Deploy software automatically

Remember how easy installing DOS programs used to be? Step 1: Copy files. Step 2: Start program. Such simplicity disappeared when Windows applications began scattering files across a hard disk like debris in a tornado. Today's convoluted procedures often require a trained administrator at the keyboard to execute installations. This hands-on technical support accounts for one of the biggest corporate PC expenses.

Here come software distribution packages to the rescue. These packages install applications remotely without requiring you to drag CD-ROMs to every computer. After testing four distribution programs, we think PictureTaker Enterprise Edition 2.0 from LANovation works the best for large corporations requiring remote user support, while WinInstall 6.5 from Veritas Software is an excellent product for LAN-bound companies.

A powerful console and flexible reporting options nearly stole first place for WinInstall, but PictureTaker took home our Blue Ribbon for its superior control over captured files and its ability to take advantage of existing network directory services. PictureTaker's one drawback is its large local disk space requirements. The network-intensive WinInstall takes some getting used to before you're ready to roll.

20/20 Software's AutoInstall 1.1 offers the widest range of configuration options and makes the best use of Novell Directory Services, but it's impeded by an odd setup procedure and problems with the uninstall process.

InstallShield's NetInstall 4.2 includes a complete list of files you can edit exhaustively to create custom installation packages. But the extra editing tools make for more work than we'd like.

All the programs we tested make use of a "clean" PC that saves changes made to the file system, registry and desktop for distribution. WinInstall and NetInstall require a separate console for software distribution; PictureTaker and AutoInstall let this clean PC double as a console.

Based on our experience, here's a tip: Before you roll out software to a large set of PCs, first run through the capture and deployment process with a test client to work out the details. Several programs let you tweak distribution files for different Windows versions. We found that a pair of clean PCs for each version makes life easier. Be aware, however, that this can translate into as many as eight clean PCs to cover Windows 95, 98, NT and 2000.

Special delivery

PictureTaker provides a fine level of control and granularity, including the ability to add single icons to the desktop or Start menu. An excellent 200-page manual and accompanying HTML version on the CD-ROM explain everything clearly.

PictureTaker runs from a network drive, so any Windows 95 and 98 station can act as a console. A small optional PictureTaker client is available for 95 and 98 clients, and gives you more control, including the option to install a program from a Web page. NT systems require client software that lets PictureTaker bypass restrictions on file security to let users without administrative authority install software to all areas of the disk - an interesting accomplishment that calls to task Microsoft's security implementation.

We found plenty of options for making predefined software additions and deletions but not an overwhelming selection. Want to replace the registry? Dangerous, but possible. Add a key to the registry? No problem. Copy the entire Start menu or just additions? Replace complete INI files or just add lines to existing ones? You can select any of these options and more with check boxes, radio buttons and drop down lists. Almost nothing requires you to remember an item and type it into a box.

In our tests, PictureTaker had no trouble capturing Network Associates' VirusScan, although LANovation's manual left out a necessary reboot. Capturing NetObjects' Fusion went well, but took some time because of the size of the application and the number of directories and files. PictureTaker doesn't compress files; instead, it places them on a server drive or creates a single distribution bundle to send to the client.

You can easily modify installation sets, or "pictures," and you can add, delete or modify files through a Windows Explorer-like interface. You can save multiple application sets that let users get what they need as necessary or reinstall critical files that disappear.

Client installations went smoothly. To trigger a file update, you can use logon scripts; send a batch file via e-mail for the user to execute; plug the installation into Task Scheduler for Windows NT or System Agent on Windows 9x; or pass a command-line argument via Microsoft's Systems Management Server (SMS). PictureTaker also supports Novell's Application Launcher.

Our only real criticism is that PictureTaker requires about twice as much disk space on the client as an application will ultimately need. PictureTaker stops installs when there's not enough disk space and erases everything that was put on the client up to that point. Fortunately, you can set an available disk space parameter for each client software package that instructs PictureTaker not to attempt an installation unless there's a certain amount of free disk space.

PictureTaker upgraded our client desktops, modified menus and updated the Add/Remove Software Control Panel list. Its uninstall function worked pretty well. We had to remove a few pieces of VirusScan manually, but PictureTaker completely cleaned up NetObjects' Fusion. By default, PictureTaker instructs each PC to reboot once the process is complete, but that is configurable.

You can update remote clients with PictureTaker's client software over the Internet; clicking on a link on a Web page downloads a distribution package and triggers an update. The application is also LAN-aware - logon script controls use existing network directory services rather than create yet another list of users to administer.

Suite distribution

WinInstall is part of Veritas' Desktop Management Suite, which the company purchased from Seagate Software this year. With the exception of a few file names that haven't been updated to reflect the new ownership, WinInstall is in excellent shape. Its console is far more powerful than those of the other applications we tested because it's designed for the entire management suite.

WinInstall requires a console for the management program and a separate clean PC for installation capture, whereas PictureTaker uses one PC for both jobs by running the console software from a network drive. Because of the enhanced management console and extra files added to its console PC, the need for two PCs makes sense for WinInstall. But be aware; while you can store files on the network server, you can't run the console on any PC you want, as you can with PictureTaker. WinInstall's console application, even if stored on a network drive, must be installed on the management console PC.

WinInstall assumes managers want to roll out applications in an organized, planned manner. Oddly, we found you have to decide on a distribution method before making a snapshot of the new application. No other package made us declare the distribution method this early.

All the standard distribution options are available, including e-mail and browser downloads. Windows NT clients can run a local NT service to pull files as well.

The manual warns users to pick a server with plenty of free space, with good reason. WinInstall saves space for the entire directory structure of installed applications, which it copies from the staging PC. You can optionally compress the files, but the default for local machines is to copy the file structure from the server.

During installation, clients can write back their results to a database. The database can be created in Microsoft Access, through Open Database Connectivity, or in dBASE or FoxPro. Application distribution files can be secured with a password. WinInstall shares its database, which lets other programs write reports.

WinInstall loaded VirusScan and NetObjects' Fusion completely and accurately, although not terribly swiftly. The program rolls back failed installs automatically, and the WinInstall client program that downloads files has an Uninstall button as well. Only local data files created by Fusion were left behind on the local disk; this is understandable because the Uninstall routine wouldn't know about those files.

WinInstall includes a sample application along with a dozen predefined reports and exhaustive help screens. You can customize reports with the bundled Crystal Reports Professional. A huge, well-designed manual is available online in Portable Definition Format.

Remote PCs are supported, but the required client software and constant interaction between client and server makes remote configurations more difficult. But if your clients are local, WinInstall has all the controls you need.

True push technology

AutoInstall from 20/20 Software gets close to achieving the complexity and control of WinInstall, but it's not as smooth. The flexibility is there, but AutoInstall is tougher to master.

Where AutoInstall outclasses WinInstall is in file control. Unfortunately, the program's multiple options are always in front of you on the bottom three-fourths of the screen. While WinInstall hides most of its configuration choices on tabbed pages in the console, AutoInstall forces managers to wade through them too often.

Like PictureTaker, AutoInstall requires only a single clean PC for installation and management. Most of the applications being distributed stay on a server. AutoInstall is intelligent enough to ignore the software it has added to the clean PC when copying new applications to it.

Applications are monitored and compressed for storage on a server; AutoInstall compressed the graphics-rich NetObjects Fusion file by more than a factor of three. Two nice tricks also distinguish AutoInstall: The program can chop files into 1.4M-byte sets for use on diskettes or keep them bundled in pieces just less than 50K bytes to more easily sneak through the Internet.

Application packages are saved as .exe files, which work great when they're pushed down to clients by AutoInstall manager or attached to e-mail for distribution. But while prepackaged .exe files eliminate the need to modify client files on each desktop, they raise a red flag in today's virus-conscious organizations that train their users never to run a .exe file that comes as ane-mail attachment, no matter who is listed as the sender.

AutoInstall is the only program that immediately pulled all the network user information straight out of the NetWare server and put each user in a pick list for easy access. Something about this isn't right, however, because AutoInstall tried to download application sets to several stations even when we tagged only one.

AutoInstall requires client software; a single line automatically added to NetWare logon scripts loads the AICLIENT.EXE file. This software stays resident and adds a true, simple push methodology for updating software. Just label a client for an upgrade on the management console, and in a few seconds, the console and client make a connection and start the download.

Another nice touch is that with installed applications, AutoInstall sends an uninstall package that stays on the client. However, the uninstall programs refused to work in our tests, even though AutoInstall loaded the proper information into Windows and its Add/Remove Software controls.

AutoInstall isn't the fastest program we tested, but its considerable control and true push technology make it easy to upgrade clients at 2 a.m. Because of AutoInstall's client-centric orientation, it doesn't give you many details on how installations went. There's no listing by program, for example.

For remote clients, AutoInstall offers plug-ins for Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator browsers to trigger installations via a Web server. It's similar to PictureTaker, but you must download the plugins.

Editing tools galore

InstallShield's NetInstall is the most NT-focused application of the group. Rather than use a separate console and clean PC for installation, NetInstall demands a dual-mode NT system. Specifically, NetInstall sets up dual partitions on the NT system, and the setup and cleanup utilities work between the two partitions. Flipping back and forth between the clean PC and manager PC modes of the system for software installation and capture is awkward. You can bypass this, but not easily.

The administration console follows the two-paned Explorer model. Plenty of icons offer strong features, such as push technology triggered by time intervals in the client software. NetInstall can also put a software icon on a client PC and only install software when a user needs it.

You can quickly tap into Microsoft's SMS. Once launched, NetInstall can use the SMS Process Command Manager on the client for application installation.

Unlike the other programs, NetInstall locates all new applications under the \Windows directory by default - if you don't put them there, NetInstall won't pick up the changes to Windows system files. Because programs generally want to go in their own directory or under \Program Files, this requirement took some getting used to. We had to install NetObjects' Fusion twice because the first time we forgot to force it under \Windows. Once corrected, NetInstall captured, deployed and ran the application as intended on client stations. NetInstall captured VirusScan easily enough, but VirusScan didn't work after it was installed. Device drivers were scrambled, and files were missing.

When NetInstall removed Fusion, it left behind more than 3.6M bytes of files. These weren't files created by the station client, but seemingly random files tucked here and there in directories.

NetInstall includes many script creating and editing tools that let you create file update packages from scratch. But the point of a software distribution package is to save time and trouble, and tweaking application packages to death doesn't save either.

A program as visually slick as this shouldn't cause such installation aggravation and should include some way to conveniently handle remote users. Nor should a manual that looks as good as NetInstall's be inaccurate, yet the product's manual and online help disagree with the program far too often.

Wrap up

All these programs provide value, but try to keep your expectations under control. No matter how much you tweak individual file security settings or Registry entries, all clients won't be installed correctly. As we all know, when users install applications on their own, problems follow. These software distribution options work best when the user community is controlled and PCs are "locked down" by the IS department. Play it conservatively, and be happy if the 80/20 rule kicks in and you upgrade 80% of your desktops with 20% of the work. Wildly divergent client configurations will lower your success rate, but anything is better than schlepping media around to each and every PC in the company.

How we did it We deployed two sample applications: Network Associates' VirusScan 4.0 and NetObjects' Fusion 4.0. We chose these applications for their complexity. VirusScan worms its way into Startup listings and deep within the operating system. Fusion is a large application with more than 1,300 files to find, compress and track.

We installed, reported, tested and removed both programs from Windows 95/98 test systems. Our NetWare 5 server was a 75-MHz Pentium with 72M bytes of RAM. Our server running Windows NT Server 4.0 with Service Pack 4 was a Gateway 120-MHz Pentium with 64M bytes of RAM. Our clients included a 486/80 with 16M bytes of RAM running Windows 95, a Gateway 120-MHz Pentium with 64M bytes of RAM, and a 233-MHz Pentium with 128M bytes of RAM running Windows 98.

Scorecard

Note:Individual category scores are based on a scale of 1-10. Percentages are the weight given each category in determining the total score. The World Class Award goes to products that earn 9.0 or above on our scorecard.

NetResults

PictureTaker Enterprise Edition 2.0
LANovation
(800) 747-4487
www2.lanovation.com/
products/ptee/ptee_info.htm
Pricing starts at $450 for 25 managed PCs

Pros
Works with SMS and NetWare
Application Launcher
Excellent control over captured files and images
Web download update option

Cons
Complex management
User interface makes poor use of multiple windows

WinInstall 6.5
Veritas Software
(650) 335-8000
www.veritas.com/products/wi
Pricing ranges from $995 for 50 nodes to $7,495 for 500 nodes

Pros
Extensive console
Accurate
Flexible reporting options

Cons
Network intensive
Requires study to get rolling
AutoInstall 1.1
20/20 Software
(503) 520-0504
www.twenty.com/pgs/piaidx.html
Pricing ranges from $8 to $20 per seat

Pros
More control options than any other system
True push when client software is resident
Good compression capabilities
Excellent use of NDS

Cons
Odd setup
Uninstall problems
Requires manual adjustments for each installation package
Save as .exe files

NetInstall 4.2
InstallShield
(800) 374-4353
www.installshield.com
Pricing starts at $875 for 25 nodes

Pros
Complete, editable listing of files to install
Works with SMS

Cons
Confusing documentation
Odd process for capturing application installations
Incomplete installations and removals
RELATED LINKS

Gaskin is a freelance writer specializing in technology. He can be reached at www.gaskin.com or james@gaskin.com.

Gaskin is also a member of the Network World Test Alliance, a cooperative of the premier reviewers in the network industry. For Test Alliance information, including what it takes to become a member, go to www.nwfusion.com/alliance.

How we did it
Read our methodology

Scorecard and NetResults
Key findings, vendor contact info and pricing.

No-nonsense distribution
Review of the Beta 3 version of Altiris' new RapidInstall 1.2.

Tracking software usage
KeyServer is tops among six software metering programs that tackle similar tasks in different ways. Network World, 8/9/99.