Deployment Solution

 View Only
Expand all | Collapse all

Aclient silent installation

  • 1.  Aclient silent installation

    Posted Jul 13, 2009 03:41 AM
    Hello
           I have to install aclient for 100 PCs.I would like to know how to run silent installation using DS.I have create inp file for aclient settings. But don’t know how to run aclient exe and inp file to install aclient and change settings.

    your help always appreciated

    Regards



  • 2.  RE: Aclient silent installation

    Posted Jul 13, 2009 08:07 AM
    A quick search of the forums here yielded this:

    https://www-secure.symantec.com/connect/forums/installing-altiris-client-manually

    The post marked as the solution includes the command line to run the setup silently from a batch or logon script.



  • 3.  RE: Aclient silent installation

    Posted Jul 13, 2009 10:24 AM
    Here is the actual script that you will run in the command prompt (or by a Deployment Console job) :

    altiris-aclient-6.9.366.X86.exe aclient.inp

    This means that you will have to create an "aclient.inp" file. Here is what I have in my file:

    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    ; The primary purpose of this file has changed. With the Deployment
    ; Server now controlling the agent settings, the best option is to
    ; just use this file to specify the install directory and the address
    ; or name of the server. The agent will then take default settings as
    ; set up in the console options dialog.
    ;
    ; If you wish to specify all the default agent settings from this
    ; file, you should set InitialSettings and SettingsChanged to Yes.
    ;
    InitialSettings=Yes
    SettingsChanged=Yes

    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    ; MCastAddr is the multicast group address to be used to find the
    ; Deployment Server (optional)
    ; MCastPort is the port number to use while multicasting (optional)
    ; TTL is the maximum number of hops to multicast through (optional)
    ; ServerName is the computer name of the server (optional)
    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    MCastAddr=225.1.2.3
    MCastPort=402
    TTL=32
    ;ServerName=RADAR

    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    ; TcpAddr is the IP address of the Deployment Server to connect to
    ; (optional)
    ; TcpPort is the IP port number of the Deployment Server listening for
    ; requests (optional)
    ; Note: Specifying these parameters will switch the AClient to use
    ; TCP to connect to the server.
    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    ;TcpAddr=172.17.131.11
    TcpAddr=11.10.193.11
    TcpPort=402

    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    ; InstallDir parameter indicates the full pathname to the directory
    ; where AClient should be installed to. (required)
    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    InstallDir=C:\Progra~1\Altiris\AClient

    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    ; LogFile field is the full pathname to the log file (optional)
    ; LogSize is the maximum log file size (optional)
    ; LogErrors - If this is Yes, then errors will be logged
    ; LogInformation - If this is Yes, then information items will be
    ; logged.
    ; LogDebug - If this is Yes, then detailed debug information will be
    ; logged.
    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    LogFile=C:\logs\aclient.log
    LogSize=4096
    LogErrors=Yes
    LogInformation=Yes
    LogDebug=Yes

    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    ; PromptExecute parameter is used to prompt the user when tasks are
    ; being executed (optional)
    ; PromptReboot parameter is used to prompt the user before
    ; the computer restarts (optional)
    ; PromptRemoteControl parameter is used to prompt if someone attempts
    ; to remote control this computer.
    ; PromptSeconds is the number of seconds that AClient will
    ; wait for a response from the user (optional)
    ; PromptOverride is the default action to take when the user
    ; has not responded to the prompts (optional)
    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    PromptExecute=No
    PromptReboot=No
    PromptRemoteControl=YES
    PromptSeconds=15
    PromptOverride=Abort

    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    ; Password parameter contains the password used to secure
    ; the AClient settings from the user (optional -- default: none)
    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    Password=password

    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    ; SpeedLimit parameter is the minimum transfer rate accepted
    ; from the server in bytes per second. If AClient cannot
    ; receive data from the server at this rate, it will disconnect
    ; the connection and retry at a later time
    ; (optional -- default: 0).
    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    ;SpeedLimit=7500

    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    ; ConnectionParadigm - If this is 0, AClient will always be connected
    ; to the server, and optionally reset that
    ; connection after a timeout period
    ; (HardTimeout)
    ; If this is 1, AClient will connect to the
    ; server. If there is nothing to do for a
    ; period of time (CloseTimeout), AClient will
    ; disconnect. AClient will periodically check
    ; the server for new work to do
    ; (ReconnectInterval)
    ;
    ; HardTimeout - If ConnectionParadigm=0 this is the number of
    ; seconds to be idle before AClient closes and
    ; re-opens its connection to the server. 0
    ; means the client never resets the
    ; connection.
    ;
    ; CloseTimeout - If ConnectionParadigm=1 this is the number of
    ; seconds to stay connected to the server before
    ; the connection is closed.
    ;
    ; ReconnectInterval - If ConnectionParadigm=1 this is the number of
    ; seconds to wait to reconnect to the
    ; eXpress server to check for work to do.
    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    ConnectionParadigm=0
    HardTimeout=3540
    CloseTimeout=60
    ReconnectInterval=288000

    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    ; UpdateFileSystemSids parameter specifies whether or not you want
    ; SIDgen (when used) to update the permissions on any local NTFS
    ; volumes (optional -- default: No).
    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    UpdateFileSystemSids=YNo

    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    ; ShowTrayIcon - specifies whether or not to show the system tray icon
    ; optional ( Yes / No ) - Default - Yes
    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    ShowTrayIcon=No

    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    ; ForceReboot - specifies how the system should be shut down and
    ; rebooted - if this is Yes, applications are forced
    ; closed and the system shuts down even if programs
    ; hang. ( WARNING ) user data could be lost.
    ; optional ( Yes / No ) - Default - No
    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    ;ForceReboot=Yes

    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    ; BootDrive - Specifies the drive the system uses to boot the system
    ; this is important for communication between the Altiris
    ; Agent for DOS and the Altiris Agent for Windows.
    ; optional - Default - Auto-Detected
    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    BootDrive=C:\

    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    ; UseRCDrivers - Specifies whether or not keyboard and mouse filter
    ; drivers are installed for remote control. If the
    ; drivers are not installed, you will not be able to
    ; use the Remote Control feature to log in to Windows
    ; NT and 2000 machines.
    ; optional ( Yes / No ) - Default - No
    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    UseRCDrivers=No

    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    ; AllowRemoteControl - Specifies whether or not this computer can be
    ; remote controlled
    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    AllowRemoteControl=Yes

    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    ; EncryptSessions - Specifies whether or not AClient will attempt to
    ; make an encrypted session with the server
    ;
    ; RequireEncrypt - Specifies whether or not AClient will fail to
    ; connect if an encrypted session cannot be
    ; established.
    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    EncryptSessions=No
    RequireEncrypt=No

    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    ; EnableDirectDiskAccess - Enables direct disk access to detect and
    ; Modify bootwork settings. Some SCSI
    ; machines may not work with this enabled.
    ;
    ; UpdateBootworkTransport - Specifies whether or not BootWorks
    ; transport settings will by synchronized with AClient's when you
    ; select Properties|Transport and change them.
    ;
    ; UpdateBootworkIP - Specifies whether bootwork IP address settings
    ; will be synchronized with windows when a reconfig
    ; event occurs.
    ;
    ; BootDiskMessageUsage - Specifies whether or not to prompt for a boot
    ; disk when trying to perform a BootWorks task
    ; 0 = Never, 1 = Always
    ; 2 = If BootWorks isn't detected
    ; 3 = If PXE isn't detected
    ; 4 = only if neither PXE nor BootWorks is
    ; detected (default)
    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    EnableDirectDiskAccess=Yes
    UpdateBootworkTransport=Yes
    UpdateBootworkIP=Yes
    BootDiskMessageUsage=4

    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    ; ReconnectWait - This specifies the maximum time the agent will
    ; wait to connect to the eXpress server. If this
    ; is > 0, the agent will wait some random number
    ; of seconds from 0 to this number, before it tries
    ; to connect to the server.
    ;
    ; DownloadWait - This specifies the maximum time the agent will
    ; wait to connect to the server to download a file.
    ; If this is > 0, the agent will wait a random
    ; number of seconds from 0 to this number before it
    ; tries to download a file from the server.
    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    ReconnectWait=15
    DownloadWait=20

    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    ; ConsoleGroup - This specifies the group in the Deployment Server
    ; Console in which this agent will appear.
    ; For example if you want the agent to appear in
    ; the group Marketing, which is in a group called
    ; SiteA, enter ConsoleGroup=SiteA\Marketing
    ; If you don't specify this parameter, agentss will
    ; appear under 'All Computers'.
    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    ;ConsoleGroup=MyGroup\MySubGroup\MySubGroupA

    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    ; UsePnpUtility - This specifies whether or not to use a 16 bit app
    ; to read SMBIOS information not available in the
    ; v2.3 table format. This option is only valid on
    ; Windows 95/98 and ME. If you have a Pentium Pro
    ; Processor, or older machine, you may want to set
    ; this to No. The default is Yes.
    ;
    ;
    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    ;UsePnpUtility=Yes | No

    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    ; This group of parameters specifies a scheduled time to block the
    ; connection to the server. The start and end times for the blockout
    ; period are specified in 24-hour format, in half-hour increments
    ; (i.e. 0:00, 0:30, 1:00, 1:30, 2:00, ..., 22:00, 22:30, 23:00, 23:30).
    ;
    ; If the end time is the same as, or earlier than, the start time, then
    ; the end time will occur on the day AFTER the start time. For example,
    ; if BlockedDaysMon=TRUE, and ScheduledBlockStart=23:00, and
    ; ScheduledBlockEnd=7:00, the connection to the server will be blocked
    ; from 11:00 PM on Monday until 7:00 AM on Tuesday.
    ;
    ; BlockedDaysSun - These may be set to TRUE or FALSE.
    ; BlockedDaysMon TRUE: block connection on this day
    ; BlockedDaysTue (start time IS on this day)
    ; BlockedDaysWed FALSE: do not block connection on
    ; BlockedDaysThu this day (start time is NOT
    ; BlockedDaysFri on this day)
    ; BlockedDaysSat
    ;
    ; ScheduledBlockStart - Starting time for blockout period
    ;
    ; ScheduledBlockEnd - Ending time for blockout period
    ;
    ; SleepTime - Specifies the number of seconds AClient will sleep for.
    ; AClient will sleep only if all of the following conditions hold true
    ; 1. AClient is starting for the first time since the Operating System loaded.
    ; 2. AClient is to run as a service (.i.e. not when it is being installed)
    ; 3. Startup type for AClient service is set to Automatic, and
    ; 4. SleepTime is greater than 0.
    ; The default is 0.
    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    BlockedDaysSun=FALSE
    BlockedDaysMon=FALSE
    BlockedDaysTue=FALSE
    BlockedDaysWed=FALSE
    BlockedDaysThu=FALSE
    BlockedDaysFri=FALSE
    BlockedDaysSat=FALSE
    ScheduledBlockStart=8:00
    ScheduledBlockEnd=18:00
    SleepTime=0

    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    ; SyncTimeWithServer - Synchronize the computer's time with the
    ; Deployment Server. May be set to "Yes" or "No".
    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    SyncTimeWithServer=Yes

    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    ; Proxy settings -
    ;
    ; WakeOnLANProxy - If this is Yes, this agent will forward Wake-On-
    ; LAN signals sent from the Deployment Server.
    ; MCastProxy - If this is Yes, this agent will advertise the presence
    ; of the Deployment Server.
    ; MCastProxyRate - This is the number of seconds between each
    ; multicast server advertisement.
    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    WakeOnLANProxy=No
    ;MCastProxy=Yes | No
    ;MCastProxyRate=900

    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    ; Server Authentication - This group of parameters specifies the security key,
    ; that the AClient will use to authenticate the server. During
    ; Aclient installation, the installer asks the user for the server
    ; security key file and inserts these two paramters here.
    ; Security key file is generated during Deployment server Intall.
    ;
    ; SecurityKey - the encrypted security key of the server to
    ; which AClient will connect.
    ; SecurityKeyLength - number of characters in the key
    ;---------------------------------------------------------------------
    DSAuthentication=No
    ;SecurityKey=
    ;SecurityKeyLength=

    As you can see from the commented out notes, the file is pretty straight forward. All you have to do is tweak it to your needs and you are set.


  • 4.  RE: Aclient silent installation

    Posted Jul 13, 2009 09:50 PM

    Hello
    Thank you very much for your great help.I will try with this.
    Regards



  • 5.  RE: Aclient silent installation

    Posted Jul 13, 2009 10:21 PM
    Hi
    Should I copy AClient.exe installer and inp file to client PC before install?How can I do this process?

    Regards


  • 6.  RE: Aclient silent installation

    Posted Jul 14, 2009 12:59 PM
    You can do that. That would be easy enough to copy the two files and then run the script. I actually put the two together in a self extracting zip. After the EXE (or self extracting zip) is done unzipping it runs the command I have shown you above and installs the AClient.

    If you have a common admin account or your computers are on a domain you can also use the "Remote Agent Installer to take care of this. In the Deployment Console go to Tools >> Remote Agent Installer. A wizard will appear and walk you through the install process. It will even let you go through and setup the clients how you want them. If you need any help with the wizard let me know.


  • 7.  RE: Aclient silent installation

    Posted Jul 14, 2009 09:20 PM

    Dear trb48

       Thank you very much for your help. I have a domain admin account, hopefully I can go through this account. I will try remote agent installer wizard and let you know the result.

    Thank you again for your great help!

    Best regards
     



  • 8.  RE: Aclient silent installation

    Posted Jul 15, 2009 09:20 PM
    Hello
         I tried to install agent through the Remote AClient installer using both administrator and user account. But the task was failed. The log file as below.

    TEST-01

    Install settings:
    Connecting to server 172.18.165.72 on port 402.
    This agent can be remote controlled from the console.
    The agent is not password protected.
    Prompting for execution, reboot, and/or remote control events.
    The user will be prompted for 10 seconds, then the operation will continue.
    Always connected to the server, never refreshing the connection.

    Events:
    Starting install for machine TEST-01
    The specified network path was not accepted by the network provider?Unable to connect to computer TEST-01 with username administrator.

    Any idea?
    Your helps always appreciated

    Best regards






  • 9.  RE: Aclient silent installation

    Posted Jul 16, 2009 08:22 AM
    A couple of things here:

    1.  Make sure that you can ping the computer by name.  If you aren't getting name resolution the remote installation will not work via name.  If you are not getting name resolution, then you might substitute the computer's IP instead of the name to see if that works.

    2.  User account.  Whatever account you use to install/push the client out has to be an administrator of the target machine.  If you are using the DS administrator account and the target administrator account's password is different that will cause a problem.  If the machine is part of the domain, you may choose to use a domain administrator account.  Otherwise you will have to use the target machine's administrator account.  You will also need to ensure that the target machine does not have an active firewall blocking File and Print sharing.

    Hope this helps.


  • 10.  RE: Aclient silent installation

    Posted Jul 17, 2009 12:24 AM

    Dear trb48
    Thank you very much for your advises. I can ping the pc with name and the ip. Firewall also disabled, All the remote control settings are enabled. Even I can see the PCs on the AD list the error remain unchanged. Let you know if I will get a positive result.
    Thank you very much for your help!

    Best regards
     



  • 11.  RE: Aclient silent installation

    Posted Jul 17, 2009 08:23 AM
    One other thing to ensure that File and Print Sharing is enabled (as this is the way that the remote installation uses to install remotely).  Can you get to the target computer's admininstrative share?  From the DS click Start and then run.  Then type in "\\computername\c$" and click ok.  Substitute "computername" with the computer name of the target computer (you can also use the machine's IP address as well).  If you cannot see the contents of the target computer's hard disk drive, then that is where your problem lies.  At that point, you may want to right click on the network adapter and bring up the properties.  Ensure that File and Print Sharing is checked.  Some companies disable this.

    imagebrowser imageimagebrowser image


  • 12.  RE: Aclient silent installation

    Posted Jul 20, 2009 09:18 PM

    Hello
    Thank you for your response. I checked all the file and printer settings and accessibility to the C: drive, No problem at all. Still I can’t communicate with the target PC through the DS.I will install AClient manually as I have to do this job within few days. But still researching and let to know if I will be able to find the cause to this matter.

    Thank you again for your all

    Best regards