Server and Desktop Management Software

OS Image Deployment

Software Repository

Software Deployment 

Automating Software Deployment

I was looking for a solution for centralized deployment of software packages. With Desktop Central, I don't have to run around to install software locally which saves me an awful amount of time. I was really impressed with the easy setup and deployment, I was able to install DC, configure it, configure the domain and agents and push a first small software package in less than an hour.   Sven Reyniers, System Engineer, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department ELEC

Distributing, installing, updating and uninstalling software applications are common tasks in all enterprises. These tasks include a lot of processes and usually take up a lot of administrators' time and resources. Each of these tasks has to be completed in individual computers.

The Software Deployment feature in Desktop Central enables administrators to distribute, install, update and uninstall software applications remotely as well as automatically.

Desktop Central's Windows Installer feature improves the administrator's productivity by supporting remote MSI & EXE software/application deployment. Desktop Central can automatically install MSI & EXE software to users or computers at a scheduled time. Desktop Central supports software installation to users and computers or mass installation to OUs, Domains and Sites.

Creating Software Repositories

Software repositories are used to store software packages. These packages can either be for MSI-based software applications or EXE-based software applications. A software package added in Desktop Central will have the location of the installation files along with the installation and uninstallation commands. A package once added can be used to deploy the software any number of times by just defining a configuration.

Scheduled Software Deployment

Desktop Central allows administrators to schedule a software deployment to users and computers after a specified time. This is very useful in deploying the software after business hours to ensure users/computers are not affected due to this deployment. The network traffic will also be minimum at off hours.

Visibility on Software Installation Status

Desktop Central does not stop with just installing MSI/EXE software in the user machines; it also provides the status of the installation for the administrator to check whether the installation was successful in all the configured systems. The software installation status is made available in the Desktop Central client, which can be accessed from anywhere in the network through a web browser.

Uninstalling MSI and EXE-based Software

In addition to installation of Windows software, Desktop Central also provides an ability to uninstall the MSI software applications that have been installed using Desktop Central. The details of the installed software are maintained under the configurations. The administrator can just open the configuration, edit it and choose to remove the software that was previously installed.

For more details, refer to the Windows Installer topic in the online help.

Deploying Software Applications Using Templates

The Templates tab in the Software Deployment section comprises of predefined applications that you can use to create packages automatically. This functionality downloads binaries from the respective vendors' Web sites to create packages automatically. You can create a single package or multiple packages from the Templates tab and deploy them to target computers.

OS Image Deployment

Software Repository