so to keep my life simple i just have 1 set of settings so even machines that stay put get local cliapart granted it can take time to install but saves on network traffic later and lets face it im seldom going to fill even an 80gb drive on a school pc so may as well use the space

 

I do the same thing, I'd rather not have the network traffic going across the MAN links to the central server every time they want something from the galleries. Granted we did just upgrade from T1's to a 100meg link this past summer, but I'd still rather not do it. Until doing this install, I didn't even know you could use a network share and I did briefly consider it, but then remembered all the laptops that the teachers take home. I also didn't want to mess with different setups, so I just have the gallery files extracted to a share on the admin server that I only have to reference once during the install for them to be installed locally on the hard drive.