[sims] Hoe to deploy? IS there still no way?

[dany2010]

Hi,

 

We've just been asked to put SIMS on all teacher machines which would take about a year to do.

 

Is there any way to deploy it from a GPO without having a text file with the administrator password in?

 

Had a look on the net and only found a script containing a password. Cant believe how companies like capita and microsoft (office) dont include a MSI.

 

Many thanks,

 

Dan.

[synaesthesia]

Look up solus 3. Lack of MSI deployment is still a sore point.

[3s-gtech]

Using SOLUS 3, SIMS is deployed from a console on the server - it picks up the PCs from AD, then enables you to push the workstation software from there. I've found it fairly reliable, but it's not the greatest piece of software. Easier than running round doing it manually for the most part.

[sted]

i use a startup script low tech but seems to work

[dany2010]

Hi,

 

Could you post/PM your script please sted.

 

Thinking i might be able to use it when deploying with MDT. Having it as a startup script will we have to lengthen the time computers wait for scripts which shouldnt be a problem but not something i want to do if i can help it.

 

 

Looks like our LEA who manages SIMS on our server isnt using SOLUS any more as its shoved in a to be deleted folder.

[synaesthesia]

So they won't be using SIMS much longer either then...

[sted]

its nowt clever lol (yo do need a working pc to nick connect/sims ini files from

 

if exist "C:\Program Files (x86)\SIMS\SIMS .net\pulsar.exe" goto _end

if exist "C:\Program Files\SIMS\SIMS .net\pulsar.exe" goto _end

 

net use s: \\admin-srv\SIMSroot$ /user:stmatthews\fred fred /persistent:yes

"s:\sims\Setups\SIMSInfrastructureSetup.exe" /S

"s:\sims\Setups\SIMSApplicationSetup.exe" /S

"s:\sims\Setups\SIMSManualSetup.exe" /S

"s:\sims\Setups\SIMSAMPARKSetup.exe" /S

 

 

if exist "c:\Program Files (x86)" goto _x64

 

 

:_x86

copy "\\server\packages$\Sims\connectx86.ini" "c:\Program Files\sims\sims .net\connect.ini" /y

copy "\\server\packages$\Sims\simsx86.ini" "c:\windows\sims.ini" /y

goto _end

 

:_x64

 

copy "\\server\packages$\Sims\connectx64.ini" "c:\Program Files (x86)\sims\sims .net\connect.ini" /y

copy "\\server\packages$\Sims\simsx64.ini" "c:\windows\sims.ini" /y

goto _end

 

 

:_end

 

rem pause

[dhicks]

We've just been asked to put SIMS on all teacher machines which would take about a year to do.

 

SIMS does work fine on a Remote Desktop Services services, so you just deploy an RDP file around instead of the whole of SIMS. It also has the advantage that you can set SIMS to auto-login using the Windows username, but then set a password-locked screensaver on the remote session - leave SIMS open for 5 minutes and you have to enter your password to use it again, which hopefully vuts down on people wandering off and leaving SIMS open in a classroom full of children.

[vikpaw]

I'm having a slow day: how do the x64 .ini files differ to the x86 ones?

[sted]

I'm having a slow day: how do the x64 .ini files differ to the x86 ones?

 

one says program files the other program files (x86)

 

iirc that only affects sims ini but to err on the side of caution i did the same for connect

[vikpaw]

yep, i got ya, the paths in sims.ini !!!

[dany2010]

SIMS does work fine on a Remote Desktop Services services, so you just deploy an RDP file around instead of the whole of SIMS. It also has the advantage that you can set SIMS to auto-login using the Windows username, but then set a password-locked screensaver on the remote session - leave SIMS open for 5 minutes and you have to enter your password to use it again, which hopefully vuts down on people wandering off and leaving SIMS open in a classroom full of children.

 

Hi,

 

This sounds go but have never attempted or read about this before (still fairly new to it all)

 

Have you any guides explaining rdp etc?

 

Many thanks