Upgrading Specops Client

Upgrading the Specops Client follows the same procedure as the initial installation.

The Specops Client is installed with an MSI-based installer. Note that upgrading the Specops Client will overwrite the installed Client.

If installed, the Specops Client can be found in “Add/Remove Programs” or “Programs and Features” from within the Windows Control Panel. Versions and releases may vary.

NOTE
Older versions of the Specops Client can be identified as “Specops uReset Client” or “Specops Password Client.”

The Specops Client can be used across the following Specops Software products:

  • Specops Password Reset
  • Specops Password Policy
  • Specops uReset

Upgrading the Specops Client

Organizations using Specops Password Policy only, need to deploy the Specops Client MSI. The CefSharp Runtime MSI is not required for this scenario.

Organizations using Specops uReset or Specops Password Reset, need to deploy the CefSharp Runtime MSI in addition to the Specops Client MSI. The CefSharp Runtime MSI is required by the Secured Browser used for resetting passwords.

Since the Specops Client uses a specific version of the CefSharp Runtime MSI, it is important to deploy the latest CefSharp Runtime MSI at the same time or before deploying the Specops Client MSI.

While the Specops Client MSI only can be installed with exactly 1 version, multiple versions of the CefSharp Runtime MSI can be installed at the same time. The purpose with this is to simplify deployment in a larger organization.

The recommended flow for upgrading the Specops Client is:

  1. Deploy the latest CefSharp Runtime MSI, if it's not already deployed
  2. Deploy the latest Specops Client MSI
  3. Undeploy any previous versions of the CefSharp Runtime MSI, if necessary
  4. Download and update the administrative (ADMX) templates to have the latest version in place. In most cases no configuration changes are needed, unless explicitly stated in release notes. See the section below about configuration of the Specops Client.
NOTE

When using Specops Client in conjunction with a password reset tool:

The latest CefSharp browser runtime version is required if Specops uReset/Specops Password Reset is used (Specops Password Policy only customers don't need the CefSharp browser runtime). It is recommended to deploy the CefSharp browser runtime before the Specops Client itself.

Installation/upgrade behavior for CefSharp browser runtime has been changed. Installing a newer CefSharp runtime will no longer replace the older installed runtime. Instead, multiple CefSharp browser versions can co-exist. The intention is to be able to do a rollout in an organization, where the new CefSharp browser first is deployed. Once deployed, the Specops Client can be upgraded. This will make it easier to make sure that the Specops Client works on all computers during an upgrade, regardless of whether the latest CefSharp browser runtime has been deployed yet or not.

The Specops Client needs to be installed on the organization’s client computers, either by installing manually or by deploying using a deployment tool.

Downloading the Specops Client

Download the MSI from the download page directly. Users installing Specops Password Policy can also access the download page via the Password Policy installer's Download Client Installation Files section.

Deploying the Specops Client

To deploy the Specops Client to all users, use GPSI, Specops Deploy/App, or any other deployment tool. Specops Client supports silent install when deploying using a deployment tool. The client MSI can be deployed silently using standard MSI switches (e.g. /qn). There are no Specops command line parameters for the MSI installation.

Manually Installing or upgrading the Specops Client

  1. Open the Specops Client Setup wizard you just downloaded (.msi file)
  2. In the wizard, click Next.
  3. Accept the License Agreement by checking the checkbox, and click Next.
  4. Select the location where the Client should be installed (default path is C:\Program Files\Specopssoft\Specops Client\), then click Next.
  5. Click Install.
  6. Once the installation has completed, click Finish.

Configuring the Specops Client

The Specops Client can be configured using the administrative template in the Group Policy Management Console. For more information on its configuration, please refer to the Specops Client page.