Software Deployment Troubleshooting Scenarios

By Author: Mike Jones
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Table 12-3 describes some troubleshooting scenarios related to MCITP software deployed with Group Policy.
Max has indicated that he wants more control over software deployment and wants to leverage his investment in Windows Server 2003. The main software requirements of the company include Microsoft Office XP for all users, a third-party program used by the Marketing department, an application used by the Finance department for billing and accounting, and a proprietary shipping application developed for Wide World Importers. While all users utilize Office XP, they don't all use the same applications. Many users utilize only Microsoft Outlook and Word, while others also make use of Microsoft Access and PowerPoint. Still others use Excel on a daily basis.
The Software Installation extension in the Group Policy Object Editor console enables administrators to centrally manage the installation of software on a client computer by assigning applications to users or computers or by publishing applications for users.
When you assign an application to a user, the application ...
... is advertised windows 7 configuration to the user on the Start menu the next time he or she logs on to a workstation, and local registry settings, including filename extensions, are updated.
You can deploy software using the Software Installation extension by using a Windows Installer package.
Modifications enable you to customize Windows Installer packages. Modifications can be transform (,mst) or patch (.msp) files. You cannot deploy .mst or .msp files alone. They must modify an existing Windows Installer package.
The tasks for deploying software with Group Policy are the following: plan and prepare the software deployment, set up an SDP, create a GPO and a GPO console for software deployment, specify the software deployment properties for the GPO, add Windows Installer packages to the GPO and select package deployment method, and set Windows Installer package properties.
You can redeploy an application previously deployed with Group Policy if there are small changes that need to be made to the original software deployment configuration.
To upgrade software deployed with Group Policy, you must first create a Windows Installer package that contains the upgrade and then configure the upgrade in the Upgrades ccna exam questions tab in the Properties dialog box for the package.