David, (Bryan and Chris, too!) OK - the Service pack is relatively easy. MS is now sending out Service Packs with a deployment .MSI file as of SP2. SP1 required using an external .MSI to deploy the SP. Take a look at this Q Article for more:
SP1 information : http://support.microsoft.com/search/preview.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q260301 SP2 information : http://support.microsoft.com/search/preview.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q290728 As to the question of converting a SP to an .MSI, no worries. MS has handled this one for you. Now, hotfixes, etc. are a different thing. On the Windows 2000 Server CD is WinInstall LE (not the greatest tool, but hey, it's free and does work) which will allow you to create .MSI files by doing a WinInstall discovery on a clean machine, install the fix, do another discovery. Then, you package up the changes and test it. Then, you test it again. Updates, apps, etc. are pretty much the same scenario. The key is the clean or 'build' machine and running the discovery to determine the now, install the software you are trying to package, then the second discovery, and finally the creation of the .MSI. For hotfixes, refer to this : http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q314273 Good luck! Oh, and have patience! This is not quite an exact science.... Rick Kingslan - Microsoft MVP [Windows NT/2000] Microsoft Certified Trainer MCSA, MCSE+I - Windows NT / 2000 "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." --- Arthur C. Clarke > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of Baker, David > Sent: Monday, April 01, 2002 10:55 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: [ActiveDir] Question on deploying service packs, > updates, etc. > > > Am just learning about the power of GPO's. Have read that > you can push out service packs, updates, apps, etc. by > creating .msi files. I have not been able to find out much > about that process. > > Real world scenario - Say we want to deploy the latest > service pack on 120 workstations. How is this done? > > 1) Where do we get the download to convert to .msi > > 2) How do we convert to .msi > > 3) What is the best way to push out to the workstations that > minimizes user intervention. > > Thanks, > > David > List info : http://www.activedir.org/mail_list.htm > List FAQ : http://www.activedir.org/list_faq.htm > List archive: > http://www.mail-archive.com/activedir%> 40mail.activedir.org/ > List info : http://www.activedir.org/mail_list.htm List FAQ : http://www.activedir.org/list_faq.htm List archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/activedir%40mail.activedir.org/
