Background Software Installation

[dsm]

Hi,

 

We have been using Group Policy to deploy software here recently with some smaller packages. What I would like to do now is get a piece of management software that will install software on to client machines but do it in the background whilst the computer is being used.

 

The problem with GP is that it installs the software before a user can log on to the computer therefore making software installations to staff laptops difficult.

 

Does anyone have any recommendations for software that does this? Preferably free!

 

Many thanks

[Mr.Ben]

Not free, but the sort of thing your after:

 

SpecOps Deploy

[sparkeh]

Yep have a look at WPKG. I used to use it before we got SCCM in.

WPKG | Open Source Software Deployment and Distribution

[Rawns]

Also, not free but very affordable (I think £1 per licence per device?)

 

IT Managed Services Software | CentraStage

 

We use it here at the LA to support schools. It's a great piece of software. Major update coming in Jan too...

 

From http://www.centrastage.com/remote-software-deployment-scripting-engine.html

 

Remote Software Deployment (Scripting Engine)

CentraStage remote software deployment or scripting engine enables the centralised and automated deployment of software – MSIs and Executables

Administrators simply upload the required remote software deployment application, also known as a scripting engine, into the CentraStage database as a Component, along with any install parameters; the administrator then designates the target devices and schedules a time for the installation, or Job.

[dsm]

Thanks everyone.

 

We did take a look at WPKG before but were unsuccessful. We just couldn't get it to work. I didn't find their documentation overly helpful. What did you think?

 

Regards

[K.C.Leblanc]

Thanks everyone.

 

We did take a look at WPKG before but were unsuccessful. We just couldn't get it to work. I didn't find their documentation overly helpful. What did you think?

 

Regards

 

I'm increasingly using WPKG to do everything here. It doesn't do background installs, but will run on shutdown which to me is preferable to GPOs which only run on start up. It is however fairly fiddly to get working, it's not that it's broken it's just not the most user friendly piece of software you just have to get your head round how it works.

 

I used to use a system of batch files and psexec. Actually worked fairly well.

Edited December 2, 2010 by K.C.Leblanc

[sparkeh]

It doesn't do background installs

Incorrect

WPKG website (frontpage)

It can run as a service to install software in the background (silent install), without user interaction.

 

This is how I used to use it.

Edited December 2, 2010 by sparkeh

[K.C.Leblanc]

Incorrect

 

 

This is how I used to use it.

 

Ok, how?

[sparkeh]

Ok, how?

Well... configure your installers as silent installs. One the very points of it is to install software in the background. By default it does this at startup but as you say it can be altered.

But I suspect you are talking about software push rather than background installs and it really is all in the documentation

WPKG website

"Software push" functionality

WPKG is a client-centred approach to software installation, so it does not support "pushing" software. However, you are free to issue Remote Procedure Calls to clients in order to trigger the start of the WPKG service or even directly the start of the WPKG command

Edited December 2, 2010 by sparkeh