Deploying with Microsoft Systems Management Server

The most comprehensive option to deploy the Outlook client is Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS). With the powerful software deployment functionality and management tools incorporated with SMS, this method becomes the best solution for deploying the Outlook client software to medium and large organizations.

Planning and Preparing Outlook Deployments with SMS

To prepare the Outlook client installation for use with Microsoft Systems Management Server, administrators must plan and prepare the deployment in many of the same ways as when using other options.

This section reviews and outlines the following options and deployment preparation tasks involved with using Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS):

• Software Distribution Plan and create administrative installation points to support software pushes in remote locations and separate subnets. SMS site server can be used in remote locations to support software distribution without requiring pushes over WAN links.

• Evaluate Client Needs Determine the specific client installation needs and document the deployment plan and order in which SMS will push the Outlook client.

• Inventory Using SMS Collections Leveraging the powerful functionality of SMS collections, administrators can perform detailed inventories of desktop client's hardware and software from evaluating and determining Outlook requirements prior to deploying.

Deploying with Systems Management Server 2.0

When deploying the Outlook client with Microsoft Systems Management Server, SMS leverages the Windows Installer to enhance the functionality of the deployment and add options and functionality to recover from failed installations.

When leveraging Windows Installer and SMS to push client software, the following options are available:

• Pre-Defined Configuration Support Administrators can incorporate Transforms and PRF files with the distribution of the MSI package.

• Per System Pushes Users can establish a connection to the Web site without providing credentials.

• Unattended Installation Using the /qb option with the installation syntax for the MSI package, administrators can force an unattended installation to the Outlook client.

• Administrative Installation Points As with other options, remote location and alternate location can be defined to support client pushes over slower connections.

Configuring the SMS Package for an Unattended Installation

Using the property pages of the MSI package file used with Systems Management Server to deploy Outlook clients , administrators can define the options to be used and how the package will be installed.

In this scenario, you configure the basic installation package for an unattended installation with Microsoft Systems Management Server:

1. Select the Outlook MSI file and open the Programs property page. Modify the Installer package properties by adding the command-line switch /qn , as shown in Figure 28.6.

   Figure 28.6. MSI general properties.

   

2. To complete configuring the unattended installation for the MSI package, click the Environment tab and uncheck the User Input Required option.

NOTE

To add a PRF file for use the with the SMS package, add this command:

  /ImportPRF \   Outlook Files   \Outlook.PRF  

after the /qn switch (where Outlook Files represents the share location where the packages can be found).

Now that the installation package has been prepared, Microsoft Systems Management Server can be configured to push Microsoft Outlook clients to the desktop.