SMS: Installation Scripts for "Run Command on Workstation"

• Microsoft Systems Management Server versions 1.0, 1.1, and 1.2

SUMMARY

An installation script is required for "Run Command on Workstation" packages, if the executable file specified in the Package Command Line terminates after calling a second executable file that relies on accessing the package share location to continue.

Many applications run a setup program, and the original executable (such as Setup.exe) does not keep running throughout the duration of setup. When creating a "Run Command on Workstation" package, the executable file to run is specified. When the workstation receives that package, and the Package Command Manager (PCM) goes to run it, PCM does a NET USE to the package share location. As soon as the original executable file is finished running, PCM deletes the share. If the executable file spawned another executable file before it closed, the second application will fail if it relies on the source share. The error messages that may result from this problem vary from application to application. PCM will report in the Pcmwin.log file that the package ran successfully.

There may or may not be error messages when the installation fails, depending on the setup application. The following are examples of common error messages or problems that may be encountered:

• "Insert Disk 16 in Drive N:"
• "Unable to read from Drive N:"
• "Disk Error Drive/on Device N:"
• "Error reading Drive N"
• "Error opening file XXX"
• "Error in script line 123 - cannot open media script file"
• Buttons or windows may be blank or not drawn correctly
• The system stops responding

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, do one of the following:

• If the application to be installed is an MS-DOS-based application, or a Windows-based application on a client computer running Windows NT, it may be possible to create a batch file containing the command for the setup executable file, and then use the batch file as the command line when creating the package.
• If the application is a 16-bit application for a computer running Windows 3.1, Windows NT, or Windows 95, use Execute.exe to run a two- phase setup program under the PCM program. Execute.exe is provided with the Systems Management Server 1.2 Resource Kit, and requires a basic understanding of Visual C++.
• Copy the source files to the local hard drive, before launching setup.

MORE INFORMATION

MSTest is not the only option for writing an installation script for "Run Command on Workstation" packages. There are other options, such as using InstallShield or WINInstall, Visual Basic, C, or even Visual Test (for client computers running Windows NT only).

NOTE: If the entire setup program runs from a single executable file (many programs do), it is not necessary to write an installation script at all.

The following are some third-party applications that can be used to write an installation script:

• MSTest by Microsoft Corporation
• Visual Test by Microsoft Corporation
• InstallShield by Installshield Corporation
• WINInstall by Seagate (formerly OnDemand Software)
• WinBatch by Wilson WindowWare
• LAN Script by ABC Systems
• Wise Solutions, Inc.

For more information on this subject, see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q130373
   TITLE     : Obtaining Package ID From Within an Microsoft Test Script

   ATRICLE-ID: Q151735
   TITLE     : Visual Test 4.0 Not Supported with Windows 95 PCM

   ARTICLE-ID: Q153227
   TITLE     : PCM Requires Reboot After Executing Package

   ARTICLE-ID: Q128612
   TITLE     : SMS: Visual Basic Application Setup Fails When Executed by
               PCM

Keywords          : smsappscripts smspcm kb3rdparty kbnetwork
Version           : 1.0 1.1 1.2
Platform          : WINDOWS