Deploying Office 2007 question

Usage and Config
1

(imported topic written by Rominal91)

Is there a recommended way to deploy Office 2007 with a customization file? We have been doing it over the network, but would Bigfix to be able to just install without dowloading the full 470 mb package to the client.

2

(imported comment written by BenKus)

Hi Rominal,

I am not sure I understand the question… If you run the file from a network share, it effectively needs to copy the file(s) to your local computer to run it so it still uses the same bandwidth as if you downloaded/copied the installer locally and ran it…

Ben

3

(imported comment written by Rominal91)

I guess my question is what is BigFix’s recommended method of deploying Office 2007? It seems like it would create a large package using the Software deployment wizard and I was concerned about doing several at a time would choke my bandwidth.

4

(imported comment written by BenKus)

Hey Rominal,

I haven’t looked at the details of the Office 2007 packaging so I am not very sure of the best approach… but based on what you said, it seems like maybe you can package the big installer and the config file separately?

So maybe make a Fixlet that installs the base 2007 package using the Software Distribution wizard, and then you can make a separate Fixlet (or modify the action of your install Fixlet) to download/copy each config file?

Does that sound like it will work?

Ben

5

(imported comment written by Rominal91)

Thanks Ben, I did use Software Deployment to create the package and ran it with the proper .MSP file and it works. It takes about 20 min to download the package before it starts, but again it works. My concern now becomes if I do this in mass, say, 100 machines, what would it do to my network? Bear in mind, I would be doing this to users that are logged off, can’t upgrade Office wth users on it, but we are a 24 hr operation and I would not want to affect other users bandwidth that are not being upgraded. I realize there may not be answer for this, all cases are different, but if anyone had an idea to base it on then we can have reasonable expectation.

Thanks.

6

(imported comment written by BenKus)

Hey Rominal,

The key to any bandwidth issues is to make sure the relays are in the proper locations and the agents are using the right relays. Usually this is as simple as assigning one of the computers to become a relay to each office and then turning on autoselection. With the relay in place, the big package will be transferred over the WAN only once and then distributed locally on the LAN (and usually you don’t have any bandwidth concerns on the local network).

It might be a good idea to doublecheck your relays and agents to make sure things work well, but because you are only sending it to 100 computers and they will naturally have it spread out over time because you will use the “No user logged in” setting, you will have a natural distribution…

Ben

7

(imported comment written by tlacey91)

I am having the same problem. Do you have what was done in more detail?