SMS Software Package Creation

[delorca]

Hello There World,

HELP....I have been asked to roll-out a piece of software using SMS packaging. The thing is i do not know how to do this.

Does anyone have a good web-site i can go visit to explain how i can get this going?

Any help or information I can get would be greatly received...

Many Thanks....

 

[mnt25]

Hello,

Go to the collection that you want to push the package out to first. Right click the collection, the chose distribute software. Then run through wizard specifying the DP, etc.

Matt

 

[delorca]

Hello Matt or Anyone,

Is there any good source of information showing me how to rollout packages.

I have many questions which really need docuementation. Any help would be greatly welcomed....

 

[Count430]

You may want to try the microsoft page or search for SMS user groups on the web.

If your not too experienced with SMS it may be a good idea to hit a book store where the CBT based media is included.

Microsoft Press has a good one which walks you through setup and configuration of site servers.

Client installations methods along with package creation and distribution.

The package portion is somewhat simple depending on how well you know the product.
Here we go!

GENERAL TAB:
1. Right click on the package container
2. Name the package, all other fields are optional.

DATA SOURCE TAB:
3. Next, select the "Data Source" tab.
Here you'll find a few options.
4. Lets use "This package contains source files"
5. Click set to specify the location of the source files.
you can use the compressed copy of the directory
or, you can select "always obtain files from source.

DATA ACCESS TAB:
6. In the data access tab, choose access from common SMS
share. Don't worry SMS will store the files in a shared
folder on a distribution point if configured.

DISTRIBUTION SETTINGS TAB:
7. Set the sender priority to meduim.
8. Set the preferred sender to standard or match the site
and distribution sender settings.

SECURITY TAB:
9. Set your account which has the install and connect
privilages in the secutrity tab along with the
NT Authority\system account.

Don't worry about the reporting tab for now!

That's the package, you will also create a program
file where your logic should carry you through the
rest of this proceedure.

If you feel you need the guidance I'll type the program
and advertisment steps and send them too you via
email.

Good luck!


Good luck!

 

[delorca]

Hello Count430,

Thanks very much for the information.

I have already managed to create a sample rollout doing pretty much what you said.

The slight difference i made was to create a new collection and then distribute the software to this collection and it worked!!!...Hoo-ray.....

My main problem that i seem to have now is that i would like an automatic install. Although the software did install, it required user intervention. You know, they have to click Next, Next, Next...etc to complete the install.

I would like my software rollout to be done without user intervention. So that it goes on without them having to do anything.

I have tried creating a package using the free Wininstaller Lite you get with Windows 2000 Server. This does snapshots before and after, creating a package to rollout using windows 2000 Active Directory. However the Wininstaller Lite is not good at easily making packages.

Can i use SMS to create automatically distributed software pacakges?

I have already ordered a book called SMS Installer that is hopefully going to help but if you have any other very helpful advice i would greatly appreiate it.

I have used Novell's software distribution and this looks very much easier to do these tasks. Hopefully Microsoft will steal their good ideas for SMS in 2003.

Many Thanks to you and all who can help...

 

[Count430]

Hello Delcora:

Sounds good, Im happy to hear your making progress with
SMS. The installer will give you what you need in terms
of the unattended installation.

However, you may want to look into the WISE or one of the
Installshield packaging products.

SMS installer is merely a lighter version of these two
utilities.

SMS installer will be a good place to start if you are not
familiar with the packaging process.

Good Luck and continued sucess!

 

[delorca]

Hello There,

I have just started using Wininstaller and I have created a snapshot of a pc before and after the install.

It is a simple program called Treesizepro.

Once this has been created i get three files...

treesizepro.exe
treesizepro.ipf
treesizepro.wsm

...I want this software to be rolled out without user intervention. Since this was al done by myself during the snapshot creation process.

Does anyone know how i can roll this package out now with this unattended format?

Any help would be greatly appreiated.

Many Thanks,

Delorca...

 

[Mieszko]

instead of New package, use new package from definition and point sms to the ipf file. It is the old package definition file type from sms 1.x, but 2.0 should recognize it.