Software Deployment

I am not familiar with RIS for deploying apps (is this the same Remote Installation Service I am thinking of?), but I have spent a little time with the Notes 6.5.3 package.

You don't say why the IBM MSI does not work - I presume you mean you just need to configure it a little hence your transform.

Your RIS deployment sounds pretty restrictive. Can it really not handle exe'sor command lines or is that a company policy? I guess you have to deploy everything as a pure MSI? What have you done in the past for apps requiring transforms?

If your deployment mechanism restricts you using command lines or setup exe's, although considered bad practise, I would edit the vendors MSI, note this in the comments so it is evident and document it well. I don't like saying that on a professional forum like this, but you can only follow best practise while you are not pushed into a corner. Unless someone with specific knowledge of the RIS deployment you are using can assist in how to pass a command line (assuming it is a product restriction not your corporate policy) I don't currently see an alternative - I have assumed you cannot launch any form of script or batch file either.

hi GB1,

Yes with RIS i mean Remote Installation Service, you only can use the MSI and MST files with this deployment method. Like i said i have the original MSI (made by IBM) and a MST (made myself with the Installshield tuner for Lotus Notes and with Orca to get rid of some bugs made by the Installshield tuner).
I am sure i made the MST 100% ok but when i tryed to deploy i end up with a MSI that keeps on reinstalling when you try to start Notes and Notes refuses to start.
Next thing i tryed was deploying without my MST (just to check if i created the problem) but no the problem was still there so it must be in the original MSI from IBM. I checked the MSI from IBM for ICE errors and there are a large number of them but before i try to fix them myself i tryed posting it on this board first maybe i only need to fix 1 (i hope so).

When i try launching the original MSI manually it installs fine.

Hope my problem is clear to you now.

regards,

Leon.

I have only ever used RIS for "imaging" machines, via a PXE boot. So the same service can be used for delivering apps huh? Might have to look into that more. Got a link handy to point me in the right direction?

Anyway first of all, personally and I believe this is the majority opinion, do not waste time and effort trying to fix ICE errors in vendors packages. The ICE standards are only guidelines, some vendors break them because they know no better and perhaps are not following MSI conventions literally, some break them because they understand them and choose to break them to achieve the delivery they want. SO unless you are severly high corporate regulations on this, leave teh package alone unless you are adressing a specifc problem with functionality.

I created the transform for Notes 6.5.3 by creating a new Transform from the Wise transform template and changing what I needed to. However, the method for creating the transform sounds like it is not important when your IBM MSI does not work anyway!

A default installation of the IBM MSI should install just the Notes Client. I don't have my notes (as in documentation!), but I think as long as you ensure INSTALLDIR and DATADIR are set as you require it should be ok.

I am not sure if you have a Notes installation that keeps self repairing, then launches and exits, or if you just keep self repairing.

Regardless, to progress I would start some structured fault finding. Start fresh with the MSI etc from the CD to ensure no changes have been made accidentally to the MSI instead of the transform.

Don't worry about deploying via RIS for the time being. Try installing the MSI with a basic MSIEXEC command line with /QB for example on one of your workstations. Then try launching the application with a user that has local administrator privileges. Try logging the installation too. You need to identify if this is permissions problem, a Notes Client config problem or what. Once you have the basics working you can take away the permissions and build up to your fully automated delivery.

Hi lstraath, as far as I know, RIS is only supposed to used for installing the OS. At what point during the installation of the OS do you try to install Notes? cmdlines.txt, Runonce or SetupParams?

Anyhow, I find it to be a far better approach to install applications on to newly installed computers via a AD GPO (Computer Configuration -> Software Settings -> Software installation). and publish the applications to the computers. RIS isn't the best way to install applications, beyoung what is need by the computer to work properly (e.g. drivers and other special software like Dell QuickSet for instance).

I have however a different problem with doing this. When I simply copy the installation files of the CD, and add notes with the notes.msi to my GPO, and then go on to a client computer and click install, the applications failes to install (cant remember the error I get right now). The msi + mst workes fine when installing with this command: msiexec /i Lotus Notes 6.0.3.msi TRANSFORMS=UnattendedNotes.mst /qb

Is this the same probablem you are having?

Hi Egil,

Sorry for the mixup (i kept on saying RIS where i did mean AD GPO) and yes i have the same problem you have, it does not install properply when deployed with a GPO. I think it has something to do with one of the error's in the original MSI. Message to GB1: I know that some vendors build something that needs errors to deliver something special, some of the vendors get away with this action clean but others mess up and build something that behaves like the Notes installer (working when started manually either trough a setup.exe or a command line with msiexec.exe but failing when deployed with a GPO)
Example many of us know is the Adobe Acrobat printer driver problem as found on this site.

But anyway at least i am happy that Egil recognises the problem i have here.

Anymore suggestions anyone?

regards,

Leon.

Leon,

Just to confirm:

So you have a working MSI and transform, which you have tested with command line, but when you deploy by GPO they fail?

I've never observed this issue.

Have you assigned the application to the user or the PC?

Have you tried switching logging on, and checked the log file for issues?

You say that you "end up with a MSI that keeps on reinstalling when you try to start Notes". Have you tried troubleshooting the installation using the event viewer?

You could try appying the "AlwaysIntallElevated" policy to a "test" PC and a "test" user (no special privileges), then installed the MSI manually as the "test" user (remembering to set the "ALLUSERS" property according to the type of install you want)? I don't think this will sove your problem, but it might narrow it down a little.

lstraath: Yep, thats exactly the problem I have.

WiseUser: Thanks for the input. I'll try installing the program with the administrator account on the domain, and I'll also try assigning the program to a computer to see if that works.

Will report back!.

I am experiencing a similar issue trying to install a customised MST of Lotus Notes 6.5.4 modified using the Installshield Tuner supplied by IBM via Citrix Installation Manager.......fails every time, though installs fine via a msiexec command line using a /qn switch.

Anyone else experience similar issues or have any ideas?

Thanks.

All

I have just packaged Notes for my environment which requires apps to be advertised to all users via SMS. Through testing and talking to IBM. I found out that Notes does not support advertising and IBM does not support the advertising of the Notes MSI.

I got around this problem by setting the ADDLOCAL property in the MST to all the features required; this was done by custom action and not set in the property table. I also had to create a separate feature to advertise.

Some further information. No matter what I try, I cannot get the Installshield Tuner to create the icons in the All Users profile. I have tried the ALLUSERS=1 switch, still no good. I am pulling my hair out here, we currently have Lotus Notes 6.5.1 install on the Citrix servers using a package created by the InstallShield Tuner and it works fine, I have replicated everything, but into a new MST and still no go, let alone still not installing via the Citrix Installation Manager.

Has anyone else experienced these issues with 6.5.4 or have any advice to offer?

Thanks

ORIGINAL: John_RM
All

I have just packaged Notes for my environment which requires apps to be advertised to all users via SMS. Through testing and talking to IBM. I found out that Notes does not support advertising and IBM does not support the advertising of the Notes MSI.

I got around this problem by setting the ADDLOCAL property in the MST to all the features required; this was done by custom action and not set in the property table. I also had to create a separate feature to advertise.


Hey John, it looks like you can save us all here. Do you mind giving a detailed desription of how you made it work, what tools you used.

Thanks, Egil.

Hej Istraath,

I have been deploying Lotus Notes and other standard applications ( MS Office, Adobe etc. ) through RIS. I have added into winnt.sif file's

GuiRunOnce section.

Runme.bat ( Adds administrator autologon )
Installs the standard packages
Reboots again.




So, When OS has been installed and the pc has been restarted, I have added autologon to the domain where it logs on as Administrator and installs the packages and reboots again.

Worked/Works fine with me. In this way, I can always modify the changes in my RIS installations.

About Lotus Notes,

I have been successfully deploying Lotus Notes 6.5.3 in AD Software GPO as well as Citrix Installation Manager.

I finally got around to testing how Notes (my version is 6.0.3) workes when assigned to a computer instead of published. Now I a new error when I start the Notes Client from a windows user with limited access (domain user). Cant remember the exact wording of the error, but it was something about that I shouldn't run the Domino Server from this... I should instead use the "Lotus Notes" icon to start the mail client, which was what I used in the first place. Any thoughts on that?

Update: Here's the error message:
You cannot use the Administrattion program while the Domino Server is running. Either shut down the Domino Server (but keep file server running) or choose the icon labeled "Lotus Notes" instead.

Update 2: It works as it should when logged in as Adminstrator. This must be possible, cant believe IBM didnt think their program wasn't going to be used in a limited enviroment.

Update 3: Found a solution (somewhat):
If you start Notes 6 on Windows 2000 logged on as a non-admin user, you will get an error:

"You cannot use the Administration program while the Domino Server is running. Either shut down the Domino server (but keep the file server running) or choose the icon labeled 'Lotus Notes' instead"

Notes 6 is installed by default in Program Files folder, which has only Read/Execute permissions for regular users.

In order to be able to run Notes 6 without administrative rights, add Modify permission on the lotusnotesdata folder for the local Users group.

This is fine with me I guess (All though I have no idea why the program doesnt use the document and settings folder for each user). But, how do I set those promissions during installation?