Notes to prepare for Active Directory Certification (70-294)__Part VII

7. Software Deployment
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You can use the Software Installation and Maintenance feature of IntelliMirror to create a managed software environment to provide roaming users access to the applications they need to do their jobs, not matter which computer they log on to.

When you deploy software through Group Policy, you use the same troubleshooting tools to resolve software deployment problems that you use to troubleshoot Group Policy.
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Software Installation Extension

Both assigned and published software is stored in a software distribution point (SDP), a network location from which users are able to get the software that they need.
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Windows Installer Packages

There are two types of Windows Installer packages:
Native Windows Installer package (.msi) files
Repackaged application (.msi) files

You can use transform (.mst) and patch (.msp) files to modify an existing Windows Installer package.

Application (.zap) Files

Application files use the .zap extension.
A .zap file does not support the features of Windows Installer.
It is recommended that you use .msi files to deploy software with Group Policy whenever possible.
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Software Deployment

For large scale deployments or deployments with computers running pre-Windows 2000 operating systems, you might consider using the Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS) along with Group Policy to handle software deployment.
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Using DFS to Manage SDP’s

The Distributed File System (DFS) provides users with convenient access to shared folders that are distributed throughout a network.

Upgrading Applications Deployed with Group Policy

To establish the procedure to upgrade an existing application to the current release, you must first create a Windows Installer package that contains the upgrade and then configure the upgrade in the Upgrades tab in the Properties dialog box for the package.
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Removing Deployed Software

If you delete a GPO that deploys a software application, the application cannot be uninstalled with Group Policy. If the application cannot be uninstalled with Group Policy, it must be manually uninstalled from each client computer.

There are two options for removing software deployed with Group Policy: forced removal and optional removal.

In optional removal you allows users to continue to use the software, but prevent new installations of that application.
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