Installing new Applications

[APlant]

These may be stupid questions, so apologies in advance !!
I need to install a new application onto servers in an existing farm. I have two questions:

Firstly, do I need to disconnect all users from the server and disable logons prior to going into install mode or can I install the app whilst users are still connected without any issues?

Secondly, I have published the desktop for admin users. Can I access the servers remotely via the Published desktop and install the application remotely?

many Thanks

 

[Jontmke]

No, and Yes.
No, you do not have to disconnect the users, but if the install requires a reboot...
Yes, you can do this remotely, no need to go to the console except maybe to put the cd in the drive.

Jon

There is much pleasure to be gained from useless knowledge. (Bertrand Russell)

 

[APlant]

Many thanks for the very quick response. That helps a lot.

 

[JeffHicks]

However.....

As you eluded, the install will happen in install mode and it is certainly possible that a user could make a change to an application will you are installing and that change could be propagated to other users.

In my opinion (take it or leave it), it is always best practice to install software on a server that has no other users on it. Can you do it? Yes. Should you do it? I would say no, but that is up to you.

Good luck.

 

[JohnTcolo]

Why bother going to install mode, you can choose add programs from the control panel and it happens automatically.

 

[APlant]

Yes, that was something I had wondered about. I don't want to risk that. I think what I may do is to disconnect the users (after sending them a message!) and disable logons. Then run the application install, etc
Now another stupid question...... I assume I will have to enable RDP and connect via the TS client since the server would not let me connect via ICA due to disabling logons.

 

[APlant]

Regarding the install mode, it was my understanding that add/remove will automatically put you in install mode and therefore the same issues of other users making changes at the same time (whilst in install mode) still applies.

 

[JeffHicks]

When you install from Add Remove, it puts the server in install mode for you. I personally use Add/Remove for all my non-Citrix Packager installations and agree that it is the simplest and cleanest way to do installs. However, with respect to install or execute mode, it is no different than doing it manually before and after the install. That is why you see the all CAPS warning about not clicking finish until the install is done. The clicking finish at the end of the Add/Remove wizard puts your server back in execute mode.

You can do it that way (via RDP), you can create a desktop session prior to disabling logins and just not logoff until you are done installing, or (if you have load balanced servers) you can simply remove the server you are updating from the list of servers in the published applications. The reason I choose the third is that following a server reboot, logins are automatically enabled. Thus it is possible for a user to get back on the server before you (very unlikely if you do not have to leave the installation process, but still possible). I spec my farms out so that I always have enough free resources to take down a server for maintenance. Thus, with a little planning, I can get all the users off the server and know they can not reconnect to the server until I am ready for them to. Just a thought.