Automating Installation

To achieve a fully automated deployment process, the packages you install must support unattended installation. Many setup programs support /s or /q command-line options for silent or quiet installations; others don't.

Often you can find out if the package supports unattended installation by typing setup /? at the command prompt, where setup is the file name of the setup program. If the setup program doesn't provide clues, you need to know which vendor's product was used to create the package. You can usually tell by running the setup program and looking for logos, for example, or checking the file properties. Armed with that information, read the following sections to learn how to install packages created by different packaging software automatically. Table below summarizes the necessary commands.

Unattended Package Installation

Useful Deployment Web Sites

The following Web sites are outstanding resources for automating the installation of applications, as well as other deployment topics:

• AppDeploy.com at http://www.appdeploy.com
  This Web site provides comprehensive information about deploying applications that are packaged using a variety of technologies.
• SourceForge at http://unattended.sourceforge.net
  This visually nondescript Web site contains a wealth of information, including information about automating the installation of many legacy installers.
• Real Men Don't Click at http://isg.ee.ethz.ch/tools/realmen
  Don't let the name or odd URL detract from this Web site's usefulness. It describes how to automate a variety of processes, including software installation.
• Acresso Software at http://www.acresso.com/services/education/publications_3812.htm
  This Web page contains the e-book The Administrator Shortcut Guide to Software Packaging for Desktop Migrations. This guide is an excellent resource for learning about packaging applications for deployment.