Updates to Systems Management Server Installer 2.0

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The basic functionality of SMS Installer 2.0 as described in this chapter remains unchanged with the application of SMS 2.0 Service Pack 1. However, some new features have been added to facilitate your use of SMS Installer.

CAUTION
Scripts created with the SMS 2.0 Service Pack 1 version of SMS Installer should not be opened with earlier versions of SMS Installer. If you used any of the new functions of the SMS 2.0 Service Pack 1 version of SMS Installer, such as the new Syswin predefined variable, you might lose that support when you save the script.

When you view installation scripts through the Script Editor window, you will notice an added option on the Installation menu: the Debug option. This option enables you to test the entire script, set breakpoints, and test the script one line at a time.

The Options tab of the Advanced Configuration Properties window now includes a Set Color button that lets you assign colors to highlight script elements such as logical statements or remarks. This feature can help you more easily scan and sort your installation script. In addition, a Version tab has been added, which enables you to identify version information for the Setup program (not the application). This feature is useful for tracking multiple Setup versions.

Some actions have been enhanced, and several new actions have been added to Script Editor. The Set Variable, Wizard Block, and If/While actions have been enhanced to support more complex expressions and operators. The Call DLL Function action has been enhanced to call functions written for SMS Installer or functions that have variable parameters unknown to SMS Installer. A new Sleep action can be used to pause the execution of the installation script for a specified period of time. This action is useful if you want to invoke an external program during script execution and you need to stop execution until the external program has completed.

A new variable, named Syswin, has also been added. This variable returns the path of the system directory on computers running Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, and Windows 2000.

This version of SMS Installer also installs support for all language versions supported by Windows NT and SMS 2.0. As always, refer to the updated Systems Management Server Administrator's Guide for more information, as well as the Microsoft Systems Management Server Version 2.0 Service Pack 1 Release Notes. The online help for SMS Installer 2.0 is also updated with the service pack.

After you update your site server with the service pack, simply reinstall SMS Installer to upgrade it to the Service Pack 1 version.

TIP
Consider participating in the SMS Installer newsgroup microsoft.public.sms.installer, accessible through the msnews.microsoft.com news server. In this newsgroup, you can have unmonitored discussions about SMS Installer and the new features available.



Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0 Administrator's Companion
Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0 Administrators Companion (IT-Administrators Companion)
ISBN: 0735608342
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 1999
Pages: 167

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