Technical White Paper Altiris Deployment Solution 6.5 Integration in vpms 2006 R2
Contents 1 Preface... 1 2 Introduction... 2 2.1 Requirements...2 3 Background... 3 4 Requirements... 4 5 Configuration in vcc... 5 5.1 Creating a Farm...5 5.2 Creating the Server...6 5.3 Assigning an ICM Script...7 5.4 Exporting the Transition Tool...8 6 Configuration in Altiris Console... 15 6.1 Copying Transition Tool Files... 15 6.2 Creating a New Job... 16 6.3 Running a Job... 18 6.4 Monitoring the Installation... 19 www.visionapp.com I
1 Preface Thank you for buying a product from visionapp GmbH. visionapp Platform Management Suite undergoes stringent quality tests. No product leaves our premises without having been fully tested by our Quality Assurance. However, due to the complex structure of the software, visionapp GmbH does not assume any liability that visionapp GmbH software is free of errors, runs without interruption, is compatible with all devices and software configurations or meets any other of your requirements. This documentation has been prepared solely for information purposes and may be changed any time without prior notice. It does not constitute any obligation whatsoever of visionapp GmbH. Also, visionapp GmbH does not assume any liability for errors or inaccuracies in this documentation. Our latest documentation is available on our website under: http://www.visionapp.com/support www.visionapp.com 1
2 Introduction This whitepaper (also simply called document hereafter) contains instructions on how to integrate Altiris Deployment Solution 6.5 in visionapp Platform Management Suite 2006 R2. Before using the software, we recommend that you carefully read this whitepaper to reduce the risk of errors related to the installation and configuration of the software. visionapp GmbH welcomes your comments on this document. If you have any questions or suggestions for improvements to the software itself or to the documentation, please visit our website (http://www.visionapp.com/support) for information on how to proceed. 2.1 Requirements Using this whitepaper in an efficient way requires good skills in using Altiris Deployment Solution 6.5. Basic knowledge of Microsoft Windows Server operating systems as well as software distribution mechanisms for operating systems and applications is a plus. This document is also intended for persons involved in the installation, administration and troubleshooting of servers. visionapp GmbH assumes that you are qualified for the maintenance of servers and that you were trained to use the software products used. This documentation requires a certain knowledge of technical facts and terms. Knowing the documentation below will help to deal with issues addressed in this whitepaper: > Altiris Deployment Solution 6.5 Online Help > visionapp Control Center Online Help If you are unable to resolve a problem using the information provided, please visit our website (http://www.visionapp.com/support) for additional troubleshooting information. Our website also provides: > Information on the product > Information on new products > Product updates > Numerous whitepapers and presentations > Retail partners near you www.visionapp.com 2
3 Background With Altiris Deployment Solution 6.5, Altiris offers a tool for remote control and administration of server landscapes. Integrating the Altiris solution in visionapp Platform Management Suite 2006 R2 (vpms 2006 R2) allows administrators to apply the vpms 2006 R2 package distribution mechanisms and configuration options in Altiris controlled environments, in particular in the field of Citrix Presentation Servers. This whitepaper serves as guideline for performing the necessary modifications in an Altiris environment. The Transition Wizard and the visionapp Transition Tool (vtt) will be used to implement the transition from an Altiris operating system installation to a vpms 2006 R2-based package installation. www.visionapp.com 3
4 Requirements The procedure described in this whitepaper requires a pre-installed Altiris Deployment Solution 6.5 as well as a vpms 2006 R2 environment. To begin with, an Installation Control Manager Site (ICM Site) has to be created in visionapp Control Center (vcc), including the supporting application software packages and installation scripts. Then, following the operating system installation, the sequenced software package installation can be run from within Altiris Deployment Solution 6.5. For instructions on how to install the environments above and create an ICM Site, please refer to the vcc Online Help. www.visionapp.com 4
5 Configuration in vcc 5.1 Creating a Farm In vcc, select Infrastructure Management (IM) and use the context menu to create a new farm with the properties shown in Figure 1 below: Figure 1: Creating a New Farm The type of the farm is set under Type in the Subtype field. As illustrated in Figure 1, under Installation procedure, select User-defined in the Operating system installation field and ICM in the Software deployment field. www.visionapp.com 5
5.2 Creating the Server After having created the farm, use the farm s context menu to create one or more servers (refer to Figure 2). In case the farm has been created as Citrix farm (as in the example above), you need to create a zone before inserting servers. Figure 2: Creating a New Server www.visionapp.com 6
5.3 Assigning an ICM Script After the transition from the Altiris Deployment Solution 6.5 operating system installation to the vpms 2006 R2 package installation, an ICM installation script has to be assigned to the server in vcc. This assignment is needed to ensure that the server receives the software packages selected. For instructions on how to create an ICM installation script, please refer to the vcc Online Help. Figure 3: Assigning an ICM Script www.visionapp.com 7
5.4 Exporting the Transition Tool The transition tool enables the transition from the Altiris Deployment Solution 6.5 operating system installation to the vpms 2006 R2 package installation. Under the newly created server, select the Remote Administration tab. Then click the Transition Wizard button under Administration (refer to Figure 4). Figure 4: Transition Wizard www.visionapp.com 8
The Transition Wizard is used to export the necessary files to an appropriate directory. The subsequent pages describe the various Transition Wizard screens and the settings to be made. Figure 5: Transition Wizard Welcome Screen www.visionapp.com 9
The Installation dialog (refer to Figure 6) is used to set whether the files are to be copied to the server(s) or exported to another location. Click the button to select the export directory. Figure 6: Installation Dialog www.visionapp.com 10
The Configuration Options dialog (refer to Figure 7) is used to define whether existing configuration settings are to be kept or new ones edited. This being the initial configuration, there are no existing settings and the Apply settings option is grayed out. Figure 7: Configuration Options Dialog www.visionapp.com 11
In the Domain integration dialog (refer to Figure 8) select the No integration option. This is the setting required for the operating system installation in the Altiris Deployment Solution 6.5 environment. Figure 8: Domain Integration Dialog www.visionapp.com 12
Finally, the Transition Wizard displays the Status dialog (refer to Figure 9) with, under the Status tab, information on the current procedure. Figure 9: Status Dialog www.visionapp.com 13
The following Transition Tool files have been copied to the selected directory (refer to Figure 10): > vtt.exe visionapp Transition Tool > vtt.ini visionapp Transition Tool configuration file > vsit.dll visionapp encryption DLL for secure communication Figure 10: Transition Tool Files The vtt.ini file is needed to set up the connection to the vcc database and provide the parameters required for the installation of the ICS service. The vtt.ini file contains information such as the database name, the database user and the encrypted password of the database user. www.visionapp.com 14
6 Configuration in Altiris Console After having completed the configuration in vcc and exported the Transition Tool files, you can proceed with the configuration in the Altiris Console. This document does not describe preliminary settings to be made in the Altiris Console, such as the inclusion of a server or the creation of images. For details on these tasks please refer to the Altiris Deployment Solution 6.5 Online Help. 6.1 Copying Transition Tool Files First, the transition tool files generated with the Transition Wizard have to be copied to a directory under the Deployment Server share on the Altiris server. Create this new directory under: %PROGRAMFILES%\Altiris\eXpress\. The name of the directory can be freely selected, but should be descriptive (e.g.: Transition). www.visionapp.com 15
6.2 Creating a New Job Now, in the Altiris Console, create a new job that will copy the transition tool files and run the vtt.exe file. To do so, open the context menu under Jobs and create a new job (named Altiris_ICM_Job in Figure 11). Then click Add on the right-hand side of the screen and select Distribute Software... (refer to Figure 11). Figure 11: Deployment Console www.visionapp.com 16
In the Distribute Software dialog, select the vtt.exe file from the directory previously created. To copy all of the files from the directory, enable the Copy all directory files checkbox (refer to Figure 12). Figure 12: Distribute Software Dialog As an alternative, click Next > and define return values for the specific distribution procedure in the dialog displayed next. Click Finish to save the settings and close the dialog. www.visionapp.com 17
6.3 Running a Job How the job is run within the Altiris Deployment Console has to be decided by the Administrator. For instance, the job could be used in combination with an operating system image distribution in order to implement an entire procedure, from the installation of an operating system using Altiris to the installation of software packages using ICM. A simple way to run a job is to drag and drop the newly created job to the server in the Altiris Deployment Console. In the Schedule Computers for Job dialog displayed next, you can select the Job Schedule tab and enable the option Run this job immediately. Schedule for immediate execution (refer to Figure 13). Figure 13: Schedule Computers for Job Dialog www.visionapp.com 18
After having confirmed with OK, the job copies the vtt.exe, vtt.ini and vsit.dll files to the target server and runs the vtt.exe program. To do so, the job creates a temporary directory on the target server under %WINDIR%\Temp. The log file generated by the vtt.exe program, vtt.log, is also stored in this temporary directory. For detailed information on how to run jobs in the Altiris Console please refer to Altiris Deployment Solution 6.5 Online Help. With the procedure illustrated, it is possible to use all of the vpms 2006 R2 software package installations within an Altiris Deployment Solution 6.5 environment. 6.4 Monitoring the Installation To monitor an installation, regardless of the software deployment solution used, select the Protocol tab under Infrastructure Management in vcc. For details on how to monitor an installation, refer to the vcc Online Help under Monitoring an Installation. www.visionapp.com 19
Figure 14: vcc Infrastructure Management Protocol Tab www.visionapp.com 20
Imprint Disclosure and Warranty The information, concepts, and ideas contained in this document are the property of visionapp GmbH. No part of this document may be disclosed or reproduced in any form without written permission of visionapp GmbH. Any violation thereof will be pursued. All brand names and product names used in this document are trademarks of their respective holders and are recognized as such. Any product descriptions or representations in this document are for identification purposes only and are not to be construed as a warranty of specific properties or guarantee or warranty of any other type. visionapp shall assume no liability, either explicit or implied, for the documentation. All rights reserved visionapp GmbH, October 06 About visionapp visionapp specializes in the design, implementation and operation of server-based infrastructure and portal solutions based on Microsoft and Citrix technologies. The company provides unique products and services for optimization and cost-effective administration of Windows Terminal Server infrastructures. Automated deployment tools (visionapp Platform Management Suite), the visionapp Access Portal, consulting and ASP services form the core business. The visionapp products and solutions will be provided through a worldwide certified partner network. Only in Germany visionapp delivers products and solutions directly to large enterprises. The SME market is also being supplied through certified partners. Further Information visionapp GmbH Head Office Frankfurt Theodor-Heuss-Allee 110 D-60486 Frankfurt am Main web: www.visionapp.com www.visionapp.com 21