Installing ACE Client via GPO (Group Policy)

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This article details how to install/rollout ACE Client (Receiving) on a Windows Active Directory domain.  Due to the high number of ACE Client (Receiving Computers) that most enterprises will need to install, it is vital to be able to rollout ACE Client in an automated fashion to your computers.  This article will provide a quick demonstration to System Administrators on how to rollout ACE Client on a Windows domain.


Assumptions

Only system administrators who are familiar with Active Directory, Group Policy and Deployment Testing/Application Rollout should attempt the below.  This guide cannot suit all companies and is therefore generic, it is important that you understand what each step does below in order to apply the settings to your own organisation without error.

Deploying applications in an automated fashion is a skill which should only be accomplished via experienced system/network administrators.  Please TEST the below in your development domain before applying to your production domain.


Step 1 - Creating the Group Policy

  1. Load up your Group Policy Management tool (We are using the Group Policy Management tool alongside Windows 2003 Server in our examples!)
  2. Create a TEST Organizational Unit (Our example creates an OU called:  Deployment Testing) and copy some of the COMPUTER ACCOUNTS which you will deploy ACE Client too.  We advise using a sample of the different types of computers you have setup in your company.  This way you can demonstrate that ACE Client works alongside all of your different setups without issue.
  3. Right Click the newly created OU and select Create and Link a GPO Here...  (As shown below)





  5. Call the New GPO something Suitable, eg.  ACE Client Install
  6. Right Click the GPO created and select Edit (As shown below)





  8. The Group Policy Object Editor will now open for the new policy created.


Step 2 - Create a Suitable Install Location

In order for the Group Policy to install ACE Client, it needs all Computers to be able to access the installation media (ACEclnt.msi).  So please

  1. Create a new folder on a server (Does not have to be a domain controller)
  2. Share the folder with a suitable name
  3. Make sure that all computers/users have the permission to Read/Execute from this share
  4. Download ACE Client installation set from our website (http://www.spydaman.com/MSI/ACEclnt.msi)
  5. Copy the ACEclnt.msi file into the share/folder created.


In our example, the folder will be called:

C:\ClientApps\ACEmessage\

This exists on the Domain Controller "TITUS" under the share name "ClientApps", therefore the share path to this file (UNC) will be:

\\titus\ClientApps\ACEmessage\ACEclnt.msi

Please make a note of your full UNC path with your configuration, as it will be required in Step 3.  You should be able to now access this UNC path from any computer via the RUN prompt, as below:



Step 3 - Configuring the Group Policy

Now that we have created our Group Policy, and setup our installation area and file.  We need to configure the Group Policy to deploy the ACEclnt.msi file to our test OU.

  1. Go into the Group Policy Object Editor as per end of Step 1, you should be editing the policy you created earlier.  In our example this is ACE Client Install policy.
  2. Click Computer Configuration -> Software Settings -> Software Installation
  3. Right Click Software Installation, and select New -> Package (As below)



You will then be prompted for a location of the Windows Installer MSI file which is to be deployed.  MAKE SURE YOU TYPE IN THE UNC FULL PATH TO THE FILE!!!! As per below:

\\titus\ClientApps\ACEmessage\ACEclnt.msi

Then click Open

At this point you will be asked how to deploy the software.  Select Assigned and click OK (As below)



Step 4 - Test your Policy Deployment

When you finish Step 3, you will have your Application Package listed in the policy you created.  As per the full example below.



You must now restart the computers which are listed in your test organization unit (So that the new group policy is applied to them).  ACE Client will then install before the CTRL+ALT+DEL screen is visible to users.



Windows XP Professional Installing ACE Client via Group Policy