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Introduction

Deploying software is something that is typically a pretty simple task. However, this is not necessarily the case when the software you are deploying must be installed on dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of computers. The headache involved in doing this tends to increase as the number of computers goes up. The thought of physically going to every single machine and installing the necessary software can really get you feeling down.

Fortunately for us, Microsoft provides a much easier method through group policy-based software installation.

Step 1 - Prepping the Installation

Before you can begin creating a Group Policy, there are a few prerequisite steps you need to take care of.

The first step in any group policy-based software installation is obtaining the installer file for the software you are deploying. It is a requirement that this installation file be in Microsoft Software Installer (MSI) format.

Download the latest ABTCSETUP6.MSI file by logging on to your account in the LMS (https://www.abtutorcontrol.com) and selecting the Download button.

Once you have obtained the MSI file, you must create a distribution point from which you will deploy the software. Your distribution point needs to be a centralised location, preferably on a server, where a shared folder can be created that all users have read access to.  Once you have created this shared folder, you just need to copy the MSI file into it.

 Remember to remove the files from the shared folder when you have finished the installation - or your students may be able to get copies of the installation file.

Step 2 - Change the default MSI install properties

The ABTCSETUP6.MSI will install either the Client program, the Tutor program or both.  It will be installed into a folder ‘C:\Program Files\ABControl’ and it will not set a Connection Password. 

 It is essential that you protect your network and machines from malicious connections from unauthorized installations of AB Tutor. This is done with Connection Passwords. For more information, please refer to the AB Tutor User Guide.

There are 3 main MSI properties you can set within the MSI file:

1. TARGETDIR The remote installation folder

2. PASSWORD The Connection Password

3. INSTALL_MIRROR_DRIVER 1 or 0 to install the Mirror Driver or not

 If you are familiar with editing MSI files and creating MST transform files (e.g via Orca), then you can set these properties yourself.  You may find the discussions on remote installation and rollout via active directories in our forum helpful. 

For those who are unfamiliar with editing MSI files, we have created a simple HTML Application to allow you to create a modified MSI (or MST) file.

1. Download the file ‘ABTC6_MST_Creator.zip’ and save it locally on your machine. Unzip the file, then double-click ABTC6_MST_Creator.hta to run this MST Creation application.
   
   
   

2. Select the original ABTCSETUP6.MSI file

3. Change the default install folder if necessary

4. Type your connection password and confirm it in the next box
   
    You must ensure that the connection password you specify here matches the connection password that you have set on your tutor machine.
   

5. Select ‘Install Mirror Driver’ if you want to install the Mirror Driver. 
     For versions 6.1 and older only: We do NOT recommend enabling this option for truly silent installs since Windows will prompt for confirmation to install the Mirror Driver. Until we obtain Windows Logo Certification of this driver, we cannot prevent this prompt.
   

6. Press the Generate button

Step 3 - Create a New Install Group

Before we create the Group Policy Object to handle installing the MSI file, we need to define a group of machines you wish to deploy to.

1. On your server, click Start > All Programs > Administrative Tools > Active Directory Users and Computers.
2. In the left panel, click Your_Domain and right-click Users and select New > Group from the pop-up menu.
3. Enter the name of your new group (e.g. ‘Classroom A’ )
4. Make sure the Universal (or Global) option is selected in the Group Scope and the Security option is set in the Group Type.
5. Click Finish
6. On the right panel of the Active Directory Users and Computers window, right-click the new group that you created above and select Properties from the pop-up menu. (You may have to scroll down the list to find your group, as it is in alphabetical order.)
7. In the Properties window, click the Members tab and then the Add... button at the bottom.
8. By default, computers are not included in the object types you can add as members to your group. To change this in the Select Users, Contacts, Computers, or Groups window, click the Object Types... button and tick the Computers checkbox. Untick all of the other checkboxes and then click OK.
9. Back in the Select Users, Contacts, Computers, or Groups window, click the Advanced... button and then the Find Now button. Your server will now display all of your computers in the bottom half of the window. Select the computers you want the AB Client program deployed to (multiple computers can be selected/unselected by holding down the Ctrl button on your keyboard whilst you click each one). When you have finished click OK.
10. The selected computers should now be displayed in the Select Users, Contacts, Computers, or Groups window. If you are happy with the selection, click OK
11. You should now be back at the Properties window, which will be displaying the list of computers you wish AB Client deployed to. Click OK to finish.
12. Close the Active Directory Users and Computers window

Step 4 - Creating a Group Policy Object

A group policy needs to be added to your server to apply the AB Client application to your workstations.

1. On your server, click Start > All Programs > Administrative Tools > Group Policy Management.
2. In the left panel, expand Your_Domain, if necessary, to see the current list of Group Policies, which are likely to vary from one server to another. Right click Your_Domain and select Create and Link a GPO Here... from the pop-up menu.
3. Fill in the New GPO window, by entering a suitable Group Policy Object name and click OK.
4. Right click your newly created Group Policy object and click Edit...
5. In the Group Policy Object Editor that opens, expand Computer Configuration > Software Settings and right click Software installation. From the pop-up menu select New > Package....
6. Locate the ABTCLIENT6.MSI file located on your shore folder from step 1 above. As the path selected here must be available to your workstations, browse to the msi file using My Network Places. When you have found the file, click Open. (If you do not select the file correctly via its network location you will receive a warning. Click No and try again.

If you wish to use the MST file created in Step 2 above, then

1. In 6 above, select the original ABTCSETUP6.MSI file instead of the ABTCLIENT6.MSI file
2. Next, select the Advanced option in the Deploy Software window and click OK.
3. In the AB Tutor Control Properties window, click the Modifications tab and then the Add... button.
4. Locate the ABTCSETUP6.MST file that was create in Step 2 above and save into your shared folder. Again, browse to the file using My Network Places, if necessary. When you have selected it, click Open.
5. Back in the AB tutor Control Properties window, you should see the mst file listed. Click OK to complete the deployment and close the Group Policy Object Editor window.