Using GP to distribute software

[danno74]

Alright, this is the 3rd-4th time this has come up at my company, and each time I have tried to get it done I get bogged down with conflicting help... I haven't tried to post since there is so much out there, but I guess I need some hand holding... please!

Alright, checked out this article:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=260301

We want to be able to install an application across the network. it is 2 .msi files. As a test, I created a group X with two users in it including myself.

He has W2K, I have XP. We both have rebooted several times, nothing. I have added the IT group to security for the object, nto sure if makes any difference. I also had added the program to the software install under the user config, nothing. I did see it show up under Add Programs in Ctrl Panel, but that's it. We both updated Group Policy on the local PC via the FAQ here re: Office Deploys.

Any ideas? I have since removed from user config, the setup from the article above is the only thing in there. I have 2 .msi's, would that affect it?

Thanks for any help!

 

[porkchopexpress]

Take a look at this link it's quite good.

http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles_tutorials/Group-Policy-Deploy-Applications.html

I almost never deploy msi's to users i always apply them to an OU containing computers have you tried it this way?

You should only need to assign the authenticated users group 'read' share permissions to get it working this way. You can tighten this later if you need but as it's just installation files you shouldn't need to.

 

[porkchopexpress]

What is the application and do the msi's need to be installed in order?

 

[danno74]

Thanks for the help.

We have gotten to two points...

1. When we publish, it appears under add programs in the Ctrl Panel. Cannot use this because users do not have permissions.

2. When we assign them, they are not installed upon login. An icon appears on the desktop and in the start menu. Once you click on it, it installs. Once again, we cannot use this due to permissions.

As a test we have a separate OU with just two of us in it that we are applying this GP to.

Any ideas?

porkchop - it's a medical billing application that has one file.

 

[porkchopexpress]

Are you assigning the application to an OU that contains computer not user objects?

If you are then the application should be installed at bootup not logon, this way it's installed under the system account so no user permissions are required.

Does the software house support installing via group policy? This will be worth finding out as some provie msi's to utilise windows installer not to to support group policy.

 

[ClarkPeterson]

Yes you can assign software to the computer object and force it to be installed on user computers automactically. Setup would be finalized when user would first run the assigned program. Please read this article for additional info. But you can mix the types and manage software setups in such a way when users even don't have the rights to run the program. For example it can be done with Scriptlogic's Desktop Authority. We manage our secure rooms in such way. Users have limited rights and we use deployment feature and then built-in application launcher from Desktop Authority. The last one has an option to run application under context with adminisrative rights.