Software Deployment

Software Deployment

It is group policy use for remote installation of different types of softwares. It can be use for an OU or for the entire domain network. We can deploy any type of software. The softwares are divided into 2 categories :-

1. Windows 2000/2003/2008/2012/WinXP/Windows7/Windows8 Compatible softwares

2. Pre-Windows 2000 (MS-Office97)   and Non-Microsoft softwares (Adobe Reader)

Terms use in Software Deployment are :-

1. SDP (Software Distribution Point)    It is a computer where we can keep all the dumps of different softwares.

2. Intellimirror         It means collection of the different files or it is feature of OS which can work in the background during the remote installation. It is use to check the different options, security, desktop settings etc. during the remote installation.

Options in Software Deployment :-

1. Assign to user       It means the deployed software will be automatically install in the user profile, when user will logon next time.  This option can be select from  the  User Configuration Policies.

2. Assign to computer       It means the deployed software will be automatically install in the client machine, when client machine will be restart. It will be install for all the users on local computer.  This option can be select from the Computer Configuration Policies.

3. Publish to user     It means the deployed software will be automatically install in the user

profile but user have to click on Install or Add button.  This option can be select from the User Configuration Policies.

NOTE:

1. User must have permission on local computer to install softwares or he must be member of Power Users built-in group on client machine.

2. If we apply any policy from Computer Configuration Policies, then we must move client computer inside  the OU and client must be restart.

3. We can also remove softwares remotely using software deployment policy.

4. Publish and ZAP option is not available in the Computer Configuration Policies.

Types of files use in the Software Deployment :-

1.  *.msi  (Microsoft Windows Installer Package)  This file is use to deploy those softwares which are compatible. By default this file is available in compatible softwares. We can select assign or publish.

2.  *.zap (ZAW Down-level Application Package)  This file is use to deploy those softwares which are release before year 2000 or non-Microsoft products.  We have to create zap file manually.  It can never be assign but always publish.

NOTE: Zap and Publish are not available in Computer Configuration Policies.

3.  *.mst (Microsoft Transformation)      This file is use upgrade and modify the package.

4.  *.msp (Microsoft Patches)       This file is bug-fixer or use to check the programming errors                                             during the software deployment.

5.  *.aas (Application Assignment Script)                This file is use to check the security during the                                                                       software deployment.