Software Deployments

Technologies:

• Windows Server 2003 & 2008
• Windows XP, Vista, 7
• Active Directory (AD) Organisational Unit (OU) targeting
• Group Policy Objects (GPO)
• Microsoft Installer, Patch and Transform (MSI, MSP & MST)
• Orca MSI editor
• Windows batch scripts (.bat)

Sample Deployments:

• Adobe Reader (2009) - Targeted machines approx. 450 - Detect master version and installed upgrade versions. Upgrade to latest master version and upgrade versions as required. Disable all update functionality and start-up behaviour. Adobe at the time did not release MSI installers for upgrade/ sub releases and involved a Windows shell script and ‘check’ file to ensure all machines were updated.
• Adobe Reader (2012) – Target machines approx. 40 – Done properly with AIP, see post: http://www.jrbell.co.uk/2012/01/deploying-adobe-reader-properly/
• Sun/ Oracle Java Runtime Environment (JRE) - Targeted machines approx. 450 – Upgrade JRE to latest version leaving ‘check’ file and disabling all update functionality and start-up behaviour – no access to MSI.
• Adobe Flash Player ActiveX and Plugin - Targeted machines approx. 450 – Deploy MSI through AD GPO. Machines could be quickly deployed to after a verified update making the update disable time consuming and unnecessary.
• VLC Media Player - Targeted machines approx. 450 – Shell script that detects an installed version of the player and un-installs to install latest version of the player. Installer leaves behind ‘check’ file to avoid check upon subsequent machine boots.
• Audacity – Targeted machines approx. 30 – Install MSI through AD GPO.