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Ideas to Simplify packaging process to deliver 80% of package in a maximum 3 working days including documentation and booking in software distribution tool?

Hi,

To make it simple,the current process in my company is to automate almost everything to be able to distribute software with Altiris.

We are creating around 250 packages per year, we are using AdminStudio

We were sticking as much as possible to MSI but it takes time for low value(I know MSI technology since a while but the trend is now changing) so I'm thinking about working as much as possible with the original vendor setup/msi/mst/whatever and Altiris will deal with it.

So I mean : almost no repackaging and use the setup /s from the vendor and/or msi/mst and then book the command line in Altiris.

Does anyone here have experience in working like that?

If yes what are the challenge you have been facing?

I hope I was clear.

Thanks


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Answers (1)

Posted by: vjaneczko 10 years ago
9th Degree Black Belt
1

There's always a debate and a trade-off on how to distribute applications.  When talking with our clients about creating packages, we discuss three types; transforms, response files and recaptures.  MST files are always best, but to use that format 100% of the time is not always the best solution.  Running a setup capture may work for most of the legacy apps, but not all – just try packaging a driver or DirectX (for fun) and you’ll see what I mean.

 

So what we do is see if we can extract an MSI from an EXE.  If we can, we create a transform.  If not, we see if we can create a response file to run the native install silently. If we have to incorporate configuration files or reg keys, we’ll determine if we (a) create a script that executes everything, or (b) recapture everything.  A recapture is done if we can’t create a response file.  It’s also a good idea to think about the repair or uninstall process when looking at an install script.

 

We also consider the number of installs to be done; we draw the line at 5.  Anything less and we manually install it instead of creating a package.

 


Comments:
  • Thanks for sharing, we are really having hard discussion in my company about it so I need inputs from expert. - SlipDeBain 10 years ago

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