Using Group Policies to Install AutoCAD. CMMU 5405 Nate Bartley 9/22/2005

Transcription

1 Using Group Policies to Install AutoCAD CMMU 5405 Nate Bartley 9/22/2005

2 Before we get started This manual provides a step-by-step process for creating a Group Policy that will install AutoCAD to a Windows XP Pro or Windows 2000 computer. The Group Policy method used is Assigned to Computer. In the example below, it is assumed that the CAD Manager or IT Manager is familiar with creating deployments using the AutoCAD Deployment wizard and is comfortable using the Windows server Active Directory Users and Computers management console. Using a Group Policy to Install AutoCAD Below are the main steps and requirements for using group policies to install AutoCAD. General steps: 1. Create a deployment using the AutoCAD Deployment wizard. 2. The computers where AutoCAD will be installed must be part of a Windows server domain and assigned to an organization unit (OU) within the active directory tree. 3. Create a Group Policy Object (GPO) in the OU where AutoCAD will be installed. 4. Reboot each computer within the OU to receive the group policy. 5. Verify that AutoCAD was installed and runs. Requirements: The computer where AutoCAD will be installed must meet the standard system requirements published with the software plus the following additional requirements: Internet Explorer (IE) 6.0 sp1 or later must be installed. Microsoft Installer (MSI) version 3.0 or later must be installed.

3 IMPORTANT: If IE 6.0 sp1 or MSI 3.0 is not installed when trying to apply the group policy, it will fail. Notes: There are two other methods of Group Policy installations that are not covered in this document: Assigned to User and Published to User. AutoCAD will not install using either of these methods. The figures are from AutoCAD 2006 and Windows Server Create a deployment (AdminImage) Use the AutoCAD Deployment wizard to create a deployment. The deployment created by the DW is also an MSI administrative image (adminimage). The adminimage will be used by the group policy to install AutoCAD to a computer. Note: For help with the DW consult the AutoCAD Network Administor s Guide found on the product CD. As you create the deployment, keep track of the following information shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2: The administrative image location

4 Figure 1: Administrative image location The name of the deployment Figure 2: Name of the deployment

5 In the examples shown, the DW will create an administrative image in a folder called AdminImage under the administrative location \\VPCW2K3\deploy\a2k6 and will create a Microsoft transform file (.MST) using the name AutoCAD 2006 standalone. The AdminImage folder and AutoCAD 2006 standalone.mst file will be used when creating the group policy. Adding a computer to an OU In order to install AutoCAD to a computer, the computer must be located in an OU with a group policy defined for that OU. In our example, we will create a Test OU and move a computer to this new OU. We will then define a group policy in the Test OU to install AutoCAD. The following steps describe how to verify a computer is added to a Windows domain, how to create the Test OU, and how to move the computer to the Test OU: 1. First add the computer to the domain. By default when a computer is added to the domain, it is placed in the Computer organizational unit with the active directory tree. This can be verified by performing the following steps: a. Start the Active Directory Users and Computers management console by selecting the Start button > Programs > Administrative Tools > Active Directory Users and Computers. b. In the management console under the left-hand pane under the active directory tree, you will see your domain (domainname.com). If the domain tree is not expanded click on the plus (+) symbol next to the name to expand it. Select the Computers folder.

6 c. In the Computers folder, verify that the computer added appears. You will be moving this computer to the Test OU in step 3 below. Figure 3 shows a computer named VPCXPP in the Computers OU which is part of the VPCTDTest.com domain. Figure 3: Active Directory Users and Computers management console 2. Create a Test organizational unit. a. Start the Active Directory Users and Computers management console if it is not already started. b. Select the domain (domainname.com) in the left-hand pane of the management console and right-click. In the popup menu, select New > Organizational Unit as shown in Figure 4. The New Object Organizational Unit window will be displayed.

7 Figure 4: Creating New Organization Unit c. In the New Object Organizational Unit window (shown in Figure 5) enter Test for the name of the new OU. Click OK. Figure 5: New Object Organizational Unit window You have created a new OU called Test which will be used for creating the GPO. 3. Move the test computer to the Test OU.

8 a. Start the Active Directory Users and Computers management console if it is not already started. b. Select the Computers OU from the left-hand pane. c. Select the computer where AutoCAD will be installed in the right-hand pane and right-click. In the popup menu select Move as shown in Figure 6. The Move window is displayed. Figure 6: Moving computer d. In the Move window (shown in Figure 7), navigate to the Test OU and press OK. Figure 7: Move window

9 The computer is now moved to the Test OU where the group policy will be created. Create a GPO to install AutoCAD. 1. Start the Active Directory Users and Computers management console if it is not already started. 2. In the left-hand pane, right-click on the Test OU and select Properties from the popup menu as shown in Figure 8. The Test Properties window is displayed. Figure 8: Properties for the Test OU 3. In the Test Properties window select the Group Policy tab. 4. In the Group Policies tab click the New button. A New Group Policy Object is added to the Group Policy Objects Links list and is highlighted to be renamed. Change the name to Autodesk Standalone Products. Click the EDIT button as shown in Figure 9. The Group Policy window is displayed.

10 Figure 9: To Edit a group policy 5. In the left-hand pane under Computer Configuration select Software Settings. Click the plus (+) symbol next to Software Settings under Computer Configuration to expand the tree view. This will display Software installation object. 6. Select the Software Installation object and right-click. Select Properties from the popup menu as shown in Figure 10. The Software installation Properties window is displayed.

11 Figure 10: To display Software Properties window 7. In the Software installation Properties window click the Browse button as shown in Figure 11. The Browse for Folder window is displayed. Figure 11: To display the Browse for Folder window

12 Navigate to the AdminImage folder created by the Deployment wizard as shown in Figure 12. Click OK. You are returned to Software installation Properties window. Figure 12: Browse for Folder window 8. In the Software installation Properties window under New Packages section select the Advanced radio button. 9. As shown in Figure 13 click OK to close the Software installation Properties window and return to the Group Policy window. Figure 13: Software Installation Properties window

13 10. Again right-click on Software installation under Computer Configuration > Software Settings. In the popup menu select New > Package as shown in Figure 14. An Open window is displayed and the location opened is the AdminImage folder. Figure 14: To display the Open window to select an MSI file 11. In the Open window select the acad.msi file and click Open as shown in Figure 15. The AutoCAD Properties window is displayed. Figure 15: Select MSI file

14 12. In the AutoCAD Properties window select the Modifications tab. In the Modifications tab click the Add button as shown in Figure 16. An Open window is displayed. Figure 16: To display the Open window to select an MST file 13. In the Open window select the AutoCAD 2006 standalone.mst file created by the DW and click Open as shown in Figure 17. The AutoCAD Properties window is displayed. Figure 17: Select MST file

15 14. Click OK to close the AutoCAD Properties window and return to Group Policy window as shown in Figure 18. Figure 18: Group policy showing the newly created AutoCAD package The newly created package appears in the right-hand pane when Software installation is selected in the left-hand pane of the Group Policy window. You can close the Group Policy window and the Test Properties window. You are now ready to install AutoCAD to the computer. Verifying the GPO installs AutoCAD Reboot the computer contained in the Test OU. During the boot up process you will see: Applying software installation settings Installing managed software AutoCAD These messages appear in the startup message windows that are displayed after the operating system s logo screen as shown in Figure 19.

16 Figure 19: Startup message window At the completion of the boot up process, you will be at the system login screen. Login and verify that an AutoCAD icon has been added to the desktop. Note: Group policies log entries into the systems event viewer under applications. This is a good place to start if there is no AutoCAD icon on the desktop. Verify that AutoCAD runs Double-click on the AutoCAD icon. Because AutoCAD was installed using a group policy, the second time user installation will start as shown in Figure 20. Figure 20: Second time installation At the completion of the setup, AutoCAD will be running.

17 Conclusion As we have seen, you can use group policies to install AutoCAD to a computer without ever having to physically visit the computer. We used the Deployment wizard to create an administrative image. We created a Test organization unit and moved a computer to this OU. We then defined a group policy for the Test OU to install AutoCAD to the computer. When the computer was rebooted, AutoCAD was installed.