How to Deploy COM+

[GavinThomas]

Hello Everyone,

The good news is I have managed to create a COM+ service (an ActiveX DLL)using VB6 on Windows2000! I have deployed this DLL on the server (via Component Services console) and created Appplication Proxys that in turn I have installed onto networked client machines. Lastly I implemented calls to this service via my applications and everything is working okay. (Note, I have ignored Transaction issues at this stage as the service is not required to be in the client transaction.)

So, the next tough question is: How do I deploy this software on my customer sites? I'm ruling out the Microsoft Application Center 2000 solution at US$3000.

My requirement is that I need to ship the ActiveX DLL, along with my normal software release, and have an automated process to install it into COM+ on a server, create an application proxy and then deploy that proxy over all the PC's (maybe a specified list) on that network.

So, is there anyone out there that has done just that? What tools did you use? Can I use the MSI files that I created on my local network somehow?

Thanks for your help,
Gavin Thomas

 

[steveflit]

You can use ADSI through VB to install components and create virtual directories in IIS etc

 

[DASMAN]

Hi,
I'm not shure of answer you, but
You can make your own installer of 3 ways:
1)
first you generate your MSI files
then you the com admin interface (iCOMAdminCatalog)
(if the machine is remote you can use the connect method of this interface to obtain an instance of the remote admin cat.)
use the method .InstallApplication to install your file in the machine (there's a limitation/bug at microsoft component services with that, you should first copy your msi file to a local path on the remote server)

2) using the admin catalog you can install your dll one by one

3) use the installshield for windows installer, wich actually generate and use msi files, but i'm not familiarized with these tool to tell you more.

Hope to help you
DASMAN