Supporting Other Distribution and Installation Methods by Using Command-Line Parameters

If you want to distribute a Connection Manager service profile but don't want to include it in an Internet Explorer installation package, you can use the CMAK wizard separately from the Internet Explorer Connection wizard to build a service profile. You can then distribute this service profile separately or as part of another custom installation package. You will find the information you need to build and distribute a stand-alone service profile in the CMAK Guide (see CMAK Help, available by clicking Help in the CMAK wizard). However, you may want to customize the distribution and installation method for your service profile. For example, you might want to:

• Distribute and install the Connection Manager service profile over a corporate network using Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS) to automatically handle the process without user intervention.
• Integrate the Connection Manager service profile with another product's installation package and install them both in a single process.
• Post the Connection Manager service profile to a Web site to enable users to access and install the service profile in a standard way (specifying certain installation options for the user).

These distribution and installation options can be set up programmatically after you have used the CMAK wizard to build your service profile. The Connection Manager installer, Cmstp.exe, supports command-line parameters that can be used to do the following:

• Install a service profile.
• Remove a service profile.
• Remove the Connection Manager software.

The command-line format for Cmstp.exe is as follows:

ServiceProfileFileName.exe /q:a /c:"cmstp.exe ServiceProfileFileName.inf Parameters"

where:

• ServiceProfileFileName is the name of the service profile you build with the CMAK wizard.
• The parameter, q:a, suppresses the prompt that asks users whether they want to install the profile.
• The command, /c:cmstp.exe, tells the extraction program to override the installation defaults.
• ServiceProfileFileName.inf is the full path to the file.
• Parameters are the command-line parameters supported by the Cmstp.exe installer.
• The following parameters are supported for installation:
  • /ni - Do not create a desktop icon (valid only on Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows NT 4.0) The desktop icon is the only method provided by Connection Manager to enable users to delete a profile. If you use this command-line parameter, you must provide your users with a different way to delete the service profile, such as using an Add/Remove Programs script or program. See the /u parameter for information about how to programmatically delete a service profile.
  • /ns - Do not create a desktop shortcut (valid only on computers running Windows 2000). During installation, the user can override this parameter if you have not specified the /su parameter (for silent installation).
  • /nf - Do not install the support files. CMAK automatically incorporates the required support files (.dll files) in each service profile if the service profile contains the Connection Manager software. If you distribute a Connection Manager service profile separately from the Internet Explorer installation package, you can use this option to prevent the support files from being installed. Use this option only if you are sure that your users already have the required support files on their computers (that is, if they already have Windows 98 or Internet Explorer 3.02, or later, installed on their computers).
  • /s - Install silently. This option allows automatic installation of the service profile without requiring user action to complete the installation. By default on computers running Windows 2000, the profile is installed for all users when it is installed by an administrator. The profile is installed for a single user when it is installed by a user who does not have administrative privileges.
  • /su - Install for single user only (valid only on computers running Windows 2000). During installation, the user can override this parameter if you have not specified the /su parameter (for silent installation).
  • /I - A combination of the /nf and /s parameters, used by the IEAK to install a Connection Manager profile as part of an Internet Explorer installation package.
• The parameters supported for uninstalling and migrating are as follows:
  • /x - Uninstall Connection Manager.
  • /u - Uninstall the service profile.
  • /m - Migrate Connection Manager 1.0 service profiles to the current version when installing Connection Manager 1.2 (valid only on computers running Windows 2000).

Note To display Help for the command-line installation parameters, type cmstp.exe /?.

If you do not specify parameters for the Cmstp.exe file, the following defaults are used:

• On computers running Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows NT 4.0: the installation is not silent, support files are automatically installed with the profile, and a desktop icon is created. The profile launches upon installation.
• On computers running Windows 2000, installation is not silent, support files are not installed, and the user is prompted to change installation options. Unless the user changes the options, the profile is installed for use by all users (when installed by an administrator), and a desktop icon is created when a user preference for desktop shortcuts is detected.