Deploying multiple products

[dlowe]

I need to deploy AutoCAD 2008, Civil 3D 2008, LDT 2008, and Raster Design 2008. I'd like to do this all silently using a batch file. My first attempt was to simply call the SETUP programs consecutively. But the SETUP programs all launched together, and all but the first failed because only one can run at a time.

So I added start /wait to the command lines. I was hopeful that this would work, but as soon as the first SETUP finished its initialization phase, the second SETUP launched & failed as before.

Any suggestions for automating the install of multiple products?

[Anonymous]

FresnoDoug said the following On 5/8/2007 6:25 PM:
> I need to deploy AutoCAD 2008, Civil 3D 2008, LDT 2008, and Raster Design 2008. I'd like to do this all silently using a batch file. My first attempt was to simply call the SETUP programs consecutively. But the SETUP programs all launched together, and all but the first failed because only one can run at a time.
>
> So I added start /wait to the command lines. I was hopeful that this would work, but as soon as the first SETUP finished its initialization phase, the second SETUP launched & failed as before.
>
> Any suggestions for automating the install of multiple products?

I'll be keeping an eye on this thread.
I'll be working on the same exact problem soon.

I found this problem a few weeks ago:
http://rkmcswain.blogspot.com/2007/03/autocad-2008-network-deployment.html

You might take a look at Jeff's comment on that article. I have not had
time to look into this.


--
R.K. McSwain
http://rkmcswain.blogspot.com

[dlowe]

Thanks for the link -- I found that same page while googling the problem. I've checked the page several times hoping he would find the solution 🙂

[Anonymous]

What about using group policy to install them all. I install ADT06 and
ACAD06 and it works great for me. I'm working on setting up my 08 products
now. I will have to install ADT08, Civil08 and Civil Land08, so I will let
you know how it goes.

Lawrence

[Anonymous]

I use batch files for all the Autodesk installs, and we use Civil 3D and LDD Companion here. I also tack on the object enablers, service packs, and anything else that needs updating at the time that's relevant to the CAD users.

I am working on my 2008 batch file right now, so I can post it once I have it completely finished.

In the meantime, I could offer up a 2007 script as an example, it runs flawlessly.

Message was edited by: ewells

[Anonymous]

Sorry, forgot to attach it.

Here's the one I used for 2007, it has Civil 3D and LDD and also Civil Design and Survey module, as well as multiple service packs.

It should give you a good idea of how your batch file should look though.

[Anonymous]

I would suggest using .vbs to chain the installs and what ever else
together.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/default.mspx
----------------------------------------------

[dlowe]

Thanks, here's the file I used. It launches Setup for C3D, which then launches the setup of the .NET Framework 2.0. Once that happens, it immediately launches the LDT setup, which then fails.

I'll look at yours more closely to see what's going on differently.

[dlowe]

Oops, I forgot to attach too.

[Anonymous]

First things first, I would definitely recommend using UNC paths when you're writing a batch file like this, that way you don't have to adjust it for each machine you run the script on. If you're just doing it for a single local machine, you could also just use a standard C:\ path for the different files.

As you can see in mine, I specify the UNC path for the server and the folders that the deployment files reside in and I call the corresponding .mst file for each deployment, which is a little different than what you're trying to do.

You may also want to organize the script using quotes like I do, otherwise you may run into problems with the batch file actually running since it will read some of your paths and commands as titles instead of actual commands. That's why you see I have everything titled in quotations.

Once you've set up the deployment, you would be much better off using the C3D.MSI file for your batch file instead of the actual SETUP.exe file.

I've gotten my 2008 batch file done already, so let me attach that so you can see how I have mine set up for that one as well. I have a lot of paths in this for uninstalls, but you can just look at the Civil 3D part and see how I've done that particular one.

You and others might find the rest useful so I've attached the whole thing. This script is entirely complete and ready for deployment, as soon as I finish setting up the LDD 2008 deployment folder, which I'm currently doing.

Once you've done one of these batch files, the rest are easy. Message was edited by: ewells

[dlowe]

Excellent! Using the .msi files instead of the Setup.exe is exactly the tip I needed. With the Setup.exe, the Start command waited only until the Setup.exe spawned the install for a prerequisite. With the .msi, start /w worked as expected. Thanks for the tip!

The last time I built one of these batch files (it was for 2006, as we passed on 2007) I pretty much just copied & pasted the target from the shortcuts and it worked fine. That was my approach this time too. Only cost me about 4 hours 😞

BTW, I agree with using UNCs in the batch files. The version I pasted was one that lived in the \\server\acad2008 share, so the paths were all relative to that root. To run it I browse to \\server\acad2008 & double-click the bat file. I try to avoid using spaces in folder names precisely to avoid the need for quotes.

Thanks again!

[Anonymous]

If you have AD you can use GPO's and OU's to mass install and uninstall
programs with .msi packages

It's time to go beyound batch files etc. and learn something new

j.

wrote in message news:5579362@discussion.autodesk.com...
I need to deploy AutoCAD 2008, Civil 3D 2008, LDT 2008, and Raster Design
2008. I'd like to do this all silently using a batch file. My first attempt
was to simply call the SETUP programs consecutively. But the SETUP programs
all launched together, and all but the first failed because only one can run
at a time.

So I added start /wait to the command lines. I was hopeful that this would
work, but as soon as the first SETUP finished its initialization phase, the
second SETUP launched & failed as before.

Any suggestions for automating the install of multiple products?

[Anonymous]

ewells said the following On 5/9/2007 4:04 PM:
>
> START "Land Desktop 2008 Install" /W "\\cgals01\AutoCad_Deployment\Land Desktop 2008 Deployment\AdminImage\LDT.MSI" TRANSFORMS="\\CGALS01\AutoCad_Deployment\Land Desktop 2008 Deployment\AdminImage\ldt-Land Desktop 2008 Deployment.mst" /qb

For example, on your LDT 2008 install, if you only call the LDT.MSI, how
do the other components get verified and/or installed (like Flash,
DotNet, MSI update, DirectX)?

--
R.K. McSwain
http://rkmcswain.blogspot.com

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately it does not install or check for those components, but our machines have all the requirements already, so they don't need those support files.

If by chance they do or the files need updating, I simply add the installs for those to beginning of the batch file using the setup.exe's from the support folder, like I had to do with 2007 for the .NET Framework update.

[Anonymous]

ewells said the following On 5/10/2007 7:33 AM:
> Unfortunately it does not install or check for those components, but our machines have all the requirements already, so they don't need those support files.
>
> If by chance they do or the files need updating, I simply add the installs for those to beginning of the batch file using the setup.exe's from the support folder, like I had to do with 2007 for the .NET Framework update.

Thanks. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something regarding
the new 2008 install.


--
R.K. McSwain
http://rkmcswain.blogspot.com

[dlowe]

Not a fan of that. Too manu OUs. For example, I want to deploy Acad2008 initially to just six people. So now I need to create an OU just for those six? But of those six, two also need Microsoft project. So now I have to create 2 new OUs. Don't the OUs eventually become a tangled mess? At least that's what I've heard.

Instead, I use Patchlink. It lets me target deployments at specific users. I can schedule the deployments for whenever I want, and I can give the users the option to defer the deployment or the reboot for a specified time.

[Anonymous]

Also, not all CAD Managers have access to AD and OUs to do this.

Have to work with what you have.

wrote in message news:5581876@discussion.autodesk.com...
Not a fan of that. Too manu OUs. For example, I want to deploy Acad2008
initially to just six people. So now I need to create an OU just for those
six? But of those six, two also need Microsoft project. So now I have to
create 2 new OUs. Don't the OUs eventually become a tangled mess? At least
that's what I've heard.

Instead, I use Patchlink. It lets me target deployments at specific users. I
can schedule the deployments for whenever I want, and I can give the users
the option to defer the deployment or the reboot for a specified time.

[Anonymous]

here is an example of a vbs that would need to be modified from 2005 and
your locations. This would include all the prerequisites

Just past into a text file and name to something.vbs

================================

Option Explicit

Dim fs, oWsh


Set fs = WScript.CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
Set oWsh = CreateObject("Wscript.Shell")

On Error Resume Next


if fs.FileExists( "C:\Program Files\Land Development Desktop
2005\acad.exe" ) then
MsgBox "Land Desktop has already been installed", vbOKOnly,
"Install Script"

Else
oWsh.Run Chr(34) & "\AdminImage\deploy.exe
" & Chr(34) & "ldt_2005" & Chr(34) & Chr(34), 5, True
end if

if fs.FileExists( "C:\Program Files\Land Development Desktop
2005\Support\civil.mnu" ) then
MsgBox "Civil Design has already been installed", vbOKOnly,
"Install Script"

Else
oWsh.Run Chr(34) & "\AdminImage\deploy.exe
" & Chr(34) & "civil_design_2005" & Chr(34) & Chr(34), 5, True

End If

if fs.FileExists( "C:\Program Files\Land Development Desktop
2005\Support\survey.mnu" ) then
MsgBox "Survey has already been installed", vbOKOnly,
"Install Script"

Else
oWsh.Run Chr(34) & "\AdminImage\deploy.exe
" & Chr(34) & "survey_2005" & Chr(34) & Chr(34), 5, True

End If


Set oWsh = Nothing
Set fs = Nothing

Wscript.Quit

=============================

[Anonymous]

Hi,

OU's are a snap to create. Most of the software like Office are installeed
on most computers anyway. For AutoCAD we use network license so it can be
installed to everyone who wants it. Basically we have 4 OUs, "Standard
Workstation", "CAD Workstation", "Standard Notebook", "CAD Notebook", all
pc's belonging to a group gets all the software.

For extra programs we need extra OU's

To renew the whole computer we start it from RIS to get it formatted and a
fresh OS, after that all the wanted software will be automatically
installed.

We install all software with GPO per computer. We have made GPO but also
OU's ("software groups") with rights. Only computer belonging to a certain
OU get rights to packages in GPO. This way we can easily install software to
certain computers.

For example

Create a software group "Soft-Autodesk Trueview"

Add package "DWGViewr.msi" to the GPO. Stop rights inheritance and remove
users from rights, add "Soft-Autodesk Trueview"

For example a group of computer belong to the group "Soft-Autodesk
Trueview", in the GPO only this group has read rights to the package
"DWGViewr.msi".

As a new computer is added to the group it will get software installed at
the nexr boot.

You can also have larger groups like "Soft-Std CAD workstation" and assign
software to this group so installing standard software is easy.

J.

wrote in message news:5581876@discussion.autodesk.com...
Not a fan of that. Too manu OUs. For example, I want to deploy Acad2008
initially to just six people. So now I need to create an OU just for those
six? But of those six, two also need Microsoft project. So now I have to
create 2 new OUs. Don't the OUs eventually become a tangled mess? At least
that's what I've heard.

Instead, I use Patchlink. It lets me target deployments at specific users. I
can schedule the deployments for whenever I want, and I can give the users
the option to defer the deployment or the reboot for a specified time.

[dlowe]

Hmm. Using the .msi files helped, but the install still fails when it launches one of the prerequisite installs such as dotnet 2.0 or directx9. I had to add those to the bat file as well to ensure that they are already installed when the AutoCAD installs start.