Application Deployment Concepts

The following section contains information for administrators who want to deploy standard applications using Specops Deploy/App. It is best practice to test Application Deployment methods prior to deploying with Specops Deploy.

If possible, utilize MSI packages for applications. Windows Installer is a Microsoft technology that is built into the operating system and defines a common standard for the setup of packages. Specops Deploy natively manages Windows Installer packages and retrieves more detailed information from the setups than most other tools. Many applications and the installation parameters associated with them have been documented at the following site: www.itninja.com/

Deploy Google Chrome

  1. Download the Google Chrome for Business installer MSI.
  2. Extract the Google Chrome source files to a share file server or DFS location that can be used with Specops Deploy.
  3. Open the GPMC and navigate to the GPO being used to deploy applications.
  4. Right click on the GPO, and select Edit.
  5. In the Group Policy Management Editor, expand:
    • Group Policy Name>Computer Configuration>Software Settings>Specops Deploy

    or

    • Group Policy Name>User Configuration>Software Settings>Specops Deploy
  6. Select Click here to deploy a package.
  7. Click New package.
  8. Select Windows Installerpackage, and click OK.
  9. Enter a name and description for the Package Category, and click OK.
  10. Browse to the location of the file, and click Open.
    NOTE
    • The path to the source files should be in the UNC format.
    • The Package Properties will automatically be updated with the information from the Windows Installer package. All other properties may be left at the default setting.
  11. Click OK to save the new package.
  12. In the new dialog box, select the Chrome package, and click OK.
  13. Select an existing Target from the target drop-box, or click New… to create a new Target. If you are creating a new target you will need to:
    • In the name text field, enter a name for the target.
    • In the navigation pane, select Target criteria.
    • Specify the target criteria, and click OK.
  14. Select the installation type, and click OK.

Deploy Microsoft Office 2013

  1. Extract the Office 2013 source files to a share file server or DFS location that can be used with Specops Deploy.
  2. Open a command prompt and navigate to the locate containing the Office 2013 source files.
  3. Type setup.exe/admin to launch the Microsoft Office Customization Tool.
  4. Configure Microsoft Office 2013 according to your needs:
    • Select Install location and organization name from the left pane and enter your organization name.
    • Select Licensing and user interface from the left pane and perform the following:
      • Enter the Product Key.
      • Select the I accept the terms in the License Agreement checkbox.
      • Set the display level to none if you want the setup to run silently.
      • Select the Suppress modal checkbox.
  5. Save the file in the updates folder in your installation files and name it custom.msp.
  6. Open the Specops Deploy/App GPMC snap-in.
  7. Select Click here to deploy a package.
  8. Click New Package….
  9. Select legacy package, and click OK.
  10. Enter a name and description for the Package Category.
  11. Browse to the location of the file, and click Open.
    Note: The path to the source files should be in the UNC format.
  12. Verify that the Package Properties field has automatically been updated, and enter a description for the package in the text field.
  13. In the navigation pane, select Installation options.
  14. In the Install command field enter:
    \\filesrv01.domain.com\applications\office2013\setup.exe, OR\\dfslocation.domain.com\applications\office2013\setup.exe
  15. In the navigation pane, select Uninstallation options.
  16. In the Uninstall command text box, enter: %SpecopsDeployExecuteDir%\setup.exe
  17. In the Uninstall command parameters text box, enter: /uninstall ProPlus /config silentunistall.xml
    Note: The following SilentUninstall.xml file should be placed in the same folder as the office setup.exe.
  18. Click OK.
  19. In the new dialog box, select the Office 2013 package, and click OK.
  20. Select an existing Target from the target drop-box, or click New… to create a new Target. If you are creating a new target you will need to:
    • In the name text field, enter a name for the target.
    • In the navigation pane, select Target criteria.
    • Specify the target criteria, and click OK.
  21. In the navigation pane, select End user interaction.
  22. Enable Display user interface, and click OK.
  23. Use Specops GPUpdate to remotely refresh Group Policy on the targeted machines to begin installation.

Deploy Microsoft Office 2010

  1. Extract the Office 2010 source files to a share file server or DFS location that can be used with Specops Deploy.
  2. Open a command prompt and navigate to the locate containing the extract Office 2010 source files.
  3. Type setup.exe/admin to launch the Microsoft Office Customization Tool.
  4. Configure Microsoft Office 2010 according to your needs:
    • Set the display level to none if you want the setup to run silently.
    • Enter the license key.
  5. Save the settings to an msp file in the root folder of the Office 2010 source files.
  6. Open the Specops Deploy/App GPMC snap-in.
  7. Select Click here to deploy a package.
  8. Click New Package….
  9. Select legacy package, and click OK.
  10. Enter a name and description for the Package Category.
  11. Browse to the location of the file, and click Open.
    Note: The path to the source files should be in the UNC format.
  12. Verify that the Package Properties field has automatically been updated, and enter a description for the package in the text field.
  13. In the navigation pane, select Installation options.
  14. In the Install command field enter:
    \\filesrv01\applications\office2010\setup.exe, OR\\dfslocation\applications\office2010\setup.exe
  15. In the Install command parameters field enter:
    \\filesrv01\applications\office2010\officeinstall.msp, OR\\dfslocation\applications\office2010\officeinstall.msp
  16. Click OK.
  17. In the new dialog box, select the Office 2010 package, and click OK.
  18. Select an existing Target from the target drop-box, or click New… to create a new Target. If you are creating a new target you will need to:
    • In the name text field, enter a name for the target.
    • In the navigation pane, select Target criteria.
    • Specify the target criteria, and click OK.
  19. In the navigation pane, select End user interaction.
  20. Enable Display user interface, and click OK.
  21. Use Specops GPUpdate to remotely refresh Group Policy on the targeted machines to begin installation.