Topic: Automate Custom Software Installation

[dewani]

Heya! I'm using SME Linux 7.1 for a project; and we are asked to automate installation of software (in our example anti virus, if it's not already installed) on logon on our Windows XP clients we have.

I've tried searching around for tutorials with no luck.

Has anyone got some sites/pages which will help point our group to the right detection.

The script we have to write checks if the software is installed, and if not commences installation, which is all done via the network from the SME server.

Thanks in advance for replies

[mmccarn]

Are you hoping to install with policies from within Active Directory (which I don't know how to do on SME) or are you just trying to run a logon script, which you can see some notes on here: http://wiki.contribs.org/SME_Server:Documentation:Administration_Manual:Chapter7#Setting_up_network_drives?  (For this to work you'll have to make your SME a 'domain controller' and add all of your workstations to it...)

Or, I've faked this in the past (for clients with XP home on some systems) by putting a shortcut in c:\documents and settings\All Users\Programs\Startup to 'netlogon.bat' on the server somewhere - if they connect to the server, the batch runs, otherwise they just get an error message.

[kevinb]

Yes I have done it.

Using the netlogon script and ocrpackage.exe.

Sorry but I do not have time to give details now.

I'll be back.

Kevin

[Stefano]

Hi

take a look at this:
http://www.wpkg.org/

HTH
ciao

Stefano

[cactus]

Perhaps this might get you on track as well: [Samba] Make Samba 3.0.4 PDC server as Windows update server.

[thomasch]

dewani,

you have to use smeserver as domain controller

the script that runs everytime client logon to a domain controller is :

/home/e-smith/files/samba/netlogon/netlogon.bat

the batch file script looks something like this :

net use k: \\smeserver\installerdir /persistent:no
if exist c:\program files\antivirus\TheVirusKiller.exe goto installit
goto noinstall

:installit
@echo "software antivirus not installed, proceeding installation "
k:\antivirus\TheVirusKiller_setup.exe
goto byebye

:noinstall
@echo "software antivirus already installed, no need to install it again"
:byebye

I have not try this as I don't use smeserver as a domain controller..
please correct me if I am wrong

[Stefano]

dewani,

you have to use smeserver as domain controller

the script that runs everytime client logon to a domain controller is :

the batch file script looks something like this :

I have not try this as I don't use smeserver as a domain controller..
please correct me if I am wrong

well, it will not work (AFAIR) if you log in as a simple user (not administrator)

my 2c

Stefano

[kevinb]

Here is what I do.

1.) Download and extract the OCS Inventory NG Agent from http://www.ocsinventory-ng.org/index.php?page=1-01 and the manual. You do not need to install it.

2.) Execute ocspackage.exe and follow the instructions. You will have to enter a user name and password for a user that has installation rights (domain admin).

3.) Place the resulting executable on a shared folder and call it from your login.bat file (Windows or SME domain controller).

When any user logs in the program will execute with the permissions of the user you created it with. If the program requires user interaction I do not know if it will interact with the current or created user permissions.

To find out how to execute programs with out user interaction search the web for "silent install" or some other key words. You will find several sites that list command line options for many programs. http://www.appdeploy.com/ is one.

[dewani]

woo

thanks a lot you guys
I'm going to head over to the site soon and give your tips a go, using the netlogon.bat script was an awesome idea (it was like 'click') but as nenenano advised it would make sense that users wouldn't have the proper permissions to exec the install file. The OCS Inventory Agent sounds pretty worthy I'll give that a run and try out the others too and let you guys know how it went

PS the domain controller etc has all been set up, just sort of needed some insight as of how to get this automated install process going, thanks you guys really appreciate the prompt feedback, hardout

PSS Dewani is a sweet friend of mine who just naturally thought to sign up and ask you guru's for some advice and knowledge and dang! helped beautifully 

<edit>

dewani,

you have to use smeserver as domain controller

the script that runs everytime client logon to a domain controller is :

the batch file script looks something like this :

I have not try this as I don't use smeserver as a domain controller..
please correct me if I am wrong

Thanks a million! That short and simple script worked perfectly, I just needed quotes around the windows path, and adjusted the rights for the users on Windows

</edit>