Distrubution of .msi files via AD

[cultavix]

Does anyone have any good websites or any kind of resource I may use to learn how to distrubute .msi files through my AD network ? My network consists of about 50 machines and about 25 notebooks. Do I just add a line launching the program via a logon script with certain switches? If it that simple, maybe someone can just explain it briefly on here?

THanks alot guys... ;)

[cpugeniusmv]

IIRC, it's in Group Policy. i don't have a win2k3 machine available to me right now, so I can't explain exactly how to do it.

[pow3rhouse]

very easy to do, create a new gpo and under software (either computer or user but i would recomend computer) create a new software package and piont it to your msi

[Joel]

Yep, it's that easy. You can even create your own MSI, but test them extensively if you do, before you deploy them.

[cultavix]

Thanks for your replies. I guess it's my fault because I didnt tell you what enviroment I will be performing these distributions of msi's. I am running the following:

Windows 2000 Server

Logon Script (*.bat(drive mapping like net use)),

50 Machines connected through 2 Dell GIgabit Switches on 5e patch cable (lol didn't really need to know all that, just mentioning)

So I guess basically, I wan't to find out.....how I can start up a client machine, and have it launch an installation file (*.msi) and configure itself to my predetermined settings and be ready for use as the use logs on, unless there needs to be a restart That's all.

Thanks neowiners!

[Joel]

Are you running Active Directory?

http://kb.indiana.edu/data/akck.html?cust=659342.05702.30

If you make your own MSI, you will need to configure the package after configuring your app.