Hi Tony,
Go thru the article and references for better understanding. Please let me
know if you have any questions on this regard.
SUMMARY
This article describes how to create a Microsoft Installer Package (MSI)
for installing third-party programs. If you want to install a third-party
program by using this method, you must install a copy of Veritas Software
Console by Seagate Software at a location that is accessible by the
reference computer. This program is available on the Windows 2000 CD-ROM in
Valueadd\3rdparty\Mgmt\Winstle\Swiadmle.msi. This includes a copy of
WinINSTALL limited edition, which allows for basic functionality.
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Definitions
Instruction File
An instruction file (Microsoft Installer package) contains information
about what needs to be done to install a product.
Clean PC
A clean PC is defined as a computer with only the following items on it
before you run Discover:
The operating system
The service packs for the operating system
If you install Veritas Software Console (or any other product) on the
computer, it is by definition no longer a clean PC. You must install
Veritas Software Console somewhere, but not on the clean PC.
Reference Computer
A clean PC ensures that the Discover program will pick up all files and
registry entries necessary for the program to run.
The reference computer should have access to the Discover program
(Discoz.exe) in the Winstall folder from My Network Places, Windows
Explorer, or the Run command on the Start menu. Do not map a drive to the
Winstall share. Doing so may cause Discover to pick up the added drive,
possibly causing problems in your Microsoft Installer packages.
Discover
The Discover program is the program you use to create the instruction file
(Microsoft Installer package) that contains information about what needs to
be done to install a product.
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How to Create a Third-Party MSI Package
For this process to work properly, you should start with a clean PC.
Start with a clean PC, or one that is representative of the computers in
your network.
Start Discover to take a picture of the representative PC's software
configuration. This is the Before snapshot.
Install a program on the PC on which you took the Before snapshot.
Reboot the PC.
Run the new program to verify that it works.
Quit the program.
Start Discover and take an After snapshot of the PC's new configuration.
Discover compares the Before and the After snapshots and notes the changes.
It creates a Microsoft Installer package with information about how to
install that program on such a PC in the future.
(Optional) Use Veritas Software Console to customize the Microsoft
Installer package.
Clean the reference computer to prepare to run Discover again.
(Optional) Perform a test installation of the program on non-production
workstations.
To obtain support for Veritas Software Console, please contact Veritas.
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REFERENCES
For more detailed step-by-step instructions, visit the following Web site:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/planning/management/veritas.as
p
This link is contained in the following document that describes the basic
technology and compares competing products:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/planning/management/swinstall.
asp
A technical summary of installer technology is located at the following Web
site:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/administration/management/siam
wp.asp
For a detailed description of the technology, consult the "Microsoft
Windows 2000 Server Deployment Planning Guide," which is one of the volumes
included with the Microsoft Windows 2000 Server Resource Kit.
For detailed information, consult the Microsoft Software Development Kit
(SDK) at the following site:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/downloads/
For technical information about third-party products using MSI technology,
see the following Web site:
http://www.installsite.org/
Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find
technical support. This contact information may change without notice.
Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact
information.
The third-party products that are discussed in this article are
manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft
makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or
reliability of these products.
Thanks,
(e-mail address removed)
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
