How to use Group Policy to install software through Network in Windows Sever 2008

We can use two methods to do this task. One method is assigning other one is publishing.

Assigning Software

If you assign the program to a user, it is installed when the user logs on to the computer. When the user first runs the program, the installation is finalized.

Publishing Software

You can publish a program to users. When the user logs on to the computer, the published program is displayed in the Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel

Create a Distribution Point

To publish or assign a computer program, you must create a distribution point on the 2008 server.

NOTE: Before publish or assign software you need MSI (Microsoft Software Installer) file. (Like exe setup file.)

1.       Log on to the 2008 server as an administrator.

2.       Create a shared network folder in which to place the Microsoft Software Installer (MSI) package that you want to distribute.

3.       Set permissions on the share to allow access to the distribution package.

4.       Copy the MSI package to the distribution point.

Create a Group Policy Object

NOTE: Before you do this task you should move your users in to one OU which users do you want to deploy the software.

1.       Go to start then click administrative tools then open Group Policy Management.

2.       Right click your OU and select create a GPO in this domain and link it here.

3.       Type a name and ok.

4.       Then select your OU and right click your GPO and select edit

Assign a Package

1.       Select User Configuration then Policies then selects Software settings then right click the Software Installation and select new package.

Note: If you select computer configuration software deployment will effect to all computers in your OU. If you select user configuration software deployment will effect to all users in your OU.

2.       In the Open dialog box, type the full UNC path to the shared folder that contains the MSI package that you want. For example, \\ server\share\file name.msi.

            Note: Do not browse to the location. Ensure that you use the UNC path to the shared folder.

3.       Select Assigned

4. Right Click the Installation package then click properties

5.    Then go to deployment tab then select Install this application at logon then press ok

Publish a Package

1. Select User Configuration then Policies then select Software settings then right click the Software Installation and select new package.

Note: If you select computer configuration software deployment will effect to all computers in your OU. If you select user configuration software deployment will effect to all users in your OU.

2. In the Open dialog box, type the full UNC path to the shared folder that contains the MSI package that you want. For example, \\ server\share\file name.msi.

            Note: Do not browse to the location. Ensure that you use the UNC path to the shared folder.

3. Select Published

Test the package:

a.       Log on to a Client computer by using an account to which you published the package.

b.       Open Control Panel.

c.        Double-click Add/Remove Programs or click Add or Remove Programs), and then click Add New Programs.

d.       In the Add programs from your network list, click the program that you published, and then click Add. The program is installed.

e.       Click OK, and then click Close.

Remove a Package

To remove a published or assigned package:

1.       Open Group Policy Management

2.       Select your OU and edit GPO

3.       Expand the Software Settings container that contains the Software installation item with which you deployed the package.

4.       Right click the  package.

5.       Go to all tasks then click remove

6.       Do one of the following:

o    Click Immediately uninstall the software from users and computers, and then click OK.

o    Click Allow users to continue to use the software, but prevent new installations, and then click OK.

Thanks for Reading… Have a nice day..!