MSI Packages (User Management)

MSI Packages*

The MSI Packages object is used to configure the deployment of applications throughout the enterprise. The MSI Packages object supports the deployment of Windows Installer MSI, MST and MSP packages. Using a Windows Installer package ensures that applications are installed, updated and uninstalled in a consistent manner throughout the enterprise.

The MSI Packages settings tab provides the interface to select a previously published package and one or more transfer files, and add desired Windows Installer command line options. In addition, you can choose to distribution server that will serve the package to the desktops that validate for this configuration element.

Packages may be installed/uninstalled asynchronously or synchronously and they may be installed without user notification (silent), if desired.

Settings

MSI packages

Select Package

Click the Select Package button to select a previously published MSI package to install/uninstall on client computers.

Action

Select Install or Uninstall from the Action list to define the action for the MSI Packages element.

Asynchronous

Select this box to run the MSI installation asynchronously. In asynchronous mode, the installation will run at the same time as others. If this check box is cleared, applications will install one after another. Each installation must complete before the next one will begin.

Silent

Select this box to execute the desired action on the selected package without displaying any user interface to the end user. Clear the box to display the full user interface from the MSI to the end user.

Additional package options

Published transform files

Transform files provide configuration settings to be used during the installation of a package. One use of a Transform file is to automatically provide responses to prompts during the installation, for example, to provide an installation path or serial number, so the end user does not have to.

To enable the use of Transform files, there must be at least one published MST. MST files are published within the Software Management global object. Both the Add and Delete buttons will be disabled if there are no published MST files in the software repository.

Click Add Files to use one or more transform files to the Transform Files list. Click Delete to remove selected transform files from the Transform Files list.

Additional command line options

MSIEXEC, the Windows Installer executable program installs packages and products, is called to deploy Windows Installer files. Based on the configurations for the MSI Packages object, specific command line options are passed to MSIEXEC. To use additional command line options, enter the switches in this box. For example, entering /norestart will not allow the computer to restart following the install/uninstall, even if the MSI calls for it. All switches entered into this box will be passed to MSIEXEC in addition to any command options that are part of the MSI Packages configurations.

Using additional command line options will prevent reporting on the Installer file.

Distribution servers

Select Automatic selection to copy the Windows Installer packages to the client from the auto-selected server. Select Use specific server(s) to define a specific server to copy the Windows Installer package file from. Separate multiple server names using a semicolon (;).

For configuration information on the Update Service, see What is the Update Service?

If requested packages are not available on the client machine, suspend the startup/shutdown process until they are downloaded

Select this box to copy the necessary file if it does not exist on the client. This request is sent to a server that is a designated download server. Once requested, the Installer file will be copied (if necessary) and duplicated on the distribution server.  

Any client that requests the same Installer file from a distribution server following the duplication of the Installer file will receive the file for installation.

Clear this box to continue processing if the Installer file does not exist at the specified location. The client will check for the file during future logons until it can be installed successfully.

User options

User options

Hide all progress indicators

Select this box to hide the package deployment progress indicators. These include the machine assessment dialog as well as package download and install/uninstall dialogs.

Defer packages option

Allow user to defer packages

Select this box to allow the end user to defer the installation of a package to another session. The ability to Defer a Package only applies to synchronous installations only.

Number of times the user can defer package installation before the package is installed automatically

Enter the number of times a user can defer the package installation. Once the package has been deferred the selected number of times, the installation will no longer be allowed to be deferred and the package will automatically be installed.

Amount of time in seconds for the user to respond before the package is installed

Enter the number of seconds the user has to respond to the defer package installation dialog. If there is no response to the dialog and the number of seconds expires, the package will automatically be installed.

Validation Logic

Select the Validation Logic tab to set the validation rules for this element.

Notes

Select the Notes tab to create any additional notes needed to document the profile element.

Description

When adding or modifying a profile object element, the description appears above the settings tab. Enter a description to annotate the element. The default value for new profile elements can be changed by going to the system Preferences.