Application Deployment

[bizzyb]

I am sys admin for about 80 W2k DELL workstations located in 5 states. So far, upgrades and application installs have been done manually, per procedures distributed by me, by local reps at each site. I have been able to script things like Hotfixes, but we are replacing older machines with new ones and I would like to find a way to automate the application installs and possibly modify the configuration of the OS without necessarily having to re-install the W2K Pro OS. Is this even feasible?
These machines are configured and on different networks that I will never have admin rights to. There is 1 server at each site which is also on the same networks with many other machines not under my control. I have Ghost licenses available. I have never used SYSPREP, but can it be used to do what I need without a complete over-write of the OS using Ghost? I am thinking in terms of future updates and configuration changes also. Thanks.

 

[mmv]

Couple of things...
You are saying you do not have any sort af administrative control over the remote networks. Does the include the workstaions ? You are going to have a lot of difficulties doing anything on a remote network if you do not have the rights..

Second, look at SMS, LANDesk or Mobile Automation. They are all able to give you the control you need.

 

[bizzyb]

Thanks for the response.
The server at each site is a database server accessed by our local workstations. All of our machines, including the server, are on a domain not owned by my company. This means they do not authenticate to my server but to the domain which I do not have admin rights to. Still, I am responsible for the OS, Apps and security updates of my machines. I was wondering if there was a way to accomplish this without having to have the workstation authenticate to my server.
I apoligize if this is confusing. These are certainly not ideal circumstances for me.