TABLE OF CONTENTS In the preceding chapter, you learned what Group Policy is and how to work with Group Policy Objects (GPOs). One of the most important functions of Group Policy in an enterprise-level network is the ability to automate software deployment throughout the organization, saving network administrators and users a great deal of time and trouble.
In this chapter, you will learn about Group Policy's software installation feature. We'll provide an understanding of the terminology and concepts behind software installation, and we'll show you how to use the components of software installation: Windows installer packages, transforms, patches, and application assignment scripts. You'll find out how to deploy software to users and to computers by assigning or publishing applications.
After covering the concepts, we walk you through the steps of preparing for Group Policy software installation, working with the GPO Editor and setting installation options. You'll find out how to upgrade applications, configure automatic updates, and remove managed applications. We'll also cover how to troubleshoot problems that can occur with Group Policy software deployment.
Maintaining the correct applications, service packs, and so forth on users' workstations can be a daunting task, but with Group Policy, software can be distributed, configured, and maintained in a centralized fashion. From the applications users need to complete their work, to patches and updates that fix bugs or enhance security, software deployment via Group Policy is a very powerful feature.
Some of the terms associated with Group Policy software...
