In this tutorial, we will prepare to install Altiris' Deployment Solution with advanced setup options by doing the following:
• Download and install Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 SP1
• Install Microsoft IIS with ASP (If you are going to use the limited web console too)
• Download and install SQL Server 2005 Express Services with Advanced Services SP2
• Set the sa (systems administrator) password on SQL Server
• Create a user account for Altiris
• Grant TCP connections to the SQL Server for Altiris,
• Grant the Altiris user access to the SQL database
Altiris' Deployment Solution allows you to quickly and easily maintain and manage hundreds of computers from your one computer or from various computers. This guide will discuss system requirements for and explain how to configure and install the Altiris Deployment Solution 6.9 with SQL Server 2005 Express Advanced Services.
You will need a computer with the following minimum system requirements to run the Deployment Server, but the hardware specifications (the SQL requirements are listed later in the document) should be higher if you are doing the setup with the SQL Server 2005 Express Advanced Services on the same physical computer:
- A modern, dedicated server with a 1 GHz or faster processor
- 1 GB or more of RAM
- At an absolute minimum, this server should have a PIII-compatible 600 MHz or newer processor with 512 MB RAM.
- If the database will be hosted on the same computer as your Deployment Server, you need a minimum of 512 MB additional memory, with an additional 1 GB recommended.
- Computers hosting additional PXE servers and file shares should meet the requirements of the operating system hosting these components.
Altiris' Deployment Solution 6.9 is designed to run on a 32 bit version of Windows Server 2003 (2000 or greater will work if 32 bit). It will run on 64 bit version of Windows Server 2003, but runs as only a 32 bit process and some functionality may be lost (the Web Console will work only if installed on 32 bit server). Altiris tech support said that DS 6.9 SP1 (the next version) will probably allow the Web Console to work on a 64 bit server and the DS 6.9 SP1 is planned to run as a 64 bit process (time will tell).
The Altiris agent will need to be installed on each client that you support and maintain (AClient, DAgent and ADLAgent). Deployment Agents require network connectivity and approximately 5 MB disk space. The system requirements are the same as what the host OS requires.
Automation Requirements: Microsoft recommends 512 MB of memory for computers booting WinPE. At a minimum, you should have 384 MB to avoid boot error.
You must install the Altiris Deployment Solution on a Windows Server. You may want to run all of the Windows Updates first. Before you begin, you will want to rename the computer and put it on the correct group or domain. Before you install the Altiris Deployment Solution, you will want to make sure your IP address is set to the permanent IP address that you will be using later because some applications (Boot disk creator, Agent installers, etc) will automatically enter that IP address in the future.
Another software requirement for Altiris Deployment Solution is MDAC. You can download this from Microsoft's website. If you install the SQL Server 2005 Express with the Connectivity Components, then you may not need MDAC. I haven't installed MDAC and everything works fine.
Download and Install Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 SP1
Altiris Deployment Solution requires the .Net Framework 1.1 or greater. However, we will install .NET Framework 2.0 SP1 for the SQL Express 2005 Advance. I ran all of my Windows Updates on my Windows Server 2003 R2 SP2 before the following steps.
Download the file from: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=79BC3B77-E02C-4AD3-AACF-A7633F706BA5&displaylang=en
After downloading the file "NetFx20SP1_x86.exe," execute it.
Select "I have read and ACCEPT the terms" if you agree to the terms.
Click "Install
Click "Exit
Install Microsoft IIS with ASP
If you want to use the Web Console for the Deployment Solution, you will need to install IIS and enable ASP .NET. You will need your Windows Server CD for this part. The Web Console will allow you to access the Deployment Console from a web browser on any computer. You can drop jobs and manage computers from the Web Console, but you cannot remote control the computers through it.
Before installing IIS, Microsoft (http://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver/en/library/21dfa1f1-4dff-4a75-a797-42247b6c278a1033.mspx?mfr=true) recommends you do the following:
- Ensure all existing disk volumes use the NTFS file system
- Ensure your computer has network connectivity and a static or dynamic IP address
- Enable Windows Firewall
- Install and Enable the Security Configuration Wizard
Click Start > Control Panel > Add Remove Programs > Add Remove Windows Components
Select "Application Server"
Click "Details"
Select "ASP.NET"
Select "IIS"
Make sure "Enable network COM+ access" is selected
Click "OK"
Click "Next"
Wait for it.
Click "Finish"
Install SQL Server 2005 Express Services with Advanced Services SP2
UPDATE: Use SQL Server 2005 Express Services with Advanced Services SP3 instead of SP2 -
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=B448B0D0-EE79-48F6-B50A-7C4F028C2E3D&displaylang=en
System Requirements for SQL Server 2005 Express with Advanced Services SP2 include the following (see link above for SP3):
- Supported Operating Systems: Windows 2000 Service Pack 4; Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1; Windows XP Service Pack 2
- Computer with Intel or compatible Pentium III 500 MHz or faster processor (1 GHz or faster is recommended.)
- Minimum of 512 MB of RAM (1 GB or more is recommended.)
- 600 MB of available hard disk space
Download SQL Express from: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=5B5528B9-13E1-4DB9-A3FC-82116D598C3D&displaylang=en
Execute "SQLEXPR_ADV.EXE"
Click "Next"
Click "Install"
Click "Next"
Click "Next"
Click "Next"
Uncheck "Hide advanced configuration options"
Click "Next"
Add "Client Components" to be installed on local hard drive
Click "Next"
Add "Connectivity Components" for communication between clients and servers for direct connections. If you don't select this option, you will probably need to install MDAC
You also may want to add "Management Studio Express" to have interactive management tools for running SQL Server, including SQL Server Management Studio Express.
Click "Next"
Select "Default instance"
Click "Next"
Select "Use the built-in System account" (Network service)
Check "SQL Server"
Click "Next"
Mixed Mode should be used if you are not using Windows or domain authentication and you want specific user names to access the database directly through an ODBC connection from other computers (example: we have multiple users connect to the same Altiris Deployment Console remotely by setting up a database connection to connect to the SQL Server 2005 and the Altiris Deployment Console. We create a specific user on the SQL Server 2005 to do this (see steps about this later on), thus requiring SQL Server Authentication - this also allows a backdoor way to access your SQL database too.)
(To change this mode later, see http://www.hostmysite.com/support/vps/windows/mixedmode/ of follow these steps: Go to "Start" > "All Programs" > "Microsoft SQL Server 2005" and select "SQL Server Management Studio Express", select your database, click "Connect", right-click on the server name and select "Properties", click "Security", under "Server authentication" select "SQL Server and Windows Authentication Mode", click "OK", right-click the server name and select "Restart".)
Change it to "Mixed Mode" being selected (if you do mixed mode, make sure you set the sa password below).
Click "Next"
Leave "Dictionary order, case-insensitive, for use with 1252 Character Set"
Click "Next"
Uncheck "Enable User Instances" to ensure install user does not get added to SQL Administrator roll.
Click "Next"
Click "Next"
Click "Install"
Wait for all of these to install and click "Next"
Click "Finish"
Set the sa (systems administrator) Password on SQL Server
Go to "Start" > "All Programs" > "Microsoft SQL Server 2005" and select "SQL Server Management Studio Express", select your database, click "Connect"
In the Object Explorer, select "Security" > "Logins", right-click "sa" and select "Properties"
Type in the new password and confirm it, click "OK"
Create a User Account for Altiris
Create a new Altiris User with Administrative Rights (admin rights at least for the install process).
Open Local Users and Groups by clicking "Start" > "Run", type "lusrmgr.msc", and press "Enter"
Click on the menu "Action" > "New User"
Type the User name: "AltirisUser"
Type the Full name: "AltirisUser"
Description: "AltirisUser"
Type in a password of your choice ex: "AltirisUser"
Confirm the password of your choice ex: "AltirisUser"
Uncheck "User must change password at next logon"
Check "Password never expires"
Click "Create"
Right-click on the new user "AltirisUser" and select "Properties"
Click on the tab "Member Of" and click "Add"
Type "Administrators" and click "OK"
Click "OK"
Grant TCP Connections to SQL Server for Altiris
Deployment Solution needs the SQL Server to allow TCP connections. Do the following: Click "Start Menu" > "All Programs" > "Microsoft SQL Server 2005" > "Configuration Tools" > "SQL Server Surface Area Configuration"
Select the 'Surface Area Configuration for Services and Connections'.
In the left-hand pane, expand the Database Engine > MSSQLSERVER > Remote Connections. In the right-hand pane, configure the instance to allow both local and remote connections over TCP/IP. In the services control panel, restart the Microsoft SQL Server service to push the new security configuration to SQL Server.
Click "OK." You may need to stop and start the SQLSERVER or restart the computer to allow the TCP/IP modifications to occur.
Grant the Altiris User Access to the SQL Database
Give the Altiris user (ex: "AltirisUser" rights to the SQL database)
Click "Add New Administrator"
Type in the name of the user next to the server name in the "User to provision" box (Ex: MEALTIRISSVR\AltirisUser)
Select the server name under the Available privileges: and click the arrow to move it to the "Privileges that will be granted to YOURSERVERNAME\AltirisUser
Click "OK"
Conclusion
Congratulations! In this tutorial, we downloaded and installed Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 SP1, installed Microsoft IIS with ASP, downloaded and installed SQL Server 2005 Express Services with Advanced Services SP2, set the sa (systems administrator) password on the SQL Server, created a user account for Altiris, granted TCP Connections for Altiris, and granted the Altiris User Access to the SQL Database.
You are now ready to install Altiris Deployment Solution 6.9 with advanced setup options and the SQL Server 2005 Express Edition with Advanced Services.
Go to Part 2 - Installing & Remotely Accessing Altiris Deployment Solution 6.9 – Advanced Setup, Part 2: SQL Server 2005 Express AS.