Preparing the Deployment

As the planning phase of the deployment comes to a close, administrators can focus on preparing the different areas of the Outlook client deployment.

For deploying the Outlook client successfully to desktop on the network, administrators can also use this time to prepare and test configurations that will be used for the actual Outlook client deployment.

Outlook Systems Requirements

Before pushing an Outlook client to desktop systems on the network, the desktop hardware must be evaluated to determine whether it meets the recommended Microsoft hardware and software requirements for installing Outlook.

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With Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS), inventories can be conducted on network desktop systems to identify hardware and software installed on each.

Ensure that the desktop systems meet the installation requirements needed by reviewing Table 28.1.

Table 28.1. System Requirements

Requirement	Outlook 2003	Outlook 2002
Processor speed	P233MHz	P133MHz
Memory	128MB	136MB w/Windows XP 72MB w/Windows 2000
Hard disk space	400MB	135MB

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The installation of Outlook 2003 also requires Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 or higher.

Planning Predefined Configuration Options

With a broad understanding of how the Outlook client can be deployed, another area to understand is which options can be configured when using the Custom Installation Wizard and Transform configuration files. Understanding the options available to administrators for configuring the Exchange Outlook client with PRF files, Transforms, and so forth enables administrators to create a baseline understanding of what options will be used prior to actually creating the individual configuration file.

Using the Custom Installation Wizard, you can configure the following features:

• Outlook User Profile Settings Administrators can specify how users' profiles will be created. Using this option, administrators can set new profiles, modify existing profiles, and add additional user profiles.

• Exchange Server Settings Settings defining Exchange server names and specific options, such as Exchange 2003 connection options, can also be defined.

• Installation States for Outlook and Features Using the installation options, you can define installation states to make features either available, available at first use, or not available.

• Mail Options Options such as PST and OST settings and synchronization options can be defined using the Custom Installation Wizard.

• Settings and Options Many of the options available when configuring Outlook through the Tool, Options tab of the Outlook client can also be defined when creating custom installation files.

• Installation Path Ensure that the installation directory path on the client desktop where the Outlook client will be installed contains enough free disk space to complete the installation.

Creating Administrative Installation Points

If the deployment requires Administrative Installation Points, administrators can create them using the Setup.exe program of the Outlook or Office installation software.

Using the Setup.exe program with Outlook or Office 2003, you can create Administrative Installation Points by running the installation with the /a switch.

To create the Administrative Installation Point, complete these steps:

NOTE

In the following example, the Administrative Installation Point is created using the Microsoft Office 2003 installation media.

1. Insert the Installation CD-ROM into the systems where the Installation Point will be created. Open a Run command dialog box by selecting Start, Run.

2. At the Installation screen, enter the product key that came with the Office 2003 installation software and select Next to continue.

   NOTE

   Use the Install location option on this screen to change the installation path that Outlook will use when being deployed.

3. Accept the End User License Agreement (EULA) and select Install; this begins the installation process.

4. Select the Installation state for Outlook and Outlook options; select Next to continue.

Automating Outlook Profile Settings

There are multiple options for configuring Outlook profiles when deploying. Most commonly used are the PRF files used to generate Outlook profiles and apply Outlook settings.

To configure profile settings using PRF files, use the Custom Installation Wizard. Define the profile setting in the Outlook: Customize Default Profile page. This section walks you through the standard configuration of the PRF file to generate a user's profile dynamically after the Outlook client installation has completed. In this scenario, you configure a single PRF file and create the Outlook profile for any user when the Outlook client is launched for the first time.

To create a new profile, open the CIW by selecting Start, Run, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Office Tools, Microsoft Office ORK, Custom Installation Wizard. Then follow these steps:

1. Select the default options until the Outlook: Customize Default Profile page appears. Select the New Profile option, enter Outlook for the profile name , and click Next.

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   To configure the PRF file to run when Outlook is launched for the first time, use the Add/Remove Registry Entries page of the Custom Installation Wizard.

   To enable the run-once option, make the following Registry changes:

   Delete the following key:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office.0\Outlook\Setup\First-Run 

   Expand the Registry tree to the following:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office.0\Outlook\Setup 

   Add the String Value and enter the path of the PRF file share created earlier.

2. To configure the PRF file to dynamically configure each user profile, enter the %UserName% syntax in the User Name field. Also, enter the name of your Exchange 2003 Server, as shown in Figure 28.1.

   Figure 28.1. Exchange Server PRF file settings.

   

3. Because this PRF file is a default profile configuration file, select Next at the Add Accounts screen.

4. From the Remove Accounts and Export Settings screen, click the Export Profile settings. Enter the name Outlook for the name of the new PRF file and save the file to the desired location. Select Finish to complete the PRF file creation.

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Microsoft PRF files can also be configured with additional Outlook profile settings, such as Personal folders and Outlook option settings. To understand more about configuring PRF files, go to www.microsoft.com/office/ork and search for .PRF .

Creating Transforms and Profile Files

There are several different types of configuration files that can be used to deploy Outlook client configuration to the desktop. In this section, you complete the steps needed to configure Outlook 2003 using the CIW to create Transforms and Profile files (PRF).

Creating Transforms

Transform (MST) files are created using the Office CIW available in the Office 2003 Resource Kit. Transforms can be used to create detailed custom settings when installing and configuring the Outlook client.

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Use the Transform option when extensive settings are required for the Outlook deployment and when deploying Outlook with the Office application suite. Transforms can be configured with custom settings and Outlook profile information making this option the most comprehensive of all configuration options when deploying.

Be sure to document all settings expected to be used when creating configuration Transform files.

Configuring Transforms

To create a Transform file, download and install the Office 2003 Resource Kit (ORK) and launch the Custom Installation Wizard by selecting Start, Run, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Office Tools, Microsoft Office ORK, Custom Installation Wizard. Then follow these steps:

1. From the Welcome to Microsoft Office Custom Installation Wizard Screen, select Next.

2. On the Open the MSI File page, enter the path and filename for the Outlook MSI Installation package, as shown in Figure 28.2. Use the Browse button to locate the MSI installation package being used for this Microsoft Transform file. Click the Next button to continue.

   Figure 28.2. MSI selection page.

   

3. Because this scenario is creating a new Transform file, on the Open the MST File page, select the Create a New MST File option and select Next.

4. Select the location where the new MST file will be created and click Next.

5. Enter the location where the Outlook installation will be placed on the desktop when the client is deployed. Then enter the name of the organization that will be used for registration information.

6. If previous installations of Outlook and Microsoft Office exist on the desktop, select which installation version to remove.

   NOTE

   This option removes any selected version and component of Microsoft Office prior to installation of the Outlook client.

7. On the Set Feature Installation States page, select the Outlook components that will be installed. Click the Microsoft Outlook for Windows and click the Run from my Computer option.

8. Use the Custom Default Application Settings page to define and add an Office Application Settings (OSP) file.

   If upgrading, select the Migrate User's Settings check box to maintain the existing user-defined options after the upgrade.

9. Use the Change the Office User Settings page to define the setting and options to be applied to Outlook after the installation is finished.

10. Use the Options pages to modify the Outlook installation; continue through the configuration pages to create the Transform files.

    Continue through the installation and configure the following:

    Add/Remove additional custom installation files.

    Add/Remove custom Registry Entries.

    Modify Shortcuts and Outlook Icons.

    If deploying across WAN links, select an additional installation point for the deployment.

    Establish Outlook Security Settings.

    Add additional programs to be installed with Outlook.

NOTE

For more information regarding options on each page and additional settings, use the help option on each page to review the Microsoft Custom Installation Wizard help file.

Configuring Profiles with Transforms

Customizing the configuration of the profile during the installation can be done on the Customize Default Profiles page. Using the options available, administrators can select the method in which to create the client profile with the Outlook Deployment tool.

For this Transform, select Apply PRF file and select the PRF file created in the previous section or select one of the following options, as shown in Figure 28.3:

• Use Existing Profile Used when upgrading the Outlook client, this option maintains the existing setting.

  NOTE

  When Use Existing Profile is selected and no profile is found on the client desktop, this option prompts the user to create the profile.

  
  

• Modify Profile Select this option to customize profile information and Exchange Outlook Options.

• New Profile Use this option to create a single new profile and configure connection settings.

Figure 28.3. CIW profile options.

Additional options are available, such as Send and Receive Options and Mail settings; continue through the configuration screens by choosing the options you want. The creation of the PRF file can be completed at any time by selecting the Finish button on any setup screen.

After the Custom Installation Wizard has completed, document the command syntax for running the Outlook Setup.exe with the Transform just created, as in the example in Figure 28.4.

Figure 28.4. Completing the Custom Installation Wizard.