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Disclaimer Whilst every care has been taken by RES Software to ensure that the information contained in this document is correct and complete, it is possible that this is not the case. RES Software provides the information "as is", without any warranty for its soundness, suitability for a different purpose or otherwise. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, RES Software is not liable for any damage which has occurred or may occur as a result of or in any respect related to the use of this information. RES Software may change or terminate this document at any time without further notice and shall not be responsible for any consequence(s) arising there from. Subject to this disclaimer, RES Software is not responsible for any contributions by third parties to this information. Copyright Notice Copyright on software and all Materials 1998-2014 Real Enterprise Solutions Development B.V., P.O. Box 33, 5201 AA `s-hertogenbosch, The Netherlands. RES and the RES Software Logo are either registered trademarks or service marks of Real Enterprise Solutions Nederland B.V. in Europe, the United States and other countries. RES Automation Manager, RES Workspace Manager, RES Suite, RES Virtual Desktop Extender, RES IT Store and RES VDX are trade names of Real Enterprise Solutions Nederland B.V. in Europe, the United States and other countries. All other product and company names mentioned may be trademarks and/or service marks of their respective owners. Real Enterprise Solutions Development B.V., The Netherlands has the following patents: U.S. Pat. "US 7,433,962", "US 7,565,652", "US 7,725,527", other patents pending or granted. 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Introduction... 4 Use Case Overview... 5 Configuring RES IT Store Integration Step by step... 6 Prerequisites... 7 Microsoft System Center... 8 Modules... 9 Run Books... 12 Service Catalog... 13 More information... 18 3
Introduction This document describes how you can manage Microsoft System Center software deployments by configuring integration with RES IT Store. RES IT Store uses existing automation functionality in RES Automation Manager to make it possible for administrators to distribute software with Microsoft System Center. Microsoft System Center delivers unified management and agile system administration for the Cloud OS by offering consistent management experiences across on-premises, service provider, and Windows Azure environments. The key benefits of the integration are: Simplify distribution of software with Microsoft System Center. Reduce interaction with Microsoft System Center. This document assumes that you have basic knowledge of RES IT Store 2014, RES Automation Manager 2014 and Microsoft System Center. 4
Use Case Overview Use Case: This IT Store service automatically distributes software with Microsoft System Center. It includes a query to obtain an overview of deployed applications. 5
Configuring RES IT Store Integration Step by step In order to configure integration of Microsoft System Center with RES IT Store, the following needs to be configured: In Microsoft System Center Software distribution packages In RES Automation Manager: Modules Run Books In RES IT Store Services 6
Prerequisites RES IT Store 2014 RES Automation Manager 2014 Microsoft System Center 2007 for application deployments only Microsoft System Center 2012 for application deployments and software package distributions Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager client is running on the RES Automation Manager Agent(s) that will interact with Microsoft System Center 7
Microsoft System Center Before integrating with RES IT Store, software distribution packages need to be created in Microsoft System Center. Please refer to the Microsoft System Center documentation for information on how to do this. This document describes how to distribute software using Microsoft System Center 2012. 8
Modules For the second step of configuring the integration, a Module needs to be configured that contain the Microsoft System Center Tasks we want to automate: Distribute Software with Microsoft System Center. Configuration 1. In the RES Automation Manager Console, click Repository > Modules. 2. Right-click the window and click Add Folder. This opens the Folder window. 3. In the Folder name field, specify Microsoft System Center. 4. Right-click the folder and click Add. This opens the Add/Edit Module window. 5. At the Properties tab, specify Distribute Software with Microsoft System Center in the Module name field. 6. At the Tasks tab, click Add. This opens the Select task window. 7. Open the folder Provisioning. 9
8. Click Microsoft System Center (Distribute Software). This opens the Distribute Software with Microsoft System Center window. 9. Click the Settings tab. 10. In the Management Server field, specify the Configuration Manager server that should be used. If the computer on which you are running the Console also has a Configuration Manager client installed, RES Automation Manager will automatically detect the Configuration Manager server in your network. 11. The option Autodetect management server on client is selected by default. When selected, the Agent will automatically use the configured Configuration Manager server for that client in your network. Clear this option if you want to override the client-configured management server with the value of the Management Server field. 12. In the Security context field, specify the required credentials to access the Configuration Manager server. 13. In the Version field, specify the Configuration Manager. When access is possible, RES Automation Manager automatically detects the version of the server (2007 or 2012). Although it is possible to specify a different version than the one that was automatically detected, this is not recommended. 14. In the Deployment field, select whether to deploy Packages or Applications. This option will only be active when using Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2012. It will be grayed out and set to Package when using Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007, because this version only supports deployment of packages. Packages: In the Package field, select the software distribution package that should be advertised to the target computer. In the Program field, select the command that tells the client what action to execute once the package is received. For example, install or uninstall software, perform upgrades, or apply hotfixes. Applications (Configuration Manager 2012 only): In the Application field, select the application that should be deployed on the target computer. In the Action field, select the action that should be performed by the client once the application is received. 15. In the Distribute to field, select the collection of clients to which the software distribution package or application should be made available. 16. Select the option Distribute to local Agent only (faster) to make the software distribution package or application only available to the Agent that executes the Task. If a collection for this Agent does not yet exist, RES Automation Manager will create it automatically. Do not execute this Task on more than one RES Automation Manager Agent unless the option Distribute to local Agent only (faster) has been selected. Choose whether RES Automation Manager should Wait for the software distribution to finish before continuing with a subsequent Task or Job on the Agent. If Distribute to local agent only (faster) is selected for deployment of an application, the application will not be found when executing a Task Query Microsoft Configuration Manager Client. 10
17. Confirm the Task settings look as shown below and click OK. 18. At the Tasks tab, click Add. This opens the Select task window. 19. Open the folder Provisioning. 20. Click Microsoft System Center (Query Client). This opens the Query Microsoft System Center Client window. 21. Click the Settings tab. Select the option Query Client Status to create status reports of Configuration Manager clients, including client version, cache options, service states, etc. Select the option Query Client Advertised Packages to obtain an overview of all software distribution packages that have ever been advertised to the target computer, including local status of the advertisement, last run date and exit code. Select the option Query Deployed Applications to obtain an overview of all applications that have ever been deployed to the target computer, including software version, install time and install state. Applications that have been deployed with a Task Distribute Software with Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager in which the option Distribute to local Agent only (faster) was selected, will not be shown in the Query results. 22. Confirm the Task settings and click OK. 11
Run Books In order to invoke the execution of the Microsoft System Center Module from the IT Store, a Run Book needs to be configured: Distribute Software with Microsoft System Center. Configuration 1. In the RES Automation Manager Console, click Repository > Run Books. 2. Right-click the window and click Add Folder. This opens the Folder window. 3. As name of the folder, specify Microsoft System Center. 4. Right-click the window and click Add. This opens the Add/Edit Run Book window. 5. At the Jobs tab, click Add. This opens the Add/Edit Run Book Job window. 6. Click the What field. This opens the Select Project/Module window. 7. At the Modules tab, select the checkbox of the Distribute Software with Microsoft System Center Module that you created earlier and click OK. This returns you to the Add/Edit Run Book Job window. 8. In the Add/Edit Run Book Job window, click the Who field. 9. Select at least two Agents and click OK. This returns you to the Add/Edit Run Book Job window. 10. Select Run on one of the specified agents. This will provide redundancy in case one of the Agents is offline, as well as spread the load when more than one Job is executed. Note: Make sure each specified Agent is running a Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager client. 11. Click OK. This returns you to the Add/Edit Run Book Job window. 12. Click OK. 12
Service Catalog One service in a new category needs to be configured in RES IT Store to support Microsoft System Center: Microsoft System Center: Distribute Software with Microsoft System Center. Before you configure services, make sure RES Automation Manager Integration is enabled (in the RES IT Store Console at Setup > RES Automation Manager). Configuation 1. In the RES IT Store Console, click the Service Catalog section. Before you configure services, it is recommended to create a category for it, to help users to easily classify services within their IT Store portal page. 2. Click Add category. This opens the Category window. 3. In the Name field, specify Microsoft System Center. 4. Click OK. 5. Right-click the Microsoft System Center folder and click Add service. This opens the Service window. 6. At the Properties tab, specify Distribute Software with Microsoft System Center in the Name field. 7. In the Description field, specify a description for the service. 8. Leave the other settings as they are. If necessary, you can always change these settings at a later stage. 13
9. Optionally, add screenshots of Microsoft System on the Screenshots tab. These screenshots allow you to provide more detailed information on the service in the IT Store. 10. At the Qualification tab, specify which criteria a person must meet before this person qualifies to the service. In the example below, only the administrator has access to the service, but you can also give specific people access. 14
Next, you need to configure the workflow of the service. The delivery or return of a service happens according to a sequence of actions: the workflow. Each workflow starts with a trigger that specifies when a service should be delivered or returned. 1. At the tab Workflow > Delivery, double-click the Start Delivery trigger. This opens the Delivery triggers window. 2. In this service the trigger is set to self servicing only: 3. When you have configured the delivery trigger, click Add. This opens the Select action window. 4. Select Invoke Run Book and click OK. This opens the Action Distribute Software with Microsoft System Center\Invoke Run Book window. 5. At the Properties tab, click the browse button in the Run Book field. This opens the Select RES Automation Manager Run Book window. 6. Select the Run Book Distribute Software with Microsoft System Center and click OK. 7. Click OK to close the Action Distribute Software with Microsoft System Center\Invoke Run Book window. Next, we continue the workflow to add some error handling in case it was not possible to invoke the Run Book. 1. At the Delivery tab, right-click the Handle Exception folder and click Add. This opens the Select action window. 2. Select Send Message and click OK. This opens the Action Distribute Software with Microsoft System Center\Send Message window. 3. Add similar content as shown below: 15
4. Click OK to close the Action Distribute Software with Microsoft System Center\Send Message window. 5. Right-click the Handle Exception folder and click Add. This opens the Select action window.. 6. Select End Workflow action with a Finished State set to Failed. The delivery workflow should now contain the following: 16
When you have configured the delivery workflow, you need to configure the return workflow. 1. On the tab Workflow > Return, double-click the Start Return trigger. This opens the Return Triggers window. 2. Select the options that are relevant to your situation. In the example below, the trigger is set with two auto-deprovisioning options: 3. Click OK to close the Return triggers window. The return workflow should now contain the following: 17
More information You can find more documentation at http://support.ressoftware.com at the Library section and at the Downloads section. Useful reading includes: RES Automation Manager 2014 Administration Guide: this document provides detailed information about the installation and configuration of RES Automation Manager 2014 features and components. The online version of this document can be accessed from the Help menu in the Console, and is available at http://support.ressoftware.com/automationmanageradminguide2014. RES IT Store 2014 Administration Guide: this document provides detailed information about the installation and configuration of RES IT Store 2014 features and components. The online version of this document is available at http://support.ressoftware.com/itstoreadminguide2014/. RES Software Support Europe and Asia Monday - Friday 08:00 18:00 CET Belgium Denmark France Germany Netherlands Norway Sweden UK All other countries 0800-753-12 (Toll Free) 8088-6779 (Toll Free) 0800-911178 (Toll Free) 0800-182-7475 (Toll Free) +31 (0)73 622 8900 800-10-731 (Toll Free) 020-791-079 (Toll Free) 0-800-520-0427 (Toll Free) +44 (0) 845 838 5550 +31 (0)73 622 8900 US and Canada Monday - Friday 08:00 18:00 EST E-mail: Support Portal: +1 800-580-0786 (Toll Free) support@ressoftware.com http://support.ressoftware.com Support can also be reached on Twitter: @ressoftware About RES Software RES Software manages and secures the key elements of a user s computing experience, independent of work styles and devices. By automating how IT services are delivered to virtual workspaces and providing a user-friendly IT Store, RES Software helps IT professionals master the impacts of IT consumerization, increasingly sophisticated corporate users, bring-your-own-device initiatives and cloud technologies. RES Software patented technologies are used by a global customer base, and include superior customer support. For more information, follow updates on Twitter @ressoftware or visit http://www.ressoftware.com. 18