Unattended program install

_k

I have been going around readying and looking at the few different ways to get an unattended program install going, command and xml. I was wondering if there is anything else I am missing or a piece of freeware. There was about 2-3 programs I found that do the work for you of unattended installs.

So any suggestions would be great, after reading everything it all kind of went over my head the first time through it. People have put up reference guides but I haven't found a step-by-step guide of here is how we are making our answer file and this is how we are making our .msi/.exe installer or this is our cmd sequence for install.

kryyst

Are you trying to roll something out through group policy?

QCH

I've done a fair bit of scripting for unattended installs... what application and how do you want to roll it out?

_k

There are a few programs that need to be installed on new machines and re-formats. Adobe, Trendmicro office scanner that is from https local, lotus notes, AS400, NetSupport Client. I think thats its. NetSupport client just needs to be started. AS400, NetSupport, and Lotus Notes have their own .msi installs right now. The Adobe is just the reader dl'ed off the net.

I really don't need a group policy. Actually what would be nice is a batch script that would drop on a machine and run them all back to back full unattended; doesn't need to be silent installs or anything.

kryyst

If you have .msi installers for all of those then you just add them to the group policy rules on a DC and it'll install it on any computer the first time it's attached to the DC. You can also apply software updates and other features that way through the GP. It's a really nice way to do it if you can bundle all the installers into the .msi package model.

There are various ways to make msi packages this is the official microsoft method.

_k

Ya but I don't want to have to do redo the .msi cause.

_k

So i fail at active directory apparently. I set it to do install once the user logs in. So it says that it is installing the program but just puts a fake icon and when the user tries to launch it complains how it hasn't been installed. I have the policy just to install the app on login, its not published its registered (or whatever it was). This is my first time using active directory for anything besides making new users for a domain. We already have a policy on some apps for Publish but thats not what we are going for.

kryyst

So if you want it to auto-install the best place is to set it up in the GP under the Computer section. Then set the policy to assigned which will install the software. Setting it to the other option only makes it available to be installed through add/remove programs.

You are also better off to create a seperate GP rule for just that installed application(s) and not adding it to your master GP. Then you add the user types that will be affected by the new GP and which AD Groups it's linked to as well.

_k

we already have some of the programs published the plan my boss had was we have everything forced for a base install programs so whenever they need a patch or something new for everyone we just make one change for the whole office.

kryyst

Patching has limits when you are trying to push it out like that. It sounds more like you want to roll out images almost. Another option you may want to consider would be stepping up to terminal server. But you are talking spending some money depending on how many people you are dealing with and what apps you would need to be hosting.

_k

Naw with images i am just going to do nLite as they come in. I cover around 20 people and around 30-40 computers.

_k

I did the policy thang. I didn't create real .msi files but some sudo ones that will just drop the .exe on the desktop. We don't deploy new stuff very often and my boss is fine with it so I am done with it pretty much. Thanks.