Using Systems Management Server to Deploy Windows 2000
Using Systems Management Server to Deploy Windows 2000 |
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Systems Management Server software distribution is based on multiple components and tasks which allow you to completely control the process.
SMS software distribution starts with an SMS package. The package, the basic unit of software distribution, contains the source files for the program and the details that direct the software distribution process.
Each package contains at least one program, which is a command line that runs on each targeted computer to control the execution of the package. Programs can direct the installation of software or contain any other command line to be run at each targeted computer. Most packages also contain package source files, such as software installation files, that are used by the program when it runs.
Some software applications provide extensive installation options. Other packages and tools do not. If the program you want to distribute does not provide appropriate setup options, such as unattended operation, you can use SMS Installer to prepare your program for software distribution. SMS Installer can generate attended and unattended installation scripts that you can fully customize. This kind of scripting is not appropriate for the Windows 2000 upgrade. However, it might be useful for packages that are sent prior to the Windows 2000 upgrade to prepare the computer, or for packages that are sent after the upgrade to finalize the configuration. For more information about SMS Installer, see "Creating Self-Extracting Files with SMS Installer 2.0" in the Microsoft® Systems Management Server Administrator's Guide.
You can create a package by using Packages in the SMS Administrator console, or you can create or obtain a package definition file and use the Create Package from Definition wizard. A package definition file is an alternative, noninteractive way to create a package. It is a formatted file that contains all the information necessary to create the package. A package definition file for Windows 2000 is included with SMS 2.0. You can use SMS tools and wizards to create packages from package definition files without user interaction. When a package has been created, use the SMS Manage Distribution Points wizard to choose the distribution points.
Packages also contain information about software distribution, such as the directory for the package source files. Distribution Points are shares on site systems where the package source files are copied for access by client computers. Packages also include information about how and when to update distribution points. For ease of administration, you can group distribution points into Distribution Point Groups.
When package files need to be propagated to other sites, SMS compresses these files for sending between sites. You can also create and use a compressed copy of the package source files within the originating site.
You can control the distribution of a package by using Distribution Points, which is under the definition of the package under Packages in the SMS Administrator console.
After you create the Windows 2000 package, you advertise one or more of the package's programs to your users by creating an advertisement. An advertisement specifies what program is available to client computers, which computers will receive the advertisement, and when the program will be scheduled for installation. Figure 14.2 shows the software distribution process.
When an advertisement is received at an SMS client, the user can still have some control over the scheduling of the package. The advertisement can be run in a special privileged mode so that you need not give privileges to users. You can also run the advertisement so that it operates without any intervention from the user.
You create an advertisement by using Advertisements in the SMS Administrator console.
Figure 14.2 SMS 2.0 Software Distribution Process
For more information about SMS software distribution, see the Systems Management Server Administrator's Guide.
With large software distributions, such as Windows 2000, it is important to note the two phases of Systems Management Server 2.0 software distribution: distribution and advertising. Distribution gets the software close to the computers to be upgraded. Advertising initiates the upgrade. With a package as large as Windows 2000, the distribution phase consumes a great deal of resources and problems could arise due to lack of disk space. Therefore, make sure to plan and monitor the distribution phase carefully. After you have successfully completed the distribution phase, begin the advertising phase.
Test your distribution by first distributing Windows 2000 only to one site. The initial advertisement of the package should also be sent only to clients at that site. This allows you to test your SMS infrastructure and procedures on a limited scale. As your confidence increases and as capacity allows, you can distribute the package to more sites and increase the scope of the advertisement to include more clients and sites until you eventually include your entire organization.
Additional best practices are included in the following discussions of the software distribution process.
