Software Distribution

Dell World User Forum

UFIL520: Software Distribution

Shawn Carson, Senior Trainer

John Verbosky, Senior Trainer

Dell WorldUser Forum


Agenda

• Package Configuration

– Package Customization

– Automating Manual Software Installers

• Deployment Options

– Managed Installs vs. Scripting

– Uninstalls

• Troubleshooting Basics

– Install media options

– KACE Logs

– Windows Event Logs

– PSExec for Local System account testing

• Demonstrations and Q&A


Package Configuration


Package Configuration: Customization Tools

• Some vendors/packages supply customization tools. Examples:

– Office Customization Tool

– AAMEE

– Autodesk products

• Customization tools allow you to configure a software installation

– You can enter license codes

– Change install directories

– Select what applications are installed as part of software suites


Microsoft Office Customization Tool

• To load the Office Customization tool run “setup.exe /admin” from a command line

• You can enter the product license

• Set display level seen by user during deployment

• Select what features of office are installed

• Configure security settings


Adobe’s AAMEE customization Tool


Exercise: Adobe Customization Wizard


Automating Manual Software Installers

• Manual Installers

– Occasionally software does not support command line installation

– Manual installations can be costly both in labor and productivity

– Automating this process can allow your IT staff to better utilize their time

• AutoIt

• MakeBatchFiles

• Visual Basic

• KScripts


Deployment Options


Deployment Options

Scripting File Synchronization

Managed Installs

• Trigger based upon check-in

• Can launch batch files.

• Limited options when

deploying multi-file software in specific order with checks

• Runs as Local System

• Large Installer Packages

• Allows for specific time

deployment schedules

• Used for more complex

installs, especially multi-file installs

• Can perform prerequisiteverification and also has logic

to check each step completes successfully

• Online scripts can be run as

any user account

• Is great for placing files on endpoints for deployment later

• File Synchs are good if the software is simply a collection of files or an executable that is placed on the desktop


Managed Installation / Uninstallation Creation

Run (Test) Deployment

Software Inventory Item

Upload MediaSelect Operating Systems

Create Managed Installation with Install Command and Parameters

Target Test Device(s)


Managed Installation / Uninstallation Deployment

Report results to K1000

Device Performs Inventory

Does it already have Software Item?

Download Package, unzip if necessary

Run Install / Uninstall Command

Verify Software Item now installed


Deployment Options

• After examining the method necessary to package the software you can then determine what the best deployment method will be for that software

• Having the correct deployment method will save you many headaches

– Trying to deploy software at a specific time? Script

– Need to check for the presence of a prerequisite? Script

– Local System won’t work? Script

– Simple, small, silent installer? Managed Installation

– Want to deploy it whenever devices happen to be around? Managed Installation


Exercise: Scripting Software Installation


Uninstalls

The K1000 can also be used to uninstall applications, using

either Managed Installations, or Scripts.

A common problem is applications with multiple versions, each

with their own uninstall command.

ITNinja Community may have the answer… Reporting May

also have answers.


Tools to find Uninstall Commands

• Most uninstall Commands can be found in the Software Detail Record

MsiExec.exe /I{AC76BA86-7AD7-1033-7B44-AB0000000001}

Change to: MsiExec.exe/qn /x {AC76BA86-7AD7-1033-7B44-AB0000000001}

There are many tools out there to help you better get multiple uninstall

Commands that will not need to be modified. Your going to see

Two of these methods today.


How to find uninstall strings

• Uninstall string Helper by DC -http://www.itninja.com/blog/view/how-to-find-uninstall-strings – Last line before the Comments: “Here's the download link.”


Uninstall String Helper ( cont.)

• Once you click start you will then have the ability to choose to gather uninstall strings from a remote machine or local machine.


Exercises: Uninstalling


Troubleshooting


What happens if an Install fails?

• One of the first things to do is verify that the file made it to the test machine. For Windows 7 systems this will be located at C:\programdata\Dell\Kace\downloads.

• Once you verify the file downloaded try to run the file at that location to verify the file is not corrupted



• Next we need to test our command line. Remember the K1000 agent runs as the local system account so you will need to mimic running this from the local system account.

– Windows 7

– Download PsExec : http://download.sysinternals.com/files/PSTools.zip

– Copy it to c:\pstools

– Make sure the local Administrator account is enabled. In Windows 7 the default is for this account to be disabled. To enable the local administrator account, open a command prompt in administrator mode by right clicking on it and selecting “Run as administrator”. Type in: net user administrator /active: yes

– From a command prompt launch run the following in order to open an additional command prompt with the appropriate privilege level: c:\pstools\psexec.exe -accepteula -i -s "%windir%\system32\cmd.exe" -accepteula

…Note: you need the accepteula twice.


Demo: PSExec


Logging Options

Package

Supported

Options

Devil is in the detailsLogging can be an important tool for any task.

Command

Line Logging

Package-

Generated

Logs



• If all of this checks out then we need to gather logs for support

• To gather logs we must be sure to enable debug logs on the test system. To do this use this article: http://www.kace.com/support/resources/kb/solutiondetail?sol=SOL112035

• After you’ve enabled debug logs we need to attempt the deployment again for it to appear in the logs.



• Next use the Kapture State tool to gather the logs: 2.0: https://support.software.dell.com/kb/116144

• At that point you could contact support, though you can do investigation into the log results from the Kapture State Utility.


Demo: KaptureState 2.0


Common Distribution Problems

• Package uploaded to wrong Software

Inventory Item

• OS not selected on Software Inventory

Item

• Package Downloading (Replication

Share?)

• Unzipping

• 7-Zip

• Normal Compression

• Command-Line

• Use Default vs. Override Default

• Security/Authentication

• Local System Account

• User Logged On / Off


Thank you.


KACE Support Portal Migrating to Dell Software Support Portal

• Starting in November, all KACE Support Portal material will be migrated to the Dell Software Support Portal

• All service requests will be submitted online or by phone

• Same great content

– Knowledge base articles

– Video tutorials

– Product documentation

– JumpStart training

• Check out the Support Portal Getting Started videos