Installing the GroupWise Messenger Client

The GroupWise Messenger client installation is actually very flexible. There are various ways you can install the client:

• Install the GroupWise Messenger from the GroupWise Messenger Software Distribution Directory.

• Enable client installation from a Web browser to the GroupWise Messenger Agent.

• Install the GroupWise Messenger client along with the GroupWise Windows client installation.

This chapter covers all three of these GroupWise Messenger client installation methods.

But first, before we cover these methods in more detail, there are some concepts regarding GroupWise Messenger client installation files you should have a handle on.

Understanding the GroupWise Messenger Client Installation Files

The GroupWise Messenger installation created a Software Distribution Directory. Remember the NOVELL\NM directory? The GroupWise Messenger client installation SETUP.EXE utility can be found in the \Novell\NM\ma\software\client\win32 directory. And much like the GroupWise Windows client installation software, it contains a SETUP.CFG file. It is important that you configure the SETUP.CFG file, no matter which method you use to install the GroupWise Messenger client. The best kind of installation is one that does not require the users to answer any questions. In the chapter example, we will configure the SETUP.CFG file without having to ask the users any questions.

Following are the steps for configuring the GroupWise Messenger's SETUP.CFG installation settings file:

1.	Edit the SETUP.CFG file, which is located in the \Novell\NM\ma\software\client\win32 directory.
2.	Configure this file as shown (specifying the language you desire): [NMSetup] Path= ProgramFolder= LaunchNow=No LaunchOnStartup=No ViewReadme=No IconOnDesktop=Yes RegKeyForDefaultPath= RegKeyForDefaultFolder= Software\Novell\GroupWise\Client\5.0\Folder ServerAddress=im.wwwidgets.com ServerPort=8300 ForceAddressAndPort=No UseWindowsColors= [Languages] ChineseSimplified=No Chinese=No Czech=No BrazilianPortugese=No Danish=No Dutch=No English=Yes Finnish=No French=No German=No Hungarian=No Italian=No Japanese=No Korean=No Norwegian=No Polish=No Russian=No Spanish=No Swedish=No Thai=No Turkish=No [ShowDialogs] HideAllDialogs=Yes SelectDestination=No SelectProgramFolder=No LanguageSelect=No SetupComplete=No
3.	Save the file. If a NVLMSGR.EXE file exists in the same directory as the SETUP.CFG that you just modified, delete the NVLMSGR.EXE file, because it needs to be regenerated to incorporate the changes you just made.
4.	Bring the GroupWise Messenger Agent down, and then back up. When you do so, the GroupWise Messenger Agent will regenerate the NVLMSGR.EXE file.
5.	Now when your GroupWise Messenger installs, users will not be prompted with any installation questions. (Actually, if a user has already installed the GroupWise Messenger client, the user will be prompted as to whether she wants to uninstall the GroupWise Messenger client.)

The SETUP.CFG file is now configured so that users are not prompted with any installation questions when they install the GroupWise Messenger client.

Installing the GroupWise Messenger Client from the GroupWise Messenger Software Distribution Directory

This is a simple, yet manual, process necessary for your users to install the GroupWise Messenger client. You might consider launching the GroupWise Messenger installation from a login script if your users use the Novell client. Otherwise, follow these steps:

1.	Make sure that the SETUP.CFG file is configured how you would like it to be, as explained in the preceding section.
2.	Locate the \Novell\NM\ma\software\client\win32 directory.
3.	Run SETUP.EXE. The GroupWise Messenger client software will be installed.

The GroupWise Messenger client should install, without asking any installation questions.

Enabling Client Installation from a Web Browser to the GroupWise Messenger Agent

This is a slick way for your users to install the GroupWise Messenger client. Your users go to a location via their Web browsers and can install the GroupWise Messenger client from there. You don't even have to set up a Web server to do this; you simply have to enable this feature on your GroupWise Messenger Agent along with a few other steps.

Configure the GroupWise Messenger Client Extractor File

This is an interesting concept. The GroupWise Messenger client is actually compressed into an extractor file called NVLMSGR.EXE. This file is located in the \Novell\NM\ma\software\client\win32 directory. This file is a self-extracting zip file of the GroupWise Messenger client, including the SETUP.CFG and the SETUP.INI files.

The NVLMSGR.EXE file does not ship from Novell. It is actually generated the first time your GroupWise Messaging Agent loads. In fact, each time your GroupWise Messaging Agent loads, it checks to see that the client extractor NVLMSGR.EXE file is already created. The log will read as follows:

Client extractor already exists . . . Client extractor successfully built . . .

Now, imagine that you tweaked your SETUP.CFG file. However, that change is not incorporated into the NVLMSGR.EXE file. To fix this, delete the NVLMSGR.EXE file, and then bring the GroupWise Messaging Agent down and back up.GroupWise Messaging Agent will re-create the file, and of course incorporate your newly created SETUP.CFG file. Here are step-by-step instructions for doing this:

1.	Make sure that the SETUP.CFG file is configured how you would like it to be, as explained earlier in this chapter.
2.	Locate the file NVLMSGR.EXE, which is in the \Novell\NM\ma\software\client\win32 directory.
3.	Delete the NVLMSGR.EXE file.
4.	Go to the GroupWise Messaging Agent console screen and unload the Messaging Agent by pressing F7.
5.	Reload the GroupWise Messaging Agent. The command to do this is typically NMSTART.

The GroupWise Messaging Agent will generate a newly configured NVLMSGR.EXE file. You should see the Messaging Agent report that it built the client extractor.

The GroupWise Messenger client extractor can now be used in a couple of ways. The next two sections talk about how to use the NVLMSGR.EXE file.

Install the GroupWise Messenger Client Through a Web Browser

This section walks you through the steps involved with installing the GroupWise Messenger client through a Web browser. Follow these steps:

1.	In a Web browser, enter the IP address or DNS name of the GroupWise Messaging agent, followed by 8300for example, http://im.worldwidewidgets.com:8300. Note This can be a complex address for your users to enter. You might just want to send it to them in an email message, which allows the users to then click the link. Your users should see a screen similar to the one shown in Figure 29.7. Figure 29.7. The GroupWise Messaging client Web browser installation screen
2.	Click the Novell Messenger link and download the software.
3.	Run the NVLMSGR.EXE file. The GroupWise Messenger software will install.

This method is slick in some ways, but it still has some manual elements to it. Users must download the *.EXE file and then run it. I like the next method the best, because users aren't required to do much of anything.

Installing the GroupWise Messenger Client Along with the GroupWise Windows Client Installation

This method requires no intervention on the part of your users. This method requires you to read Chapter 12, "Administering the GroupWise Client," and understand it. Chapter 12 deals with how to install the GroupWise client. This section dovetails into the solutions already explained in Chapter 12.

Installing the GroupWise Messenger Client Along with a GroupWise Windows Client Mapped Drive Installation

As a prerequisite to this section, be sure to read the section in this chapter titled "Configure the GroupWise Messenger Client Extractor File," which explains how to configure a GroupWise Messenger client extractor file.

This method assumes that you already have a GroupWise Software Distribution Directory with a CLIENT directory that is already configured for installing the GroupWise Windows client. After having done so, follow these steps:

1.	Under the CLIENT\WIN32 directory there should be an ADDONS directory. If there is not one, create it.
2.	Create a directory under the CLIENT\WIN32\ADDONS directory called GWMSGR.
3.	Copy the configured GroupWise Messenger client extractor file called NVLMSGR.EXE from the \Novell\NM\ma\software\client\win32 directory to the SDD\CLIENT\WIN32\ADDONS\GWMSGR directory. Rename the NVLMSGR.EXE file in the SDD\CLIENT\WIN32\ADDONS\GWMSGR directory to SETUP.EXE.
4.	In the \Novell\NM\ma\software\client\win32 directory, there is a file called ADDON.CFG. Copy this file to the SDD\CLIENT\WIN32\ADDONS\GWMSGR directory.

Figure 29.8 shows a GroupWise SDD configured to also support the GroupWise Messenger client installation.

Figure 29.8. A GroupWise SDD with GroupWise Messenger installation support

When users run the SETUP.EXE file from the SDD\CLIENT\WIN32 directory, it will install the GroupWise Windows client, and it will automatically run the GroupWise Messenger installation.

Installing the GroupWise Messenger Client Along with a GroupWise Windows SETUPIP Installation

As a prerequisite to this section, be sure to read the section in this chapter titled "Configure the GroupWise Messenger Client Extractor File," which explains how to configure a GroupWise Messenger client extractor file. This method assumes that you already have configured your Web server with a GW7CL directory (explained in Chapter 12). Follow these steps:

1.	Under the GW7CL\WIN32 directory on the Web server, there should be an ADDONS directory. If there is not one, create it.
2.	Create a directory under the GW7CL\WIN32\ADDONS directory called GWMSGR.
3.	Copy the configured GroupWise Messenger client extractor file called NVLMSGR.EXE from the \Novell\NM\ma\software\client\win32 directory to the GWCLIENT\WIN32\ADDONS\GWMSGR directory on the Web server. Rename the NVLMSGR.EXE file in the GWCLIENT\WIN32\ADDONS\GWMSGR directory to SETUP.EXE.
4.	In the \Novell\NM\ma\software\client\win32 directory, there is a file called ADDON.CFG. Copy this file to the SDD\CLIENT\WIN32\ADDONS\GWMSGR directory.

When users run the SETUP.EXE file from the SDD\CLIENT\WIN32 directory, it will install the GroupWise Windows client, and it will automatically run the GroupWise Messenger installation.

Note

You do not need to regenerate the SETUPIP.EXE file in order for this installation method to work.

There are some additional methods for installing the GroupWise Messenger client. You can distribute the NVLMSGR.EXE through a mail message, and tell users to right-click the attachment and select Open. You can also put the NVLMSGR.EXE file on a website that your organization already has configured.