You can update applications deployed through Software Installation policy by using an update or service pack or by deploying a new version of the application. Each task is performed in a slightly different way.
Deploying software throughout your organization
Software Installation policy uses either Windows Installer Packages (.msi) or ZAW Down-Level Application Packages (.zap). When you use computer assignment, user assignment, or user publishing, you can deploy software by using Windows Installer Packages. When you use user publishing, you can deploy software by using either Windows Installer Packages or ZAW Down-Level Application Packages. With either technique, you must set file permissions on the installer package so that the appropriate computer and user accounts have read access.
Because Software Installation policy is applied only during foreground processing of policy settings, per-computer application deployments are processed at startup and per-user application deployments are processed at logon. You can customize installation by using transform (.mst) files. Transform files modify the installation process according to the settings you defined for specific computers and users.
You can deploy software by following these steps:
1. In the GPMC, press and hold or right-click the GPO you want to use for the deployment, and then tap or click Edit.
2. In the policy editor, open Computer Configuration\Policies\Software Settings\Software Installation or User Configuration\Policies\Software Settings\Software Installation as appropriate for the type of software deployment.
3. Press and hold or right-click Software Installation. On the shortcut menu, tap or click New, and then tap or click Package.
4. In the Open dialog box, go to the network share where your package is located, tap or click the package to select it, and then tap or click Open.
NOTE Windows Installer Packages (.msi) is selected by default in the Files Of Type list. If you are performing a user publishing deployment, you can also choose ZAW Down-Level Application Packages (.zap) as the file type.
5. In the Deploy Software dialog box, shown in Figure 6–5, select one of the following deployment methods, and then tap or click OK:
■ Published To publish the application without modifications
■ Assigned To assign the application without modifications
■ Advanced To deploy the application by using advanced configuration options
FIGURE 6–5 Select the deployment method.
Configuring software deployment options
You can view and set general options for a software package by following these steps:
1. In the GPMC, press and hold or right-click the GPO you want to use for the deployment, and then tap or click Edit.
2. In the policy editor, access Computer Configuration\Policies\Software Settings\Software Installation or User Configuration\Policies\Software Settings\Software Installation as appropriate for the type of software deployment.
3. Double-tap or double-click the Software Installation package. In the Properties dialog box, review or modify software deployment options.
4. On the Deployment tab, shown in Figure 6–6, you can change the deployment type and configure the following deployment and installation options:
■ Auto-Install This Application By File Extension Activation Advertises any file extensions associated with this package for install-on-firstuse deployment. This option is selected by default.
■ Uninstall This Application When It Falls Out Of The Scope Of Management Removes the application if it no longer applies to the user.
■ Do Not Display This Package In The Add/Remove Programs Control Panel Prevents the application from appearing in Add/Remove Programs, which prevents a user from uninstalling an application.
■ Install This Application At Logon Configures full installation-rather than advertisement-of an application when the user logs on. This option cannot be set when you publish a package for users.
■ Installation User Interface Options Controls how the installation is performed. With the default setting, Maximum, the user gets all setup screens and messages during installation. With the Basic option, the user gets only error and completion messages during installation.
FIGURE 6–6 Review and modify the deployment options as necessary.
5. Tap or click OK.
Updating deployed software
When an application uses a Windows Installer package, you can apply an update or service pack to a deployed application by following these steps:
1. After you obtain an .msi file or .msp (security update) file containing the update or service pack to be applied, copy the .msi or .msp file and any new installation files to the folder containing the original .msi file. Overwrite any duplicate files as necessary.
2. In the GPMC, press and hold or right-click the GPO you want to use for the deployment, and then tap or click Edit.
3. In the policy editor, access Computer Configuration\Policies\Software Settings\Software Installation or User Configuration\Policies\Software Settings\Software Installation as appropriate for the type of software deployment.
4. Press and hold or right-click the package with which you want to work. On the shortcut menu, tap or click All Tasks, and then tap or click Redeploy Application.
5. When prompted to confirm the action, tap or click Yes. The application is then redeployed to all users and computers as appropriate for the GPO with which you are working.
When an application uses an Installer package that is not Windows-based, you can update a deployed application or apply a service pack by following these steps:
1. In the GPMC, press and hold or right-click the GPO you want to use for the deployment, and then tap or click Edit.
2. In the policy editor, access Computer Configuration\Policies\Software Settings\Software Installation or User Configuration\Policies\Software Settings\Software Installation as appropriate for the type of software deployment.
3. Press and hold or right-click the package. On the shortcut menu, tap or click All Tasks, and then tap or click Remove. Tap or click OK to accept the default option of immediate removal.
4. Copy the new.zap file and all related files to a network share, and redeploy the application.
Upgrading deployed software
You can upgrade a previously deployed application to a new version by following these steps:
1. Obtain a Windows Installer file for the new software version, and copy it along with all required files to a network share. Alternatively, you can perform an administrative installation to the network share.