How to deploy software applications to remote offices?

Description

You can deploy software-application packages to remote offices using:

• HTTP (recommended)
• Network share

Note: The network share mentioned above is created in the respective remote offices. It is not the same network share that is available in the Desktop Central server.

This document provides steps required to deploy software applications to remote offices.

Steps

To deploy software applications to remote offices, follow the steps given below:

Using the HTTP upload option

The HTTP upload option allows you to upload files required to install a software application directly. It is recommended that you use this option. To deploy a software application to a remote office using the HTTP upload option, follow the steps given below:

1. Click the Software Deployment tab
2. Click Add Package
3. Select the package type
4. Enter a name for the application
5. Select HTTP Path (URL)
6. Click Add More
7. Click Choose File
8. Choose the required file
9. Click Open
10. Enter the required information depending on the package type. For example, installation commands if you are creating an MSIEXEC/EXE/ISS/Command package and the file name if you are creating an MSI package.
11. Select the required advanced options, if any
12. Click Add Package
13. On the Packages page, click the Install Software icon against the package you want to install
14. Create a configuration
15. Click Deploy

You have deployed a software package to specific computers in your network. The configuration settings are now stored in the Desktop Central server.

In a remote office with a distribution server, the distribution server contacts the Desktop Central server to get information about configuration settings during the communication interval that takes place every 2 minutes. Once it has replicated the information about configuration settings from the Desktop Central server, the WAN agents will contact the distribution server and collect information about the configuration settings. This takes place during the agent's 90-minute refresh cycle, during startup or during logon whichever takes place earlier.

Using the Network Share option

The network share allows you to store files required to install a software application in a common shared folder that is available in a remote office. Each remote office will have a different network share. Therefore, if you want to deploy a software application in two remote offices, you have to create two separate packages for each remote office. To deploy a software application to a remote office using the network share option, follow the steps given below:

1. Click the Software Deployment tab
2. Click Add Package
3. Select the package type
4. Enter a name for the application
5. Select Network Path
6. Click Add More
7. Enter the required information depending on the package type. For example, installation commands if you are creating an MSIEXEC/EXE/ISS/Command package and the file name with the network path, if you are creating an MSI package.

   Note: The file name with the network path should be entered manually.

8. Select the required advanced options, if any
9. Click Add Package
10. On the Packages page, click the Install Software icon against the package you want to install
11. Create a configuration
12. Click Deploy

You have deployed a software package to specific computers in your network. The configuration settings are now stored in the network share folder in the remote office.

In a remote office with only WAN agents, the WAN agents access the network-share folder and collect information about the configuration settings. This takes place during the agent's 90-minute refresh cycle, during startup or during logon whichever takes place earlier.

You have deployed a software application to a remote office.