Software deployment...

[Bobbin]

I'm looking for the best solution for software deployment in a Windows environment, primarily XP for now. Particularly where no users have admin rights. Something that can be scaled up and down to either install one package remotely and without fuss for any user to something that can be used to rollout a tested software update to a larger group.

I'm just curious as to what you guys use? Anything free would be a bonus.

I'm currently doing everything manually and soon I will be supporting nearly 300 PC's on my own

 

[bubbatentoe]

300 PC's - assuming they're all in an Active Directory environment?

Just use Group Policies (included in Windows Server running an AD - hope you're the domain or enterprise admin ).
You can download group policy objects for pretty much anything these days (for free).
Might take you a while to roll out custom software installs though (non-Microsoft stuff).

or use the "Microsoft Deployment Toolkit". (with or without System Center).

also Google "free software deployment tool"
There are hundreds.



300 PC' can be done manually.

 

[Abri]

Hi Robbin: I would suggest you have a look at: http://www.newboundary.com/products/prism-deploy The application wuill allow you to Deploy post boot applications. It also has it's own package building Technology with 100 roll back functionality. You can email me: [email protected] and I will collect your contact details and explain....if you wish.

I'm looking for the best solution for software deployment in a Windows environment, primarily XP for now. Particularly where no users have admin rights. Something that can be scaled up and down to either install one package remotely and without fuss for any user to something that can be used to rollout a tested software update to a larger group.

I'm just curious as to what you guys use? Anything free would be a bonus.

I'm currently doing everything manually and soon I will be supporting nearly 300 PC's on my own

 

[shogun]

Click-Once from right inside Visual Studio works for me. It allows applications to run inside their own little sand box (no registry editing), allows for automatic updates when you want to push one. You can roll back versions by deploying an old version to the server. You can do DVD / network deployment with updates happening over the net or local network. You can also sign the applications with a cert etc etc. It will install pre-requisites (like .Net frameworks etc) if you ask it to.

It's not as advanced as the heavy lifters out there... but very easy to maintain and easy to set up. Just do yourself a favour and learn how to use mage.exe to fine tune the setup if you go this route.

 

[Bobbin]

300 PC's - assuming they're all in an Active Directory environment?

Just use Group Policies (included in Windows Server running an AD - hope you're the domain or enterprise admin ).
You can download group policy objects for pretty much anything these days (for free).
Might take you a while to roll out custom software installs though (non-Microsoft stuff).

or use the "Microsoft Deployment Toolkit". (with or without System Center).

also Google "free software deployment tool"
There are hundreds.



300 PC' can be done manually.

I am one exam away from Enterprise Admin

Unfortunately it is corporate and they don't permit me to mess around too much on the server side. Thanks for suggestion though

300 PC's could be done if in well managed environment and if that was my only job yeah :/ haha