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deploying software to Windows clients

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7 replies

by techserf

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What's the simplest, cheapest way to deploy software to Windows clients?
I need to deploy a package to say, 50 XP clients, in a 2003 AD Domain. I would like to be able to make a package that just installs, so I don't have to click and manually choose options for each install. Also, to push it out is the goal.

If you know a way to do it for 9x clients that would be appreciated to, though, they obviously can't be in Group Policy.
Thanks

7 replies

by ewgny

The simplest and cheapest way, would be to use group policy to publish or assign a software package to the user or computer. If the software you need to deploy has an MSI installer you can use this method. If the software needs to be installed on all client computers, regardless of the user, you will want to "assign" the package to the computer. The software package will be installed upon startup prior to the user logging on.
http://tinyurl.com/68wsr
If your software package doesn't have an MSI installer, you can make one with for example using WinInstall LE which is free.
http://tinyurl.com/3z6xa

Try using group policy to assign a package like shockwave and/or flash in a test OU. You can download the msi installers from macromedia.
Remember if you are assigning a package to a computer, you'll need to apply the policy to the OU that contains the Computer object

by d'solve it

Hi,

Check out http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/WindowsServ/2003/all/deployguide/en-us/Default.asp?url=/resources/documentation/windowsserv/2003/all/deployguide/en-us/dmebe_swi_gxvs.asp

and the entire content on Deploying a Managerd Software Environment at the above link.

A dirty way out would be to assign a script to run on logon for all the 50 users. This is a manual process and you could do this by running Active Directory Users and Computers - select the user and click properties. open the Profile Tab and in the field Logon Script, enter the name of the batch file you have created to install the software.

Once the user logs in and the software is installed, you would then need to remove the script for the particular user or the software would keep reinstalling everytime the user logs on.

Good luck.

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