plattelectric
asked on
How to build PDFs for SMS 2003?
We have Windows 2003 Server Standard and it is dedicated for SMS 2003 server.
The SMS 2003 server was installed and setup before I was here.
I haven't been able to Distribute a package successful yet and I beleive that is because packages are not being built properly.
Say I want to create a Package for any software out there, ie VNC, or Acronis, or Mozilla, what software would I use to build the packages?
Apperently there are applications that assist you on the setup of an appication and then create a Package Distribution File (PDF) that I can then use in SMS 2003.
Any suggestions on applications that would help me built PDFs would be appreciated.
Thanks!
The SMS 2003 server was installed and setup before I was here.
I haven't been able to Distribute a package successful yet and I beleive that is because packages are not being built properly.
Say I want to create a Package for any software out there, ie VNC, or Acronis, or Mozilla, what software would I use to build the packages?
Apperently there are applications that assist you on the setup of an appication and then create a Package Distribution File (PDF) that I can then use in SMS 2003.
Any suggestions on applications that would help me built PDFs would be appreciated.
Thanks!
ASKER
Thanks oBdA.
I installed SMS Installer on the SMS server and trying to figure out how it works now. It seems that SMS Installer wants to install the application on the server so that it can take a snapshot of the prompts during installation.
I installed SMS Installer on the SMS server and trying to figure out how it works now. It seems that SMS Installer wants to install the application on the server so that it can take a snapshot of the prompts during installation.
You only need to install the *download* on the SMS server; this will then extract the "real" installation setup into the directory you specified. These are the files you need to install the SMS installer on your development machine. It's sort of a security mechanism, so that you can't use the downloaded SMS installer on any machine--you need an SMS server first. Don't use the SMS server to create packages.
ASKER
Actually "You run SMS Installer on a reference computer that is configured to match the target computers (computers that receive the installation package). When you run SMS Installer, it captures the necessary configuration data and automatically generates an installation script for the application."
I'm open to any other suggestions or gotchas.
Thanks!
I'm open to any other suggestions or gotchas.
Thanks!
Note that you can switch the view between Installation Expert and Script. Have a look at the script the SMS installer generates, and try to understand it. In some ("most", actually) cases, it's necessary to manual intervene there when creating a package.
Just in case, here's some more documentation:
Systems Management Server 2003 Product Documentation
http://www.microsoft.com/smserver/techinfo/productdoc/default.asp
Just in case, here's some more documentation:
Systems Management Server 2003 Product Documentation
http://www.microsoft.com/smserver/techinfo/productdoc/default.asp
ASKER
Strange, when I try to install SMS Installer on WinXP SP2 it says the PC is not SMS site server. My impression was that I need to install the Installer on a client PC so that I can do installs and build packages that way!
ASKER
I downloaded and installed AdminStudio SMS edition and it worked great on creating a package for VNC. I created package and an advertisement, but the client where the install is supposed to happen doesn't show anything Run Advertized Programs or Program Download Monitor.
What am I doing wrong?
What am I doing wrong?
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Installer with Installer Step-up Utility
http://www.microsoft.com/smserver/downloads/20/tools/installer.asp
PDFs in terms of SMS are not "Package Distribution Files", they're "Package Definition Files" (.sms in the meantime). It's just a small text file that tells the SMS server how to run the packages.