Best way to distribute new software to existing computers?

[Sam_Brown]

Hi guys,

 

Just wondering what the best way to distribute new software to existing computers is? We have one room with 30 fat clients in and recently had to install a new piece of software.

 

We ended up spending half a day installing manually on all workstations.

 

What would be the best way to distribute software to these computers?

[featured_spectre]

an MSI package, which can be distributed by group policy

[carvjo]

depends on the software - some (such as many antivirus programs) have theri own remote installer

 

here are some options -

 

1. thinapp it and keep it on a server - then give the PC's or users a shortcut to the thinapp

2. msi via GPO as above

3. use a 3rd party software distribution tool - free tools exist such as wpkg (wpkgexpress adds a web interface) - there are lots of commercial options - I use Specops Deploy..

4. write a batch file to install the application and then execute that on each workstation with something like PsExec See here

5. If you have classroom control software - logon all the machines with that then execute the installer from the teachers console..

 

Hope that helps..

[carvjo]

forgot -

 

6. virtual applications - several offerings here - MS have their own way of doing it, which may be cheap or included in your MS licensing deal.. others include those from Citrix, 2X and probably a quite a few more..

[glennda]

an MSI package, which can be distributed by group policy

 

Some - not all apps come with these - but MSI's are easily creatable using some third party software if the program only comes with .exe's. Personally I use WininstallerLE and havn't had a problem with it.

 

Toby

[Sam_Brown]

Thanks guys. I'll look into some of these over the coming days. Appreciate it.

[FN-GM]

What application is it? I might have a script handy for it.

[Sam_Brown]

No specific app. Over half term posisbly looking to change our deployment method as the current one is old and barely works so I'm just brainstorming at the moment really.

[FN-GM]

Allot of apps can use sent out using a batch file. I will upload some templates shortly.

[plexer]

Have a look at camyeo application virtulisation.

 

Ben

[DrCheese]

An MSI package ideally. To be honest tho, most of the educational software I've come across can easily be installed to a machine, copied up to a network share and then ran with no real problems from the share. It's very rare that I actually have to sit and install software to machines directly. The only real disadvantage of this method is that file type associations don't apply, tho I'm sure given time I could come up with the registry changes required

[Exos]

MSI via SMS / SCCM.

 

There are plenty of "free" packaging applications around, although be selective over what you package and deploy, for example, SMART software and associated galleries are huge.

[SpuffMonkey]

I keep a colony of ants, each of which can carry a piece of paper marked with "0" or "1" in its mandibles, then lay a trail of sugar to each PC - its quite slow, but like the internet, is hard to disrupt as the ants see disruption to the data as a threat and ATTACK!

 

Now enough of this light hearted shilly-shally, I've got a white cat to stroke and a world to take over....

[pantscat]

I keep a colony of ants,

 

Ah!... the very reliable IPoH method (IP over Hymenoptera)... personally I favour woodlice as they have an active packet defence system. But it does tend to be a little slow.